Publication date:
June, 2012
There isn't one single college major or job experience that will fully prepare you for a career in grantmaking. However, there are numerous skills that will leave you better prepared to enter this field and be successful:
- Expertise in a given programmatic area
- Nonprofit experience
- Good listening abilities
- Good oral communication skills
- Proven excellence in writing
- Comfort with a behind-the-scenes role
- Volunteer experience
In a corporate environment, the following additional skill areas may be useful:
- Public Relations
- Government Affairs
- Community Relations
Straight From the Source:
We asked Human Resource professionals at our member foundations what qualifications are most important when they hire program staff. A few rose to the top of their list:
- A good education; for specialized positions, a post-graduate degree
- Strong writing skills
- Additional evidence of engagement in the field though publications and presentations
- Grantmaking experience
- Organizational management skills
- "Strong writing skills" were mentioned multiple times as not only one of the most important assets a candidate can bring to their foundation, but as an overall strength for job candidates seeking positions in any field.
Source: Philanthropy New York’s Grantmaking As A Career? Guide