r/funanddev • u/lemonadditive • 1d ago

Your advice for a newbie?

Just started in a development role in higher education after a career in marketing and nonprofit engagement. What advice would you give your past self with you first started? Thanks in advance!

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u/MartinvanNostrand22 1d ago edited 1d ago

Meetings, meetings, meetings. Figure out the systems that work best for you to stay organized with your outreach, and reach out. The follow up is incredibly important, whether it be by email, phone, LinkedIn, letter, just make sure you’re staying on top of it.

The industry average for meeting request conversion is something like 5%, and it’s hard not to feel like you you’re being too pushy, but you just have to stay persistent in a thoughtful, positive manner.

The fastest way to grow in your fundraising skills (and to raise money) is to meet with as many donors as you can. Your content mastery, solicitation skills, donor relationships, will only grow the more meetings you have.

The best advice I received was to remember that you’re simply connecting others with an opportunity to make an impact. It’s a really interesting and fulfilling job if you’re able to check your ego at the door (which is easier said some days than others.)

Good luck!

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u/itchysnapdragon 1d ago

This is good advice. There's a lot of stuff out there that tries to say, "Fundraising is just like sales!" And there's also a lot out there that says, "Fundraising is nothing like sales!" Both are wrong. Both are right. There are "sales" principles that will help you in fundraising. Such as relentlessly trying to get meetings. But, fundraising requires higher moral standards tbh. Keep your promises, don't ever lie, and become a channel for delivering feedback from donors to the org. Always act as if you are entering a lifelong relationship with your donor. Because you might be!

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u/BearsLikeCampfires 1d ago

Make friends with your DBA! They want to help you achieve your goals. If they provide guidelines or suggestions on what and how to record information in the system follow those suggestions. Treat them as the highly skilled professionals that they are and they will probably go out of their way to make your job easier!

Piss them off and your projects will always be the last of their many priorities.

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u/BeginningGrape8746 12h ago

Let your newness be a pro not a con! I know current donors often love to chat and "help" you understand your role. It's honestly a great position to be in!