The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Fellowship (IDEA) is a year-long program for fundraisers from underrepresented communities, including fundraisers of color (African-American, Latinx, Hispanic, Asian), LGBTQ and/or gender nonconforming fundraisers, Indigenous, other underrepresented communities, and emerging fundraisers who work at smaller, under-resourced nonprofits. The program is intended to recruit, retain, and educate diverse nonprofit fundraisers with the intent to increase the number of diverse fundraising/nonprofit professionals in the Bay Area.
Jeffrey Gan
Director of Development, The Roxie
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector? What inspired you to do this work?
I come from academia and the arts. I wrote my first grants in support of my own research in grad school and I found I had a knack for it. I am very passionate about the arts and about securing resources for artists and arts organizations to thrive; I found that my grant writing and fundraising experience was an asset in realizing those passions.
Please tell us about your current role and responsibilities.
I am currently the associate director of development at The Roxie, a nonprofit, independent cinema in The Mission. I am responsible for a wide breadth of fundraising activities, from strategizing around our new major donor circle, to cultivating our small and medium sized donor pool, to writing grants and award applications. It’s an eclectic mix, and I’m never wanting for variety!
What are some highlights in your current role and in your career? What has been the biggest challenge?
I am so happy to be working at an arts organization that is ambitious, thriving, and so integrated with our community. Through decades of hard work, The Roxie has cultivated a deep relationship with our viewers, our donors, and our allied organizations. We recently closed a multi-million dollar capital campaign to buy our building; being part of that project and strategizing for how to move forward has been a thrilling chapter in my career.
It’s also a challenge! Fundraising for a major capital campaign has the advantage of clarity and immediacy. Translating that capital campaign success into annual fund support–even for an ambitious shop like The Roxie–is a real narrative and interpersonal puzzle.
What professional knowledge would you impart to other nonprofit fundraisers?
Authenticity is one of the greatest assets that we have. I think that all of us are swimming in algorithmically proliferated fakery these days, and authentic connection feels really precious and valuable. The Roxie is thriving in part because authentic connection is built into our brand; we are most successful in our fundraising when we are transparent and authentic in our communication.
How did you get involved with AFP?
I met Fr. Andres Emmanuelli during my job search, and he recommended that I seek out the IDEA fellowship specifically as an opportunity for professional development and mentorship.
What advice would you give to others who are considering applying for the IDEA Fellowship?
Give it a shot! It’s very easy for people who are working in this field to feel siloed away from one another. I’ve found such remarkable community through the IDEA Fellowship.
How do you balance your personal and professional life?
It’s a constant negotiation. I try to firmly shut my laptop at the end of the day, but… before I started working in this role, I was a longtime fan and patron of this theater. I’d attend screenings several times a month. My genuine passion for this cinema is part of how I landed this role! Now, when I attend screenings it still feels a little like work; I’m saying hello to board members or donors that I see in the concessions line, I’m nitpicking the donation appeals we put in our pre-show slides.
What are some activities you enjoy outside of work?
I’m very passionate about the drag, dance, and theater scene here in the Bay Area. You can catch me at Clutch the Pearls every first Sunday (the Bay Area’s fourth best drag show!), and I’m always running to catch a performance—whether it’s the SF Ballet or a new play reading at Brava. I’m a longtime ensemble member with Gamelan Sekar Jaya, a Balinese music and dance group in Berkeley, and I’ve been training at Nā Lei Hulu i ka Wēkiu, an SF-based hālau hula (hula school), for about three years.
I’m also a volunteer with Plover Watch in Half Moon Bay! Alongside a great group of eccentric birders, I help conduct population surveys for the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover across the San Mateo Coast State Beaches. It’s a wonderful way to support species conservation while enjoying a great walk along the coast
What career goals do you still want to pursue or accomplish?
I’d love to join a board. I’ve spent much of my career in development working with some excellent board members, and I think it’s about time for me to return the favor!