Episode #7: Philanthropy: Discover How To Recognise that Sliding Door Moment in Your Career

Join Roisin Duffy and Rowan Foster on today's Living Your Career Show and discover how do you recognise that sliding door moment in your career knowing that it will profoundly shape your personal and professional life forever.
#philanthropy, #philanthropic, #SmilingforSmiddy, #volunteers, #fundraising, #purpose, #passion, #LivingYourCareer, #RoisinDuffy, #RowanFoster

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Here are some of the highlights for this episode:
[02:26] What is philanthropy?
[09:52] How Should you Prioritise What's Important in Fund Raising?
[13:10] How To Deal with the Fund Raising Overload?
[14:26] How to Be Professional with a Fund Raising Campaign.
[24:16] How to Make a Move into a Fund Raising Career
• Philanthropy, what does it mean in a career sense, identifying as a professional fundraiser.
Opportunity arises at various times in your career – how do you assess it? On the flip side so many just follow a career path without a lot of thought
• Give yourself time to think whether you’re aligning your own values with where you see yourself headed professionally
• How do you define what is important to you in a role?
• You have to enjoy what you do....too much time spent at work, sometimes at the cost of time with those closest to you
• Surround yourself with good people in life

Rowan has worked with private, public, and non-profit organisations here in Australia and overseas for over 20 years. His early stage marketing career was left behind for the world of fundraising and philanthropy after losing a good friend, Adam Smiddy, to cancer in 2006. His role in the start-up of Smiling for Smiddy, a series of cycling and triathlon events, has seen more than $10 million raised for cancer research at Mater.

Currently, as Director Corporate & Community Engagement at Mater, Rowan oversees the development and management of the organisation’s corporate and community programs, which support Mater’s mission across Health, Education, and Research.

Rowan has extensive experience leading high performing community fundraising programs and demonstrated success developing sponsorship and partnering activities through acquisition, management, and renewals with leading brands. He is a passionate fundraising leader who inspires teams through their connection to purpose and impact.

Previously, as Head of Fundraising at Endeavour Foundation, Rowan led the fundraising and philanthropic strategy to support people with intellectual disability to live their best life. During this time, he delivered a significant uplift in revenue generation and supporter connection built on strong people capability and program development.

Rowan spent two and a half years leading the stakeholder engagement function for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (2016-2018). He holds a Bachelor of Business (Communication) from Queensland University of Technology, has presented regularly at FIA events, and is currently studying to sit the CFRE exam. (Certified Fund Raising Exam)