Would you love be able to raise money to support your favorite cause or non-profit and GET PAID FOR IT?!
Matthew Dickey is a professional fundraiser. As "Director of Development" for the historical non-profit, "Gore Place Society" (GorePlace.org) he networks and connects with both new, potential donors as well as keeping connections with long-time donors.
What's "Development"? It's the term or title for a professional fund-raiser - or raising money for non-profits.
Parties, events and fundraisers are another perk that makes his - a really #CoolCareer !
Check out his video below or here on our YouTube channel.
Director of Development for Gore Place Society, Matthew Dickey
Matthew's Top Advice:
- Get out there and experience different things so that you can learn what you like and what kind of career you'd like to have.
- Just do SOMETHING. Try something new!
- The best way to find out what you like to do is to experiment with new roles.
- Volunteering at different kinds of organizations is a great way to experiment with a new type of work or job to see if you like it.
- It comes down to "Who do you know?" Building your Network is KEY.
- The way to do that? You can meet people! by doing different things!
- Get out of your comfort zone
- Doing things that are different to what you normally do - makes you grow as an individual.
- New experiences help you see perspectives from other people's eyes.
- Matthew knows that he will always have a job because of his fund-raising skills. Every company needs to raise money!
Matthew's Career Path
Start: Matthew went to High School in Collinsville, Illinois. (Home to the world's largest ketchup bottle!) He was obsessed with Architecture and was always drawing little buildings.
Curve Ball: After High School, Matthew wanted to study at an Architectural College (to learn to design buildings). However, he hates 'Standardized Tests' and didn't do well on the college entrance exams so he didn't get into any of the colleges that he applied to.
Instead he stayed near his home and went to Art School and got a Bachelor's of Fine Art Degree in Painting.
How He Paid for School: He worked at a grocery store as a cashier and bagger for 5 1/2 years to pay for his college.
Tough Times: Matthew graduated from college in 2008 - during the U.S. "Great Recession". There were few jobs for anyone - especially someone with an art degree.
Instead, he decided to volunteer for a year to gain new experiences. Matthew says, the best way to see what kind of job you'd like to do is to volunteer with different organizations!
Learn more: How to get the most out of your volunteer experience
Volunteer opportunities in Boston: OneBrick.org / BostonCares.org / 14 Places to Volunteer in Boston
Curve Ball: Matthew was excited for his first volunteer position but it lost it's funding so he did not get into the program that he was originally accepted to.
Winner: Matthew didn't let that daunt him. Instead, he applied to all the regions that the program was in and got into Boise, Idaho. A far cry from New York City but it turned out great because ultimately he met his wife there!
Pivotal Moment: While there he taught art to refugee children and English to refugee adults.
This experience changed his life!
Learn more: 10 Things You Can Do From Boston To Help Refugees
He was inspired by the refugee's determination. He knew he wanted to help people.
It also showed him that he wanted to experience living outside of the U.S. - to explore another culture.
Travel: Matthew then went to live in Peru for 6 months to teach art to children in the Andean Mountains near Machu Picchu.
Matthew didn't know how to speak their language but he just winged it! He learned more Spanish in 3 weeks while living in Peru than in all the years he studied in school. Experiences are Key!
Learn More:
Best Volunteer Abroad Programs, Organizations and Projects
18 Ways To Travel For Free (or Super Cheap)
10 Volunteer Opportunities for Free Travel
How to Volunteer Abroad for Free
Next Step: After traveling, Matthew came back to the U.S. but he still "Didn't know what he wanted to do with his life". He drove around and couch surfed while checking out different schools to see where he wanted to live. Ultimately this brought him to Boston
Work & School: Matthew worked and also went to Boston University. He graduated and received a degree in "Arts Administration and Museum Management" didn't know wha the wanted to do but knew he loved helping others.
Job: Matthew worked at a coffee shop and also curated their art gallery while he went to school.
After College - 1st Job: Matthew worked in "Development" (fund-raising) for United South End Settlements USES.org
2nd Job: Matthew's next job was "Development Manager" for 'Raw Art Works' in Lynn, MA. RawArtWorks.org
RawArtWorks.org - RAW'S mission is to IGNITE the DESIRE to CREATE and the CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED in underserved youth. (and they have cool videos!)
3rd Job: Matthew is not the "Director of Development" (top dog!) for Gore Place Society. GorePlace.org
Matthew likes that his job combines his interests with his hobbies and that's a good balance.
Learn More:
A Guide to Getting Into Fundraising
How to Raise Money, Nurture Relationships & Build Support for Non-Profit Organizations
Matthew says that he knows that these skills that he has - working in 'Development' will ensure that he always has a job - because people and companies and non-profits will ALWAYS need people who can raise money.
So if you have a cause that you're passionate about - consider volunteering with their non-profit's 'Development Team'. This is a great way to experiment with a job, learn from the people who work there about their Career-Paths and see if it's something you'd like to pursue as your #CoolCareer !
xx CH
Comments