Key Strategies to Help Young Nonprofit Professionals Succeed

My best advice for young nonprofit professionals is to be willing to accept advice. We often think we know everything about our chosen field. However, as we engage with other professionals, we realize there's a lot we still have to learn.

Try to surround yourself with professionals at all levels of experience. After decades in the nonprofit sector, I still learn every day from the wisdom of others. It's exciting to study both the theory and practice of something and see how they work together in different situations.

Ways for Improvement

This resource outlines ways you can increase your knowledge and skills. Here are my top five nonprofit career tips:  

• Find a mentor. From senior leaders at your organization to peers in the sector, a mentor can guide you through your professional development. 
• Lean on colleagues for information. Especially when you’re just starting, there will be a lot that you won’t know. Find the people in your organization who are experts in their respective fields and glean their insights. 

• Develop peer networks. If there are other young professionals who are just as eager to learn, build a peer network to learn and build from each other. 

• Join professional organizations. Organizations like the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Direct Marketing Association of Washington host invaluable resources that will undoubtedly help you grow your professional skill set. 

• Attend events to build relationships. Local chapter events or big annual conferences are great ways to meet other like-minded professionals. 

I’ve also learned that volunteering at other organizations can give you new experiences and fresh perspectives that can help you grow at your current organization or excel in the future when you transition to a different role. Learning from others can help you narrow your career focus, whether it’s strategic thinking, marketing communications, program development, or donor relations. 

As a young nonprofit professional, you might not know your strengths and weaknesses. I recommend performing a personal SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis to help you identify which areas you excel in and which you can improve on. 

It’s also beneficial to stay current on industry trends by reading news and resources related to your career and profession. Engage with external and internal stakeholders and encourage feedback on your job performance. This will help you identify areas for improvement, grow into an exceptional leader, and enhance your overall effectiveness in your role.

Learn to Self-Promote Yourself

Finally, if you are focused on advancing your career, learn how to self-promote. Self-promotion helps you network and present yourself to others, which will enable you to achieve professional goals. 

Here are ways you can advocate for yourself: 

• Share your accomplishments
• Promote positive feedback from performance reviews
• Keep your portfolio up-to-date
• Identify which skills are most useful in your role

I love using LinkedIn to promote my brand. I list my education, experiences, recommendations, publications and other ways readers can see my accomplishments. Every piece of information on my LinkedIn is verified — it adds a boost of credibility.  

Remember, it takes years to build a following and enhance your reputation. So, be strategic and creative about where you would like to be in five years, 10 years and beyond. 

Enjoy the voyage. At the end of the day, be true to yourself. You will get out of a career what you put into it!

The preceding blog was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.