Maybe you’ve tried the corporate route and want to make a move in a more fulfilling direction. Or maybe you’re facing an unplanned career change and are thinking the world of nonprofit may have the role for you. As someone who has worked in, and with, the charitable sector my whole life, I have a ton of advice for people looking to make a career change into a fundraising role or pursue a management job in a nonprofit.

12+ years in corporate fundraising coupled with 10 more in the nonprofit sector alongside 5 years of teaching Introduction to Fundraising at Ryerson University has offered me the opportunity to connect with hundreds of people looking to transition into, or ignite a career, in the charitable sector. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Three things to keep in mind when transitioning from corporate to nonprofit

The biggest challenge I see in those looking to make the transition from corporate work to charity work is the assumption that any part of the move will be easy. I say this with the most love, compassion and hopefulness I can muster; it is not.

The truth is that while your skills are useful, and some undoubtedly transferable into the world of nonprofit, making this move takes intentionality. It takes planning. And most of all, it takes time. While you’ve likely developed business development savvy, marketing skills and people management experience (all of which are incredibly useful to the nonprofit or charitable sector), you haven’t actually been working in the sector. So, when you decide to make the shift, you need to own this in a bigger way than you probably expect.

Here are three things to keep in mind as you begin your transition:

1. You have transferable skills, but you haven’t used them in a nonprofit/charity setting. If this is the case, it is important to understand that there are elements of using these skills in the non-profit arena that will challenge your experience. It will force you to use these skills in a different way. For example, you may have to operate with limited resources and you may be surrounded by others whose primary concern is not revenue generation in the traditional sense.

Prepare yourself:  Brainstorm employer concerns about transferable skills in this new setting and address these concerns in your cover letter. Research the lingo! Signing up for my weekly newsletter where I share advice, articles and tips on corporate fundraising is a great place to start. 

2. Individuals in the nonprofit sector respect and honour the skills and experience of other people who have invested in the sector. If hiring is taking place internally, you have to expect that they might prioritize experience similar to their own.

Prepare yourself:  Before making the switch, try to gain as much experience – and as many connections – as possible within the sector. Additional experience will ensure you’re taken seriously as a viable candidate. Volunteering is a great way get this experience – check current volunteer openings on CharityVillage.

3. Most nonprofits are risk averse. Making fiscally responsible decisions is baked into the DNA of most charities. As a result, making a risky decision is the antithesis of what most charities are looking to do when considering a new hire. Hiring a corporate candidate could be seen as a risky decision. If things don’t work out, it’s either because the candidate didn’t pay enough attention to cultural fit, the skills weren’t transferable enough, or the person wasn’t prepared to take the pay cut they said they were.

Prepare yourself: Look for ways to mitigate risk. Prove that you are in it for the long haul, that this isn’t just a momentary lapse in judgement. Reassure the team that you’re in it to win it, and that you won’t bail the moment a more lucrative opportunity became available.

If you are considering making a transition, recognize you have a lot to offer, and it could be a great move for both you and the charity. Also recognize that it isn’t going to be easy, and it may not be quick.

Once you are ready for that sort of commitment, start looking into networking and education opportunities that demonstrate your desire to make a change. Start talking to people. Understand what lessons you need to learn. Be prepared for salary realities, and if you aren’t prepared to take a different kind of compensation than you have been used to, then only look at those charities where compensation is commensurate with your goals.

If you’re contemplating a switch, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you find the role that satisfies your passion and desire to give back.

Heather Nelson, MBA, CFRE is a corporate partnership and sponsorship specialist that leads her own consultancy, BridgeRaise. Heather is passionate about supporting fundraisers generally, but specifically as they successfully raise more money from companies. To learn more about Heather’s work with charities: www.bridgeraise.com