Lead Newsletter Articles

As fundraisers we all know how important it is to build relationships for our organizations—whether it is with our donors, prospects, or vendors. Building, developing and maintaining relationships directly contributes to the health of our organization and the success of the mission because relationships create the trust required for individuals and other institutions to support us financially and otherwise. Yet, we often neglect ourselves in the process. We should also consider the health and success of our professional and personal missions—are we job hunting; looking to build skills in a particular area; interested in finding or being a mentor. This is where career networking plays a critical role. Whether you are a new fundraiser, a seasoned professional, job hunting or satisfied in your current position—networking and building relationships can help you both professionally and personally.
 
The key to networking is to treat our co-workers, colleagues and peers as our prospects and donors. As fundraisers we have a distinct advantage because we already know how to create and build relationships—we do it everyday with our board members and donors. We understand how to relate to a variety of different individuals, build trust, and make others feel comfortable. We are good listeners, good conversationalists, and good communicators. We know how to follow up, help others and connect people. All we need to do to be a successful career networker is apply this model to further our personal and professional missions—whether it be to get a new job, be nominated to a board of directors, find a new friend or enhance our skills.
 
To follow are several ways to apply our skills as fundraising networkers to further our personal or professional missions as career networkers.

• Be personal: In the age of email, blackberry and cell phones, take a moment to hand write a note to a colleague—whether you met them last week for the first time at Fund Raising Day in New York or you have known them for ten years. Let them know you enjoyed meeting them or send them a clipped article of a topic of your last discussion. Don’t be shy. Everyone enjoys a little personal attention and thoughtfulness.
• Follow through: If you take someone’s business card at a networking reception and say ‘let’s get together for lunch’, pick up the phone and call in a week or two and make the appointment. Whether they are new to the field or an experienced fundraiser, you could learn a lot from a different perspective and/or simply get a little R&R out of the office making a new friend. They will be pleasantly surprised and delighted you followed through.
• Get involved: Networking is not all done at networking receptions. Our Greater New York Chapter always needs volunteer committee members and event staff. Meet someone new or work with an old acquaintance as a room monitor at Fund Raising Day in New York or on the Sponsorship Committee for National Philanthropy Day. Attend a brown bag lunch session and invite someone to coffee later in the week to talk about the discussion topic. There are an infinite number of unique ways to network.
• Maintain your connections: Make an appointment in your calendar to spend one hour per month maintaining your professional contacts. Send an email invitation to grab a coffee. Call to just say hello. Send cards for holidays throughout the year with a personal note. Schedule something easy for yourself to keep your relationships going.

These are just a few ways we can all be better networkers for ourselves no matter where we are in our careers. Below are a few extra tips specific to networking for job hunters.

• Ask for 30 minute meetings: Ask a new colleague or someone at an organization that is attractive to you to give you 30 minutes of their time to tell you about what they do. Often this leads to connections with others in their network that could be of assistance or the meeting may help you better define what you are looking for in your next position. Don’t forget to follow through with a thank you afterward.
• Be proud of your accomplishments: Don’t be shy about the goals you’ve met or the fundraising certificate you’ve just earned. When speaking with recruiters and colleagues, let them know about your latest success. People pass along good news to others.
• Get more involved: Attend the networking events, join committees, volunteer for upcoming events, but also nominate yourself for board posts, attend conferences and introduce yourself to people, apply to be a workshop speaker, and write articles for fundraising publications. As you meet new people, keep you eyes and ears open about new opportunities.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”, he observes that most jobs are secured through acquaintances, not friends. I would also argue that most board positions, committee nominations and other career-boosters are obtained in the same manner, with the exception of achievements that require standardized tests such as the CFRE, but you could probably find a great study-buddy among your acquaintances! Intuitively this makes perfect sense. Our circle of acquaintances is always larger than our circle of friends. The key in career networking for job hunting as well as for staying connected to what’s going on in the field is to continually create, build and maintain your circles just as you do for networking and relationship building for your organization.

Adrienne D. Capps, CFRE, is the Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University.

This message is part of this month’s newsletter, which is available online. Please click here to read Fundraising News.