A professional mentor provides guidance, support and expertise to help someone (a mentee) develop and grow in their career.

As Sharpe consultants, we often assume the “mentor” or “coach” role for our clients, especially those who are just beginning their planned giving fundraising careers. It’s a role I take seriously because I’ve been fortunate to have learned a great deal from my mentors over the years.

As a mentor, I provide my Sharpe clients with the following:

1. Expertise and knowledge sharing based on experience, industry insights and technical or soft skills, helping my clients understand the nuances of their field and learn from both my successes and mistakes. As one of my clients recently told me, “You have helped me understand the concepts of planned giving and how to practically apply them to donor conversations.”
2. Goal setting and career guidance by helping clients define their career goals, develop actionable plans and stay accountable. I also provide strategies for skill development, career advancement and achieving long-term objectives. It helps if goals are attainable. For planned giving specifically, setting dollar goals can be very challenging, and it helps to make objectives more donor-centric such as outreach goals, touchpoints, etc., and not just dollars and meetings.
3. Networking opportunities by connecting clients to their professional network, opening doors to new opportunities, partnerships and collaborations. Sharpe seminars have been valuable for networking and connecting with others in the industry. I also recommend that you become involved with the local and national chapters of organizations in the various fundraising fields.
4. Honest and constructive feedback on work, behavior or decisions, helping identify areas for improvement and build confidence.
5. Support and encouragement by serving as a source of motivation and emotional support, especially during challenging times. Recently, I received an email from a client that said: “You are the best cheerleader! I appreciate your belief in me. You are helping me to build my confidence as a new planned giving officer.”

   Another client told me, “Knowing that I have Sharpe as a resource has given me more confidence in my donor meetings. I know that even if I don’t know the answer at the moment, I can rely on Sharpe to advise me, and then I can circle back with the donor in a timely manner.”

6. Perspective and problem-solving support by encouraging critical thinking and offering practical solutions based on my own experiences.

As the mentor, there are few things more rewarding than seeing my clients’ achievements and knowing that I may have had some small part in their success.