As I See It: Five Months In: A Thanksgiving Season Filled with Gratitude
StyleFW Pictures
You may remember that I stepped into my new role of President at M. Gale in July. While five months has come and gone quickly, I am inspired when I reflect on all the moments, big and small, that have shaped this season of continued growth, innovation and collaboration for our firm. Several inspiring moments revealed the strength of our team and the incredible value of partnership with our clients.
I think of everyday moments like team strategy sessions sustained by laughter, brainstorming meetings where vulnerability was embraced for the sake of growth, and the quiet (and sometimes loud!) notes of encouragement shared between colleagues. I also think of big milestones, like a client recently hitting a fundraising benchmark earlier than anticipated, and another’s celebratory event after years of diligence. Stepping into this position has been both humbling and energizing and every day I’m reminded that I get to do this work alongside an extraordinary team and some of the nicest people. For that, I’m deeply grateful.
Over the years, I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t just a cheesy sentiment. It’s actually a significant force. It connects us, steadies us and reminds us why we do this passionate work in the first place. In the nonprofit sector, where missions are big and aspirations are sometimes even bigger, resources are often considered limited. That makes sincere thankfulness a vital practice. As people and as professionals, it keeps us grounded, lifts our spirits and highlights the everyday heroes of our community whose mission-forward impact rarely lands in the spotlight, but is almost always present.
For nonprofit professionals in particular, I think gratitude helps build resilience. I know for our clients, I’ve seen its power bring clarity and renewed purpose, especially when people seem to be juggling too much already. For philanthropists, gratitude from their nonprofit community builds trust and loyalty in their gifts of time, treasure and talent. Although we often think of gratitude as the outcome of generosity, I argue that when gratitude is authentically and freely shared, generosity will likely follow.
Stepping into this role has also reminded me of the power of collaborative leadership. When we invite ideas, share credit and celebrate wins together, everyone rises. And gratitude is wonderfully contagious. I have witnessed a sincere “thank you” shift a meeting, energize a project and remind someone that their work matters more than they realize. As we look ahead, my hope is simple, though not necessarily always easy. I hope that we keep building cultures where gratitude isn’t occasional, but a daily habit.
To our M. Gale clients and partners, both past and present (and future 😉) and to the many community partners who support mission-driven work, thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your passion and for your commitment to building stronger, more generous communities. I’m honored to walk this road with you.
As always, I’d love to connect. If you want to talk about how your team can fully embrace generosity more or hear how M. Gale can help, reach out.
Your partner in purpose,
Laura
As President, Laura Hutyra is a results-driven leader focused on M. Gale team collaboration and operational goals across all of the company’s departments. Laura also serves as a consultant to help clients navigate organizational and fundraising solutions that maintain mission promises. She is a seasoned campaign fundraiser, with experience managing multi-million dollar campaigns.
