Episode 16: Valerie Tamez, Director of Development

In this episode, Valerie Tamez, Director of Development, explains giving at TMI and talks about the various components that fall under the umbrella of annual giving, including the TMI Fund, special events, honorary and in-memoriam gifts.

She goes into detail about the significance of each component and how participation plays a role in seeking grants, accreditation, and foundations that view participation as a metric of the community. TMI asks all members of the community, from faculty and staff to parents and alumni, to participate in the TMI Fund at any level that is meaningful to each person.

Valerie talks about the TMI Fund as the single most important philanthropic priority of TMI’s annual giving programs. It allows us to add the layers that make TMI excellent and create the full TMI experience through things like enriched programs, professional development, and campus improvements.

The TMI Fund goes toward:

• Greatest Need and helps fund the school’s most pressing, urgent needs.
• Great People and provides recruitment and retention of experienced teachers, professional development, and financial assistance to ensure a diverse student body.
• Great Programs and sustains and updates curriculum and technology.
• Great Place and supports the enhancement of facilities and classrooms and the maintenance and beautification of our campus.

Valerie also spoke about how fundraising events–and the sponsorship and participation opportunities that come with those–fit into the annual giving program. She also gave an update about the Stars Over TMI gala planned for this spring on Saturday, April 6, 2019, as the signature event of our 125th anniversary year and major fundraising event.

Be sure to listen to the end as she shares what inspires her to stay focused and dedicated to the TMI community.

 

LINKS:

TMI Fund kick off video: https://youtu.be/I3hel0qxh5A

TMI Fund information: https://www.tmi-sa.org/page/support-tmi/tmi-fund

Donate online: www.tmi-sa.org/giving

 

Valerie Tamez joined the TMI community in March 2018. She holds a bachelors from the University of Texas at San Antonio and brings 17 years of fundraising and relationship-building experience to TMI.