Recently, I have been approached by a few new-to-fundraising professionals looking for training and support. They aren’t sure where to go; their budgets are tiny or non-existent, they are cautious about organizations who have experienced scandals, and networking opportunities are much fewer than pre-pandemic. Through no fault of their own they are left to try and navigate this profession without the same supports that I had when I started.

Are you one of these professionals? Or do you manage one of these professionals and aren’t sure how to support them? Here is a place to start.

For Networking:

• The Nonprofit Hive is an innovative solution to the networking need. Founded by Tasha Van Vlack, it’s a new model for worldwide nonprofit networking. Each week you have the opportunity to sign up for a chat and be paired with another professional. Participants represent countries from all over the world.
• Reach out – Fundraisers understand that this job is hard. Like, really hard. We have all been a junior staff member and know how difficult navigating this career can be. A classic Laura refrain (a lesson from one of my mentors) is, “It’s always worth a conversation”. Senior professionals who want to reinvest in this industry will make the time to meet and support younger professionals. LinkedIn is a great tool for this. As a leader you can connect your staff with others or as a new professional you can reach out and ask for the support.

For Learning:

• Udemy & Coursera are two low and no-cost sources for education and skills development. They have courses that are nonprofit specific and side-step skills for anyone looking to grow their career. With our increasingly data-driven and technology- dependent industry, leveraging these courses can help you build a skill set.
• Agencies and companies are your friends. Signing up for email newsletters from agencies like Broccoli & Blakely as well as places like M&R, Imagine Canada and Next After can all bring free and low cost education to your inbox and frequently include invitations for events and conversations.

Laura Champion is the Senior Director, Fund Development at Lumenus Foundation. She is the Founder of the AFP Speaker Discovery Series, was Chair of AFP GTA Congress in 2020, and has spoken all over the globe. She has a deep love for fundraising, learning and her one-eyed wiener dog, Mortadella.