Posted 12/23/21 A colleague from my network, whom I respect very much, is a corporate realtor focusing on the sale / rental of warehouse and office space. When discussing business development, he always said “90% of sales is showing up.” At first I had to think about it, but soon realized he was right, it […]
“Showing-up” Works in Both Sales and Fundraising Read More »
Posted 12/6/21 There is a saying in the fundraising world that says: “It is difficult to secure a donation if you don’t ask.” This is absolutely true, but in my experience, it is not the whole story. The first position I was fortunate enough to land, upon making a career transition to the nonprofit, was
The Difference Between “Asking” and “Moving” Read More »
Posted 11/29/21 When I made a career change to the nonprofit sector, there seemed to be a subtle stigma regarding nonprofits hiring people from the business world, but it was not obvious (and it might even be changing somewhat). I am certainly not claiming to be an expert in this comparison, but I have observed
A Tale of Two Cultures Read More »
Posted 11/15/21 When dealing with fundraising relationships (or any relationships for that matter), and you run into an unexpected stumbling block along the way, there really is no manual to look up how to get the relationship back on track. I struggled with this when beginning a job search in sales where the interviewer
Fundraising is Art as much as Science… Read More »
Posted 11/12/21 (This is another example where the therapeutic relationship and the fundraising relationship share a similarity. The bottom line however is to remember to be yourself in either type of relationship). There was an interesting dynamic that I was taught as a student therapist. With a strong motivation to help the client, therapists can
Donor Objections Often Come Back Around Read More »
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
Considering a Move to the Nonprofit? Read More »
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
Fundraising Through Public Speaking Read More »
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
Empathy Can Be Useful With Major Donors Read More »
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 »