Who is Gina Driscoll?
How does an organization open doors and facilitate high‑capacity donor cultivation, which is a form of high‑touch major‑gifts/marketing consulting rather than standard direct‑mail execution.
SPCA Tampa Bay knows this exercise well.
Ms. Driscoll appears to be an enthusiastic public servant. We must applaud her for her public service. She is currently a St Petersburg City Council member representing the 6th district as well as the President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
https://www.stpete.org/government/mayor___city_council/city_council/district_6.php
Ms. Driscoll, besides being a public servant, is apparently also a consultant. She is listed on the SPCA Tamp Bay 2024 990 as having been paid $42,000 for consulting services.
What the 990 (Part IV) says about Gina Driscoll
In the fundraising schedule (Schedule G) Ms. Driscoll is listed alongside the direct‑mail firm and the capital‑campaign consultant, with her role described as consulting WITH SPCA TAMPA BAY STAFF TO IDENTIFY, INTRODUCE, AND CULTIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR ANIMALS AND AN INTEREST IN DONATING TO SPCA TAMPA BAY. DRISCOLL DID NOT SOLICIT OR COLLECT CONTRIBUTIONS. ALL DONATIONS WERE COLLECTED BY THE SPCA TAMPA BAY.
Note: Gina Driscoll at this time was a candidate for (and since elected to) the City County Council of St. Petersburg. https://bpwstpetepinellas.org/meet-the-candidates-st-petersburg-city-council-district-6/
The 990 narrative emphasis is that she “did not solicit or collect contributions” and that “all donations were collected by SPCA Tampa Bay directly,” which frames the $42,000 she collected as a fee for strategic relationship‑building and introductions rather than percentage‑based fundraising or mail‑house services.
How to interpret this?
Substantively, the SPCA Tampa Bay is paying for a politically and civically connected local figure to open doors and facilitate high‑capacity donor cultivation, which is a form of high‑touch major‑gifts/marketing consulting rather than standard direct‑mail execution.
The key questions from a governance and ethics standpoint are:
- Was her engagement competitively sourced or uniquely justified?
- Do any actual or perceived conflicts of interest exist (given her public role)?
- Does the return in major‑gift revenue reasonably justifies a $42,000 annual fee?
Could it not be clearer for what this payment is intended to accomplish for the SPCA Tampa Bay? The SPCA Tampa Bay is located in Pinellas County.
Hopefully Ms. Driscoll will come to realize that she is being associated with and used by the SPCATB. The outcome of continued association with and favors toward the SPCATB will not be advantageous for either her professional or political career.
Ms. Driscoll seems like a good person. Does she make mindful decisions?
Is she aware, the SPCATB pled guilty to animal cruelty re Waddles?