Today we’d like to introduce you to Donald Ortale.
Donald, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the food and beverage side of the hospitality industry and transitioned into the hotel side after high school. I was hired by Marriott Hotels right out of college working front office positions in Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, then was transferred back into Chicago before leaving the industry. Keeping my family in Chicago is what led to what is now a 25+ year career in the non-profit sector.
My non-profit career has provided me with amazing stories and memories having served in roles at the local, state, regional, and national levels. I have enjoyed advancing and advocating missions in the health and human services, professional sports philanthropy, safety, and most recently parks and recreation.
Today, I am proud to represent the National Association of Park Foundations as the Founding Executive Director, which is headquartered in Villa Park, IL, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
My wife, Sue, and I have been married for 38 years and today enjoy watching our 2 adult children and their spouses grow their lives and their families.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing is always smooth or easy… I often say, “that is why they call it work”. Aside from the day-to-day challenges of the work week, the biggest struggles along the way have been leaving personal relationships behind while moving on to the next challenge. At times, the work opens my eyes to the struggles others have just to get through their day. Enjoying the mission-driven work has kept me grounded in values and focused on helping make better tomorrows for others.
Since founding the National Association of Park Foundations in 2014, the day-to-day challenges of growing the Association and it’s relevance within the park and recreation “conversation” has created struggles – more from an organization and strategic viewpoint than any other. We live in an era where taxpayer dollars to fund our local parks and recreation agencies across the country just is not going as far as it once used to when funding the needs of local park operations and programming. These days more so than any other, donor dollar and private fundraising are being relied upon to enhance the local park experience. Local park foundations and the citizens that govern them rely on the National Association of Park Foundations to ease the struggles of operating their local park foundation and help them grow within their local communities through stronger strategies and greater relevance.
National Association of Park Foundations – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am most proud that through my company (Ortale and Associates Ltd, a consulting firm that serves the non-profit sector) and the vision of an 18-member board of directors, the National Association of Park Foundations has continued to grow and take its rightful place with the park and recreation “space”.
Although Ortale and Associates Ltd. continues to expand through nonprofit project work outside of the park and recreation “space”, the day to day management of the National Association of Park Foundations is emerging as the “crown jewel” of our work at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
Specifically, the National Association of Park Foundations is quickly emerging as the trusted resource and national association for all local park foundations and friends groups across the United States. What sets the National Association of Park Foundations apart from other organizations is the National Association of Park Foundations is laser-focused on supporting the needs of LOCAL park foundations. While we could diversify into serving other sectors of the non-profit space, the National Association of Park Foundations remains steadfast in starting or strengthening the missions of our local park foundations across the country. The National Association of Park Foundations provides the park foundation members with resources, templates, best practices, and other benefits anchored in education for the park professional and the governing citizens that sit on their local park foundation boards, Additionally, the National Association of Park Foundations also provides ongoing research of the local park foundation “space” and keeps the members in touch with cutting edge and emerging trends for which they can best strategize and grow.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe that the work and the passion that drives our work in our professional life defines what we DO… not who we are. One may measure or define success in a professional career through the means of meeting goals and profits and advancing others. For me, success is measured beyond what we DO.
My definition of success on a personal level, admittedly, is different than my definition of success on a professional level. Success is finding the proper balance between life and livelihood – some call it work/life balance.
Pricing:
- Pricing for membership into the National Association of Park Foundations starts at $375.00 annual membership.
Contact Info:
- Address: National Association of Park Foundations
54 E. St. Charles Road #7
Villa Park, IL 60181 - Website: www.the-napf.org
- Phone: 630-965-1000
- Email: dortale@the-napf.org
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
