RAPS Behind the Scenes: The Humans!

Meet Jonathan Lerner, Director of Business Development

RAPS is all about the animals! But caring for them takes people! We are going to introduce you to more of the human faces of RAPS in coming months – volunteers, staff, supporters and friends!

Today, meet Jonathan Lerner, RAPS’ Director of Business Development.

What is a “Director of Business Development”?

In its purest form, a Director of Business Development is all about revenue generation for RAPS to help us help more animals … and their people.

This includes donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, gifts-in-kind (items), increasing clients and anything else that can help generate revenue for the charity. It is a blend of sales, marketing and communications.

At the end of the day, however, what it is really about is relationships with people. The funders are people who are entrusting their hard-earned money to the people of RAPS, who are in turn expertly and efficiently utilizing those funds to help animals … and their people. So, it is really all about people!

Why do you work at RAPS?

RAPS is an absolutely incredible place to work! Not just the fantastic people I get to work with (staff, volunteers, donors, clients), but also the animals I get to know are having better lives. I am truly an animal person at heart (especially cats!)

The truth is that I look for meaning in my life and work. Very few people leave major impacts that last generations (think presidents, major artists and activists), but it is entirely possible to make major change in people’s lives through our day-to-day jobs. That is what is so incredible about working at RAPS and the charitable sector in general. Even if I never get to meet all of the animals and people face-to-face, I know that I have changed lives in positive ways. I want to see a more just society for people and animals, and this is my small way of making that happen.

Tell us about yourself.

I didn’t originally know much about the not-for-profit sector. My first job was when I was 13 in sales at an Apple computer dealer (both retail and major corporate sales, such as to Langara College). I was determined to get a job and basically harassed the store manager every day for six months until they hired me. I ended up working there for 10 years and being one of their top sales reps.

For my post-secondary education, I attended Langara and UBC, and earned a BA with honours in Philosophy (particularly focusing on applied ethics). I was also president of the Jewish fraternity at UBC (Alpha Epsilon Pi) where I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Jewish students’ centre (Hillel). That is where I was first introduced to the charitable sector and became enamoured with the idea of helping society for a living. It is also where I first met Eyal Lichtmann, CEO of RAPS, as well as Pat Johnson, RAPS’ Communications Manager, and Marian Lucas Lane, RAPS’ Senior Manager of Operations. After years at other charities, I am so excited to be working with these wonderful people again.

After graduating from UBC, I was hired to work at Hillel in business development using my previous sales experience. It was an incredible opportunity and from there I grew to work in many high-profile non-profit organizations, including in the fields of family services, anti-racism education and now animal welfare. I have managed money, people, boards and services.

I loved it so much that I completed an Associate’s Certificate from BCIT in Non-Profit Management. I am a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and continue my professional development education through both that association and courses at BCIT.

What is a “normal” day for you?

There really is no “normal” day! 🙂

Every day is unique and interesting, which is one of the reasons I love the job.

Certainly, there are routine tasks, such as speaking with donors, applying for grants that occur on set schedules, running our annual campaign, etc.

But there are a million and one things that can occur to interrupt that, from suddenly needing an appliance for the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, to having a person needing to surrender their animal suddenly and wanting to help fund their care at RAPS. Every day is unique.

If I had to describe a “normal” day, it would be me in front of my computer with a Starbucks drink going through a long list of “to-do’s”

What are you most excited about for RAPS?

RAPS is growing rapidly and professionalizing its operations in sector-leading ways. In just the 26 months I have worked at RAPS, I have seen enormous professionalization of our operations, including implementing a state-of-the-art donor database, better communications procedures, human resources development and much more.

We are an organization that is small enough to be innovative and to pivot to challenges. Our HBOT – hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility – is a great example, being the only one for cats and dogs in Canada. We are growing and professional, but not so large and/or bureaucratic that we cannot be fast and innovative.

What else do you want to share?

I want more people outside of the Richmond area to get to know RAPS and the amazing work that we do. We began as a Richmond organization but we believe that where an animal lives should not determine whether an animal lives. We save and improve the lives of animals regardless of human-created boundaries!

I want more people to see “behind the scenes” and get to know just how hardworking and committed all the staff and volunteers really are.

I want a chance to get to know people and I encourage them to email me anytime (jonathan@rapsbc.com)!