Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Jackson.
Sarah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I fell into Development (fundraising) after graduating summa cum laude from Emmanuel College in 2001. Armed with a Communications degree but not wanting to work at a newspaper or PR firm, I searched online for any and all jobs that had “Communications” in the title. This is how I discovered and ultimately landed the Development Communications Assistant role at Brigham and Women’s Hospital during their $200 million campaign (back then, that was a HUGE campaign!).
After three years there, I was recruited to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund to help raise foundation and corporate dollars for research, patient care, and education programs. I ended up raising $14 million over six years, all of which supported Dana-Farber’s groundbreaking $1.18 billion campaign.
I then spent nearly two years at Harvard University, bringing renewed focus to their largest foundation and corporate donors in preparation for their current campaign (which has gone on to break all fundraising records by raising $8 billion to date).
However, six months into my time at Harvard, I started feeling the call to try something new; to take all of the knowledge and skills I had been fortunate enough to acquire by working for some of the nation’s top-performing fundraising offices, and use those strengths in service to a variety of nonprofit organizations.
In 2012, I made the leap: I left Harvard to build and grow Sarah J Consulting. Five years later, I know it was the most enriching and fulfilling career move I could have made. SJC is a thriving consultancy and we get to work with a wonderful array of leading nonprofits (hospitals, colleges, universities, research organizations, and community-based organizations) in New England and New York to help them raise more money and tell their stories effectively.
In 2013, I won the North of Boston Businesswoman of the Year award: Small Business category.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Because I take my work very seriously–and because my own name IS the business name (a very deliberate decision) –I am extremely conscious of producing top-quality work and ensuring client satisfaction with every project. There have been two times in particular that a client has expressed dissatisfaction about the work at hand. In one instance, I was able to address the client’s concerns and make sure that the project was completed in a mutually effective manner. In another instance, I had to finally realize that no amount of “fixing” would satisfy the client.
These kinds of lessons are challenging but also very educational. As a business owner, you learn over time what sorts of clients are a good fit for your skill set, personality, values, and work style. Conversely, you learn how to identify clients that require an entirely different approach than what you are able to give. By deeply understanding your own abilities and “brand,” you become empowered to think and act strategically in your business development and growth. This laser focus optimally benefits your clients and your business.
Please tell us about Sarah J Consulting.
Sarah J Consulting helps mission-driven organizations raise charitable dollars and tell their stories effectively.
With $50 million raised in five years, SJC has become a trusted partner to 30 clients, including two of the nation’s top 10 universities and two of the nation’s top 15 hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report.
Drawing on experience from some of the most successful Development offices in the United States, Sarah M. Jackson, CFRE, and her colleagues provide the plans, tools, and knowledge that help worthy causes thrive.
Services include fundraising plans, proposal and case writing, donor strategies, foundation relations, campaigns, coaching, and development communications.
To date, we have completed more than 330 projects and advised, educated, or supported 300 nonprofit leaders, fundraising professionals, and volunteers.
I am most proud of our company’s ability to tailor our work to meet clients’ differing needs and budgets. Whereas larger fundraising consulting firms may apply a standard or templated approach to their work, SJC is lean enough that it can adapt quickly and easily–yet robust enough that it can accomplish strong and strategically thoughtful results.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahjconsulting.com
- Phone: 781.595.5402
- Email: sarah@sarahjconsulting.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahjconsulting
- Twitter: @sarahjtweets
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmjackson
Image Credit:
-Office photo: Bob Bond, lotsashots.com
-Group photo with Sarah in blue dress: Sarah and her husband Corey Jackson won the 2014 Shining Stars award from the Lynn YMCA for our contributions to advancing the arts in Lynn.
-Sarah holding award: North of Boston Businesswoman of the Year award: Small Business category, 2013
-Group photo with award: Photo of all nominees for the North of Boston Businesswoman of the Year award: Small Business category, 2013
-Workshop photo: Sarah presenting at Essex County Community Foundation’s Institute for Trustees
-Ribbon cutting: 2012 ribbon cutting ceremony in downtown Lynn to celebrate the launch of Sarah J Consulting (photo credit: Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce)
-Company logo
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