Organizations across the board offer limited developmental and growth opportunities for their fundraising talent. More specifically, nonprofits may restrict their funding investment to develop their fundraising team members. As in any other profession, fundraising personnel need tender loving care, which could be demonstrated through intentional practices that lead to their growth and thereby, to the organization’s bottom line. Not investing in developing your fundraising talent can restrict your organization’s ability to sustain its missional efforts. There are various ways in which leaders can invest in their fundraising talent without breaking the bank.
- Identify local fundraising and development professional networks. These offer mentoring and professional development opportunities, at times free of charge or at a very low cost.
Use the pair method. Identify development officers and fundraising talent either locally or nationally who would be willing to provide one-on-one or group coaching to your team members. Comfortable fee options can help your team members learn results-driven fundraising and friendraising practices, while ensuring your team members are growing their confidence level together. At Empowered Group Strategies, LLC we pride ourselves in the development of your talent.
Identify potential within your team and reassign as needed. Working with all types of organizations has made it very clear that there are people in positions that might not be helping them explore all of their gifts, one of them being cultivating relationships. Make sure to observe and evaluate for potential fundraisers who might be occupying other roles not associated with fund development. Mentor them and empower them to explore fundraising as an opportunity to grow within your organization. When we acknowledge our team members' abilities to grow and develop, they tend to stay with the organization longer. Once you identify those who might be in other non-fund development roles, reach out and reassign them as needed. When doing this, make sure to provide them with the support and training needed to succeed in their new role. You’ll find out there are some in your organization whose ability to cultivate and maintain relationships is innate.
Ultimately, a program that effectively attracts and retains fundraising talent must be competitive in the market, cost-efficient, engaging, and positioned as a strategic advantage for the organization, appealing to talent both internally and externally. Invest in your fund development talent with Empowered Group Strategies, LLC. Your entire team, those assigned to fundraising and those who aren’t, will appreciate the tools and techniques available to them while ensuring your mission and vision continues to move forward.
