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Polly, Senior Vice President at Fundraising Consulting Company: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from after-school programs for vulnerable children to a Senior Vice President role at a leading fundraising consulting firm, this professional's path is inspiring.
A deep commitment to mission-driven work, combined with a business acumen, allows for impactful collaborations across diverse nonprofit sectors.
Strong listening skills, strategic thinking, and exceptional communication are highlighted as crucial for success, alongside a willingness to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.
The interview reveals a dynamic work environment demanding effective time management, but rewarding in its collaborative spirit and continuous learning opportunities.
Aspiring professionals will gain insight into entry-level positions, including the value of volunteer work, internships, and sector-specific knowledge, along with the importance of meticulous preparation, risk-taking, and cultivating cultural competency.
The emphasis on inclusive leadership and self-awareness regarding privilege provides a valuable framework for navigating a successful and impactful career.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Polly Breit
Senior Vice President
Fundraising Consulting Company
University of Wisconsin, Madison
N/A
Classics, Spanish Literature
Nonprofit
Consulting
Honors Student
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Career Path Of A Senior Vice President At Fundraising Consulting Company
Polly's career path began with a college job at an after-school program for foster and homeless children, sparking an interest in working with kids which led to a teaching role with Teach For America. A layoff transitioned their career into instructional coaching and eventually into fundraising, a field Polly found unexpectedly fulfilling after working with a nonprofit's board and seeing "how important...a sustainable fundraising model is and how many opportunities there are...to tell stories and elevate the brand."
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Vice President at Fundraising Consulting Company
Polly, a Senior Vice President at a large fundraising consulting firm, oversees a portfolio of consultants working with nonprofits of all sizes on campaigns ranging from "big Capital campaigns" to program support, focusing on "elevating their work and propelling their work forward." This involves both sales—identifying new clients and their needs—and project oversight, ensuring successful fundraising partnerships across Colorado.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Vice President At A Fundraising Consulting Company
A Senior Vice President at a fundraising consulting company describes a varied workday, including internal team meetings ("internal check-ins with my team members on Mondays and Tuesdays"), client project check-ins, and presentations to client boards, such as a recent presentation to the Women's Foundation of Colorado. The role also involves daily report reviews and providing director feedback, showcasing the diverse responsibilities inherent in the position.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Vice President At Fundraising Consulting Firm
Polly, a Senior Vice President at a Fundraising Consulting Company, identifies strong listening skills and thoughtful questioning as crucial, stating that "the ability to build relationships and trust is key". Success in this role also hinges on strategic thinking for large campaigns, strong communication skills ("to communicate those ideas effectively, concisely and in a way that inspires others"), and the ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data for impactful recommendations.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Vice President At A Fundraising Consulting Firm
Polly enjoys the collaborative environment at CCS, stating that "I thrive in places where I can work with a team," and appreciates the diverse sectors the role exposes her to, allowing for continuous learning and a "nice balance of working with people and also really having dedicated time where I can put my head down." This variety, encompassing healthcare, education, and urban healthcare policy, keeps the work engaging and challenging.
Biggest Challenges Faced By a Senior Vice President at a Fundraising Consulting Company
Polly, a Senior Vice President at a Fundraising Consulting Company, finds the most significant challenge in their role is prioritization and effective time management; they emphasize the importance of "great systems to organize how [they are] structuring [their] weeks and how [they are] building an efficiency" to overcome this.
Favorite Parts of Working in Fundraising Consulting as a Senior Vice President
Polly, a Senior Vice President at a fundraising consulting firm, finds the most rewarding aspect of her career the "nice balance of a business mindset, but in a nonprofit space," allowing her to work with "some of the best brands in the nonprofit space" tackling crucial issues like food insecurity and women's rights while operating within a successful for-profit model. This unique position provides a fulfilling blend of business acumen and impactful social work.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Fundraising Consulting Industry According To A Senior Vice President At A Fundraising Consulting Company
Individuals thriving in fundraising consulting demonstrate "a deep curiosity about the world and people," viewing it as a "career more than a job," requiring commitment and "sacrifice" for significant rewards. Success hinges on a mission-driven approach, exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple priorities, and superior communication abilities to inspire confidence and achieve client goals.
What A Senior Vice President In Fundraising Consulting Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Fundraising Industry
Polly's most valuable early career lesson, shared by a manager, was to embrace mistakes as inevitable and focus on "how you manage the mistakes and you communicate about them," a crucial skill in the dynamic world of fundraising where "it's not always a perfectly straight line" from A to Z. This realization shifted Polly's perspective, allowing for greater risk-taking and enjoyment of the inherent uncertainties in ambitious campaign work.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Nonprofit Professionals
To break into nonprofit consulting, Polly, a Senior Vice President at a fundraising consulting company, suggests undergraduates explore "volunteer opportunities" to grasp nonprofit operations and seek "internships" for insight into management. Further, gaining "sector-specific knowledge and experience" within areas like education or healthcare provides a valuable foundation.
Key Career Lesson From A Senior Vice President At A Fundraising Consulting Firm
Polly, a Senior Vice President at a Fundraising Consulting Company, emphasizes two crucial career lessons: meticulous preparation— "having the time and doing the work on the front end"—and the importance of "taking risks" by thinking big to inspire significant philanthropy; the latter proving that "the bigger your vision...the more attractive that is to philanthropists".
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Vice President In Fundraising Consulting Succeed
Polly's undergraduate success stemmed from juggling "a full course load" with employment, fostering crucial time management skills, and a junior year abroad in Argentina. This experience instilled "cultural competency," resourcefulness navigating unfamiliar systems, and a valuable humility, shaping their approach to the professional world.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Vice President's Career At A Fundraising Consultancy
Polly, a senior vice president, emphasizes self-awareness of privilege as crucial to navigating a career, citing a mentor's example of "pausing to let people...empower them to lead." This commitment to lifelong learning, including participation in ally resource groups, informs their approach to fostering inclusive leadership by actively encouraging less experienced colleagues to share ideas and "showing up better" daily.
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