On January 2, 1997, I showed up for my first day of work as the Executive Director of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (Oregon LCV). The Board shouldn’t have hired me. I was only 30. I had zero fundraising experience, virtually no personnel supervision experience, and had only been involved previously with one other nonprofit organization. A few weeks into the job, I had the good fortune of attending a four-day boot camp designed for nonprofit Executive Directors. The boot camp was very valuable – almost a lifesaver as I struggled to learn new skills. .
