Jennifer Cunningham

engagejc.com/now

Kobayashi maru is my favorite concept. At Starfleet Academy, where Star Trek officers go to school, there's a test with a lose-lose scenario, designed to see how recruits think and handle stress. Then-student James T. Kirk calls b.s. and instead of engaging in the test, he reprograms it so he can win. That's how I go about my work and my life: if you don't like the game, change the rules!

Location:

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Professional title:

Independent Consultant, Alumni Relations and Volunteer Management

What do you do?

I build alumni and volunteer communities that give back, working primarily with educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Why?

So many people want to do good, and they want to do it together. There's a gap between the passion people feel for an organization and cause and that organization's ability to mobilize those fans and supporters. I know how to close that gap with a mix of data, event strategy, fundraising experience, and volunteer governance expertise

What should we read?

The Art of Gathering, by Priya Parker

URLs:

• https://engagejc.com/
• https://engagejc.com/alumni-engagement-consulting-services
• https://engagejc.com/subscribe