For 50 years, CASE has benefited from the generosity of individuals who carve out time in their busy lives to support the advancement profession.
Our global community of volunteers is integral to who we are and CASE’s mission. Our volunteers participate in so many ways, from guiding priorities on our leadership boards to helping deliver inspiring conferences, supporting research, and nurturing talent through mentoring and training.
Our volunteer force is always on hand to offer their energy, passion, and expertise.
A recent CASE internal training session focused on the importance of enhancing engagement with volunteers and how all staff can keep the volunteer perspective in mind.
A panel of CASE volunteers, each with an extensive array of volunteering accolades, was moderated by the CASE Director of Volunteer Stewardship, Sean Schindl. In this profile summarizing the conversation, Ann-Marie Thornton, Emilie Henry, and Simon Fairbanks share their experiences and lessons learnt, as well as why they are passionate advocates for CASE.
How did you first get involved with CASE and what motivates you to continue volunteering?
Ann-Marie Thornton: I first attended an annual giving conference in Toronto in the ʼ90s, and I’ve been hooked ever since! In 2014, I became involved in the Minority Advancement Institute, and, through that opportunity, I have been able to connect with individuals on a deeper level. The connections and leadership skills I’ve gained are what keeps me coming back. I always say that my passion is my profession, and so I'm committed to demonstrating that and giving back through service.
Emilie Henry: In 2006, I was working at an independent school, so I attended the CASE-NAIS conference, where I discovered such a rich network of other people who do this work. And so, the very next year I submitted a presentation!
From there, I was invited to join the Summer Institute faculty. The faculty members and the delegates I met in those summers are not only professionals that I reach out to but also very close friends who have enriched my life in many ways.
I think advancement offers students, faculty, and institutional leaders the opportunity to make a powerful difference throughout the world and in their communities. We do critical, important work, and providing educational opportunities for people to learn to do this work well, with integrity and deep passion, feels like an important way to spend my time.
Simon Fairbanks: Back in 2015, I attended the CASE Social Media Conference and the big CASE Europe Annual Conference (CEAC). I loved both experiences—I came back energized, and my LinkedIn was overflowing with requests. I got involved in conference speaking from there. I’ve since attended CEAC as an exhibitor with Pickle Jar Communications, and, when working at the University of Nottingham, I joined the CEAC planning committee, where I kept hearing more things to get involved with…I was like, oh, you have a magazine, you have a graduate training program…I felt like the box was opened, and I discovered lots of other ways to pitch in.
What do you like most about volunteering with CASE?
Emilie Henry: CASE does a phenomenal job of making it fun to volunteer. You get to engage with lots of interesting people, to connect and build relationships. Plus, CASE manages the logistics and, frankly, helps us to look good, which makes the job easy and rewarding. So, with all those things, it makes it an easy yes.
Simon Fairbanks: Following the pandemic, people seemed to crave human interaction. Sharing knowledge and connecting with a network is a great way to learn. I get to reflect on what I know and how I can present that information in an entertaining way. It’s a privilege to have the platform and opportunity to do so. Thanks to CEAC, I now have friends in different countries who are only a WhatsApp message away, to gain ideas and inspiration from.
Ann-Marie Thornton: CASE offers a strong community for advancement professionals. The thing we hear all the time is, why do we volunteer? It's because of the richness of the CASE community. Whether it’s through the district conference, serving on the CASE Community College Advisory Board, or being on the US/Canada Council, I love that I can reach out to my colleagues and say, do you have something in this particular area? That’s the thing about CASE—you copy and share excellence. It's like a family that allows you to grow. There are many individuals at CASE who serve as advisors, mentors, and sponsors to get you through many challenges.
What does meaningful recognition look like to you?
Simon Fairbanks: I simply enjoy the opportunity, and having people listen to me talk is a joy! CASE attendees are super engaged and always laugh in the right places.
I also love personal touches—being creative in how we say “thank you” can help go a long way. At the 2022 CEAC in Edinburgh, I treated the Newcomers Track planning committee to comedy and food at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I also gave them all handwritten thank-you cards and a little Scottish pin badge, which everyone wore for the rest of the conference!
Ann-Marie Thornton: In the advancement field, we often like to steward our donors, and stewardship comes in many forms. CASE does this well—thanking volunteers and ensuring they’re engaged and connected. The personal touch of communication is important.
Emilie Henry: Sometimes the purpose of recognition is to help others see a pathway for engagement. I tell my team that our goal is for all our donors to feel known, so when I’m at a CASE conference, whether it’s the ribbons or a thank you for our time or investment, it’s all phenomenal recognition. We do important work, so let's make it fun and rewarding for everybody! It meant a lot to be acknowledged with a CASE Crystal Apple Award, especially as CASE brought together colleagues who have been an important part of my life.
How important is it that your staff know about your involvement with CASE?
Simon Fairbanks: It’s important as it inspires others. I’m vocal on LinkedIn about this— there’s value in shouting about your involvement, as it gives others confidence and lets them know they can approach you for guidance. Anything that CASE can do to amplify that, the better.
Emilie Henry: I feel a responsibility to ensure that my team has access to CASE. If we are active participants, it makes us better professionals. Leadership is about serving as a model for others. We ask people to volunteer all the time, and it's important we do the same.
CASE operates on a global scale. How crucial is it for you to have access to this international network?
Emilie Henry: I love the global focus of CASE, and the access it provides to connect globally is invaluable. Philanthropy can change the world. It’s about audacious dreams and investing deeply in what people care about. Attracting and hearing from diverse talent is critically important as we tackle complex issues. By engaging beyond our regions and benefitting from more perspectives, we become better at what we do. To be a part of an organization that grows us all in so many facets is wonderful.
Ann-Marie Thornton: Through my work on the US/Canada Council, I'm exposed to what is happening with my Canadian colleagues. I see philanthropy through a different lens and learn about how operations differ there. It's brought a deeper understanding and taught me a lot about my colleagues and philanthropy overall. It’s why we continue to come back—because the experience is top-notch and because of how supportive CASE is of individuals who volunteer.
Interested in volunteering for CASE? Find out more on ways to get involved.
Interview by Sean Schindl, CASE Director of Volunteer Stewardship.
With thanks to the following: Ann-Marie Thornton, Community College of Baltimore County; Ann-Marie serves on the US/Canada Regional Council and chairs the CASE Centre for Community College Advancement Advisory Committee. Emilie Henry, Westminster Schools in Atlanta and Chair of the US/Canada Regional Council. Simon Fairbanks, previously with the University of Nottingham and Pickle Jar Communications; speaker at CASE conferences, such as the Nordic Summit; previous co-chair for the CEAC Newcomers Track; and Currents magazine contributor.