Three questions for Brown’s Josh Taub
Josh Taub has deep Brown College roots. (One thing he and I share). Josh has labored at Brown for 18 years and earned his undergraduate and graduate levels from the college. Since July of this 12 months, Josh has served as affiliate vice chairman for improvement and worldwide development. As I’ve by no means finished a Q&A with an development skilled, I used to be thrilled that Josh agreed to reply my questions.
Q: Inform us about your job. What are your main duties as an affiliate vice chairman for improvement and worldwide development?
A: In my position, I function one of many crew leaders in Brown’s development division, which has been engaged in a 10-year fundraising marketing campaign—initially aiming for $3 billion, elevated to $4 billion, and now extremely near $4.5 billion. I handle a devoted crew of eight, together with 4 front-line fundraisers with various experience throughout areas and donor demographics. Our crew has raised $100 million yearly from worldwide sources for every of the previous three years.
I handle a portfolio of round 100 high-net-worth people, sometimes alumni and fogeys, with the capability for transformative presents of $5 million or extra. In development, we interact potential donors and construct long-term relationships to advance the college’s priorities. I work particularly with Brown worldwide alumni and fogeys, primarily specializing in the U.Ok., Hong Kong, China and different elements of Asia (together with Japan, Korea and Thailand) and Europe, Canada and worldwide donors primarily based within the U.S.
Along with managing donor relationships, my crew is chargeable for coordinating worldwide journey for senior directors, together with the president, provost and senior vice chairman for development. This consists of organizing advanced, multicity journeys and world occasions, resembling Brown’s sestercentennial celebration in Hong Kong and, extra not too long ago, a Brown Athletics reception in Tokyo. Past these efforts, I oversee two charitable entities—the Brown College U.Ok. Charitable Belief and the Brown College Basis in Hong Kong—which permit donors in these areas to contribute tax-efficiently. My position additionally usually entails liaising with worldwide tutorial items on campus, and for a decade, I served because the development accomplice to the Watson Institute for Worldwide and Public Affairs.
Among the presents I’m proudest of are a naming present for the Legorreta Most cancers Heart, the endowed directorship for our Alzheimer’s Heart inside the Carney Institute for Mind Science and a full scholarship program that helps U.S. navy veterans at Brown. Not too long ago, I’ve been main a $220 million fundraising initiative to make Brown need-blind for worldwide college students—a dedication to world entry, permitting college students from all backgrounds to hitch the Brown group with out monetary constraints. We’ve obtained help from a various array of worldwide constituents, together with alumni spanning eight a long time, from the lessons of the Nineteen Fifties to the current day.
These initiatives exemplify why many people select a profession in larger training development—to be a drive for change and to construct a brighter, extra equitable future for our college students, our group and the world. This aligns carefully with Brown’s mission to “serve the group, the nation and the world” by fostering data and getting ready college students to make impactful contributions to society.
Q: What instructional {and professional} path did you comply with in your present position? What recommendation do you have got for anybody contemplating a profession in college development?
A: Like many in development, I didn’t develop up envisioning donor conferences or marketing campaign targets. As an alternative, this profession path found me. I grew up in Paris because the son of two Individuals who deliberate to remain for a 12 months however by no means left. Raised in a multicultural atmosphere, I initially aimed to check enterprise in France. However after just a few summers as a camp counselor in California, I realized a few completely different, broader instructional method. Impressed, I utilized to a few U.S. faculties: MIT (the place my father studied), Dickinson (the place a number of relations had gone) and Brown. It’s a bit embarrassing, however I knew little about Brown (the web didn’t exist but); it appeared like everybody else in my college wished to go there. They have been none too happy once I acquired in, however I rapidly realized extra in regards to the college and realized it was the proper place for me. Brown turned a catalyst for a way I feel and be taught, embracing its interdisciplinary method that inspired me to discover and take dangers throughout topics and actions.
Since then, my profession has unfolded by means of a collection of mini careers, every constructing a novel set of expertise. I spent seven years at Condé Nast Worldwide (journal publishing), primarily based in Paris, London and Madrid, engaged on world growth and launching magazines in markets from Russia to South Africa. Subsequent, I moved to Barcelona and launched my very own small publishing syndication firm, the place I honed gross sales, advertising and marketing and digital media expertise with shoppers worldwide. Throughout my six years there, I met my spouse, Rebecca. Ultimately, we determined to maneuver to the U.S. Taking a look at job listings, I got here throughout a task in Brown’s development workplace, requiring fundraising or gross sales expertise, worldwide expertise, an understanding of worldwide affairs and data of Brown. I learn the job description and knew it was meant to be.
For 18 years, I’ve had the privilege of working in worldwide development at Brown, collaborating with a gifted crew of among the business’s most completed fundraisers and development professionals. It takes a crew to fundraise, from fundraiser to help employees, analysis, present accounting, stewardship … Over time, I’ve taken on better duties, managed relationships with high-level donors and am now excited to mentor the subsequent era of fundraisers. It’s rewarding to see the abilities and insights I’ve gained put to make use of in serving to others succeed on this work.
4 years in the past, I took on a brand new problem by designing my very own grasp’s in mindfulness research at Brown’s College of Public Well being. Impressed by Brown’s open curriculum and taking one class a semester in between work and private duties, I explored meditation and mindfulness by means of the lenses of public well being, neuroscience and philosophy. It was a private problem that additionally helped me professionally, permitting me to raised focus on Brown’s instructional philosophy with donors and share firsthand the excessive caliber of our college and college students. Final Might, I graduated from Brown for the second time. Folks ask me what I’ll do subsequent, however I did this out of mental curiosity and enjoyable!
So, given all of this, I assume my prime three ideas could be:
- Most individuals don’t enter development as a primary love—however many industries domesticate related expertise and experiences that may switch seamlessly into fundraising. In Brown development, I’ve colleagues who beforehand labored in finance, in authorities and even one who was a former skilled ballet dancer! Don’t fear about following a inflexible profession path; mine was something however linear. Embrace the concept numerous experiences can lead you to surprising alternatives in development and that the abilities you achieve will serve you properly on this area.
- Development is a profession you may discover with out totally switching jobs. Be part of an area group’s board and supply to be on their improvement committee. Volunteer in your alma mater on a fundraising council, serving to them increase presents for his or her annual fund. Almost each group, small or giant, wants assist with fundraising, so it’s an ideal, hands-on technique to take a look at and construct these expertise with out making a giant profession change. If you find yourself loving it, you’ll have constructed a powerful basis to transition easily into the sector.
- Cultivating a mindset of steady studying is crucial. Working at a college presents considerable alternatives for private {and professional} development, making every day vibrant and fascinating. Studying is a part of the job, as a result of we then exit and characterize completely different aspects of the college to potential donors. Whereas a profession in development could be demanding and intense, I’m consistently impressed by the outstanding college students, passionate college members and groundbreaking analysis that makes an actual distinction. This dynamic atmosphere fuels my enthusiasm and drives me to excel, reminding me of the profound impression we are able to have at Brown.
Q: Worldwide development is a comparatively new area in larger training. How is worldwide fundraising completely different from home fundraising? What are particular expertise that could be useful to somebody contemplating a profession in worldwide development? And what are some widespread misperceptions of this profession path?
A: Worldwide development shares many similarities with home fundraising, following a widely known cycle of engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. We construct significant connections with donors, set up impactful occasions and foster long-term relationships amongst alumni, dad and mom, college and directors. Nevertheless, on a world scale, the nuances and complexities introduce a complete new set of challenges, making worldwide work a definite endeavor that requires a deep understanding of various cultures and philanthropic practices.
Philanthropy is considerably formed by cultural contexts, which means that the U.S. method to larger training fundraising could not resonate globally. In lots of international locations, larger training is free, which might result in shock even amongst potential high-level donors when fundraising is talked about, particularly with hefty tuition payments right here within the U.S. Attitudes towards charity differ extensively from nation to nation, influenced by components like faith, social class and authorities coverage. Moreover, current years have seen elevated restrictions on worldwide funding, significantly from international locations resembling China, Korea and India.
Worldwide fundraisers face distinctive challenges: Language limitations, time zone variations and demanding journey schedules complicate relationship-building. Establishing and sustaining connections with donors whom we see occasionally requires a major funding of time and assets. Given these complexities, securing worldwide presents usually takes longer and entails years of cautious cultivation in comparison with home fundraising.
Working in worldwide development requires appreciable stamina. I’ve usually confronted the problem of touring over 24 hours door to door to achieve China, with simply sufficient time for a fast bathe earlier than diving right into a three-hour, multicourse meal. Whereas the meals is normally scrumptious, it may be fairly the problem at 6 a.m. in my house time zone, as I’ve to stay totally engaged all through the meal! Then attempt to sleep for just a few hours earlier than getting up for the subsequent breakfast assembly.
Lastly, whereas we are able to try to know different cultures and get every little thing proper, errors will inevitably occur, so it’s important to be forgiving of ourselves. Let me share a joke from just a few years in the past. When touring to Hong Kong, I realized to carry presents for the individuals I meet, as is the native customized. One 12 months, I believed I hit the jackpot with some pretty Brown College clocks from the bookstore. Nevertheless, once I handed them out, one recipient barely mentioned thanks and instantly put the clock again in its field. An analogous lukewarm response adopted for the subsequent particular person.
Later that day, I obtained a name from an alumna I’ve recognized for years, who jokingly mentioned, “Are you aware you’ve offended my mom?” (a trustee emerita!). Mortified, I realized that gifting a clock in Hong Kong is a fake pas as a result of the Cantonese phrase for giving a clock seems like “to attend a funeral”—primarily, they symbolize dying! The repair? The recipients gave me a symbolic coin, successfully “shopping for” the clock from me and thus lifting the curse. Solely in fundraising would an answer contain cash altering fingers! A 12 months later, the trustee emerita referred to as me once more, saying her clock had stopped working, however it was her favourite. May I carry her a brand new one? I assume it was an excellent (and well timed) present in any case!
