Hi, I’m Kelly Willoughby and I’ve been working in nonprofits for more than 20 years. I’ve been working to change the world my whole life! My company name, Good Works was designed to communicate two messages—the first is that Good (a noun) Works (a verb); it also suggests that I try to do Good (an adjective) Works (a noun).
I created Good Works when I realized that I needed a new challenge. I queried friends and colleagues, “What do you think I should do next?” “What do you see as my gifts and graces?” The words came back loud and clear, “Take what you do wider. Don’t just work for one agency, help as many as you can.” I remembered the words of John Wesley, founder of Methodism who said, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” That is the humble goal of Good Works.
I first learned to raise money from my father. My Dad was a dedicated Boy Scout volunteer. I went with him when he met with a woman and asked her for $3,000 to build a chapel at Scout Camp. She pulled out her checkbook and wrote the check. That’s when I realized that you could ask people for money, and they’d give it, not to you—but to a cause that touches their heart.
Throughout my career, I’ve helped raise more than $50,000,000 through annual funds, grants, capital campaigns, special events, individual gifts, major gifts and planned giving.
I’ve served a number of nonprofit organizations including:
- Pastor of several United Methodist Churches;
- Regional Director for Joint Action in Community Service, a sub-contractor for Job Corps;
- President / CEO (and sole professional fund raiser) with Habitat for Humanity;
- Executive Director for CASA;
- Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer for a domestic violence center;
- Development Director for a day and residential treatment program for troubled youth; and
- Development Director for another domestic violence center.
I describe myself as a generalist. I’ve done a little bit of everything and I believe that it is all important. However, there is a time and place for every focus. My goal with GW is to help you create a strategy that works for you.
Other Stuff:
The initials I proudly display behind my name, CFRE and CFRM stand for Certified Fund Raising Executive and Certificate of Fund Raising Management from Indiana University. They indicate that I have met and kept certain professional standards of training,
I have a BA in Theatre from Baker University, an MDIV from Saint Paul School of Theology, I’ve studied at Harvard University in their Executive Education /Social Enterprise studies program.
Thanks for visiting,
Kelly S. Willoughby, CFRE, CFRM
President