EPISODE 115
Episode 115 of Tales From the Trenches Tuesdays again features Amanda Smith, a seasoned philanthropy leader with two decades of experience spanning advancement services, annual giving, prospect research, and major gifts. Holding both an MBA and an MPA, she currently serves as Executive Director at Lehigh Valley Health Network, where she has grown donor pipelines and boosted fundraising performance in measurable ways — including increasing a donor pool by 1,455% in just three years. Recognized in the Association of Healthcare Philanthropies 40 Under 40, she also consults through WISE, an AI-powered fundraising tool, bringing her data-driven approach to organizations beyond her own institution.
Growing up, philanthropy wasn’t a dinner table conversation in her household. Her parents were practical, hardworking people who prioritized saving over giving. But now, with a son of her own who volunteers alongside her at hospital events, Amanda is deliberate about changing that — passing on a culture of generosity she had to discover for herself professionally. She also notes that even within healthcare, the philanthropy department is widely misunderstood. People assume her team gives money out, or worse, that she’s doing “fake sales.” It’s a reminder of how much education still needs to happen around what fundraisers actually do.
The Future of Fundraising
On the question of how fundraising will evolve, Amanda is clear-eyed. Direct mail isn’t going anywhere, at least not yet. Her donor base averages 72 to 74 years old, and pulling that channel would leave the organization dead in the water. She sees AI as an accelerating force in the field but approaches it with measured enthusiasm, noting that virtual gift officers are already emerging even if they still feel a little uncanny. Her bigger worry is generational: whether younger donors will develop the same deep institutional trust and consistency that has driven philanthropy for decades.
We’re so focused on the flashy, shiny things that might exist when our best prospects live in our database.
When it comes to hiring, she looks for people who are entrepreneurial, adaptable, and genuinely curious. Cold calling is still real, she notes, and so is the need for every team member — from the major gift officer down to the gift processor — to understand that their work affects donor relationships. Getting a stewardship letter wrong because a gift was entered incorrectly isn’t just a clerical error; it’s a relationship risk.
Amanda’s career is a good reminder that there’s no single path through the fundraising world, and that following your strengths — even when it means stepping back from the front lines — can make you more effective in the long run.
Just click on the picture of Amanda below to hear our conversation.
L’chaim,
jack
