Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris McIntosh.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After graduation from Assumption College in 1991 and missing an opportunity to play professional baseball due to an arm injury — I started a small niche publishing firm focused on environmental projects. That began my love of B to B Publishing. For the next 24 years, I sold, resurrected, created and launched several media publications and events and spent time as Publisher of Robb Report, Haute Living, and more recently the Boston Business Journal.
Throughout that publishing career, I was consistently introduced to many charitable organizations and passionate CEO’s. At one point I sat on 9 different non-profit boards, a job in itself as you can imagine the time and resources commitment. In mid-2014 it was time for a change. Tired of the day to day ad sales race and corporate excel spreadsheets on profits, I wanted to make a difference and loved my work with local non-profits.
Enter the CEO and very philanthropic Dave Porter of Baystate Financial who had reached out to me for help building the Baystate brand in-advance of an upcoming partnership with MetLife. I quickly realized that Dave had also founded the Baystate Foundation in 1999. I jumped at the opportunity to join powerhouse Baystate Financial in the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and less than a year later — Dave offered me the Executive Director position at the Baystate Foundation.
Has it been a smooth road?
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Baystate Foundation story. Tell us more about the business.
Founded in 1999, the Baystate Financial Charitable Foundation (BFCF) is committed to supporting a wide variety of nonprofit organizations throughout the Baystate Financial footprint that includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. While our main focus is supporting children, we also recognize the great need that exists at many levels in society today and do not limit our funding to child-related causes.
Our goal is to raise and distribute money to generate awareness in order to make a positive impact in the day to day lives of disadvantaged children in need. As you know, the need has never been greater and we take great pride in being considered a good corporate citizen and neighbor. We are also very proud that all the money that gets raised by the Baystate Financial Charitable Foundation is passed through into the community. We do not use any of the money we raise for overhead.
The Baystate Financial Charitable Foundation is structured as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation. We raise money through a series of events, annual appeals plus individual, and corporate giving. We have an 18-year track record of funding nonprofits that are truly making a difference. Our 30+ member board of directors is made up of C-Level executives from throughout the business community as well as a cross-section of Baystate associates. BFCF is stronger than ever due to our continually expanding community who comes together to donate time, resources, and talent in support of our important mission. It is the passion of these individuals to help less fortunate children that drives us forward.
Baystate Financial is quite proud of the work of the Charitable Foundation, as it is rare for a company of Baystate’s size to have a structured program for charitable giving. We support about 40 different nonprofit’s each year and are always looking to help nonprofits that are generating positive outcomes in the community. I’m known for my network of CEO’s and passionate people, for being a connector. I’m most proud of the board of directors I’ve assembled at the Baystate Foundation since taking it over and the work that our funding supports throughout New England.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
With all the online opportunities we have available to us, it’s easy to think that technology is the only way, but the need for authenticity in 2018 also means a return to the basics and a focus on the humanistic aspect of being and running a nonprofit.
For my organization, this back-to-basics approach is focused on creating a culture that is in touch with human emotions and is run by a skilled staff that is enthusiastic about what we are trying to do. Our focus will also involve personal contact with our donors, including in person and by phone, to make that human connection even stronger and more authentic. We’ve planned two additional fundraising events as well.
WITH GREAT SUCCESS Comes Great Responsibility.
Contact Info:
- Address: 200 Clarendon Street, 19th Floor Boston, MA 01226
- Website: www.baystatefoundation.org
- Phone: 617-585-4500
- Email: chris@baystatefoundation.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaystateFoundation/
Image Credit:
The Palm in Boston
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