Featured Profile: Gary Rubin, Vice President of Advancement at Towson University

This month we had the chance to chat with Gary Rubin, Vice President of Advancement at Towson University in Maryland. We wanted to ask him a few questions about integrated marketing and fundraising – and about his lounge singing. Yes, you heard us right!

Q: As a senior leader at Towson University, a traditionally state-funded university, what’s the biggest challenge in your job?

I’d have to say it’s the integration of departments in the division. Getting the 75 people who work with me in marketing, fund development, and alumni relations to get on the same page.

Q: In your 40+ years in leadership and fundraising positions in higher education and other nonprofit organizations, how has fundraising changed?

It’s changed a lot and not at all. On one hand, there the introduction of online and new technologies is having a profound effect on fundraising yet some of the basics e.g. building relationship face to face – hasn’t changed at all. In my past career, before Towson University, lay people (volunteers) would always be engaged to ask for the larger gifts. A professional fundraiser would NEVER make the ask. I’m trying to build our lay ability to ask for money here at Towson. The old methods of face-to-face big asks with volunteers never gets stale no matter how fundraising changes in other ways.

Q: Tell me about the role of passion in your career and its role in fundraising?

There’s nothing greater than having a passion for something and then making that something happen – whether that’s art, business, and idea, or making the world a better place through fundraising.

Q: You can’t get away without telling me about your lounge singing. How did that come about?

A few years ago, some friends were sharing what was on their ‘bucket list’ and I had being able to sing in public at the top of my list. I’d never sung publicly before – only in the shower. To make a long story short, my friends connected me with a music professional and I suddenly had a gig. I survived, recorded 5 CDS, and have gone on to perform 4 concerts at the university and playing local clubs.

Q: And how does it connect to fundraising?

Well first off, I’ve raised over $50,000 for scholarships at Towson University through my concerts and CD sales. But even more than the money raised, I think doing this comes back to this idea of passion. In fundraising, passion is key since it’s fundamentally about relationships that build trust and have a donor feel the authenticity and integrity of the fundraiser enough to give.

When someone picks up on someone’s passion and they feel it’s genuine, you can’t help but be successful at what you start out to do – singing or fundraising. For me, being able to sing in front of others; to connect with the crowd; and have them feel my passion, is so empowering. It’s the same in fundraising.

Q: Where can a reader find your music?

If they go to www.garynrubin.com, they’ll find my music for download and if they want, book me for a gig.