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Arts Fundraiser Champions MBAs for Non-Profit Professionals

Your salary won’t be as high as your classmates’ but you’ll be a better fundraiser says EMLYON student and former fundraiser for the San Antonio Museum of Art

By  

Tue Apr 26 2011

BusinessBecause
This week BusinessBecause speaks to Christina Selk, currently on the MBA at France’s EMLYON, about how her MBA fits in with the non-profit world.

Why did you choose EMLYON? Did you consider US schools?
I already have international work experience, and schooled in the US, so I thought “I've done this. I want to do something new for myself.”

I was very much reassured I had made the right decision. Students from a US MBA visited us at EMLYON. They were a diverse group, but it was apparent how much more diverse the students are at European schools.

What's been the highlight of your course so far?
The team experience. This is especially the case for me because in my last job at a non-profit was I was the only person in my role, mostly working alone without a great deal of support. I really enjoy working in a team, drawing on others' experiences and skills.

It's taught me a lot about myself: how I work best, what sort of people I work best with, how to interact with people of different backgrounds and personality types.

Non-profit students seem to be quite rare on MBA courses, so are MBAs useful to them?
Fundraisers will find an MBA very useful. Seeing an organization as a whole is so important for fundraisers. You bring a lot more to the table if you can understand how a non-profit approaches finance, HR and marketing.

At EMLYON we're starting a class on strategic change management, and many non-profits are set in their ways, so I’m going to be taking careful notes!

We’re also about to do a talent management course, which I’m hoping get a lot out of. I worked in an art museum, full of creative individuals. But how do you harness that to the benefit of an organization?

More and more directors of non-profits now have for-profit experience. You've got to have the business background, and have a sound idea of how to run an organization and realize its mission - which is the same as in the corporate sector.

So will your MBA be valued by non-profits?
I think I'll have an edge when I finish, especially in Europe, where fundraisers get fewer major individual donors. We depend on corporate donors. Saying “I understand your world and share your MBA background” makes a huge a difference. You're not a liberal arts museum person; you're a business person in their eyes.

How did you get into fundraising work?
I took a liberal arts degree, and straight out of college my first job was raising scholarship funds at an 8,000-student university.

I had benefited from fundraising efforts myself. I was able to attend high school on a scholarship so I understood what scholarship fundraising was for.

It was a job of great importance because people were so reliant on us securing funding. If you want to make a difference and feel inspired by missions and values, and want to find a career to give you a message and live those values, then this is a great place.

I transitioned into an art museum, where there were two of us, myself and the director, responsible for fundraising. So I went from a piece of it to all of it!

About a year and a half ago there were a lot of NY Times and Wall Street Journal articles about European one-year MBAs that offer a multicultural experience and finish a year sooner than US programs.

I had already been to France and wanted to go again. I fell in love with EMLYON, partly because of its focus on entrepreneurship. When you work for non-profits you have to be innovative. You don't have a huge budget and you have to make do using your own creativity.

Is there a for-profit equivalent to work in fundraising?
It's a synthesis of so many things. Essentially, it's sales. You're trying to sell your organization as a whole or a specific program. You have to convince individuals, corporations, governments and foundations to give you money, often for very little in return.

You need to craft an opportunity for strategic involvement in your activities that'll “make scene” for them, particularly in the case of financial institutions who do expect a benefit from their involvement.

There's also a lot of relationship-building and marketing. You've got to write very well to represent your organization and yourself. You need to plan events, be well-organized and be great at research and able to glean what would appeal to potential donors.

Has the global recession had a big impact?
Oh my goodness! Everyone was hit. Individuals, corporations, governments were all suddenly tightening their budgets. Foundations rely on endowments, distributing earnings from investments that were failing in the recession, and so many were simply unable to give. Many non-profits rely on their own endowments too, so we lost money there also. It's had a huge impact on the non-profit community.

After so long studying for-profit business questions, are you still looking to stay in Fundraising?
Now we're nearing the home stretch you start thinking about your life: where you've had success, brought value, felt fulfilled and comfortable. I realized I value working in organizations that support and promote the things I believe in - art, culture, education, design, architecture and things that do good for the community.

I don't see myself straying from this ever. I would use the opportunity to work “on the other side” to help direct the use of funds towards the right places. But even though I stumbled into this career, it's just right for what I want to do in life.

There's only one other guy with an NGO background on my MBA course at EMLYON. One other classmate I know is considering working for NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), having worked on a leadership project with a world health foundation.

Are you worried about getting a smaller salary than the average MBA?
We all have to make a living, but it's a trade-off. I know people who make fabulous money in other professions but I’d rather work on something I'm passionate about. It helps me get up in the morning. I like knowing that I'm doing something for the greater good.

At the same time, if a Porsche and country home make you happy then go for it! The world needs all sorts of people.

Personally I view the MBA program as an investment in my future. I'm not concerned about the payback period so much as what it'll allow me to do eventually in my career.

It's not common for NGOs to sponsor MBAs, but it does happen. They see the value. You want to have someone steering your ship who knows what they're doing. Finding the person with the correct balance of skills and experience is tough, so an MBA is a great way of equipping a leader with the knowledge he or she needs.
 

Student Reviews

emlyon business school

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4/12/2023

On Campus

Intense courses, helpful professors

I am an international student in my 3rd year and I love going to this school and do not regret chosing it for my BBA. The classes are helpful, professors are always there to help as well and we have a very understanding administration.

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18/03/2023

On Campus

Leadership in an amazing city

I decided to do my exchange in Emlyon because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a space with very capable People.. participatory, empathetic and full of leadership. I will never forget Lyon, apart from giving me an unforgettable experience, he gave me great friends

Student

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23/11/2021

On Campus

A lot of opportunities professionally and socially. A unique program in France.

You can choose your courses and do your internship, exchange whenever you want. It's flexible and adapted to the needs of each student. A great program and a great city! Professionally, it opens a lot of doors for you to find internships or jobs in France or abroad thanks to the network and career events.

Fabian

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7/06/2020

MSc in Digital Marketing

Combining both worlds into one, this course gave me all the on-demand technical skills in data science while maintaining a business-oriented approach. Thanks to the strong academic profile of this university I was able to secure an internship and full-time job at Amazon.

Student

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14/10/2018

Top Business School fostering innovative entrepreneurs

EMLyon is one of the best business schools. The campuses, associations and courses offered provide the students with the best options to build the future they have chosen. The various opportunities to study and work abroad also offer a deeper understanding of the world, not only economy-wise but social, which helps the student become as well a better individual and not only a pre-formated business school student.

Student

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9/06/2020

Emlyon campus in Paris

It has a great international community and you have access to many international tools, courses and professors. I had many networking events and workshops for students. Campus and some details of the program could have been improved or need to be bigger in order to have a better student life.

Student

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21/11/2022

On Campus

Entrepreneurship

Overall good content and good activities. Lack of administration but still ok. Good flexibility and liberty offered to the students. Finally, the amount of internship is also a good way to improve qualifications.

Student

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25/05/2020

Good Reputation and International Business School

The course was not well adapted but it was up to the mark. The professors are very well experienced and their experience comes in handy while working on assignments. The facilities on the campus are top class. Truly professional. I really like spending time in the learning hub and using all the available resources. Lyon is an amazing city. You will never get bored.

Edel

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11/07/2024

On Campus

MSc International Hospitality Management

The best educational experience of my life so far! It’s been full of exposure and great connections. From Lyon to London, Paris, Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Truly an exceptional way to discover the world of hospitality.

Student

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11/07/2024

On Campus

Real networking opportunities

- meeting new people, specially professionals during seminars or evening meeting at school. - going abroad to study luxury - being involved as an ambassador to promote the school and the program I was into (MSc LMM) - having such a great professional core

Daphné

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14/07/2024

On Campus

white baccalaureate in the world of work

I really appreciated the MS SDAI as a whole. The teaching staff, the different subjects, the university exchange, TEM... I started my internship in a consulting firm having acquired a solid foundation. Downside for CentraleSupélec, which I found far too academic for a program such as this.

Student

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11/09/2024

On Campus

Great

Pretty great ! Emlyon business school is a top educational institution known for its outstanding academic programs, nurturing environment, and state-of-the-art facilities. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership in students.

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