Jennie Herring took on the role of Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands in December 2022. Based in New Zealand, Jennie is well-known throughout the zone.
Jennie has held numerous positions at club, district and national level, including District 9920 Governor (2015-16), Assistant Rotary Coordinator, District 9920 Foundation Chair, and is currently in the last year of a six-year term as Director for RDU representing New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Jennie is also the Chair of Rotary Oceania.
According to Past Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Ian Riseley, Jennie is ideally suited to the role of Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor (EMGA).
“Jennie has a deep knowledge and understanding of The Rotary Foundation and its programs. She is a very capable communicator and her networks across our zone are impressive,” Ian said. “I am delighted she accepted our invitation and am confident she will make a wonderful contribution in the role.”
“Jennie has a deep knowledge and understanding of The Rotary Foundation and its programs. She is a very capable communicator and her networks across our zone are impressive.”
As EMGA, Jennie is responsible for working with members of district and zone Foundation teams to encourage, support and recognise financial giving to the Foundation, with a particular focus on major gifts. She is also a valuable resource for districts seeking ideas and information about fundraising and major giving. Jennie’s four main roles are fundraising, event organising, resource and education.
Jennie works with Mark Anderson from the Rotary International South Pacific and Philippines Office in Sydney. Mark is Jennie’s assigned ‘staffer’ and they both work together to progress donations and/or contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
To this end, Jennie and Mark have organised four Rotary Foundation dinners to be held in November in New Zealand and Australia to recognise Rotarians who have given to The Rotary Foundation, either with a direct donation (Major Donor) or by leaving a contribution in their will (Bequest). Chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees, Barry Rassin, will be the keynote speaker at all four events.
Planning such events is not an easy task and there are many District Endowments/Major Gift Chairs facilitating these events, whose endeavours should be recognised. Planning is also underway for the 2024 recognition events.
“It is by attending these events that Rotarians begin to really understand the internationality of the Rotary family.”
Jennie has completed multiple tours of the districts in New Zealand, the last one being District 9930, where she presented to several clubs and special donor events organised by the district Foundation team. This proved very successful, and is a formula Jennie wishes to continue in other districts within the zone, with tentative dates to visit Tasmania in March 2024.
Apart from the Bequests and Major Donor recognitions, which will be presented at the November meeting, New Zealand now has its second Arch Klump Society member, a member of the Rotary Club of Pukekohe in District 9920. All donated funds will go to the End Polio Now campaign.
Since joining Rotary, Jennie has attended 14 Rotary International Conventions, which she considers the highlight of Rotary membership, as they provide an opportunity to meet with friends from all over the world.
“It is by attending these events that Rotarians begin to really understand the internationality of the Rotary family,” says Jennie.