Meet the Director of Development: Jill Vorndran

This month, we sat down with the Rialto’s Director of Development, Jill Vorndran. Jill has over 20 years of experience fundraising for nonprofits. Since 1999, she’s worked with Covenant House, a nonprofit that serves youth facing homelessness by providing housing, support services, and the tools to transform their lives. Now, she’s working with the Rialto to help raise funds that will bring the vision to life. Read our conversation to learn about the creativity required for fundraising, the importance of community building, and what she’s looking forward to when the Rialto reopens in 2028.

What is your connection to Westfield?

I grew up in Roselle Park and now live in Kenilworth, so I've been in Union County pretty much my whole life. 

Do you have any favorite memories of the Rialto?

E.T. was the first movie I saw at the Rialto. I can picture being there for Back to the Future, too. There were a few years in my twenties when I went to the movies on Christmas night with friends and family. More than anything else, I remember driving into Westfield down Broad Street and feeling like I’d arrived in Westfield the moment I saw the marquee.

Can you share a little about your career? 

I've always wanted to do nonprofit work. That was what I wanted to do as far back as I can remember. I went to law school because I thought I’d get the tools to make a change in the world. Though that wasn't ultimately my path, I found some good work and people along the way. That’s how I ended up at Covenant House, where I've worked since 1999. I’ve had a bunch of different roles there, but ultimately ended up in the fundraising department. 

I didn’t grow up wanting to be a fundraiser. I wanted to make an impact, and fundraising was the best way to do that. It's a great way to advance important missions and help people find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. I've been fundraising now for over 20 years, and am now doing more fundraising with the Rialto as the Director of Development.

How did you get involved in the Rialto?

I have four kids, and as they got older, I wanted to fill my time outside of Covenant House with something impactful and fun. I live in Kenilworth and spend a good amount of time in Westfield, so I’d been keeping up with the plans for the Rialto. I hate to say that I don’t really have any hobbies, so when I saw that they were looking for support with fundraising, I thought it could be an awesome way for me to use my skills to advance a different kind of mission, tap into something creative, and have an impact in my local community.

I reached out to see if it would be a good fit, and I was really happy when it worked out. I got to join this awesome group of volunteers to play a small role in building something from scratch that will have a long-term impact. 

What are some misconceptions about fundraising? 

Sometimes people think of fundraising as a transactional interaction, like “I'm gonna ask you for money to support something, and you're gonna decide if you're gonna give it to me.” In reality, it’s about building an authentic relationship between the person asking for money and the person considering a gift. It's a connection between an organization and its community. It’s the answer to the question of how people will find their way to contribute to something important to them. 

With the Rialto becoming a home for creativity, we have to ask: Does fundraising require creativity? 

I find fundraising to be an awesome way to use my creativity. It makes you think: what motivates this person to contribute to their community or be philanthropic? What is the best way to share the work and the vision? How can people impact this in a way that might resonate?

I can’t paint or draw or sing, but there’s a lot of creativity involved in strategizing a fundraising program and in the day-to-day conversations that inspire someone or match what someone is looking to contribute with what the community needs. You have to find fun, creative ways to communicate how your vision aligns with theirs, and to share that information in an inspiring way. 

How do you see the relationship between the Rialto and the community it’s serving? 

The Rialto has a devoted group of people who see the benefit that it will have for the community at large. We see how it can bring people together and serve as a community living room. It’ll bring people together, spark new conversations, and connect those who might not usually be in the same room. As a busy and often virtual society, we don’t get to spend as much time face-to-face with our neighbors. I see the Rialto as helping people slow down and connect with themselves, their creativity, and each other. And hopefully, as people see that benefit, too, they’ll want to put their own mark on it by supporting the parts that excite them. 

Why do you think having a space for creativity is important?

I have a lot of artists in my family. My daughter, who now attends Pratt Institute, is a talented fine artist and has always loved the arts as an outlet and source of fulfillment. My stepdaughter attended the Academy for Performing Arts High School in Scotch Plains, and I loved seeing the joy she got from performing and the confidence she gained from moving an audience. It's exciting to work in a space where I can help provide the philanthropic fuel to create that space for others, especially those who may not even know the creativity they possess.   

I'm such a community person, too. I feel like the answer to so many of our challenges is being in community with each other. Creating that space in the Rialto is just a game-changer. It's beautiful that we have a thriving downtown, and soon there will be a space for creativity where people can see live performances, take classes, and gather to enjoy one another's company.   

What are you most excited about when the Rialto opens?

I love live music. I'm excited for anything related to live music. It's just such a fun way to spend time, and I think it's such a unifier. People enjoy themselves when they're listening to music together, and it's kind of magical how music becomes almost a character in the room. 

The older we get, the more our lives are oriented around responsibilities. We lose touch with what makes us happy. I’ve heard that you’re supposed to think back to when you were eight and what you enjoyed doing then. The things you enjoyed doing when you were eight are probably the same things you’ll enjoy doing when you're 50. I’m excited to have this space where we can all just have fun doing the things that we really and truly love to do. 

What do you want people to know about donating to the Rialto?

It's so easy to move through life doing what we have to do and not doing the things that enrich us. Participating in the Rialto, whether as a supporter or a patron, is a reminder to slow down and live beyond our to-do list. It’s contributing to something that's bigger than us and has a greater significance beyond our own individual busy day. With everyone’s support, it’ll open in 2028. Then we’ll be able to take advantage of it in a fulfilling way and have the chance to do something other than what we have to do.

About the Rialto Center for Creativity

The Rialto Center for Creativity is transforming Westfield’s historic Rialto Theater into a vibrant hub for cultural conversation, live performances, and hands-on learning. 

The Rialto Center for Creativity is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c )(3).