Incubation, Mentoriship & Sponsorship
In the arts, we work for love, rarely for money.
That’s our joke. But the truth is, as the leader of a fundraising team at an arts charity, the salary I offer a new hire will be lower than those at larger foundations like hospitals and universities. I can’t compete for experienced talent and the expectations of higher salaries so, I’ve had to look for bright, young individuals who demonstrate intelligence, a willingness to learn and a passion for the cause.
To develop young professionals as fundraising professionals, I’ve had to consider a course for training, a plan for developing them professionally and acting as their sponsors. I’ve had to incubate talent because I can’t afford expertise.
How is incubation different from training and development?
Incubation is a holistic development of the person as a professional. Many fundraisers entering the profession are relatively inexperienced, maybe they are right out of university and my job offer may be their first regular, full time gig. Incubation is a plan for their development as it fits into and relates to the Development Department and the organization as a whole.
Incubation also involves mentorship, sponsorship and recognizing when they’re ready for bigger challenges.
Mentoring is a one way street, a top-down approach in which a more experienced individual teaches and advises the less experienced professional. Sponsorship is a relationship between two at the same organization. A sponsor will give the less experienced professional an opportunity to take risks with a project or task, knowing that if the project doesn’t achieve the intended results, the novice fundraiser will be supported. Growth through failure.
In their book, How Remarkable Women Lead, authors Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston describe the difference between sponsorship and mentorship. They describe a mentor as someone who can “draw on their experiences and wisdom to guide. . . With sage counsel.” Sponsors, on the other hand, really get involved in the sponsor’s career. Barsh and Cranston note sponsors will open doors, allow and encourage risks, and protect in cases of failure or mistakes.
Incubation is mentorship (learning) plus sponsorship (growth through supported risk) and within a well-thought-out development plan; a plan that considers expertise, institutional knowledge and growth as a professional.
Further, incubation considers the individual as they relate to their teammates in the department and considers whether they’re ready to move to more senior roles. Graduating them to the next step gives the less experienced fundraiser a chance to build their expertise and keeps them challenged while they grow as professionals. And, if done well, minimizes turnover by keeping talented fundraising staff at your charity.
