Pride Foundation

Pride Foundation staff surround Executive Director Audrey Haberman (second row center) at a recent staff retreat welcoming the new regional staff team

Pride Foundation’s Audrey Haberman takes a moment to share what she has learned during her 13 years as Executive Director as she prepares for a new adventure as the Managing Director at The Giving Practice at Philanthropy Northwest at the end of May.

Dear Friends,

Although I am excited for a new adventure, it is also difficult to leave this amazing organization filled with so many smart and creative people. I have learned so much from you during this time and for those gifts, I am grateful.

I have always believed that Pride Foundation is successful not because of any one of us, but because of our combined dedication to our work and our shared belief in a better future. From the support of our generous donors and volunteers to the amazing work of grantees and scholars on the ground in all five states, we have been successful because we have created this organization together.

I have learned from many of you that a leader does not have to be in front at all times, and that leadership comes in many forms. Pride Foundation has worked because of our collective humility combined with our passion for championing the leadership of others. I just love this and will carry it with me forever.

There are so many people to thank! First of all, prior to 1998 when I arrived, there were founders, board members and donors who had built, stabilized and set Pride Foundation on the road to success. I wish I could name all of you but I’d like to particularly thank every one of our staff and board members over the years, especially our wonderful current board president Joyce Allen, and also these two individuals:

• Ted Lord, the Executive Director from 1992-2000 who fostered the culture of Pride that makes this such a special place and mentored me before and after I took over the ED role.
• Ric Weiland, who was a board member, donor and deeply respected member of our community, who demonstrated his belief in the role of a LGBTQ community foundation and trust in Pride Foundation specifically when he left us close to half of his estate when he died. To this day, it remains difficult to balance the loss of such a great person and friend with the impact of his generous gift to our entire community.

I have learned and loved that at Pride Foundation, there is no event too large or too small that should not be celebrated along with a good laugh or a song. I offer an enthusiastic shout out to those of you who have endured my toneless singing over the years. Really, though, it is this sense of levity and fun that has been a hallmark of our work, and it has been an honor to carry this flag. Our community has endured many challenges, and I have always appreciated that at Pride Foundation, successes minor and major are celebrated. I leave confident that the current staff and board, with your wisdom and great senses of humor, will continue to flaunt fun.

I learned from Thatcher Bailey, the board president when I was hired, and Allison Beezer, the board president in my first years as ED, that there is wisdom in groups (too bad they didn’t write the book before Malcolm Gladwell did!). This notion that groups should be listened to and trusted, and that groups, not individuals, when presented with complete and transparent information make the best decisions has been proven time and time again here at Pride Foundation. I feel so lucky to have worked with boards and donors who have supported this practice and who understand that we must always act upon our values first, foster a meaningful dialogue and create trusting, long-term relationships in order to determine strategic priorities and direction.

Pride Foundation is so fortunate to have such an abundance of people who make up our community: our scholars, all the staff members of nonprofit organizations working to create a better future for our LGBTQ community, past and current staff and board, our donors who give generously – be it for the first time this year or for many years, our community leaders who advocate openly and behind the scenes, and of course our incredible volunteers who make all of our work possible. It has been a blast to work alongside you, with you and for you. Because of each of you – so talented and dedicated -that Pride Foundation’s best years are yet to come.

Please know that I am grateful and inspired by what I have learned at Pride Foundation. Thank you for your friendship and advice over the years. I look forward to continuing my relationship with Pride Foundation as a donor and passionate supporter, so I know we will continue to cross paths over the weeks, months and years ahead. Thank you for your personal and professional support, and for continuing to inspire me with your community leadership and generosity.

With a full heart and with Pride,

Audrey

Read more about Audrey’s departure “Leadership Love: A changing of the guard”

To contact Audrey, email [email protected] or leave a comment for Audrey below.

Tags: Audrey Haberman

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