Careers in Fundraising

Sometimes, the good news is you got the job; the bad news is you got the job. Many development officers, especially after a grueling job search, are so delighted to get an offer, they say yes without thinking and then find themselves, within a few months or even a few weeks, wondering why they took the job.

Before accepting a position, you should think about, and ask, some critical questions about the philanthropic culture of the organization making the offer. How can you determine the culture of an organization? A good place to start is by researching the organization's website and printed publications. If you know someone who works for this organization, serves on its board, has received services from the organization or volunteers there, have a heart-to-heart talk with these people as well. During the interview ask questions and observe the surroundings.  Read more

Fundraising is the black sheep of the nonprofit sector. Charities spend as little as they possibly can on it. They talk as much as they possibly can about how little they spend on it. The watchdogs, the IRS, and donors deduct goody-two-shoes points from nonprofits in direct correlation to every dollar they spend on it. Institutional funders penalize charities for spending on it; it's a cannibal that eats program dollars. By extension, fundraisers are the black sheep of the sector's workforce; second-class citizens to the program staff who are in the trenches every day doing the real work of social change.  Read more

Powerpoint presentation.  Read more