Arti Sharma
Our March honoree, Arti Sharma, is a fundraiser and grant-writer, merging her legal education with creative writing.
It’s been a lot, but at least you can’t say it has been boring—an introduction:
Writing is my source of joy, passion, and purpose. However, for much of my life, I’ve discounted this skill and talent. Being a South Asian growing up in this country, it was projected upon me that I was limited by the “world’s” expectations. (Career-wise, I was supposed to be a doctor or something of the same “status.”) There were blueprints created for me before I was born; they continue to exist for women like me and girls I used to be like.
I thought not conforming to this expectation meant I would let down my culture, my family, or meant that I would not be “worthy” of a place in society. It turns out that no matter how hard I tried to conform and fit the standard, my body physically and mentally rejected the template, despite my own dedication to do otherwise. I’m still coming to terms and making sense of all of this myself and getting used to speaking out about my own experience. Yet, I understand the urgency that must be placed on breaking ill-fitting, stereotypical roles that serve to harm, confine, trap people and perpetuate conditions off of which suppression, oppression and racism feeds. And though I spent a lot of time mostly onforming to the scheme of a manufactured life, I know now that I have the power to dismantle the foundation—regardless of what has been built on top of it.
Where my experience has led me:
Years of conforming and trying on what was expected of me while striving to make up for where I could not conform, without understanding I had a choice, has led me to where I am now. I’ve obtained an English degree, Law degree, and held a long career in nonprofit fundraising—specifically in foundation fundraising and grant writing (over 8 years of securing major funding for innovative needs from top foundations, creating cases of support used nationally throughout an organization, helping to develop and support a national organization’s foundation fundraising strategy, successfully consulting fundraisers on seven-figure ask strategies). Regardless of what I did, the talent and skill of writing was something that I could not escape. The sheer power of writing to evoke emotion, whether to bring to life the story of a moment, or to successfully advocate for a compelling purpose—through written words—is one that I could no longer deny. It is bigger than me, and I have a duty to share it.
Where am I now:
I am filled with gratitude for my entire experience. As I start this next chapter of my career, I am using my background and my experience to push boundaries, representing and showing up for women of color in spaces that may not be presented or known to them. I’m soon filing a DBA and will launch Bespoke Writing Firm.
At Bespoke Writing Firm, I will craft written pieces for clients that resonate with and captivate their audiences. In this next chapter, I’ll get to use my skills, talents, and purpose to create bespoke works that are tailored to convey the power of a client’s message to a relevant base. While I’ll provide services from different segments of professional writing (grant/donor, content, and creative writing), my diverse experience primed me to be a contribution without limitations. Importantly, at Bespoke Writing Firm, I will be able to contribute to humanity through the power of written word that, when it works to cohesively connect seemingly disparate notions, can create synergy and be a force of inspiration for the greater good. I look forward to this next chapter as my website will launch at the end of March.
In Her Own Words
What is your favorite quote?
“A person is a person through other persons.”
I first heard this quote from Desmond Tutu, when he spoke at Leadercast.
It is derived from Ubuntu, a philosophy of the Xhosa people (a Nguni Bantu term), and roughly means “I am because you are, because someone else was, and so others will be.” In short, this notion is the fabric of humanity. Its simplicity is complex and essential; its humbling nature empowers us to truly live—yet this philosophy is often disregarded or abandoned for false ideas of fulfillment that lack sustainable and lasting purpose. Ubuntu tends to be a composition of compassion and gratitude stemming from the awareness that we are because of others— that a human being cannot come into the world or exist on their own. If we think in terms of “I am because you are, because someone else was, and so will others be,” we see outside of ourselves. Only then can we relate to others and have compassion for fellow humankind.
What did it do for you at that time you heard it?
I was introduced to this quote during a time when I was on the road to securing subject-matter expert status in my career. I was also beginning to question the purpose of what I was doing, thinking that the function of my being must be bigger and more than the day-to-day checklist-and-churn. Hearing Desmond Tutu say these words gently awakened my restlessly haggard soul.
From it, I gained insight on what I had grappled with: I could be doing the most noble work for a living, but if I was seeking validation, chasing arbitrary standards that serve to perpetuate the chase, I could lose sight of and become detached from the greater purpose of the work I was doing.
I still call upon Ubuntu often—almost daily—to keep me humble in a way that obliterates ego when it thrives on futile and fleeting accomplishments; to keep me present so I can experience gratitude and compassion for those before, with, and after me; to help me stay focused to serve a greater good. Because without this, I do not think I’m participating in humanity: I am not living; I am not being—I am only doing. And that would be a life wasted.
Who is your favorite woman fundraiser or philanthropist of color?
All the people of color who are in “working class” jobs. My parents especially come to mind, particularly my dad. He was in the service industry and made hourly wages that pay below what is commensurate to the potential of his Masters degree. He worked tough schedules at a tough job. While he himself seemed to me to be “living to work,” he was always extremely generous and philanthropic. He has a bleeding heart for those in need. For instance, if he sees a compelling commercial, it stays with him, and he drafts a check to that need. Though he has had his share of hardships, though he continued to work hard and may not have what he once thought he would at this point in life, he still gives. There are so many people of color, like my parents, who do this. They give what they have, and it likely tends to mean more because they find wealth in the very doing of this generous act—even if it takes from what they earned to “just make it.”
Daily, people of color are giving from what they have. Their names may not be on buildings or on capital items, but they are making differences that will impact and inspire generations. And my hope is that this is more recognized so that we start to change the image of who we see—and how we see them—when it comes to the definition of a “philanthropist.”
What inspired you to combine your experience in law with your work at nonprofits and in fundraising?
It was, in a nutshell, the union of researched-based writing and compelling story that works to advocate for a meaningful purpose beyond any one of us. I saw this in grant writing. Until law school, I never knew something like grant writing for fundraising at a nonprofit existed. I barely thought of all the roles in nonprofit fundraising because I was conditioned to think in terms of a roadmap that was created for me by the place in society reserved for me.
One summer in law school, I was interning with a J.D faculty member at a health sciences school when I learned about grant writing as a career. My role at that time was to research the topic of health care access to undocumented immigrants. My supervisor introduced me to grant writing and encouraged me to look into it.
At that point, it clicked that this is something I would be great at. I could use skills developed through my legal education (framing arguments, providing justification through relevant context and law) and my background in creative writing (storytelling, problem solving); meanwhile, I could feel purposeful serving a cause.
There are many jobs and roles, even ones being created as I write this, and we have to keep letting folks know that people of color may not know about these opportunities. Therefore, I encourage women of color to reach out to others and share how they see themselves contributing to humanity with their skills or skills they want— and to ask for guidance on how they can utilize or learn these skills. We need women of color in various spaces so that we can continue to break molds and change narratives.
WOC is a fantastic place to be connected to a community of women who want to help you grow. You can even seek a mentor. I currently have two mentees. I am so grateful for this space that was created by Yolanda F. Johnson, because I know if WOC was around when I was starting out, I would have felt heard and seen.
Where do you want to be in 3 years?
Strong in my Faith. I’ve had a bad habit of turning to my Faith during times of desperate need. I got tired of being a user— using prayer and God to fulfill my own agenda that became my religion, and accomplishments serving as my validation and therefore what I worshiped. Idolizing what is considered success in everyday-speak (title, status) was not good for a recovering perfectionist like myself. I got used, burnt out and felt purposeless.
As a result, I want to be motivated by love for others that comes from my connection to my Faith. I want to be happy just because, and not due to the result of some happening. I want to feel alive in every moment instead of manufacturing life in what are perceived as big moments. I want to be uncomfortable. And in the face of the discomfort, I want to continue speaking up, giving context to circumstances that break projected narratives created by those who don’t know to understand otherwise. I am all and am doing all of these things now, but y’all hold me accountable!
Do you have any advice for other women of color fundraisers and leaders?
1. Pay attention to your feelings and dare to question what’s not working. Pay attention to the times you feel different. For instance, when the culture of a workplace/industry feels like it wasn’t created with people like you in mind—pay attention to that feeling and question why you feel this way. Or, if you feel confined to a space and role that limits who you are—pay attention and question the confines. Pay attention to what the voice in your mind tells you and sounds like when you question why; it may be similar to the voice that comes up when you have something to contribute but hold back. Pay attention to that voice and begin to get comfortable with it. When you use it, the nonprofit sector will be better because of it.
2. Prioritize your life. You have just this one, precious life, and you need to put it first. I am here, a woman of color and recovering workaholic, telling you to make yourself the priority.
3. You, alone, are worthy. You are worth saving yourself from a place that’s not working out. You are worth reaching out for help. You do not need a specific title or career or grand accomplishment to deem your worth and determine if you deserve things or if you should be happy.
Do not let your career validate you or determine your fate. (Been there, done that, and barely survived, but I lived to tell the story!). If you can’t seem to wrap your mind around being good enough, think about the other women of color who need you to feel like you are enough so that they can know it’s okay for them to be enough.
4. Seek what actually makes you happy. This may take time and work, but you are worthy of this investment.
