Thank God Blue Monday, the so-called "saddest day of the year", is behind us. It can only go up from here, right? Let's be honest, are you feeling frustrated, angry, or burned out? If you are, you're not alone. I feel like the last five years have taken a toll on all of us. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but the world has never seemed this difficult or divisive. Oddly enough, when I watc
I know, we’ve all gotten a bit lazy - and yes, let’s just blame it on COVID! When the pandemic started, I was horrified at the thought of losing the ability to connect with people face-to-face. That connection was the essence of my business. Since the beginning, I’ve thrown myself out there, chatting with folks over coffee, drinks, or sometimes nothing at all, about careers, fundraising, nonprof
Turnover has long been a challenge in the fundraising profession. In 1996, a study by Edward G. Thomas at Cleveland State University revealed that over half of development staff left their positions within five years. Since then, the situation has only worsened. A few years ago, frequent job changes on a résumé were red flags to recruiters. Today, in the context of high turnover, three years at a
Happy New Year! January brings a fresh start—a time to reflect on our lives, careers, and new opportunities for growth. This month often brings a surge of inquiries about job opportunities and requests for informational interviews, signaling the season for setting professional goals. However, rather than focusing on job-hopping, let’s look at ways to grow right where you are. The beginning of th
Over 10 years ago, I wrote a blog post about optimizing LinkedIn profiles by deleting anything that wasn’t quite right for a professional space. Some of that advice still holds up, but LinkedIn has come a long way. Here’s an updated list of things to tidy up on your LinkedIn profile for the new year to keep it polished, relevant, and effective. Personal or Unprofessional Photos: Back then, it
Like so many others, growing up I never had a specific career goal in mind. Even after completing two degrees in my early twenties, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do—and I loved student life. It’s a great place to temporarily avoid reality. I lived in a bubble, floating between lectures, the library, and campus coffee shops. In my youth, there was much I didn’t know or even care to know. B
Explore a range of up-to-date resources, events, and professional development opportunities tailored to the philanthropic sector on The Hub. These resources are designed to help professionals enhance their skills, stay informed on industry trends, and strengthen their impact in fundraising, grantmaking, and nonprofit leadership. From specialized workshops to certifications and training programs,
The Smart Nonprofit's Intro to Hiring a Fractional Fundraiser As a nonprofit leader, you've probably experienced this scenario: Your organization needs experienced fundraising help, but hiring a senior development director feels financially out of reach. Meanwhile, hiring junior staff often leads to high turnover and requires significant training time you don't have. Sound familia
Fundraising as a profession has gained more recognition, and with that, we’re seeing a growing interest from professionals with transferable skills who are eager to transition into fundraising. I’m encouraged by the enthusiasm of those wanting to enter the field—whether it’s at career fairs or through one-on-one coffee chats. This is especially evident among students, who are inspired by the noti
Since I began recruiting in 2008, I've often been asked about educational pathways for fundraisers and the value of certifications like the CFRE. Reviewing my past emails and blog posts, my perspective remains largely unchanged. Full disclosure: I didn’t have a CFRE when I was a fundraiser. With a young family—one child and another on the way—I had to choose between the CFRE and an MBA. I chose
You likely already know the basics of what to prepare for your job interview: Examples of successes, how you handle setbacks and challenging people, and what to say when they ask you about your weaknesses. But as a fundraiser there is some specific preparation you should do that will set you apart from other candidates and help the employer to understand what you could bring to the role.
Here’s some news: You’re in the best position to look for a job when you don’t actually need one. You likely already know this, but it’s worth emphasizing. Job hunting while unemployed or under pressure to find a job quickly can be extremely stressful, putting you at a disadvantage. You may find it harder to be selective and could feel pressured to accept any offer that comes your way, which can
I’ll admit, résumés aren’t my favourite way to get to know someone. I’d much rather meet face-to-face to talk about their career goals, background, and achievements. But in most cases, a resume is your entry ticket to that meeting. Make sure it represents you in the best way possible. Here are eight tips to help your résumé stand out: Present Well: I’ve seen many résumé formats, from trad
While I haven’t been on many informational interviews myself, I’ve given thousands over the past fifteen years. When I started my fundraising career, I wasn’t aware of informational interviews and simply applied for jobs as they became available. Over time, awareness of informational interviews has grown, and more people are using them as a valuable tool for career development. Fortunately, fundr
You’ve likely heard about the mega-transition of wealth from the Baby Boomers to younger generations. Making sure your charity is comfortable in promoting and talking about gifts in wills is key to developing this kind of revenue! Remember that 30% of people in Canada are interested in leaving a charity in their will and 5% have already added a charity to their will – so let’s get cracking! St
