What an Assistant Director of Development at University of California Davis Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Fundraising Industry
Ryan wishes someone had emphasized the high-stress nature of development work, noting that while nonprofits often share the positive aspects, "development has sort of that struggle magnified," as it can be a very emotional job where passionate individuals may have difficult conversations when managing the energy of people with a lot at stake in what they do. Early on, Ryan learned that people will "fight for, for what they believe in," making it clear it's not just a desk job but often people's whole lives.
Fundraising, Nonprofit, Stress Management, Passion, Emotional Intelligence
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Advincula
Assistant Director of Development
University of California, Davis
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis: MBA
Entertainment, Music & Arts, Political Science, American Studies
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Fundraising/Development roles can be very stressful, requiring a genuine love for the work to navigate the challenges.
2. Nonprofits sometimes downplay the difficulties, but development roles feel the impact of financial struggles most acutely.
3. Working in a mission-driven field involves managing passionate individuals and potentially navigating emotionally charged situations.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
I think if there was something I wish I could have gleaned from one of my mentors early on in my first fundraising job, it's that it's really, really stressful. You really have to love the work.
The nonprofit world sometimes sugarcoats the positive aspects of the job, sharing the lemons of the work without fully conveying the pains. Development roles can magnify this struggle.
If your nonprofit is struggling, you feel it the most. If the nonprofit is doing well financially, you generally reap the benefits. This isn't always directly reflected in your pay or benefits, but it contributes to your satisfaction.
It can be a very emotional job. With a job based on passion, you attract passionate people. This leads to many passionate conversations, which can be both good and difficult at times.
Managing the energy of people with a lot at stake in what they do is key. I learned that early on. Sometimes it takes a big, fiery nonprofit argument with a president or executive director to realize this is a job where people will fight for what they believe in.