Co-host Jarrett Ransom, along with guests Muhi Khwaja and LaShonda Williams, share their experiences at Cultivate 2023, a nonprofit conference held in San Diego and organized by the Fundraising Academy at National University. They add details about their personal and professional journeys as nonprofit professionals, offering valuable insights and reflections.
Jarrett presents questions exploring their motivations for entering the nonprofit sector, key milestones in their careers, challenges they faced as fundraisers, and how they stay updated on trends and best practices in fundraising. Muhi shares his journey from a mechanical engineering major to working in development, while LaShonda discusses the influence of her teachers and her passion for helping students secure scholarships.
Both guests open up about the challenges they encountered, such as being a one-person development team and maintaining professional relationships while making funding requests. They emphasize the importance of continuous learning, reading, attending conferences, and staying abreast of nonprofit trends to overcome challenges and succeed as fundraisers. Their reflection on the inspiration and hope that arises from hearing the journeys of passionate professionals in the field will motivate you!