The Greater Good (The Greater Good) and The Andes

The Greater Good (The Greater Good) and The Andes

I always make time for people wanting to get into the sector, whether they are school leavers, graduates or high-flying city big-shots. The group I like to talk to least is the latter. Nine times out of ten they assume I am an idiot, that everyone in the sector is an idiot and that they can turn up and save us all from eventual, inevitable catastrophe.

This is a tale of two prospective fundraisers, both of whom have been very successful in their careers in the private sector, and now they want to use their skills for good. The Greater Good.

A good start, right? I think the government call it a skills shortage, but it is a people shortage. Anything we can do to encourage folk to join the sector is a good thing. We should be encouraging growth, and external thoughts and ideas.

I have changed the names of all characters in these stories to protect their identities, and so I can use a few gifs from Hot Fuzz (which is 17 years old, eurgh).

Andy 1

Andy 1 would like a chat about a role that our lead character, the handsome, charming Recruiter Nicolas Angel, is recruiting for. Andy 1 has ?has no direct experience, for this role, but Angel admires the ambition.

Andy 1 and Angel arrange a chat, they talk about Andy’s career aspirations, what he wants from his next role, and why the change in sector.

Andy would like to use his experience of earning lots of money by gambling peoples pensions to be the director of a pretty large fundraising team. Their turnover is only ￡11m, and Andy traded that much daily. Andy used the phrase ‘how hard can it be’.

Despite Angel suggesting that it is actually quite hard, Andy insists that his experience and clear benevolence, would mean that this piddly little organisation would be lucky to have him. Then asks if they can do anything with the salary so it’s ‘worth his while’.

Andy 1 doesn’t enjoy the call, Angel doesn’t enjoy the call, Andy thinks he is being undervalued, Angel thinks Andy is delusional and arrogant.

Andy 2

Andy 2 is just as successful as Andy 1. He has got in touch because he would like to talk to someone about getting involved in fundraising. He reaches out to the devilishly handsome Recruiter Nicolas Angel. He wants advice about how best to do that, what skills are valued and which are the best routes of entry.

Andy 2 wants to have an impact and has loads of experience and ideas about how he could do just that. He also knows that his previous career has set him up financially, so now can look at making that difference.

Andy 2 listens, he already understands that just because someone doesn’t make 7 figures it doesn’t make them an idiot, the people they work with aren’t idiots, and he wants to learn from them.

Angel has a really long, informative chat with Andy 2, they learn about the passions and experiences that would help make this transition work. Andy 2 has already been a trustee, runs a small charity, understands he has a lot to learn about fundraising.

Andy 2 is going to be excellent, but he also understands that he needs to compromise about what that first role might be, Andy 2 is a good man.

The Greater Good

Andy 1 doesn’t want to make a difference. Not really, he wants to be worshipped and revered as a saviour.

Andy 2 wants to change things, grow things, build. Andy 2 is the one who will make a difference to the sector and handsome Recruiter Nicolas Angel is determined to help him.

If you are looking for your first job in the charity sector, then be more like Andy 2.

If you want to hire Andy 2, then let me know. He is a good man.

Sorry that this story is all men, but every Andy 1 I have met is a man. And Andy 2 is real and I’d like to help find him a job.

I’d love to meet this Angel chap.

The stuff I have to include to make all this ranting and writing worthwhile:

If you would like to have a chat about how I can make recruiting fundraising professionals pain-free and straight-forward then click this link: Click here to book into my diary to see how I can help you recruit excellent fundraisers.

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If you would like to get in touch with me at all, you can do that via my LinkedIn profile, by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7198 6140

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