Mentoring: assisting the advancement of YOUR career
Fundraising Ireland launched a pilot Mentoring Programme in October 2010.
We requested applications from both potential Mentees and Mentors and were delighted with the tremendous response and impressed by the quality and number of people seeking Mentee places.
From the applications received, we selected the Mentees that we felt would benefit most from the programme. We then selected the Mentors who had the most relevant experience to benefit the Mentees.
We engaged Mark Hughes of mch consulting to conduct the training in mid January 2011. Mark had already successfully delivered a similar programme of training for the Institute of Fundraising’s Mentor programme pilot.
The aim of the training was to prepare the selected Mentees and Mentors on how to sustain productive and successful mentoring relationships.
Over the course of four days, Mark delivered the following:
Training for Mentees and Mentors
- Definitions, characteristics and the qualities of successful mentoring.
- Beliefs, skills and knowledge required of mentors and mentees.
- Types of relationships mentoring could encompass.
- One to one conversations between mentors and mentees and each participant stating their matching preferences.
- Clarifying what mentees need/want and what mentors feel they can provide.
Training for Mentors only
- Developing the emotional intelligence and communication skills of mentors.
- Emotional intelligence and outlining how it could be developed.
- Active listening, giving and receiving feedback and differing questioning techniques.
- The importance of tuning into the personality of the mentee and adapting communication techniques accordingly.
Every Mentor also took part in practical exercises such as:
- Participating in a mentoring role play (with the mentee being played by a professional actor).
- Observing and providing feedback on role plays conducted by other mentors.
- Participating in a genuine coaching exercise designed to assist a mentor to achieve a personal goal.
- Observing and discussing video clips outlining successful and less successful approaches to communication.
Using a bespoke matching process designed by mch, we then matched the Mentees and Mentors according to their preferences.
The mentoring pairs are now left to their own devices to establish and grow their own mentoring relationships.
Fundraising Ireland will monitor these relationships over the next 12 months and we look forward to learning from this pilot and to expanding our mentoring opportunities in 2011.
Here is what some of the participants had to say about the mentoring programme.
I think it is a wonderful initiative and exactly what people working in the sector need. I believe that both the mentors and mentees will both benefit hugely from the experience. I would like to commend Fundraising Ireland on the selection and training programme that the mentors attended. It was extremely professional, informative and great fun. - Edel O’Malley – Director of Operations, The Childrens & Medical Research Foundation. (Mentor)
The training was really comprehensive and left me feeling positive and energised and looking forward to having my very own mentor for the next year. Having that kind of experience and advice will be invaluable! – Colette Charles - Fundraising and Events Coordinator, Irish Autism Action (Mentee)
The Mentoring Programme offers a unique opportunity to share
experiences, provide support and develop capability in the sector, as
well as providing an opportunity to meet new people in the fundraising
community. As I begin the mentoring role I look forward to the
challenge and feel well equipped to manage the process after a few
informative days training. With 20 different people involved it will
provide a good platform for experimenting with such a programme. – Pauline Crowley, Head of Fundraising, Rehab (Mentor)
Fundraising Ireland is providing an extremely valuable service by laying the foundations for this exciting project and other organisations would do well to follow its lead. - Claire Layton, Crash Ensemble (Mentee)
I have only good things to say about the inaugural Mentoring
Programme recently organised by Fundraising Ireland. It was really
helpful in updating my knowledge about all aspects of mentoring and
interpersonal communications in general. The training days were very
well structured and organised. I would strongly recommend this programme
to both prospective mentors and mentees. – Liz Yeates, Head of Corporate and Major Donor Fundraising at Concern (Mentor).
I am delighted to be taking part in the pilot mentoring programme could not be happier with the Mentor I was paired with. The initial training and matching sessions were excellent and I am looking forward to opportunities that lie ahead. I know that this will only be beneficial to me and will help me further my career – Jennifer Douglas, Supporter Development Executive, Irish Hospice Foundation (Mentee)
The mentor programme is a great opportunity for a fundraiser at any level in their career to receive one to one tuition and guidance. – Amy Bramley, Fundraising and PR Coordinator, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. (Mentee)
The mentoring programme is well worth applying for, both in terms of value for money and in providing invaluable career and life experience for all who take part. I look forward to this wonderful experience. Thank you! – Lisa Ryan, Fundraising Executive, Irish Hospice Foundation (Mentee)
