I had a delightful catch-up call with a friend / former colleague / mentee today.
From the moment we met seven years ago, I knew she was bright, attentive, knowledgeable, and ambitious.
As colleagues, we developed a strong appreciation of one another’s gifts and strengths. My greatest support to her was to help her believe in her own talents. From time to time, I stepped in to offer guidance and perspectives when it added value.
When our time as work colleagues ended, we agreed to “stay in touch.”
The neat thing is, we have.
We connect every six months or so. We've spoken about the ins and outs of new roles, about meshing kids with a career, about consulting and side hustles.
Today, I reminded her about her tremendous ability as both a conversationalist and as a listener. She’s thinking about giving a talk to some college students about direct marketing! Meanwhile, she got me thinking about the fundraising database we use at work, and I was reminded that if I need freelance advancement support, she will be my first call.
It’s a two-way, mentoring relationship.
I have another mentoring relationship with a former direct report. She was off-the-charts awesome at getting people to take on intensive and long-term volunteer commitments. Our charity was flooded with eager applicants—almost too many to process!
After a couple of successful years in volunteer recruitment, she asked me about what else she might do in our sector. We talked about philanthropy of time and money, and how talking to people about gifts of money could be a touch easier than asking for gifts of their time.
Serendipitously, a colleague asked me if I had a “unicorn” to fill an advancement role.
I think you can guess the rest. My former staff person had a stellar interview, talking about transferable communications skills, curiosity and her passion for community. Today, in her advancement role, she is a consistently strong relationship-builder. Donors are inspired to support the charity. She says that it is so easy: all she does is talk with them about their dreams for a better future.
Every time I speak to her, we share advancement insights and encouragement and she inspires me to do more.
Think of someone who works with you—perhaps a contract employee who is trying to gain a foothold in the charitable sector? You invest time and effort into helping them with both hard and soft skills, and perhaps you also add some mentoring along the way. You’re been a trusted advisor.
You’re a mentor.
Part of your mentoring might be learning about their passions, dreams and career aspirations, and perhaps, you offer suggestions on ways they might achieve their goals. Or, you share insights about organizations that you know who work in that area. Maybe you suggest a course to take or someone they could meet for a coffee and conversation.
When a mentee leaves the organization, take “let’s keep in touch” to the next level. Promise to connect in a month to see how the new role is going.
Intentionally reach out at month one, three and then at six months. Do a check in. Listen and support. Your impartial, 3,000-foot view will make a big difference!
You can do this with friends and colleagues who are seeking a career shift. Pitch people who are curious, gregarious and passionate about our sector to think about advancement work. Connect what you know about their personalities, their integrity and their communication skills with how advancement works. Coach them through the job search, and support them actively in the first months as they bring their skills and attributes to their new role.
When the fit is right, and that magic happens, it is amazing to see how someone with natural talent can step into our work and engage donors authentically.
We can build our profession in this way—by mentoring, retaining our connections, spotting new talent and by coaching people as they move into new roles. And, when your mentee is ready to take their next step, maybe they will be ready to return to working alongside you.
Sandra Baker has been an employee and consultant in the charitable sector, including the arts, health care, social services and education, for forty delightful years. Sandra is Director of Advancement and Admissions at Hamilton District Christian High, located in beautiful Ancaster, Ontario.
