Kristi Meyers Gallup, who began her duties Sept. 1 as the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s financial resource development director, was excited about the challenge of her new job. Little could she know that her job would become even more challenging less than two weeks later — on Sept. 11.
While maintaining her positive outlook, Gallup admits Americans feel less secure both economically and emotionally since the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania.
“This will be a very tough year. We as Americans have never felt vulnerable. However, I believe the events, as tragic as they are, issued a wakeup call for us to determine what matters in ‘my/our’ world. I think we now better understand the needs of the Jewish community on the local level here in Milwaukee, on the national level in New York and Washington, and on the international level in Israel. The tragedies made the case clearer that we are one people.”
Despite the community’s mood swings and economic forecasts, Gallup is forging ahead with her plans to “match donor prospects with fundraising priorities.”
“I think effective professionals have the ability to create the right bridges,” she explained. “Peoples’ lives are touched in many different ways so it makes sense that giving is impacted by how committed they are to a particular need.”
Gallup’s 13 years of experience help her bring a fresh but seasoned approach to her position. Previously director of annual and special gifts for Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, she has worked in the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis and within the campaign department of the St. Louis Jewish Federation.
“I like how the Milwaukee Jewish Federation looks at fundraising, and think the term ‘financial resource development’ is more responsive to the philanthropic needs of donors, by integrating the annual community campaign with other forms of fund development,” she said.
She added, “When you look at giving patterns of philanthropists, you see that they are becoming more donor-centered — giving the donor the opportunity to support something they are passionate about. The federation’s annual campaign needs to respond to changing donor styles.
“I think the post WWII donor merely gave the federation his or her money to use as it saw fit, while today’s baby boomer is more interested in where the money goes and how it is spent. I think they want to know how their money will make a difference.”vRichard H. Meyer, federation executive vice president, said, “Kristi Meyers Gallup will play a major role in helping us raise significantly more dollars to benefit the community. The FRD position was created as an integral part of the our strategic renewal plan.”
The plan’s fund-raising goal aims to expand the donor base and generate increased financial resources while being more responsive to donors’ philanthropic needs. “A key component in this new approach is the vital role of planned giving and donor relations,” said Gallup.
Bert Bilsky, associate executive vice president-planned giving and endowments, will continue expanding the Jewish Community Foundation’s activities, working with Meyer and Gallup to help donors and their families meet their philanthropic goals.
Having studied the psychology of giving, Gallup views donors as being “very savvy and sophisticated. They’re not likely to support a sinking ship; they have to believe in the need. So, to be successful, my job is to communicate that need.”
She is meeting with a cross-section of people in the community to develop a composite of local philanthropy. “I think there is a donor for every priority. Fundraisers are like matchmakers who strive to maximize the available donors and the use of their donations. That approach makes giving more rewarding for the donor,” Gallup said.
Gallup has previous ties to Wisconsin. Though she was born in Oxford, Ohio, she went to elementary school in Madison, where her father was a professor at the university. When she was in sixth grade, the family relocated to St. Louis.
Following graduation from the University of Missouri, where she majored in journalism, she worked for a short time in advertising and public relations. She then decided to transfer her skills from communicator to fundraiser with the St. Louis Jewish Federation. During the past ten years she remained in the field, working for institutions of higher education.
Interested in returning to Jewish communal services, she contacted the United Jewish Communities’ referral office. As they say, “the rest is history.”
She and her husband, Ted, a physical therapist, live in Whitefish Bay with son Sam, 6, a first grader at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
Gallup labels herself as a Midwesterner. “Believe it or not, we love snow,” she said with a smile.
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