[COMMUNICATED] In anticipation of their upcoming course, PCS spoke Baruch Ber Berman, attendee of the past fundraising course.
Q) Do you feel there is a need for more fundraisers?
A: There’s no question that there is a tremendous need for fundraisers. I am part of a network of over 400 executive directors and administrators. There are constantly request from mosdos that are looking to hire fundraisers. People think that fundraising is harder than it really is; therefore, there are very few takers for available jobs. In reality, fundraising is very doable. There are many available jobs that will provide enormous satisfaction.
Q) Tell us about your current position.
A: I am the Director of Development at Relief Resources. I am tasked with fundraising, event planning and general PR for Relief. Relief’s mission is to facilitate access to the most appropriate mental health professionals, to educate the community regarding mental health issues, and to reduce the stigma associated with mental health disorders.
Being able to learn from successful fundraisers at the PCS course gave me a boost of confidence. It pushed me to believe that I can do much more than I had previously believed. Additionally, I acquired new ideas and techniques which have really helped me. I learned how to set up my daily schedule to insure maximum efficiency and success. One of the presenters shared the “art of closing a deal” with us which I use at every one of my meetings. It has served as a very valuable tool. The course introduced me to other fundraisers and helped me build connections and develop valuable leads.
Q) For whom would you recommend fundraising?
A: You need people skills and organizational skills to be a good fundraiser. People that have been previously involved in organizations and shuls have a head start. For anyone looking to go into fundraising, this course is an obvious choice
Q) Please tell us about the satisfaction of this job.
A: Relief deals with over 350 phone calls a day. I am able to see firsthand how we are able to stabilize people’s lives by guiding them to the proper help and holding their hands throughout the recovery process.
As a fundraiser, I feel a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that I am a part of an organization that has helped over 16,000 people in Lakewood alone. When I sit down and meet with people, I know I am representing a valuable organization. This makes it much easier to get people to partner with us.
For more information contact: [email protected] or 732-905-9700 ext. 606