Maria Rio is a Community-Centric Fundraiser with over a decade in the sector, published in a variety of national publications, a speaker, and an advocate.  Key Takeaways:Being Community-Centered means focusing on the community rather than an executive’s ego, a board member, or somebody else. It’s all about centering the needs, methods, and values of the people that you’re trying to serve in all aspects of your organization. Release judgment and start from a place of empathy when discussing socio-economic intersectional issues. It’s indeed important to have a basic understanding of these issues but it would be more effective to educate people when you meet them where they are at. Donors envision themselves as changemakers instead of wealth hoarders and are actively exploring ways to give away their wealth to address societal issues. Nonprofits should show that Donors are partners, rather than heroes or beneficiaries. There is great potential for collaboration and growth through partnerships with other organizations in the nonprofit space. Have an abundance-focused mindset, not one that views fundraising as a competition for limited resources.  “In fundraising, in recruitment, in your leadership - is that reflective of the people and the lived experiences that your program serves? If not, why not?” “You have to open up your window of tolerance to actually include that discomfort. Because those opportunities to be uncomfortable will push you to learn, be open, and will push you to have kind of different conversations and seek out different voices.” “We all bring something to this organization, to this discussion. Staff are the people who are delivering on this work, they're just as important as the donor. So why are we not stewarding our community in a way that actually acknowledges that?” - Maria Rio Reach out to Maria Rio at:Website: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gofurtherwithmeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/  
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