Rachael Petru is the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships of Hillel at UCLA. A midwestern native, she discovered her passion for engaging individuals in philanthropic giving as a student caller (and then manager) of the Indiana University Telefund. Her interest in fundraising took on greater focus following her first visit to Israel on the inaugural Taglit Birthright Israel trip. She connected with Jewish and Israel-focused organizations - the relationships she started on that trip altered the trajectory of her life and career. Following two years representing AIPAC as the West Coast Field Organizer, Rachael’s interests trended toward humanitarian causes (rather than politics). She shifted back to the world of philanthropy, serving as Hadassah’s Western Area Sr. Development Associate. A combination of fierce loyalty and frequent opportunities for growth allowed Rachael to remain at Hadassah for eight years. Following her tenure, she angled toward local Jewish communal engagement and assumed the most senior fundraising role at Hillel at UCLA. Eleven years later she has grown the budget by 75% and is leading a campaign to endow Hillel for the next century.