Meet Vicki Pugh | Nonprofit executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vicki Pugh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vicki, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The only work I know is social impact. Having served as a fundraising professional and executive manager for several nonprofit organizations in New York and Florida, I consider social impact my life’s work. People ask me all the time why I gravitated to the fundraising profession and have stayed here for more than 30 years. The answer is simple. Every day when I go to work, I can see the impact of my work on people — people who need help, encouragement, and resources to change, and in some cases, save their lives. The philanthropic sector is a critical part of our nation’s economy. Nonprofit organizations provide programs and services not available through business or government. However, philanthropy alone is not enough to solve some of our nation’s most pressing problems, like social justice, affordable housing, and food insecurity. So when I think of social impact, I see this as all sectors of our country coming together to change policy and provide the financial backing that will create real change. It is a movement, and I think our country is ready for it!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I began my career in fundraising, not much formal training existed in the field. I had to learn from others who were willing to teach and mentor me. I was like sponge soaking up everything I could. I learned quickly and proved that I could apply that knowledge in my field. I also got involved in professional networking groups to meet other fundraising professionals and learn about what they did. This learning and relationship building ultimately helped me navigate to some incredible opportunities. In New York City, I worked for the New York City Opera and Carnegie Hall, both world-class arts organizations that set the precedent for musical excellence. When I moved to Florida, it was networking that led me to an opportunity to work for the YMCA, then Palm Beach Atlantic University, and now the Community Foundation. In the latter three jobs I was recruited by a mentor or colleague that knew me and the quality of my work. As I have grown in my profession, I have taken on the mantle of being a mentor and teacher. I have spent many hours with young people interested in working in the nonprofit sector. I have also become an adjunct faculty member of The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. By mentoring and teaching, I can help foster the next generation of nonprofit leaders who can continue to accelerate social impact for social change. As a final comment, what I would tell anyone just starting out in their work is to learn all you can about your profession, get connected to mentors and other professionals in your field, and pay attention to good opportunities that come your way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in coastal Florida, there are plenty of awesome things to do! Day One: Bike tour of Jupiter and waterfront drinks and music on the intracoastal waterway at the Square Grouper or Guanabanas. Day Two: Beach date and visit to the Loggerhead Marine Center to see sea turtles being rehabilitated for return to the ocean. If there’s a turtle release to see, we’d do that too. Dinner that night would be at our favorite Italian place, Lynoras. Day three: Drive along the coast in Palm Beach and stop at The Breakers for a cocktail, followed by dinner at Henry’s. Day four: Kayaking to the Jupiter sandbar.. We’’d take food, drinks, and music and spend the day laughing, swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding. Day Five: Drive to Miami to see the Winwood Walls and have a dinner at Joe’s for Stone Crab, possibly fitting in a drive or walk along Miami Beach. After all of this activity, the remaining days would be spent hanging around the pool at our house and enjoying amazing meals cooked by my amazing husband!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
How do you choose one person for this? I’ve had so many mentors throughout my career that have taught and encouraged me along the way. So instead of a mentor, I’m going to give my shoutout to my best friend of 24 years, Bev Johnson. She’s my person. Whenever something great happens, I want to call her and tell her about it. When something terrible happens, she’s the person I want to consult. She has helped me make most of my major career and life decisions. She was there when I had babies and even stood in for me at a preschool Mother’s Day party when I was out of town! We have traveled together, laughed together, cried together, parented together, and worked together. I am not sure I could navigate life without her.

Website: Www.advancementexperts.com

Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/Vicki-pugh

Facebook: Facebook.com/vpugh123

Image Credits
Capehart Photography for the head shot