Generosity can move mountains. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
As a native of Central Maine, it’s difficult to imagine my youth without the impact of the Lunder and Alfond families: two names that are synonymous with improving their communities through intentional generosity. The Alfond Youth Center, the Lunder Gallery at Colby, the Harold Alfond Foundation’s investments in education and athletics across the state. The list is far too long to capture here. But the through-line is clear. When people with resources choose to invest in the places and people around them, the ripple effects are generational.
I didn’t grow up in a family of wealth. One grandfather was an Armenian cobbler whose children all went on to earn terminal degrees. The other worked the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad alongside three other jobs to provide for a family of eight. Neither family had much, but together they gave everything. That’s the generosity I grew up understanding, multiplied by a belief in the power of getting behind great people, ideas, and initiatives.
A Lesson from an Irish Hero in the Armenian Community
So much of my understanding of philanthropy traces back to one person: the late Tom Dolan.
Tom was Clark University’s Executive Vice President and, quite simply, the most gifted fundraiser I’ve ever known. He was also an Irishman with no Armenian lineage who led a $1.5 million campaign to establish the first-ever endowed chair of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark. I was a sophomore when our paths crossed. I had just founded the Armenian Students Association. Tom saw something in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself, and he ushered me into an alliance that would become a lifelong friendship and mentorship.
At our very first meeting, Tom handed me a framed agenda. On it, among other timeless pieces of advice, were the words: “Raise friends first. Raise funds second.” That single line has shaped my approach to work, to relationships, and to life ever since.
Tom treated everyone with equal respect. He remembered names, followed up with handwritten notes, and showed up for people in ways that left indelible marks on every room he entered. When he passed in June of 2023, his obituary and memorial at Clark made clear just how many lives he had touched in similar ways.
His wisdom lives on in everything we do at ERI. Read our full tribute to Tom here.
From Learning About Giving to Leading It
In 2009, at Tom’s recommendation, I took a position on the Advancement team at Becker College in Worcester. It was a pivotal chapter in my life for reasons I could never have predicted. It was there that I had the privilege of leading the Annual Fund, learning firsthand what it takes to build a culture of giving inside an institution. It was also where I met my wife, Caitlin, and my business partner, Erjon. Becker has since closed its doors, but its impact on my life and career is permanent.
I later had the opportunity to lead the Annual Fund at Maine College of Art & Design, another experience that deepened my understanding of how philanthropy fuels the creative and educational missions that matter most. Working inside these institutions, making the case for giving, connecting donors to the work their generosity makes possible: that experience gave me a perspective I carry into every client relationship at ERI. I’ve sat in those seats. I know what it feels like to ask, to steward, to celebrate the impact of a gift well placed.
Tom’s lesson held true every time: raise friends first, raise funds second.
Our Approach: People First, Always
At ERI, we don’t have a formal corporate giving strategy in place. What we have is a set of values, a deep sense of gratitude, and an unwavering belief that businesses have a responsibility to give back to the communities that sustain them.
The throughlines in our philanthropic investments tend to be education, youth development, and the arts. And, perhaps above all, the people: the people behind the organizations, and the people whose lives are changed by the impact of their work.
Here are a few of the mission-driven organizations we’re proud to support:
Yellow Tulip Project — A youth-driven nonprofit founded in Portland, Maine, dedicated to smashing the stigma surrounding mental illness and reminding people that hope is always there, one tulip at a time. An incredible organization. We sponsor their annual holiday gathering, and I had the privilege of chairing their board.
Illustration Institute — A world-class arts organization on Peaks Island that raises appreciation and awareness of illustration through artist residencies, exhibitions, workshops, and community programming. Founded by Scott Nash and Nancy Gibson-Nash, the Institute brings nationally acclaimed illustrators, writers, and narrative artists to Maine to share their craft with audiences of all ages.
Palaver Strings — A Grammy-nominated, musician-led string ensemble based in Portland whose mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music. Through their Palaver Music Center, they provide accessible, sliding-scale music education to hundreds of students, with 60% qualifying for low-income subsidies and 55% who are first-generation immigrants.
Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) — A statewide nonprofit that uses the power of pop, rock, and contemporary music to inspire students ages 8 to 18, foster creative collaboration, and build community. MAMM is specifically committed to students facing barriers at home or in school, offering a constructive creative outlet that builds confidence, emotional health, and social connection.
Portland Bach Experience — An immersive classical music festival and year-round program that enlivens, strengthens, and connects communities by bringing world-class, Grammy-winning artists to Maine. PBE challenges preconceived notions about where and how we experience classical music, staging performances in art galleries, breweries, playgrounds, and living rooms alongside traditional concert halls.
Langlais Art Preserve — A 90-acre nature and sculpture preserve in Cushing, Maine, celebrating the legacy of Maine-born artist Bernard Langlais. The preserve encompasses Langlais’s former homestead and features more than a dozen of his monumental wooden sculptures, created between 1966 and 1977, set among the fields, ponds, and forests of the midcoast landscape.
Rural Youth Institute — An organization whose mission we are privileged to help advance through our firm’s professional services. The Rural Youth Institute empowers youth-serving organizations across rural Maine with evidence-based mentoring strategies, helping young people build aspirations and resilience through long-term relationships.
Lindsey Vonn Foundation — Another organization whose mission we are honored to uplift through the work that we do in our parternship. The Lindsey Vonn Foundation provides scholarships, educational programming, and enrichment opportunities to young girls from underserved communities, empowering them to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
Nevus Outreach — A nonprofit dedicated to driving awareness, fostering a supportive community, and advancing research for people affected by congenital melanocytic nevi and related conditions. Founded by families who understood firsthand the fear that comes with misinformation, Nevus Outreach provides the support, education, and connection that families around the world need.
Clark University — Always in honor of Tom Dolan, and all the amazing things he taught me about generosity, relationships, and the power of showing up for the people and communities you believe in.
For It Is in Giving That We Receive
There is a line from the Prayer of St. Francis that has stayed with me: “For it is in giving that we receive.”
I think about this often. Every organization on this list has given back to us far more than we could ever contribute. They’ve shaped how we think about community, connection, and purpose. They’ve reminded us why we do the work we do. They’ve introduced us to extraordinary people doing extraordinary things in quiet, persistent, and deeply meaningful ways.
While we wish we could do more, and maybe someday we will, it is a privilege to be able to support these incredible organizations in some small way. If any of their missions resonate with you, I encourage you to learn more. Give your time. Give your talent. Give what you can.
Because generosity, even in its smallest forms, can move mountains.
Raffi DerSimonian is VP & Chief Strategy Officer at ERI Design, a digital strategy, design, and development firm serving higher education, financial services, and mission-driven organizations. Learn more about ERI’s story.
