Meet the Team: Fundraising Manager
Meet Isaiah, Fundraising Manager at Merced Housing Texas. From his knack for finding funky socks to show us every day, to his drive to help residents and homeowners through his fundraising work, Isaiah plays an important role around the Merced office. Check out our interview with Isaiah:
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It sounds cliché but helping others is the most rewarding. I know that by raising funds for the work Merced does, I too am in service to the residents and homeowners we serve. Additionally, I think an important aspect of fundraising that we overlook is how we serve the people who support our mission.
I serve our donors in different ways. I help connect people to a cause that is significant to them. Donating is also a special way to honor or remember someone. I also know that I am providing an avenue for them to express gratitude and our humanity towards each other.
Does your identity affect your work?
It’s said that we see the world not as it is but as we are. Many of the people we serve, like me, are Hispanic – I grew up on the Westside of San Antonio. My first languages were English & Spanish. I think in particular when I write about the Owner-Occupied Repair Program (OORP), I remember when my family lived with my grandma in her little home on the westside. She passed two years ago, but when writing about the OORP I think about how safe, warm and cozy our home was. It wasn’t luxurious but it was home. So, when I write about the OORP, I don’t feel like I’m writing about a distant unknown person, I’m writing about someone who needs a helping hand who could be my grandmother or your grandmother.
Has it been a challenge to find support in the fund development field that speaks to your experience and identity?
The nonprofit and development field is significantly a woman dominant field, so there just aren’t too many people that look like me. I’ve grown since coming to Merced but I still have a lot to learn. And as a young professional I value advice and wisdom so much right now. Sometimes it’s also just valuable to see that someone who looks like you has “made it” and is successful. I try to fill that gap how I can right now, by going back to school, and making connections in the city with other development professionals. I’m also grateful to our leadership at Merced that encourages us to participate in opportunities in webinars, trainings, fellowships. They know that investing in staff is another way of serving our community.
Are there other nonprofits’ work that you admire or that you find impactful?
I admire the work of the San Antonio Report, their transition to nonprofit journalism is admirable and innovative. Their work helps so many of us carry out our own work. Through their journalism we are a more informed community and a more informed community can make better decisions.
After a long day at work, what is your comfort movie?
My go-to is Star Wars: Rogue One. It is set in such a pivotal time in the Star War’s universe and beautifully sets up the originally trilogy. From a cinematic perspective, I love the storytelling idea that the characters from Rogue One, who don’t appear up in the following films, play such an important role in the arch the rebellion and the next films. It makes you realize that although people may not interact directly, we are all always connected.
I also just LOVE Darth Vader’s scene at the end, the red glowing lightsaber, iconic mechanical heavy breathing with the classic starship evacuation siren playing overhead, that’s as “Star Wars” as it gets.
If you had to summarize the work you do an explain it to a 6-year-old, what would you say?
In one sentence – I tell the real stories about how the people I work with help others.
I manage our grants, including preparing, sending and reporting on requests to foundations, corporations, and governments. I also manage our giving individual donor relationships. In essence, I communicate to others the great work program staff do to address San Antonio, Bexar County, and Texas’ pressing affordable housing needs.