Her Story
About Hannah
Hannah Colbrook serves as Associate Director of Annual Giving at Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law, where she manages a portfolio of donors. With just over five years in philanthropy and fundraising, she learned of the field after a personal experience of receiving philanthropic support to assist with healthcare costs during college. This led her to change her major to communications and now dedicates her career to giving back. Prior to her current role, which she began three weeks ago, Colbrook worked in healthcare fundraising. She recently earned her CFRE certification and has spoken at Loyola University's Communication Studies Department on communications and fundraising. Colbrook emphasizes the importance of listening to donors to understand their wants and needs, building relationships with integrity, authenticity, compassion, and empathy. She advises young women entering the field to be open to new experiences, continue learning and build strong networks.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hannah
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Listen to donors to understand their experience with your organization and remain inquisitive about who they are and what drives their generosity.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Advocate for yourself. Learn what it is in your role that you love and where weaknesses show up. If you are wanting something in your current role, ask for it. Follow your drive.
When you advance in experience, try to learn the lay of the land and understand what your organization's structure entails. In my first role I was lucky to be able to see many duties and gain knowledge on what it takes to make a philanthropy shop run. Absorb experience so that you can build a foundation of understanding.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Women have a lot of opportunity in this career choice. We as women are great relationship builders, meet people authentically where they're at, and so this is a really great space for women to be able to show up professionally and build meaningful relationships at the same time.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Having integrity in the relationships that you build, meaningful and authentic relationships, understanding that sometimes the best thing to do is just not ask the alum or the donor for funding, listening to what it is that they truly want and meeting them where they are. Also authenticity, compassion and empathy.
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