Posted 7/26/21 If you are considering a move to the nonprofit from the for-profit world, there are some aspects that you should consider because the change can be more involved than you might expect. It really does require some thought before you attempt the career change. Many people find themselves considering this move in mid-career …
Posted 9/18/21 I have delivered a significant number of presentations as a salesperson in the business world, mostly promotional with the goal of satisfying specific needs of potential customers. I have also performed presentations in fundraising to attract donors, which requires an approach that differs from business. Fundraising through public speaking is equivalent to an …
Posted 10/25/21 I learned a valuable lesson from a friend of mine when he told me a story about an acquaintance who came into a signifiant amount of money. Their wives were closer friends, but they did go out together as couples on occasion. After some time of non-communication, my friend innocently decided to reach …
Posted 9/29/21 I have been very happy overall with the decision to make a career move to the nonprofit sector, although it did come with some unexpected bumps in the road. In preparation for this career move, I enrolled in a certification class for nonprofit management through a local community college, to help identify the …
Identify the “Fit” When Moving to a New Nonprofit Position Read More »
Posted 7/6/21 So what is the basic difference between sales and fundraising? It would appear as though a sales person could step right in and become a fundraiser based on similar skills, but it is not that easy and not always the case (and I have done both yet still wrestle with explaining the differences). …
Sales and Fundraising are Similar But Not the Same Read More »
Posted: 7/8/21 Making the effort to quietly listen to another person is a clear show of value and respect for that individual, and most people will genuinely appreciate the attention they receive (especially donors). However, there are variables at work that can hinder your ability to listen well. For example, did you know that humans …
Posted 7/20/21 For some time, I considered myself to be left-brain dominant, meaning I was more logical in my thinking and not so strong in the artistic, abstract, emotional world. I was an effective salesperson who was friendly and had good people skills, but it wasn’t until I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in …
Posted 7/6/21 When making a career move to the nonprofit, specifically sales to fundraising, I noticed a subtle difference between the two, among others. I was accustom to keeping my foot on the gas in sales roles as it felt like the competition was always applying pressure and if I didn’t close deals quickly or …
Thoughts When Changing Careers: Sales to Fundraising Read More »
Posted 8/21/21 When I was a salesperson for a wood refinishing company, I learned the hard way that managing customer expectations was tremendously important. Because the company provided a specialized type of service, the outcome of a refinishing job could be unpredictable. Regardless of the color chosen from the samples by the customer, a natural …
Posted 7/14/21 When looking through job ads for open positions in fundraising (as well as sales), many employers use words such as “high energy,” “fast-moving,” “active,” “outgoing,” and “persistent,” which has been the rule of hiring for several years. Awhile back, there was a psychological tool called the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory which was used often …
Ambiverts Are Surprisingly Effective Fundraisers Read More »