Is two better than one? In the right situation with the right combination of people, YES!
Two is always better than one when it comes to things like puppies or vacations or pieces of cake (maybe even glasses of wine) but what about fundraisers in the same role at the same time? This was the situation for me when I started a new role in an arts organization after spending three years at an academic institution. I was excited to return to being a full-time major gift fundraiser with great opportunities in front of me at a transitional time in the organization. One unexpected element was learning that it would, in fact, be two of us starting the same senior role, two weeks apart. After a brief pause, and a request to meet my double, my surprise became delight and things began to fall into place. [Read more…]
This scenario plays out frequently at many nonprofit organizations: top-performing professionals gets promoted to lead a team but has never been trained to lead or manage. This is often a disaster—results suffer, people head for the door, and the new manager flames out (and may even get fired).
Listening at the speed of sound;
A recent conversation with my daughter on the way to school led to a startling realization. My role as Director of Major Gifts at Franklin & Marshall College has taught me a lot about driving success, both as a professional fundraiser and as a parent. During this particular drive, my daughter peppered me with questions about what I was going to do that day. Do I like my job? Why did I have meetings and what did I talk about during them? With whom was I going to talk? Why does my team follow my directions? How do I succeed at my job? Her curiosity led me to think about how closely my career integrates with my family life and how my experiences leading a team of major gifts officers informs my parenting at home. What lessons have I learned from my life as “Mom and Major Gifts Officer” or, to coin a term, the MoMGO?
Sidney Mathias Baxter Coulling III, the retired S. Blount Mason Jr. Professor of English at 