Fundraising Foundations: What I Wish I Knew Starting Out

In fundraising, entering the field can be both exhilarating and daunting. Drawing inspiration from the insights shared by industry professionals, I've distilled a collection of both mine and others’ invaluable lessons for those embarking on their nonprofit development journey.

Embracing Imperfection and Opportunity in Your First Role

Real talk: the initial step into fundraising seldom presents the perfect job scenario. Yet this phase holds immense potential for exploration and self-discovery! It's a chance to dive into various tasks, discerning what ignites your passion and identifying what you'd rather avoid (like gala planning for me) in future roles. This exploration is crucial in shaping your career trajectory and honing in on areas where you wish to excel.

Deep Assessment of the Work Culture

The culture of the nonprofit you join plays a pivotal role in your professional development. Sometimes you get signs of the culture during the interview process. I once had an interview series that spanned several meetings. During the meeting with the CEO present, he talked over every single one of his 4 female colleagues on the call. It was apparent that this was his typical behavior and gave me a red flag.

You will not always get clear signs.

But try to dig into the essence of the work culture with questions. Assume that you want an environment that values experimentation and is not deterred by failure. During interviews, inquire about their recent ventures into new ideas that didn't pan out as expected. I find that an organization's response to failure, and hearing them talk through it, can reveal a lot about its openness to innovation and learning.

The Significance of Team Dynamics

While interviews offer a glimpse into the organization, they rarely provide the full picture, especially concerning the team dynamics and managerial styles you'll encounter. Reflect deeply on the specific team and manager you'll be working with, as these individuals will significantly influence your experience and growth potential. It's essential to find a group from whom you can learn and with whom you resonate on a professional level.

And make sure you get adequate time with them during the interview process! You can always ask for another 30-minute meeting to ask a few more questions or send an email with follow-up inquiries. A friend of mine asked to speak with the whole team she’d be working with over lunch before accepting a role. They said that was fine — she loved the crew and accepted. But she told me that if they had not honored that request, she’d be gone.

Don’t be afraid to ask for more interaction.

More Crowdsourced Contributions from LinkedIn:

• Realize the importance of mentorship for gaining early perspectives on your nonprofit's operations and personal job satisfaction. Will someone on this team — preferably your boss — be a good mentor?

• Inquire about the organization's finances during interviews to understand how they support staff, their cash flow and how they fund bold ideas.

• Understand the nonprofit's governance model and the board's engagement level, as it's key in advertising and evangelizing the nonprofit’s brand.

• Recognize that planning and funding significant projects can take years — and assess if staff agree with this. Starting with smaller grants to build capacity and gradually progressing to larger ones makes sense and is a safer path to be on than one that expects a 200% return in 1 year.

As we navigate the complexities of the fundraising landscape, these lessons serve as guiding principles, illuminating the path for aspiring fundraisers. The journey may be filled with challenges, but it also offers boundless opportunities for growth, learning, and social change!

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Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE is a nonprofit leader, fundraiser and consultant. She is recognized as an engaging speaker, teacher and writer on how to accelerate nonprofit impact through sustainable growth. You can reach out to her for speaking engagements and trainings.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and routinely check out her [re]generative nonprofit blog for more insights on the social sector.