Colvin Hedgepeth

Director, Client Services

Favorite inspirational quote:

“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”

— Unknown

Pronouns: she/her

Areas of expertise: annual fund, Board engagement, corporate and foundation partnerships, fundraising strategy, grant writing, internal and external communications, major gifts, special events

Causes I’m most passionate about: environment, human rights, health, education, animal welfare

My fundraising story: My non-profit path has branched out in several different directions over the past decade—from communications to event planning and finally falling into fundraising five years ago. I’ve supported grassroots to international organizations, including leading the fundraising efforts for Blue Sky Fund, an outdoor education organization in my hometown of Richmond, VA, to running events for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. I strongly believe that these wide experiences made a strong foundation for fundraising, and feel grateful to have found a path that intertwines my strategic thinking, communications, and relationship-building skills.

Why I care about helping nonprofits grow: I’ve always been driven by a relentless pursuit to help people and make the world a better place. I’ve personally experienced the “survival mode” that many non-profit professionals face, which is why I care deeply about making this work more sustainable.

Hobbies: Hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, camping (can you tell I love the outdoors?), reading, playing with my rescue pup, Lupi, exploring Colorado, international travel

Unusual talent: Mixing up the words to well-known phrases in the most ridiculous ways (recent example: “the camel that broke the straw’s back”)