Learn how to leverage your skills, network, and knowledge from any industry to gain philanthropy experience and advance your career or impact.

Transferable skills are similar to those in the financial advisement industry who see their clients from a holistic perspective. Money is merely an expression of the personal values individuals hold dear. Work with them on that basis. Just as tax avoidance is assumed and only a starting point, stressing financial benefits to a potential charitable investor is also redundant. That's not what they really want. The very best development professionals have a well development sense of this.

Last updated on Jul 22, 2024

How can you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry?

You may have a passion for philanthropy, but not necessarily a background in the nonprofit sector. How can you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry and use it to advance your career or make a positive impact? In this article, we will explore some ways to leverage your existing skills, network, and knowledge to contribute to social causes and learn from the philanthropic community.

1 Identify your transferable skills

One of the first steps to gain philanthropy experience from a different industry is to identify your transferable skills. These are the skills that you can apply to different settings and situations, such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, research, or data analysis. Think about how your current or previous roles have helped you develop these skills and how they can be useful for philanthropic projects or organizations. For example, if you have experience in marketing, you can offer your expertise in creating campaigns, engaging audiences, or measuring impact. If you have experience in finance, you can offer your expertise in budgeting, fundraising, or grant writing.

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Larry C Johnson

Marquis Who's Who World Humanitarian enabling nonprofit leaders to achieve financial security through sustainable philanthropic revenue.
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Transferable skills are similar to those in the financial advisement industry who see their clients from a holistic perspective. Money is merely an expression of the personal values individuals hold dear. Work with them on that basis. Just as tax avoidance is assumed and only a starting point, stressing financial benefits to a potential charitable investor is also redundant. That's not what they really want. The very best development professionals have a well development sense of this.

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Joanne Oppelt, MHA, CNE, CDE, CNC

Nonprofit MoneyMaker, Author, Trainer, and Growth Consultant
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One of the best ways to know what skills transfer easily is to volunteer. Volunteer in a variety of different nonprofits so you can experience different corporate cultures. The nonprofit culture is very different than the for-profit.

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Jonathan Jacobs

Non-Profit Founder & Executive Director, Social Impact Leader, Corporate Philanthropist || The Greater Good Project || Rawkstars, Inc. || ex-Hasbro, ex-Digitas || Measuring Success by Fulfillment, Not Abundance.
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We're fortunate to live in a time where there are fewer gatekeepers than ever. Meaning you have tremendous agency over what you can do to make an impact. Find a nonprofit you like and offer to re-build their website or help with bookkeeping. Show up at the local pet shelter and offer to search online for grant opportunities or clean animal cages. Use your vehicle to deliver meals to the elderly or simply sit with seniors and ask them questions about their lives. Point being, you're in control and need not wait for someone to bless you as a philanthropist.

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Natasha Krotez, CFRE

Social Profit Sector Leader | Parent | Associate Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving
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Philanthropy is about people, communication and a commitment to community. Find ways to develop your people engagement practices, communicate in writing and in person and volunteer for causes you care deeply about. From there the journey will progress!

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Payal Irani

Founder and CEO @Bloom-World | LinkedIn Top Voice | International Speaker | Philanthropist | Psychogeometrics | President Show and Heal Florida | Entrepreneur
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Transferable skills are the abilities we acquire through experiences, education, and even hobbies that can be applied to different contexts. Think of them as your skill set that can be used across different job positions. Despite the term being widely used, many candidates struggle with identifying and articulating their transferable skills. This happens because they underestimate their own abilities or fail to recognize how certain skills can be applied in various settings.

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2 Find opportunities to volunteer or consult

Another way to gain philanthropy experience from a different industry is to find opportunities to volunteer or consult for nonprofit organizations or initiatives that align with your interests and values. Volunteering or consulting can help you gain hands-on experience, learn from professionals, and build your portfolio and network. You can look for opportunities online, through platforms like VolunteerMatch, Catchafire, or Taproot, or offline, through local events, referrals, or networking. You can also create your own opportunities by reaching out to organizations that you admire and offering your skills and services.

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Lauren Thomas Priest, MNM

Economic Justice Advocate. Poverty Abolitionist. Social Impact Leader.
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A great way to learn about philanthropy is by serving on the Board of a nonprofit, and being an active member. Your transferable skills from another industry will help the nonprofit's leadership to see and think about their work differently, and your connections will help to broaden their network of supporters. You will gain invaluable insight into how nonprofits operate and make decisions, build your network in the industry, and begin to have the impact on the community you seek.

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Payal Irani

Founder and CEO @Bloom-World | LinkedIn Top Voice | International Speaker | Philanthropist | Psychogeometrics | President Show and Heal Florida | Entrepreneur
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With so many options available across the world, it's easy to find volunteer work no matter where you live or what skills you can contribute. Not every volunteer job is the right fit for everyone. For instance, some roles are best for students or youth, while organizations design others for people with specific skill sets. To get the most out of your volunteer work, it's important to seek opportunities that align with your professional experience and personal values. Volunteering for an organization allows you to apply your skills and donate your time to a deserving cause. In some cases, volunteer work can even enhance your resume and help you grow your professional network.

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Rritu (Ritu) Rana (PCC- ICF)

Executive/Leadership Coach | Mentor | Facilitator | Trainer | Speaker | Co-Author | Curator-OurCSR | Leadership Development | Facilitating purposeful & sustainable human transformations at systems level | IDGs & SDGs
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By offering your time, skills and experience to nonprofits, you make an invaluable contribution towards larger good. Your relationship capital, which facilitates nonprofits’ access to your network of experts and peers, is also a valuable alternative or supplement to monetary giving. And sharing your philanthropic experiences amongst your peers can prevent reinventing of wheels for them by facilitating further collaboration with other stakeholders or other funders, amplifying impact and scale, serving to deepen your engagement and trust in the sector.

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3 Join or start a giving circle

A giving circle is a group of people who pool their resources and collectively decide how to donate them to charitable causes. Joining or starting a giving circle can help you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry by exposing you to different perspectives, issues, and solutions. You can learn from other members, research potential grantees, and evaluate the impact of your donations. You can also develop your skills in collaboration, negotiation, and decision-making. You can find existing giving circles through networks like Philanthropy Together, Giving Circles Fund, or Community Investment Network, or start your own with your friends, colleagues, or family.

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Payal Irani

Founder and CEO @Bloom-World | LinkedIn Top Voice | International Speaker | Philanthropist | Psychogeometrics | President Show and Heal Florida | Entrepreneur
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It will be helpful if a concept of collective giving i.e. giving circle a rapidly expanding movement in philanthropy where everyone contributes their resources to make a significant philanthropic impact. All members of a giving circle engage in deciding what causes to support. They work together to create community connections and assess critical needs, all with the aim of achieving maximum charitable impact.

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4 Take online courses or webinars

Online courses or webinars can help you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry by providing you with relevant knowledge, insights, and best practices. You can learn from experts, practitioners, and peers about various topics related to philanthropy, such as social innovation, impact measurement, ethical giving, or fundraising strategies. You can also earn certificates or credentials that can enhance your resume or profile. You can find online courses or webinars through platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, or Philanthropy University, or through organizations like Candid, Foundation Center, or Global Giving.

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Payal Irani

Founder and CEO @Bloom-World | LinkedIn Top Voice | International Speaker | Philanthropist | Psychogeometrics | President Show and Heal Florida | Entrepreneur
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By taking online course or webinars it gains insights where they provide actionable tools to enhance fundraising skills towards philanthropic centric community.

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5 Follow or join online communities

Online communities can help you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry by connecting you with other people who share your passion and curiosity. You can follow or join online communities through social media, blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or forums. You can also participate in discussions, ask questions, share resources, or seek feedback. You can learn from the experiences, stories, and advice of others, and discover new opportunities, trends, or challenges. You can find online communities through platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Reddit, or through organizations like Philanthropy Women, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, or Global Philanthropy Forum.

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6 Attend or organize events

Events can help you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry by offering you the chance to meet, network, and learn from other people in person or virtually. You can attend or organize events such as workshops, panels, conferences, or hackathons. You can also showcase your skills, projects, or ideas, and get feedback, support, or recognition. You can find events through platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, or Zoom, or through organizations like Social Venture Partners, Ashoka, or Net Impact.

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7 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?

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Joanne Oppelt, MHA, CNE, CDE, CNC

Nonprofit MoneyMaker, Author, Trainer, and Growth Consultant
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Consider interviewing nonprofit professionals at different levels of numerous agencies. Most of them will be happy to talk with you. Also interview people who have made the jump from for-profits to nonprofits. Ask them how they made the transition, how the transition went, and what pointers they can give to you.

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How can you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify your transferable skills

2 Find opportunities to volunteer or consult

3 Join or start a giving circle

4 Take online courses or webinars

5 Follow or join online communities

6 Attend or organize events

7 Here’s what else to consider

Philanthropy

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How can you gain philanthropy experience from a different industry?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your transferable skills

2 Find opportunities to volunteer or consult

3 Join or start a giving circle

4 Take online courses or webinars

5 Follow or join online communities

6 Attend or organize events

7 Here’s what else to consider

Philanthropy

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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