Mary Fischer

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY: Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising

A fabulous journey’ in philanthropy

By Madeline Anderson / Photo by Tina Gutierrez

Mary C. Fischer is a Cincinnati-area native and dedicated fundraiser with three decades of philanthropic experience. Through fundraising and volunteer efforts, Fischer has worked on numerous campaigns and projects for Bethesda Foundation. Her skills have helped raise more than $25 million to support Bethesda North Hospital; Hospice of Cincinnati; and Fernside, A Center for Grieving Children.

Fischer, a Certified Fund Raising Executive, is being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her success as a fundraiser who has continually demonstrated her love of and dedication to the profession. Movers & Makers sat down with her to discuss the keys to her successful career.

Movers & Makers: How did you initially get involved in philanthropy?

Mary Fischer: I started my hospital development career in Springfield, Ohio, where I was living at the time. I was a stay-at-home mom and did a lot of volunteer work, and there was a job opening for an assistant director of development at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. And I thought, this sounds like something I would be interested in. I‘ve had my hands in volunteer work.

M&M: How would you explain your job to someone who is unfamiliar with the term “development?”

MF: I think when you say “development,” people are unsure. They understand the term fundraising, but I would describe [development as] many aspects of fundraising. [It means] developing relationships with people.

M&M: What trait of your own personality or character do you think has brought you the most success in your work?

MF: I consider myself a people person. That’s the part of my job that I have always enjoyed most – interacting with donors and prospects and explaining a project to them. Or if they’ve already been engaged with the foundation, just cultivating that relationship. What I really like is to show them the impact of their gift. And that might be, let’s say, they contributed to the new breast center that [Bethesda Foundation] did years ago. It’s showing them the impact that gift has made. I’m a firm believer when someone gives a gift, [you don’t say] “I got what I wanted.” You continue to cultivate that relation ship. And then the odds are that they will, hopefully, and in my experience, continue to support causes that they believe in.

M&M: What is the best advice you ever received regarding fundraising?

MF: It’s to continue the [relationship] cultivation and mainly, I should say, the stewardship with the donor. Once they make a gift, don’t forget about them. Know the impact of their gift. I learned that from a good mentor in Springfield. … Ultimately, stewardship is about meeting a donor’s gift intention to create a long-term relationship with your organization. If a donor believes your organization has met their expecta tions, it will encourage them to make future gifts to your organization.

M&M: What is the key to sustaining donor and sponsor relationships?

MF: This is my 30th year in hospital development and so many of my donors have become friends, and again, it’s because of the stewardship and getting to know them. I retired from full-time work [at Bethesda Foundation] and Andy [Swallow], the president of the foundation, asked me to work part time. I’m working on a consulting basis. So I get to do what I love to do. I cultivate relationships and stewardship. It’s just wonderful.

M&M: Thanks, Mary. Anything else you’d like to add?

MF: I’m just so honored and humbled to receive this Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising Award. I mean, it really is very humbling. I might get teary-eyed. I mean, there are just so many people that I have to thank that have contributed to my success. I mean, not just donors, but board members and committee mem bers and volunteers, or colleagues and peers from professional organizations. They all deserve a great deal of credit for why I am receiving this award. And it’s been just a great journey.

I’ve said many times to younger people that are starting out: “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I mean, I just believe that’s true. Yeah, there have been days where it’s like, oh no!, but they have been few and far between. I feel very blessed that I ended up in this career, and it’s just been a fabulous journey.