Ask April: Advice for Young Professionals
Dear April:
I am completing my last year of graduate school this May and hoping to start my career in the nonprofit sector. I became interested in fundraising while interning with a local Food Bank. I had an opportunity to work alongside the development team and assisted as they planned fundraising events, published an annual report, and received heaps of mail towards the end of the year.
The work was exciting and, quite often, challenging as well. But more than anything, I loved the way the team could advocate for people and communities in need.
As a young, Black woman looking for opportunities to put my degree in Nonprofit Management to use, I am curious about your experiences early in your career. What advice can you share for those of us starting out?
New to the Profession
Dear New:
Welcome to the team! We need as many young, smart, and enthusiastic people as possible in this field. Looking back, my early career experiences were marked by learning about myself as I learned about philanthropy. Like many, I fell into the profession and quickly gathered that the skills you need to thrive in this field - relationship building, strong written and verbal communication, and project management - are transferable to various roles and will simply serve you well in life.
Fundraising is dynamic. One day you’re coordinating an event, the next you are chatting up prospective donors. You can plan galas. You can write grant proposals. You can conduct prospect research, solicit major gifts, or manage a planned giving program. Raising money is truly only one part of the job; there are so many ways to be of service.
A couple bits of advice and encouragement:
Understand your own money story. Identifying your beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about money will provide much needed clarity for the journey. I remember having a visceral reaction the first time I saw a handwritten six-figure check. I’m sure I even called my mother to express my disbelief. As checks that are double or triple your salary start to move through your hands, explore the many feelings that brings up (including what it would feel like to make that type of investment yourself!).
Know that you, too, are a philanthropist. Reclaiming this title is so important. It is one thing to understand the ways philanthropy has shown up in your own life and another entirely to appreciate how your support of a local clothing drive or commitment to tithing in church makes a lasting impact.
Build a peer support network. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time seeking mentors to learn from more experienced professionals. While helpful, I still ended up quite lonely and isolated. Find your tribe of young professionals who understand the nuances of your work and celebrate all that you bring into the field.
Know that we need your ideas! Leverage your newness to disrupt the status quo. The last thing this sector needs is to recreate the wheel. Challenge us to question the policies we accept as best practice simply because things have always been done that way.
As it seems you already know, this work is about so much more than money. While I still enjoy exceeding fundraising goals, there is much joy to be found in facilitating conversations, celebrating small wins, and inspiring gratitude.
Stay open, stay curious, and stay in touch!