What Type Of Person Thrives In The Fundraising Industry, According To A Philanthropy Officer At UNICEF USA
Successful fundraising professionals at UNICEF USA are "very authentic and also very empathetic," demonstrating strong listening skills to understand donor motivations. This involves tailoring communication, "meeting donors where they're at" and focusing on specific issues important to each individual rather than overwhelming them with general information about the organization.
Communication, Empathy, Relationship Building, Active Listening, Donor Engagement
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bridget Maxim
Philanthropy Officer
UNICEF USA
University of Southern California, 2013
University of Missouri St. Louis (Secondary Education); University of Southern California (MBA)
Environmental & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Authenticity and empathy are key traits for success.
2. Excellent fundraisers build strong donor relationships and understand individual motivations.
3. Tailoring communication to resonate with donors is crucial, focusing on their specific interests rather than overwhelming them with information about the organization as a whole
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
People who thrive in fundraising are very authentic and empathetic. They realize that if you send a huge email to someone they recognize, no one will read it.
Excellent fundraisers know their donors very well and have built relationships. They meet their donors where they are.
For example, at an organization like UNICEF, there are a million things to share about helping kids in 190 countries. There's no shortage of things to share from the rooftops about how great the organization is.
However, good fundraisers recognize when a donor cares about a specific issue. They share information about that specific issue and hold back on the other things they could be sharing. They are very good at listening to donors and understanding what will motivate them and make them feel like they are making a difference.