Emma Sonduck
Interim Director of Development
The Bay School of San Francisco

Years in aasp
6 (I think.)

Your volunteer roles with aasp
I started as a volunteer with the Member Engagement Committee and over the years I moved into volunteering for the Mentorship Subcommittee, then chairing that committee, and finally I stepped into chairing the Member Engagement Committee two years ago.

What motivates you to volunteer with aasp?
The community! I know it's cliché, but I really felt I found my people the first time I attend Summit—people who were interested in the same conversations and topics I was, and even though I work in independent schools, which is on a much smaller scale than many of our members, I found so many ideas I could apply to my work. Over the years, I've continued volunteering because of the value I see aasp bringing to advancement services professionals, I really believe we are the best resource for professionals when they have a question, want to talk through a new idea, or are looking to understand how thinking about a topic has evolved as the profession has grown and evolved.

Which events and Summits have you attended?
I've been attending Summit since 2018, and I've also attended a handful of webinars over the years.

For which Summits have you volunteered?

I've volunteered at Summit since 2019—including volunteering virtually during COVID!

How have you benefited professionally and/or personally by volunteering with aasp?
Volunteering with aasp has really helped me grow in my understanding of what is possible in the field, and on a personal level, helped boost my confidence: hosting meetings, overseeing committees, and volunteering at Summit are all activities that I would have once considered out of my comfort zone, but through this experience I've really stretched and grown!

What are you most excited about for Summit 2024?
I'm most excited to re-connect with friends and colleagues and to learn about the work they are doing. I'm also really excited for our keynote speaker, Melina Palmer!

Tell us about your involvement in the planning and preparations for this year's Summit.
As chair of the Member Engagement Committee, my work for Summit is focused on the Aspire Awards, volunteer recognition, and Summit Buddies! This year we've made some changes to how we're presenting the Aspire Awards, and I'm really excited for this new format!

Do you have a memorable event or session on which you would like to comment?

The Keynote from last year's conference in Chicago was really incredible and really pushed me to consider how we think about and define philanthropy and how that impacts our donors and the support we receive.

Other than your volunteerism with aasp and your career, what are your interests/passions?
I'm a big movie buff and a sucker for my giant orange cat.