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CAC welcomes Amy Frizzell, MPA as its new Development Director. With more than 24 years in nonprofit development, Frizzell has extensive experience in purpose-driven philanthropy, combining proficiency in fundraising and relationship-building with impactful and authentic nonprofit leadership. CAC’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are excited to welcome her on board and look forward to working together to help neighbors in need.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Amy Frizzell in her new role as Development Director,” states Francis K. Horton, III, CAC’s Chief Executive Officer. Frizzell is taking over from long-time Development Director Pam Jones, who is retiring at the end of January. “The timing of this transition from one Development leader to another could not be better,” Horton continues. “Our new Development leader has had the benefit of receiving institutional knowledge from the person that originated the role in our organization.” CAC looks forward to a smooth transition that builds on existing community relationship efforts.
Frizzell brings decades of nonprofit development experience to her new role at CAC. She earned her BA from Florida International University in her hometown of Miami, beginning her nonprofit career in public relations. She later enhanced her skills by earning her MPA from the University of Illinois. Frizzell has spent the last two decades spearheading fundraising for Atlanta-area nonprofits such as The Salvation Army, Youth Villages, and Usher’s New Look, where her goal-driven development efforts have netted millions of dollars in funds raised for worthy causes.
Frizzell is looking forward to digging into her new role. “CAC has a great track record of providing appropriate help in appropriate ways, and I look forward to furthering its mission with my experience and skills,” she states. In conversation with Laura Deupree, Senior Communications & Marketing Manager at CAC, she shares more about her background, interests, and goals in her new role:
Amy, it's so great to have you here. People find their way into nonprofit work from all sorts of industries. How did you come to work in the nonprofit field?
I started working for a small nonprofit in Miami right out of college – I’m from Miami, born and raised. I found out about the organization through a friend when I was getting my degree at Florida International University. Through working there, I fell in love with nonprofit work. Seeing lives being changed and the impact of the work I get to be a part of is unmatched. The impact might seem small, but it is so big to that person’s life, and it can change things long-term for them. That ability to touch the lives of others is what started me in the nonprofit field, and what has kept me here for over two decades.
South Florida is beautiful, but much warmer than Georgia! What brought you to Atlanta?
I met my husband in Miami while we were in college together. He was serving in the Coast Guard, and he is an Atlanta-area native. When he was ready to leave the military, they return you to where you joined, so it gave us an opportunity to relocate to his hometown. I don’t like the cold – I love warmth! Winters in Georgia are a bit rough for me. But after a couple dozen of them, you start to get used to it.
What do you like about a role in Development, in particular?
I get to meet so many people every day – amazing people who give their time and funds to worthy causes. Generally speaking, nonprofit donors are lovely, kind people who want to give back to their community. It’s great to be able to interact with wonderful human beings every day as part of my job. I’m really grateful for the relationships I’ve built in my career, and look forward to building more here at CAC.
You’ve worked for some amazing nonprofits in the Atlanta area, all with different missions. How do you select an organization that you think you’d enjoy working for?
I have to be passionate about the mission of that organization. There are so many good things going on in the nonprofit world – so many areas in our society that need our focus. With CAC, I love the community aspect. I love that we’re volunteer-driven, and that we have a holistic approach to serving our clients. I love that we’re proactive in preventing homelessness. I want to help people, especially families, stay together. Having a family of my own, I can only imagine how heartbreaking it would be to have to leave your home. The amazing mission makes it very easy to work for CAC.
Over the pandemic, you were a development consultant, which is surprisingly different than doing the same job as part of an organization. How did you like it, and what led you to CAC in particular?
During COVID, I did a lot of consulting and had my own business. I loved working for myself and living the entrepreneurial life; it was exciting to hone my skills out on different development projects. I found that I missed the team environment of an organization. Having a mission that I could dedicate myself to makes a big difference in my passion for development.
I found out about CAC’s opening for a Development Director like you find many other jobs – on LinkedIn! Usually, I hear about nonprofit positions through word-of-mouth, but since the pandemic, a lot of networking is being done online. As soon as I read the job description, I wanted to learn more. I was impressed by what I found on CAC’s website, and applied right away. Luckily, Francis [CAC’s CEO] and the Board liked me as much as I liked them.
You’ve gotten to work closely with Pam Jones, the wonderful woman that originated the Development role here at CAC. I bet that’s a huge benefit to you!
Yes, absolutely, Pam is such an amazing resource. I am honored to have her as a mentor. It is special when you interview for a role that someone is already occupying, for the sole purpose of handing it over in the best manner possible. I think this shows that CAC is a healthy organization that puts the mission first; who doesn’t love that?
You’ve been in the Development Director role for over a month (and it’s been lovely having you here). Now that you’ve got a feel for the position, what are your goals for the organization?
The more funds we raise, the more people we can help, so that’s #1. Clients first. That’s definitely a goal.
Another important aspect of it is to get to know our current donors. A lot of them are volunteers, so I want to get out in our pantries, the thrift store, the interviewing offices, and hear from them directly.
A long-term goal for me is to start introducing CAC to metro Atlanta and expand our visibility. We’re doing such great work, and I know others in Atlanta want to be a part of that, too.
You can’t be fundraising all day, every day; what do you do in your time off?
I love to spend time with my husband, Jeremy, and our daughter Madeline. She’s 14 years old, and the love of my life – a true gift. I love to read, but it has to be old-school. I have to physically pick up the book.
I love open-water swimming – mostly lakes and rivers. I’m an avid runner, so I try to get out and run as much as I can. I’m actually a certified personal trainer, a certified health coach, a certified running coach, a certified holistic nutrition coach, and a certified sports nutritionist.
That’s a lot of certifications!
I’ve picked them up over the last decade, with the last couple during the pandemic. I was really passionate about running, so it started there, but I found that you can’t get better at running without also looking at your nutrition. It snowballed from there.
What do you think you’ll bring to the role of Development Director at CAC?
I bring a fresh set of eyes and a desire to take the CAC to the next phase by helping more people, more often. I look forward to the challenge presented by the needs CAC addresses!