I am interested in connecting with anyone who has made the transition from a non-profit development position to a grant officer position or similar with a foundation. How did you position yourself for the change? What was your career path? Thanks!
Good Answers (1)
Richard M
Advisor to funders, philanthropists, and foundations; lecturer about and professor of philanthropy
Best Answers in: Philanthropy (5), Social Enterpreneurship (1), Green Business (1)
As one who is a professor of grantmaking and who used to be CEO of a large foundation, and before then a non-profit exec, i am approached with this question all the time. First and foremost, realize that it is not just the other side of the same table but a very different perspective. [i will resist the temptation to push our NYU courses which teach all of this :) ]
Second, understand that the temperament that makes one a good development officer is quite different than the temperament that makes one a good grant officer. For just a couple of examples: there are no clear measures for success in grantmaking whereas a fundraiser usually has very distinct benchmarks such as dollars raised or number of gifts; one has to have one's ego in check since the most successful things you do are enabling someone else to do something; you have to be prepared to say "no" much much much more than yes; etc. If this defines you, the next thing you need to do is to do some serious info interviews and get a sense of the very different styles of grantmaking which funding orgs and foundations use. Finally, remember that there are many fewer jobs on the grantmaking side than there are on the development side, so all of the positioning only makes you competitive; there is literally nothing you can do to guarantee that kind of career switch.
