Pros
The job allowed me to raise funds for a cause I care about.
Cons
My time in The Office of Development is one I regret. Several Directors of Development have left in recent years. Many employees are lied to and gaslit while in the department about opportunities for upward advancement. It is not uncommon to see someone in the same role for 7+ years unnecessarily. Leadership receives feedback but is unwilling to listen or make changes. Processes are outdated and communication is slow or non-existent, disorganization and cutthroat behavior make it difficult to serve donors. Trust issues are prevalent among staff, people do not want to collaborate to give donors inspiring opportunities to match their interests. Senior staff are notorious for taking away major gift opportunities to support their own annual goals instead of the goals and growth of mid-level or junior staff. Donors are unhappy. Leaders are reluctant to put anything in writing and then disregard agreements they made. They are busy saying “we’re great.” Employees do not receive the answers they need to progress donor conversations. The bureaucracy is dated and painful. The campaign is making limited progress and I doubt the department will reach goal without major changes. Vacancies remain open for long periods of time because leaders are unable to work together to make decisions in a timely manner. The compensation and benefits are not competitive to secure or retain top talent.
