You're considering becoming a fundraising coach. How do you know if it's the right career move for you?

1 What are your goals?

One of the first things to consider is what are your personal and professional goals as a fundraising coach. Do you want to work independently or join a coaching firm? Do you want to specialize in a specific niche or sector, or offer a general service? Do you want to work with local or international clients, or both? How much time and money are you willing to invest in your coaching education and certification? How do you want to measure your impact and success? Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you want to work can help you determine if this is the right career move for you.

2 What are your skills?

Another important factor to evaluate is what are your current skills and strengths as a fundraiser and a coach. Fundraising coaches need to have a solid background and knowledge of fundraising principles, practices, and trends. They also need to have strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to motivate, inspire, and challenge their clients. Additionally, fundraising coaches need to have some business and marketing skills, such as creating a coaching package, setting fees, finding clients, and managing contracts. You should assess your skill level and identify any areas that need improvement or development.

3 What are your challenges?

Becoming a fundraising coach also comes with some challenges and risks that you should be aware of and prepared for. For example, you might face competition from other coaches or consultants, or have difficulty finding and retaining clients. You might also encounter ethical dilemmas, such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality issues, or scope creep. You might also have to deal with stress, isolation, or burnout, especially if you work alone or remotely. You should think about how you would cope with these challenges and what support systems you would need.

4 What are your opportunities?

On the other hand, becoming a fundraising coach also offers many opportunities and benefits that can make it a rewarding and fulfilling career. For instance, you can have more flexibility and autonomy over your schedule, workload, and income. You can also have more variety and creativity in your work, as you can work with different types of nonprofits and projects. You can also have more impact and satisfaction, as you can see the results of your coaching in the improved performance and outcomes of your clients. You can also have more learning and growth, as you can constantly update your skills and knowledge, and network with other professionals.

5 What are your resources?

Finally, you should consider what resources and support you have or need to become a successful fundraising coach. This includes both tangible and intangible resources, such as time, money, equipment, tools, mentors, peers, networks, associations, and organizations. You should research what are the best and most relevant resources for your niche, sector, and market, and how you can access them. You should also seek out feedback and advice from other fundraising coaches or experts, and learn from their experiences and insights.

Becoming a fundraising coach can be an exciting and rewarding career move, but it also requires careful planning and preparation. By asking yourself these questions, you can gain more clarity and confidence about your decision, and take the necessary steps to achieve your goals.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?