Today, we’d like to introduce you to Elaine Bonner.
Hi Elaine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
With a degree in management, I began my career in the retail world, quickly advancing to a buyer at a major department store. I soon discovered that the fast-paced, high-stress, and for-profit world was not a good fit for me. After I stepped away from this position, where I worked night and day, I began volunteering for a nonprofit organization that offered educational classes for young mothers. I ended up heading up this program for 25 years. I became a program manager, self-taught grant writer, and master at creating collaborations and community partnerships, which are key roles in the Development world. From there, I worked for an arts organization for under-served youth, a nature-based preschool in a hands-on farm setting, and an urban Catholic high school. This diverse and vast experience has now served me well as the Director of Philanthropy at Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative. Each step of the way on my journey, my faith served as an important element in listening to God’s calling for my journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My first job took a toll as my mantra was to work harder and longer in order to get ahead. I would be the first one to show up in the morning and the last one to leave. Then I took work home. This pace eventually crushed me and was not sustainable. As I started to raise a family, I shifted my priorities to achieve a healthier work/life harmony. I then began to work part-time and was able to bring a child to work from time to time. I will never regret giving up a full-time position to be present for my kids. There was a huge learning curve entering the non-profit world, but soon discovered how mentors helped me along the way. Whenever I get the chance to help out a fellow development colleague or someone just starting out, I make a point to make time for this. The challenges in the development/fundraising world are quite unique, and having a built-in support system is a beautiful thing!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As the Director of Philanthropy for a newly formed nonprofit organization, I have the ability to DREAM and set the course of the branding and communication strategy from the start. There is a lot of DREAMING going on at Emerge! Our mission is to empower people seeking recovery and former foster youth to rebuild their lives through transformational and vocational pathways. There is no model like this in the country, and this is what intrigues every person I meet; everyone agrees that there are workforce shortages, and building skills among this second-chance population makes sense to meet the workforce needs.
The innovative element of Emerge allows me to use my creativity in many ways, from storytelling, solicitation letters, in-person presentations, special events, video vignettes, interviews, and one-on-one meetings. I get to wear many hats, which can be exciting, energizing, and exhausting. Aside from donor cultivation and stewardship, I am responsible for marketing, communications, grant writing, special events, and volunteer opportunities. In representing the organization, I share the mission with a vast array of civic groups, including Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Business Networking groups, Giving Circles, and many others.
I enjoy sharing the impact stories of the transformed lives that we have the privilege of serving. You have to keep the passion strong for this work as you invite others to join you. In all of my 35 years in this field, I have to say that my current position has been the most rewarding as I watch lives overcome great adversity to discover joy and purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
In my work life, there is no greater joy than watching others discover their hidden talents, their worth, and how they have something beautiful and unique to offer. At the end of the day, if everyone had just one person cheering for them, I think we would be a more positive country. We are not meant to live in isolation but rather in a community where we help each other. I want to model that for my children and grandchildren, as this is what we are all called to do. In our small community of Dayton, Ohio, there are many opportunities to cross paths with people who have touched my life, or I have in some small way impacted theirs. It is a happy moment when I run into an alumnus from the high school where I worked for five years and to now see how their journey has progressed. At Emerge, I have the wonderful privilege of meeting individuals who were broken, lost, and forgotten and watching their lives literally “emerge” from the ashes of adversity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emergerecoverytrade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergerecoveryandtrade/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emergerecoveryandtrade/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/82237525/admin/feed/posts/
Image Credits
Emerge Recovery & Trade campus in Xenia, Ohio
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the opening of our Men’s Recovery Housing program
Doug Van Dyke, Chris Adams, and Kip Morris – the Emerge founders
Four residents in our Men’s Recovery Housing program
Our supportive community at the June 2023 Ribbon Cutting
Rebecca Morgan, Elaine Bonner, Sandy McHugh (100+ Women Making a Difference in Greene County)
Elaine with the team from Bridget’s Path
Elaine with Jake Jagels, Field Representative and Caseworker for Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10)
