Tiffany Graver Smith

I attribute my success to the fact that accomplishments don't happen alone. There is a team of people with you, rallying with you, and I don't think I've achieved anything alone. It's really been the result of countless people who believed in me, challenged me, and trusted me to make a difference. Throughout my career, I've learned that no meaningful accomplishment happens alone. The relationships I've built throughout the years with mentors, colleagues, donors, community partners, and the incredible students and families we serve have really shaped who I am and how I lead. I've always believed that people invest in people first, and trust is built really one relationship at a time. I've also been very fortunate to spend my career connected to a purpose really larger than myself. Every challenge, every fundraising effort, every partnership is ultimately about creating opportunities for our young people. When your work is rooted in purpose, it gives you the resilience to keep moving forward, even when the path is really uneasy. Success isn't something I've achieved alone, it's really the result of a team who believed in me, challenged me, and really trusted me to help make a difference. What we're doing at Seed, nobody else has done it in Florida, and it definitely came with some hesitation because it's unique. But I think we quietly prove that our mission works, and the kids that are graduating with us and going off to college, graduating college, and seeing the generational impact keeps all of us in check for moving the needle forward in education.

The best career advice I've ever received really came from a few people at different points in my life, and together they kind of shaped how I approach leadership. Many years ago, Coach Rothstein from the Miami Heat would always tell me to go where I wanted. I never forgot that. It's very simple advice, but it's really applicable to so many aspects of life and career. Another mentor, Dave Lawrence, he consistently reminds me to stay humble, no matter how much success you achieve. Really, there's always so much more room to learn and to grow. Humility keeps you grounded and open to growth. And lastly, a close friend gave me advice that still makes me smile to this day. She told me when approaching potential donors, always to remember they wipe their ass the same way you do. Her point was that no matter how influential, successful, or intimidating someone is, they're human too. This was really something I struggled with in the beginning, because I am the shyest, most introverted person on the planet, and I remember when I was talking to her about it, I was like, I don't know if this is the right fit for me, and she's like, Tiffany, they wipe their ass the same way you do, don't worry! And I was like, that's so true!

Stay humble. I like to take an old-fashioned approach to fundraising. I really believe in handwritten notes and just treating fundraising as a friendship and a relationship that you build. I don't even want to know what a person's net worth is. I want to get to know them, what interests them, what their passion is for our community, and just build a really authentic relationship that can ultimately lead to a greater impact, not only in their lives, but for our mission. If you treat fundraising like your best friend, you'll never have to beg for a dollar, because when people feel valued and understood and connected to a purpose bigger than themselves, it gives them a natural extension of the relationship. If I'm asking, I'm doing something wrong. Focus on not the net worth and approach it as you would a friendship. Remember their birthdays, remember their milestones, send handwritten notes, check in when you don't need anything. People want to be seen and heard, so spend more time listening and not talking, learn what motivates others, and understand the legacy that someone wants to leave behind, because once you've built a genuine relationship, everything else falls into place.

Some of the biggest challenges in fundraising today is that people are being asked to support more causes than ever before, and we're in a very transient state. Donors are inundated with emails, social media campaigns, requests for support, all while navigating a very uncertain economic climate at this time. But I also think that presents some opportunities, too. Today's donors, they don't want just a transaction. They want transparency, connection, a deeper understanding of the impact they're making. It's also really important to know your audience. In education, I see a great opportunity. We have the ability to connect community leaders, businesses, and philanthropists directly to the next generation. The future of fundraising isn't simply raising more dollars. We are creating stronger connections between people who want to make a difference in the communities and also have a greater impact. When that happens, everybody benefits.

Staying humble is really important to me. Fundraising is often misunderstood as people asking for money. I actually hate the word altogether, but really, in reality, it's about building trust. I focus on not the net worth and approach it as I would a friendship. Remember their birthdays, remember their milestones, send handwritten notes, check in when you don't need anything. People want to be seen and heard, so it's really important to spend more time listening and not talking, learn what motivates others, and understand the legacy that someone wants to leave behind. Once you've built a genuine relationship, everything else falls into place. I've always believed that people invest in people first, and trust is built really one relationship at a time. I've also been very fortunate to spend my career connected to a purpose really larger than myself. Every challenge, every fundraising effort, every partnership is ultimately about creating opportunities for our young people. When your work is rooted in purpose, it gives you the resilience to keep moving forward, even when the path is really uneasy.