Hi – I’m Max!
I was born and raised in Vermont. I love connecting with people and sharing ideas. I love nature and moving around outside. My immediate family lives in Vermont and my relationship with my parents, my brother and my nephews is deeply meaningful to me. I have a three legged cat named Rafa who is a real trooper and I adore him. I recently started collaging and that’s been a lovely way to de-stress and express myself.
I was hired as Donor Relations Manager two months ago. Before that, I worked on the Housing Team for three years starting in 2020. In my current role, I work with the Development Team to cultivate philanthropic support for Pathways’ work in the community.
On the donor relations side of fundraising, I work to nurture and expand Pathways’ network of benefactors. My job is to engage and inspire donors by illustrating our impact in the community and communicating our needs, often with human stories. My team and I build meaningful relationships with our supporters through thoughtful messaging and special events, such as the Crossing Paths Informational Tours, which take place regularly around the state.
Pathways is an organization that supports community. Vermonters are a self-sufficient bunch, but folks need to know they’re not alone. Pathways creates opportunities for people to come together and it’s deeply fulfilling to be a part of that.
Pathways receives over 70% of its funding from grants from the State of Vermont. And we value the strong partnerships we have built with those state agencies. But there is a significant need for flexible funds that we decide how and when to spend.
A good example is the move-in kits that we provide to every one of our program participants who signs a lease. We spend roughly $90,000 a year on household necessities like cookware, bedding and cleaning supplies and that’s an out of pocket cost for our organization. When I come to work, I have the opportunity to engage members of the community with stories that matter. If I’m successful, I help grow our capability to support people in need. That’s a powerful motivator.
