for the sake of argument.
Join me, if you will, for a brief PSA about what it is that I "do."
Raise your hand if you feel that you truly understand Non-Profit Development.
Okay, half of you have already stopped reading. One of you is picking your nose (not cute, by the way), and one of you is staring at the ceiling. Okay, you with your hand up? You get it. Great.
Non-Profit Development is a fancy way of saying "fundraising," since people sort of cringe when you say "fundraising." There are many aspects to Non-Profit Development, but it all boils down to convincing people (be it individuals, corporations, or foundations) to give your organization money.
In the realm of Development, there are a variety of players:
1) The Grant Writer.
Grant writers are a funny breed, but vital nonetheless. They literally spend all of their time searching for grant opportunities and then writing grants. Most of them have unpublished novels sitting at home. A lot of them would probably describe themselves as "non-conformist" and "edgy." On average, they do not really like their coworkers, and prefer to be left alone.
2) The Event Coordinator/Manager.
Event Coordinators are the polar opposite of grant writers. They love people and schmoozing. They often refer to acquaintances as "connections." Event Coordinators pride themselves on knowing the names of every business owner in town, especially restraunteurs. Normally functioning on an odd combination of lack of sleep and excess caffiene, Event Coordinators are often overly-concerned with details such as flowers and print materials.
3) The Development Associate.
Development Associates are somewhat hard to describe. Sandwiched between the secretarial realm and the world of "bigger and better," they are charged with everything from addressing and stuffing envelopes to soliciting sponsorships for events. They often say things such as, "I didn't go to college for this," "I'm in year two of my five-year plan," and (my personal favorite), "no, I do not know how to fix the fax machine."
4) The Chief Development Officer (aka Director of Development)(aka Development Director)(aka Director of Fund Development)(etc.)
The pinnacle of the Non-Profit Development career, the Director of Development is truly an enigma. The ideal Director is hardly in the office, as they understand that "partnerships" are best made over lunch, coffee, or cocktails. They often complain that no one truly understands the importance of their work, or that no one actually understands what they do. This lack of understanding often leads to resentment, particularly in regards to the Executive Director or CEO.
Of course, there are a variety of other positions that function within the Non-profit Development world. Sometimes there will be a PR Director (public image means more people will donate!), a Volunteer Coordinator (what better way to attract donors than to get them involved in such a hands-on way?), or some form of Major Gifts Director (big bucks only, please), but these positions are often folded into the four basics, as funding can be a little tight.
Thank you for paying attention. This concludes our PSA about what it is that I "do."
Raise your hand if you feel that you truly understand Non-Profit Development.
Okay, half of you have already stopped reading. One of you is picking your nose (not cute, by the way), and one of you is staring at the ceiling. Okay, you with your hand up? You get it. Great.
Non-Profit Development is a fancy way of saying "fundraising," since people sort of cringe when you say "fundraising." There are many aspects to Non-Profit Development, but it all boils down to convincing people (be it individuals, corporations, or foundations) to give your organization money.
In the realm of Development, there are a variety of players:
1) The Grant Writer.
Grant writers are a funny breed, but vital nonetheless. They literally spend all of their time searching for grant opportunities and then writing grants. Most of them have unpublished novels sitting at home. A lot of them would probably describe themselves as "non-conformist" and "edgy." On average, they do not really like their coworkers, and prefer to be left alone.
2) The Event Coordinator/Manager.
Event Coordinators are the polar opposite of grant writers. They love people and schmoozing. They often refer to acquaintances as "connections." Event Coordinators pride themselves on knowing the names of every business owner in town, especially restraunteurs. Normally functioning on an odd combination of lack of sleep and excess caffiene, Event Coordinators are often overly-concerned with details such as flowers and print materials.
3) The Development Associate.
Development Associates are somewhat hard to describe. Sandwiched between the secretarial realm and the world of "bigger and better," they are charged with everything from addressing and stuffing envelopes to soliciting sponsorships for events. They often say things such as, "I didn't go to college for this," "I'm in year two of my five-year plan," and (my personal favorite), "no, I do not know how to fix the fax machine."
4) The Chief Development Officer (aka Director of Development)(aka Development Director)(aka Director of Fund Development)(etc.)
The pinnacle of the Non-Profit Development career, the Director of Development is truly an enigma. The ideal Director is hardly in the office, as they understand that "partnerships" are best made over lunch, coffee, or cocktails. They often complain that no one truly understands the importance of their work, or that no one actually understands what they do. This lack of understanding often leads to resentment, particularly in regards to the Executive Director or CEO.
Of course, there are a variety of other positions that function within the Non-profit Development world. Sometimes there will be a PR Director (public image means more people will donate!), a Volunteer Coordinator (what better way to attract donors than to get them involved in such a hands-on way?), or some form of Major Gifts Director (big bucks only, please), but these positions are often folded into the four basics, as funding can be a little tight.
Thank you for paying attention. This concludes our PSA about what it is that I "do."