by Terry Haycock, Penpoints Editor
Do It Now. . .Keep It Simple. . . A Profile of Val Ensalaco
by Terry Haycock, Penpoints Editor
In this national presidential election month it seems appropriate to profile our own president, Val Ensalaco. Currently serving as corporate vice president for institutional advancement for the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, Val has more than 25 years of diverse leadership and management with extensive experience in volunteer/board management and training; donor identification, cultivation, and involvement establishing and managing giving programs and soliciting major gifts; high profile community relations; staff training and development; writing award-winning publications, marketing and communications pieces; mentoring and coaching. She is cross culturally trained and multi-lingual, Slavic languages her specialty. Indeed, my biggest challenge has been to work through masses of material describing her work and contribution to those around her.
Since coming to the Franciscan Sisters in 1992, Val established the first FSC development office and oversaw the development of offices in four FSC sponsored facilities, raised more than $2 million in gifts, established the FSC Legacy Fund, planned and managed public affairs, communication and publications which consistently win state and national awards for newspaper publication, brochures, and marketing packages.
While serving as director of corporate and foundation development for Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois in the late eighties and early nineties, Val planned, implemented and evaluated the corporate and foundation development program, secured more than $500,000 in grants, and planned and implemented a black tie event with 750 guests which raised $250,000. She also produced a quarterly newsletter, designed brochures and composed articles, speeches and other materials for the college president and the leadership of the President's Advisory Council.
In each stage of her career she has accomplished more than the average person because of her unique combination of vision, determination and energy.
On her writing, Val says, "I seldom have had a chance to do the fun stuff. I would have loved to have been a newspaper reporter or to write a book, but my assignments were usually what no one else wanted to do or for a population perceived to be a problem."
A case in point was her response to challenges in 1973-84 when she served as Director of Senior Citizens Services for the Lisle Park District, Lisle, IL. Writing for this vast age (55 to over 90), cultural and social span was a challenge she met by initiating an oral history program for the oldest Lisle citizens, often for them to give as Christmas gifts for their families. She captured their stories on tape, transcribed and edited them into a booklet, and gave them the booklet and tape.
Val wrote a monthly newsletter that grew to be 60 pages, planned events, trips and programs. She often escorted the Lisle Senior Citizens on trips and wrote a newsletter feature entitled "Postcards from ________," featuring places like Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and all over the USA's 48 contiguous states. Her weekly column for the Lisle Sun featured items of interest for senior citizens for six years. Although she has raised millions of dollars, coordinated events and won many honors for her writing, perhaps it is this work with the elderly that most illustrates her compassion and respect for others, as well as her willingness to give of herself.
Val has served many organizations, from a stint as national president of Women in Management to president of the West Suburban Philanthropic Network. In presenting Val with that organization's 2004 Founders Award, Martha Scheidler, CFRE, director of development for Rialto Square Theater, Joliet, Illinois, said of Val, "I can describe Val in three words: she is a woman of (1) incredible strength, (2) determination and (3) energy." I would add my three words: (1) vision, (2) sensitivity and (3) kindness. Val says that she likes to find "simple solutions to complex problems." Time after time, year after year, whether in the local parents school association or on the national level, Val has shown her willingness and ability to do just that.
I recently interviewed colleague Janice Janovic, CFRE, director of development for Countryside Association for People with Disabilities, Palatine, Illinois, who said of Val, "[She] has been my mentor in the fundraising profession. She possesses such outstanding leadership skills and eagerly shares her talents with other fundraising professionals. She was my inspiration when I joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Chicago Chapter Board of Directors in 2000. Val was the board member we turned to when dealing with challenging issues and looked to her for guidance. She always had time to offer me options/ choices regarding specific fundraising issues."
Indeed, Val says, "I have mentored more women, helped more women advance their careers than I could possibly count... because I don't keep score. I really enjoy being able to help women move up even if it's a simple referral to someone else who can help. My greatest mentoring joy has been coaching my own daughter.
" The author of a chapter in the WIM book Promote Yourself... No One Else Will, Val offers these values and mottos:
When asked what kind of car Val would be, Janovic responds "Cadillac." I might agree, but I think she would more likely be a Ferrari, with the class of a Cadillac, but them speed, energy and determination of a sports car.
Val and her husband, who have four grown children, live in Naperville. Why not take time after the next IWPA meeting to introduce yourself to this fascinating lady?