Blog

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With a decade of experience working in key leadership positions with not for profits, Scott has real world experience getting an organization’s message out, and presently as the Director of Fundraising and Communications at Bulembu.

Scott is a relational, dedicated, results-producing professional with experience taking the lead to expand organizational effectiveness and capacity. If you have the pleasure to chat with Scott, you will probably find yourself quickly laughing – he’s got a sharp sense of humor.

1. Why did you pursue a career in the NFP sector? Why did you say ‘yes’ to working for the organization you are currently representing?

Life in general—I often lead with my heart and so it was an obvious choice to build my career around something that was a heart connect.  Working for a pay cheque was never going to be enough.  On top of that, I like to work.  I’m not a hobbyist.  Keep me busy, give me a challenge, show me the opportunity to make real change and I’ll give you everything I’ve got.

I am drawn to opportunities where I can see what isn’t there but could be.  I like building, and the role I’m in now didn’t exist before I came along.  The opportunity to define what communications and fundraising was within the organization was very appealing.  Plus, my Executive Director is a dynamic, visionary leader who is quite willing to resource a good idea.  He’s not afraid to experiment.  The organization itself is also doing exciting work and has the possibility of redefining more than a few out of date operating systems or organizational philosophies that many NFP’s are still using.  I like innovating.

2. How have you become well equipped to be a leader in your organization?

Trial and error.   Trying something, having it work (or not) and building from that.  I’m also a collaborator by both nature and training so I enjoy casting a vision, setting a direction and then giving everyone the freedom and resources to do what they do well.  I like working with people who are smarter than me.  They make me look good.

3. How would you say the ‘face’ of the Non-Profit world is changing (or needs to change)?

From a fundraising point of view we need to stop trying to find new ways to ask donors for money.  And we need to banish the idea that people give to need.  People give to vision.  They give to a story that connects with their experience, worldview or vision of themselves or who they want to be.  When an NFP figures out what it can give to its constituents instead of just take, I think that organization is heading in a good direction.

4. How do you stay current and ‘in the know’ when it comes to Non-Profit trends/leadership?

I am a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) which puts out information that is often helpful.  I look for professional development opportunities, especially ones that are not necessarily directly related to my field but have transferable applications.  But I find the most useful resource is connecting with other development professionals and chatting about what is working and what is not and emerging trends or communication opportunities.

5. What is your organization doing to ensure that they are forward thinking/ahead of the curve?

Visioning, dreaming, planning, experimenting.  I think many NFP’s get so caught up in the immediate funding needs of the organization (putting out fires), that they don’t take time to look to plan for the future, to ask themselves “what can we do to ensure the fires we are having to put out today aren’t the same fires we have to deal with a year or 3 years from now?”  I often find myself asking “what stories do we want to tell, who do we want to tell them to, and how are we going to tell them?”

6. Name two or three Non-profits that are launching initiatives you feel are noteworthy?

Locally, Union Gospel Mission is finding new ways to connect with the people who will find the work they do meaningful.  They are finding ways to dialogue with their constituents and are resourcing new communication channels.  They are trying things and learning how to move forward based on what’s working and what’s not.

Globally, Charity: Water seems to have come out of nowhere and they are really leveraging web and video, etc. to gain critical mass which is moving their messaging around the globe efficiently and with a lot of sticking power.

7.  If you were beginning your career over again, what would you do differently?

Not much.  Everything I’ve done to date has been a benefit to what I am doing today.  Even when it doesn’t seem like the job or experience directly relates.  I have learned so much about myself and how I work and where my strengths are and what I do less well.