We invite our NACRO members and network to join Tony Peebles (Director, Diversity Advancement & Corporate Relations at Case Western Reserve University) and Katheryne Rehberg (Director, Business Development, Office of Corporate Relations at the University of Illinois) in an honest dialogue around diversity and the critical role universities play in solving the challenges industry face in fostering a diverse workforce.

In this episode we welcome Amelia Garza, Associate Director of Major Gifts, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Jennifer T. Holmes, Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Amelia and Jennifer recently worked together on publishing two impactful articles through the Association of Fundraising Professionals; the first titled "Fundraise Bill of Rights - Creating Equitable Partnerships" and the second "Office Culture and Well-Being: Why Hiring Diverse Candidates is Not the First Step", and we spend time digesting their insights and hold an incredibly transparent and insightful discussion on diversity. Topics range from the challenges of building trust in partnerships, to diving into common terminology and definitions used in diversity, equity and inclusion space, and highlighting the the importance of taking time to educate yourself on what it is like to be a person of color in the fundraising and corporate relations profession.

Check out their articles here: 

1. ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Fundraiser Bill of Rights—Creating Equitable Partnerships | Association of Fundraising Professionals (afpglobal.org)
2. Office Culture and Well-Being: Why Hiring Diverse Candidates is Not the First Step | Association of Fundraising Professionals (afpglobal.org)

Amelia Garza's email is [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelialgarza/.

Jennifer T. Holmes emails is [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1jenniferholmes/.

Home | NACRO (nacrocon.org) to learn more about the NACRO organization.

Anthony Peebles | LinkedIn to connect with Tony

Katheryne Rehberg | LinkedIn to connect with Katheryne

The long term goal of NACRO and its membership is to engage industry in a setting that allows for open discussion while sharing best practices with peers. As corporate philanthropy and R&D evolves towards increasingly collaborative activities, NACRO will aid in defining these roles. As corporations expand globally but work locally, they seek the “front door” to an academic institution that a university corporate relations office can provide.