Networking through nonprofits
by Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire
Strategic networking is essential to build business relationships outside your daily job that strengthen and add depth to your career. Networking is not simply going to receptions to meet people. And networking is not a self-serving waste of time—it’s a key factor to making contacts that can advance your career and professional reputation.
Start with a strategy of whom you want to meet at what companies. It’s easy with LinkedIn to find out what organizations are supported by key executives at corporations whom you want to meet. At minimum, attend events where the people you want to meet are going; and more effectively—get involved with the organization as a volunteer—move up in the ranks to serve on the board of directors. Serving on nonprofit boards is one of the most effective strategies to grow your circles of business contacts, and make a lasting positive impression.
When we are doing searches to place new directors on corporate boards—some 80% of people who serve on boards tell us it’s the business contacts they made on nonprofit boards who originally recommended them for corporate boards. And it was on the nonprofit board of directors for the March of Dimes of Southern California more than 20 years ago where I met my business partner Fred Clayton. I recommend that entrepreneurs seeking business partners should look to their nonprofits boards for potential prospects. People who serve on nonprofit boards are committed to a mutual cause, work hard for no money, and have a vision about the community that is greater than their own personal needs–this speaks volumes to their leadership potential.
Of course, everyone’s lives are very busy, with jobs, families, sports, and other activities. Community involvement is also hard work. But it is enormously rewarding—in both satisfaction and contacts. Start volunteering early in your career, balanced with your other priorities, so you are building your reputation and involvement over the years. Lastly, make sure you have the time to do a great job on the volunteer projects you take on. Because if you do a poor job as a volunteer, that will negatively influence people you had hoped to impress.
Nonprofit involvement is “give or get.” That means every nonprofit board you serve on expects the board members to contribute a certain amount of money personally every year, or secure contributions from other corporate sponsors. In these times when fundraising is so critical for nonprofit organizations—a role where you can help the most. If you have never raised funds for a non-profit board , or your association board—go ahead and try it. This is another golden way to make business contacts. You may stumble a bit as you are learning the ropes—but fundraising for a large and respected nonprofit is a great way to introduce yourself to a corporation you want to do business with yourself, and bring two cards—one for the nonprofit you are trying to help, and the other, your own business card.
And when you are networking at an event—here’s a mistake I see people make all too often—don’t ever run out of business cards! Always bring more than enough business cards—I mean 100 or 200 cards. Always have a stash of business cards in your car, so you can refresh your supply if you need to, in case you forget to take enough when you walked out of the office. Happy networking….
