My husband says, I have been “running the roads” a lot lately. That’s a southern thing if you don’t understand that phrase. But he is correct. I have been going a lot of places in the last couple of weeks and according to my calendar, I’m not going to slow down until around Christmas.

Now for a virtual professional, that’s a bit of a culture shock to actually go outside of your virtual world. But I love getting out of here. I love to visit and talk with people and network everywhere I go.

I shared a booth with one of my clients at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Knoxville last week and enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones. And of course, sharing my business and the services I provide for administrative support and online marketing. I walked away with a great list of people to follow-up with this week.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial was being dedicated this past weekend and I was honored to be invited to a reception and the dedication ceremony. The Mayor’s were there, as well as other politicians, high-ranking military personel and many familiar faces from my time with the organization. The ceremony was incredibly moving and I was proud to be an American and to have been involved in the early stages of the memorial’s planning. And it proved to be a great place to network. I was invited to be on a local radio show and several people are interested in learning more about my business.

I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks and the many networking opportunties to share what I do and how I can help other business owners with their administrative and marketing needs.

So Honey, I have a few more “roads to run.”

I have such a passion for nonprofit organizations and philanthropy. My background was in nonprofit management prior to starting my own business as a virtual assistant. I know the struggles and hardships that face nonprofits in fundraising. Now with the emergence of social media and internet marketing, nonprofit organizations have so many new doors open to them to find those all important dollars. A Virtual Business Solution offers specialized services to nonprofit organizations by utilizing blogs, enewsletters, social media and other innovative ways to reach your donors.

My client and good friend, Sandy Rees, CFRE was highlighted in an article by the Chattanooga Times Free Press where she commented on using blogs for fundraising. Follow this link to read the article and listen to Sandy’s audio interview.

If you are a nonprofit manager looking for new opportunities to boost your funding, contact me at A Virtual Business Solution and we’ll work together to develop a plan for your online fundraising success!

Terri Brooks is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist and owner of A Virtual Business Solution. With more than 35 years of professional experience, including eight years of nonprofit management, she assists many nonprofit organizations with their online marketing and fundraising.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone could help all those struggling non-profit organizations with their fundraising program?  Just to find someone who understands their needs and can offer a simple plan for meeting and exceeding their goals?

Well, I know of just a person.  She is an incredible teacher, coach, mentor and Master Trainer for non-profit fundraisers and I have the privilege of working with her as her virtual assistant.  She is Sandy Rees, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and one of 125 Master Trainer’s in the world for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Typically, as a virtual professional I don’t leave the “virtual office” very often, however, I have had the opportunity to travel with Sandy recently to other AFP chapters in the South and watch her in action.  To say she is awesome, is truly an understatement.  She is captivating, funny, knowledgeable, engaging and right-on with her information.  People comment as they walk away from her training sessions that they can’t wait to get back to the office and implement the ideas Sandy gave them.  Now just how many times have you been anxious to get back to the office?

This is me at Sandy’s table at the Chattanooga Center for Nonprofits Philanthropy Institute

Sandy is a published author of Fundraising Buffet, A Heaping Helping of 101 Practical Ideas to Increase Donations and Deepen Donor Satisfaction. If you are looking for a dynamic speaker, an engaging trainer or a practical, step-by-step approach to fundraising, then look no further than Sandy Rees, CFRE or check her out at GetFullyFunded.