Thinking about Legacy…
Andrea Taylor
A couple of years ago, I “retired” from a career in higher education development. After spending more than 25 years in this field, I wanted to explore new opportunities.
But I also had time to reflect on my work and career. Did I have an impact? And what legacy, if any, did I leave behind?
In my last position, I was privileged to spend 12 fulfilling years at my alma mater, California State University, Long Beach, as the Vice President of University Relations and Development. During my tenure, the university completed its first major campaign, created a philanthropic foundation, and strengthened its board and volunteer leadership.
But the accomplishments I mentioned were generally resume builders. Sure, I’m proud of them but were those my most significant achievements?
David Brooks, the New York Times political and cultural commentator, wrote of the Moral Bucket List where he described two sets of virtues – resume virtues and eulogy virtues. Although the eulogy virtues often reflect our true character, today’s culture and educational systems reinforce skills that prepare us for career success. It is not surprising, then, that when we go in for that critical interview or give our elevator pitch at a professional gathering, we rattle off our career highlights instead of what truly inspires or motivates us. For a lucky few, those virtues may be one and the same, but many of us struggle to bring our jobs and our joys into alignment.
I was reminded of that at my retirement party where I received many cards and notes. What struck me was how these comments reflected as much about my character as my fundraising accomplishments. My well-wishers pointed out, for example, that they appreciated my openness, approachability, and honesty. Many spoke of my positive influence regarding their charitable involvement.
And, to be sure, those kind remarks had a great impact on me. I realized that these virtues of character were truly my legacy. I am proud of my fundraising accomplishments, but surely my successors will top my list of successes. Yet if I inspired others to get involved, represented the university in a positive manner, built a culture of giving, and was a good mentor and motivator to my staff, that was what truly mattered. Because, let’s face it, those virtues will outlast economic cycles, fundraising trends, and personnel/administrative shifts.
Upon further reflection, I also acknowledged that my career path was not a series of random events. While I had always prided myself on making professionally strategic moves, I had missed the obvious. There was an intentionality to my career decisions. A 2019 Survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Chronicle of Philanthropy found that 80 percent of fundraising professionals reported job satisfaction. This, I believe, is a reflection of their own intentionality to pursue a profession that values mission and purpose. Early in my career, I knew I would go into nonprofit work. What I didn’t anticipate was how strongly drawn I would be to public higher education, where the mission is often about opportunity and access for disadvantaged students. This has driven me more than I realized and speaks to values I hold dearly. Day-to-day I was consumed with meeting that elusive fundraising goal, but year-after-year I was sustained by those core values.
Obviously, I am not alone in this. We, in the nonprofit sector, are drawn to the public good, and it’s something we should try to remember as we immerse ourselves in our daily activities. When it’s time for reflection, what will you remember as your most significant accomplishments? And will your resume virtues align with your eulogy virtues? What, ultimately, will bring you the most pride and satisfaction?