On a Friday afternoon in early September, two members of the CWIP Communications Committee (Grace Lipscomb & Katie Bardine) had the opportunity to meet with Jacki Davidoff to learn more about her time in the nonprofit sector, hear nuggets of wisdom and understand the value of continuous learning and growth. Throughout the course of the conversation, insights, stories and words of encouragement were shared. We are excited to highlight Jacki, a long time CWIP member, board member, and committee chair, to share her message of encouragement for women in our sector to see more possibilities for themselves and for their contribution to their organizations. For Jackie, it starts with learning how to push ourselves both professionally and personally. 

If you are a member of CWIP, or familiar with the nonprofit world in Chicagoland, then you have probably heard of Jacki—or been touched by her insights and expertise. As a person driven by passion and purpose, for Jacki, it felt like serving the nonprofit sector was a great fit. Jacki’s entry into the nonprofit sector was initially through her experience in marketing and communications (she studied Communications at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) to help organizations tell their stories. 

While working at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Jacki led their marketing and advertising efforts. It wasn’t until around 2008 that Jacki shifted to support Development (when asked by the CEO at the time if she’d consider it), amidst the 2008 Recession. While she didn’t think of herself as a fundraiser, she was motivated by a dedication to the Garden’s mission and decided to jump into this new profession. As a foundation, corporate, and government fundraiser, her responsibilities expanded and this challenged her to learn a whole new set of skills (those math skills came in handy in developing budgets for grants to fund the Garden’s conservation science research!). As she grew within this role, she found herself growing personally and professionally. Jacki shared, “I learned that you can use your job to challenge yourself.” Her time with the Chicago Botanic Garden continued with her overseeing their Corporate Partnerships;  she said she found her sweet spot in positioning the Garden so that businesses would see alignment in supporting its mission and programs.

Throughout her time at the Garden, Jacki noted the importance of always having a growth mindset and being open to change, as well as knowing when it’s time to take the next step. In 2013, Jacki knew it was time for her next challenge. She joined her husband at Davidoff Strategy where she currently works as the Principal, Executive Leadership Coach and Facilitator. When asked how she would describe her current role she said, “I work to develop mission-driven organizations and people.”

Jacki’s success in her career is due in part to her strong belief that, “we all have more capacity than we know”. During our conversation, Jacki shared that if we can shift our minds to see obstacles not just as challenges, but as an opportunity to develop new skills and discover what we’re capable of,  they become opportunities to grow. One’s career and job can help do just that, and coming into the workspace with this mindset, as Jacki noted, helps us all to “develop our aliveness.”

For Jacki, she had the willingness to take risks, both professionally—when making the switch from Marketing to Development at the Gardens—and personally—joining her husband to work together at Davidoff Strategy. This willingness allowed her to explore places of vulnerability and create a beautiful intersection of personal and professional growth—something she now applies to her work today and that has led to a successful career.

Jacki shared that her success hasn’t been a one-woman show. There have been several individuals along the way who helped her grow, many of whom are fellow CWIP members. Jacki’s legacy at CWIP is due in part to her eagerness to get involved in the various committees (serving on the Racial Justice and Social Equity Committee, Program Committee, WLMP, and Membership Committee) and by serving on the Board for nine years. Jacki highlighted Pier Rogers (recently of North Park University) who was the first woman who encouraged her to get more involved and join a committee, as well as Debra Walker Johnson who served as a Co-Chair with her. These relationships, and many others, flourished because CWIP works to bring like- minded individuals together who work in our sector.  

When we asked Jacki what she hopes she has contributed to CWIP or will continue to bring, Jacki responded, “I have a lot of determination to support how women show up in their workplaces, changing how they see themselves, and stepping into their power and authority—especially women of color who may face complex barriers.” She went on to share the potential she sees with so many women in our sector– but many of them are scared of taking a risk and speaking up within their workplaces. Jacki hopes to empower these women to work to fight imposter syndrome by encouraging them to take up space, even with their fear. Jacki encourages us all to look for opportunities to grow and to not worry so much about keeping a facade, but rather about continually challenging yourself. 

To end our conversation with Jacki, we wanted to know what she saw as the future of our sector and what inspires her to continue her work and be a changemaker. She said, “The people who are in this sector inspire me as they dedicate themselves to mission. Our sector attracts people who care. It’s about the mission and about something larger than yourself, so people are willing to take risks. This gives me hope.”

If you are anything like Grace and Katie, this profile has left you feeling inspired and uplifted. If you see Jacki at an upcoming CWIP event, say hi! Ask her for some wisdom, or even better, about her hobbies: Reading her kindle, taking long walks with her husband John and their two “foster fail” puppy sisters and gardening fresh food!

Many thanks to Jacki for sharing her story with us. You can learn more about Jacki and connect with her on LinkedIn or via the Davidoff Strategy website.