Implicit Bias + Relationship Managers: How Biases Harm Your Fundraising Efforts

As relationship managers, we aim to build rapport, develop a set of shared experiences, and aim to become trusted advisors.  What happens when someone’s race, age, and identity influence the way we see and treat them? And more importantly, what happens when we don’t realize those characteristics influence us?  How can we become more aware of biases and incorporate practical steps for preventing them?

Through a mix of presentation, open discussion and break out activity, we will explore how our brains naturally associate and categorize the world.  We will discuss and examine when our biases appear in volunteer and donor interactions and talk about practical steps we can all take to reduce and ultimately eliminate them.

This webinar will not be recorded.

Charleon A. Jeffries is a Senior Consultant at The Inclusion Firm and an Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) University Advancement at Virginia Tech University.  Prior to this position, she was the founding director of DEI for Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations.  With 20 years of experience, Charleon has worked in higher education, focusing on inclusive practices in student recruitment and retention, employee education, management development, strategy. In addition, she served as a member of numerous university commissions, task forces, and strategic planning teams.  Charleon brings a deep theoretical understanding of concepts related to systemic oppression, equity, inclusion, intercultural awareness and humility, workplace culture, and change leadership.  She is a two-time graduate of Penn State University with degrees in Rehabilitation Services (B.S.) and Mental Health Counseling (M. Ed.)

This program has been approved for 1.0 CFRE credits.

Full participation in this program is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.