Get a Lifeline — Find A Mentor
By: Christal M. Cherry, Principal & CEO at The Board Pro and WOC Radiant Leadership Institute Planning Committee member
I’m tired and my head hurts. I remember how many times I’ve said that during my time as a nonprofit fundraiser. Often exhausted by all the nuances of being a successful fundraiser, I found myself frustrated and alone. How I would have loved and appreciated having a mentor to confide in and get feedback and emotional support.
Now as a twenty-three-year veteran fundraiser, I cannot reiterate the importance of finding a mentor early in your career as a fundraiser.
Finding a mentoring program for women of color can be tricky. WOC’s Mentor Match is a program designed to establish more formal mentor/mentee relationships. Participants engage with each other one on one to work on challenges and goals identified by the mentee. Feedback from last year’s group has echoed the word “invaluable” for both mentees and mentors.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) also matches young professionals with seasoned ones. Years ago, I chaired the Diversity Fellows Program for AFP Greater Atlanta and now a few of those mentees are mentors for that same program. It is satisfying to see them pay it forward and contribute to the cause by helping others learn the fundraising ropes in this tech-savvy post pandemic environment.
What about fundraisers of color?
As fundraisers of color, we have even more hurdles to jump. In addition to the normal challenges of being a woman in a sector dominated by male board members and CEOs, there are the overt and hidden biases that marginalize us and sap us emotionally and spiritually. This has proven to hinder our success in the industry or force us to leave it all together.
As mentors we recognize that everyone has a unique set of skills and a unique personal network, and the mentorship we provide can help our mentees tailor their plans specifically to their circumstances whether that means weathering the storms in fundraising or finding new careers.
So how do you know when you need a mentor?
Mentors can be helpful at any stage of your fundraising career but particularly when:
You are uncertain how to respond to a racist comment from a colleague, volunteer, or a donor
You are having issues with a racist supervisor and not sure who to turn to
You’ve been overlooked for a promotion…again
You are having physical ailments – lack of sleep, indigestion, twitching eyes, excruciating headaches
You are ready to change jobs and need help recreating your resume and interviewing
You feel alienated because no one on your team looks like you
You need help plotting out short and long-term goals in your career
You are opting to change careers out of fundraising
The one-on-one coaching in a mentoring relationship can be invaluable. Here are a few ways a mentor can support you:
Plan weekly Development 101 Brown bag lunches to talk about trends and resources
Introduce you to professionals in the fundraising and business community
Offer advice or possible solutions to work challenges (tone of emails and conversations with colleagues)
Say little, listen a lot to your concerns and priorities
Know when the support you need is beyond his/her scope, and a therapist is suggested
The right individual, as a mentor, will allow you to save years of priceless experience through your interactions.
How do you find the right mentor for you?
The best place to start is your current network. Check out your sphere of influence. This means taking out your mobile and scrolling through your friends and colleagues, some you may have not considered. Do you know a retired fundraiser or former supervisor who might be good candidates? What about a board member, volunteer, donor?
Fortunately, there are more options today for fundraisers of color. Networks like WOC, African American Development Officers Network, Fabulous Female Fundraisers, F3, and The Rooted Collaborative, and the NPOCunicorns – People of Color Nonprofit Professionals (on Facebook) are wonderful resources. Other possible resources include the Nonprofit Hub and Women in Development.
The best tip is to just begin conversing with people you meet on the fundraising circuit. You may be surprised to learn that there are plenty of professionals willing to mentor you. The right individual, as a mentor, will allow you to save years of priceless experience through your interactions.
Today I am a mentor with AFP Global that offers a program which matches individuals across state lines. My mentee and I meet bi-monthly online as she is in another state. I am supporting her now with resume writing, interviewing skills, and salary negotiation tips to support her in finding her next gig. I am also on the Planning Committee for the WOC Radiant Leadership Institute, where an organic sense of mentorship is created within that community of current and future leaders.
As mentors, we recognize that everyone has a unique set of skills and a unique personal network, and the mentorship we provide can help our mentees tailor their plans specifically to their circumstances whether that means weathering the storms in fundraising or finding new careers.
So, seek a mentor and know that the relationship can become one of the most rewarding experiences of a long, illustrious, and fulfilling career as a nonprofit fundraiser or not! Either way, get a lifeline, find a mentor, get rid of your headache, and make the best decision for your life moving forward.
Christal M. Cherry, The Board Pro, is a consultant who works with nonprofits to help them build effective boards. For more information about her services, visit The Board Pro.
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Christal M. Cherry, Principal & CEO at The Board Pro and WOC Radiant Leadership Institute Planning Committee member
Christal M. Cherry is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive and professionally trained fundraiser. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she has supported higher education institutions, human services organizations and faith based missions. Her career portfolio, as a full time professional and consultant includes American University, the United Negro College Fund, Spelman College, Nicholas House, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Florida A & M University, Action Ministries and the GA Center for Nonprofits.
In each role, Christal has interfaced, guided and collaborated with diverse boards made up of college presidents, ministers and bishops, politicians, corporate CEO’s, civic leaders, consultants, attorneys, stay at home moms and students.
With passion and a wide breadth of experience, Christal works today with clients to help them mark a clear path to success in board development. Her style is electrifying, inspiring, and energizing.
Christal earned a MA in Counseling from Hampton University, a BA in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University and professional development certifications in nonprofit leadership, social media fundraising, and nonprofit management.
She currently serves on the board of the Greater Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Villages of Carver YMCA. She is regular presenter with CANDID, Qgiv, Network for Good, Bloomerang, and the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy where she facilitates webinars and teaches courses in fundraising, board development and equity and inclusion. Christal has been a guest on multiple podcasts and enjoy serving as a requested expert on board matters. She is contributing author in Collecting Courage, a documenting of racism and survival by 14 accomplished Black fundraisers working across North America. She also enjoys her membership in the African American Development Officers Network, Toastmasters, and F3, Fabulous Female Fundraisers which she founded.
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