How Mentorship Can Grow Your Fundraising with Ken Miller

Summary

Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell: Episode Summary

Episode Title: How Mentorship Can Grow Your Fundraising with Ken Miller
Release Date: February 5, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this compelling episode of Nonprofit Nation, host Julia Campbell engages in a profound conversation with Ken Miller, CFRE, a distinguished figure in the nonprofit sector. Ken is the president of Denali FSP Fundraising and Grant Consultants and a passionate advocate for professional growth within the fundraising community. Together, they delve into the transformative power of mentorship in enhancing fundraising efforts and building resilient nonprofit organizations.

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2. Ken Miller’s Journey into Nonprofit

Ken Miller begins by sharing his remarkable personal journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs that led him to the nonprofit sector.

• From Corporate to Crisis (03:16 – 05:17):
  Ken recounts his transition from a corporate sales career at Kodak and 3M to overcoming substance misuse and homelessness. His resilience shines through as he describes becoming homeless for 20 years, facing multiple imprisonments, and ultimately finding stability in 2007 after achieving sobriety.

• The Spark of Nonprofit Passion:
  Returning to Alaska, Ken reconnects with his mentor, Jim Posey, who directs him to Beans Cafe, a soup kitchen. Initially interviewing for an executive director position, Ken instead takes on the role of Development Director, marking the beginning of his love affair with fundraising. This pivotal moment was influenced by Jim's unwavering support, shaping Ken's commitment to mentorship that continues to this day.

Notable Quote:
"I give you permission to dream." – Ken Miller (07:47)

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3. Understanding Mentoring, Coaching, and Workplace Sponsorship

Ken meticulously outlines the distinctions between mentoring, coaching, and workplace sponsorship, emphasizing their unique roles in professional development.

• Workplace Sponsorship (07:22 – 07:47):
  Defined as support from someone in an executive or C-suite position within an organization, workplace sponsorship involves providing resources and opportunities to junior staff, fostering internal growth and leadership.

• Coaching (07:48 – 09:43):
  Coaching is a contractual relationship, typically paid, focused on tactical skill development and short-term goals. It is time-bound and often used to address specific challenges or enhance particular competencies.

• Mentorship (09:44 – 09:43):
  In contrast, mentorship is a voluntary, long-term relationship aimed at holistic growth. Mentors offer free support, sharing wisdom and experiences to help mentees achieve their dreams without the constraints of a formal agreement.

Notable Quote:
"Mentorship is real. And what I mean by real, there is a corpus of information on how to mentor, best practices..." – Ken Miller (08:56)

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4. The Importance of Mentorship in Fundraising

Ken emphasizes the critical role mentorship plays in the often-isolated field of fundraising, particularly for men of color.

• Combating Loneliness in Fundraising (13:18 – 15:03):
  Fundraising professionals frequently experience loneliness and isolation. Mentorship provides much-needed empathy, direction, and a sense of community, helping individuals navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of their roles.

• Support for Men of Color:
  As a black man in a predominantly white field, Ken highlights the scarcity of mentors for men of color. His mentorship initiatives, such as Pass It On, create multi-generational support networks, fostering leadership and excellence within the community.

Notable Quote:
"Fundraising is lonely... you need someone to listen. You need empathy. Not sympathy, but empathy." – Ken Miller (13:30)

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5. How to Seek and Be a Good Mentee

Julia and Ken discuss effective strategies for finding a mentor and the qualities that make a mentee successful.

• Seeking a Mentor (17:38 – 18:35):
  Ken advises identifying individuals who are open, gentle, and experienced. Approach potential mentors with a genuine request, such as meeting for coffee to discuss your aspirations and express your desire for guidance.

• Being a Good Mentee (32:42 – 34:18):
  The key qualities of a good mentee include willingness and open-mindedness. Mentees should be receptive to advice, take initiative in their growth, and actively apply the insights gained from their mentors.

Notable Quote:
"Willingness. Open mindedness. Willingness to be mentored." – Ken Miller (32:42)

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6. Building Mentorship Communities

Ken shares his efforts in creating structured mentorship communities that foster collective growth and continuous learning.

• Pass It On Group (22:52 – 24:05):
  An initiative in Alaska, Pass It On brings together mentors and mentees for annual gatherings, facilitating meaningful connections and shared learning experiences.

• Men of Color and Development (24:05 – 24:10):
  This group comprises 16 mentors and 43 mentees, offering a robust support system for professional development and personal growth within the fundraising sector.

• Imperium Black Men's Book Study and Discussion Group (24:10 – 24:05):
  A newly established group aimed at deepening knowledge through collective learning and discussion, further strengthening the mentorship network.

Notable Quote:
"I have four generations of black men supporting black men and mentoring black men." – Ken Miller (07:11)

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7. The Role of AI in Fundraising

Ken highlights the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on fundraising strategies, urging professionals to embrace this technology.

• Embracing AI (29:06 – 31:45):
  AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can enhance efficiency in campaign management by automating repetitive tasks, analyzing donor data, and personalizing outreach efforts. Ken insists that while AI cannot replace the personal touch required for major donor asks, it can significantly streamline the preparatory work.

• Practical Advice:
  Ken recommends taking classes or utilizing online resources to become proficient in AI, thereby increasing effectiveness and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving fundraising landscape.

Notable Quote:
"Embrace it. That's probably the best word, is to embrace it. Because it will make you more effective." – Ken Miller (29:38)

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8. Advice for New Fundraisers

Ken offers actionable advice for individuals embarking on their fundraising careers, emphasizing continuous learning and mentorship.

• Prioritize Continued Education:
  Staying updated with the latest trends and tools is crucial for long-term success in fundraising.

• Seek Mentorship Relentlessly:
  Finding a mentor should be a top priority, as their guidance can provide invaluable insights and support.

Notable Quote:
"Get a mentor, period. Get a mentor." – Ken Miller (29:06)

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9. Ken's Upcoming Projects

Towards the end of the episode, Ken shares exciting updates about his future endeavors.

• Speaking Engagements and Conferences:
  Ken is slated to speak at major events like AFP ICON in Seattle and the Storytellers Conference, among others, where he will continue to advocate for mentorship and professional development in fundraising.

• Upcoming Book:
  Ken is set to release his book, Surviving Ken: A Black Man's Journey from the Ivy League to the Streets, the Penitentiary and Back, scheduled for mid-February. This memoir promises to inspire and shed light on his personal and professional journey.

Notable Quote:
"If you have a good mentor, you may want to look at someone with more... discernment." – Ken Miller (27:53)

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Conclusion

This episode of Nonprofit Nation offers profound insights into the essential role of mentorship in the fundraising arena. Ken Miller's authentic storytelling and strategic advice provide listeners with the tools and inspiration needed to foster meaningful professional relationships and leverage modern technologies like AI. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or just starting out, the wisdom shared in this conversation is invaluable for building a thriving nonprofit movement.

Connect with Ken Miller:

• LinkedIn: KenMiller84
• Website: KenMillerSpeaks.com
• Denali FSP Fundraising: DenaliFSP.com

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*Stay tuned to Nonprofit Nation for more episodes filled with expert advice, real-world stories, and strategies to elevate your nonprofit's impact.

Transcript

[Bloomerang]

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[Julia Campbell]

Hello and welcome to Nonprofit Nation. I'm your host, Julia Campbell, and I'm going to sit down with nonprof experts, fundraisers, marketers, and everyone in between to get real and discuss what it takes to build that movement that you've been dreaming of. I created the Nonprofit Nation podcast to share practical wisdom and strategies to help you confidently find your voice, definitively grow your audience, and effectively build your movement. If you're a nonprofit newbie or an experienced professional who's looking to get more visibility, reach more people, and create even more impact, then you're in the right place.

Let's get started. Hello. Hi everyone. Welcome to Nonprofit Nation. I'm your host, Julia Campbell. Today I'm joined by the amazing Ken Miller, cfre. Ken is a powerhouse in the nonprofit world and a true advocate for for professional growth. Ken is the president of Denali FSP Fundraising and Grant Consultants, a fundraising consultancy he founded in 2014 after a long and successful career in development. And I actually founded my business in 2015, so that's amazing. After a long and successful career in development as well. He's also deeply involved in leadership roles with the association of Fundraising Professionals, AFP, and other organizations working to advance equity and excellence in philosophy. Ken, welcome to the podcast.

[Ken Miller]

Well, thank you, Julia. I'm so appreciative to be here.

[Julia Campbell]

I am thrilled to be here. This is not a topic I think I've talked about on the podcast before, so can you share a bit about your journey into the nonprofit world and specifically what inspired you to focus on mentoring and coaching for fundraising professionals?

[Ken Miller]

Yeah, great question. So what began the story begins with 1984. I graduated from Dartmouth College. I go into the corporate world. So I'm in corporate sales for Kodak and 3M. Then unfortunately, I had a substance misuse problem. And because of that problem, I ended up being homeless for 20 years on the streets, four different cities. I also went to prison three times. I'm a three time convicted felon. Spent years behind bars when I got out the last time in 2007, and I've been clean and sober since 2004. I had no skills, none whatsoever. And so I began working in a warehouse. And then quickly I moved up to Alaska, back to Alaska, where I grew up and ran into an old mentor named Jim Posey. And Jim said, hey, there's a job down at Beans Cafe, which is a soup kitchen. And I thought he said, executive director. And I didn't know what an executive director was, but I'm sure I could do it. So I went down there and I talked to the executive director and I said, here, I'm here to interview for the executive director position. And I'll never forget, he looked at me and he said, well, I'm the executive director and as far as I know, there's no position open, but I do have a position as a development director. And I'm like, sure, I can build something. What do I need to build? Because I didn't know what a development director was. And he said, it's fundraising. I said, I can do that. I've been in sales my whole life, legal and illegal, but I've been in sales. And so I began in the field of fundraising, fell in love with it, fell in love with afp, association of Fundraising Professionals. And I always remember the individual that had led me to Beans Cafe, a gentleman who is and was my mentor to this day. And that was 2010, so he's been my mentor at least for 15 years.

[Julia Campbell]

That's amazing. I'm so impressed. I'm really honored that you shared your story like that. You shared your backstory and are so honest about your backstory. I think a lot of us, you know, are really hesitant to share the sort of trials and tribulations, things that we have gone through. But I think a common thread that runs through a lot of the journeys with many of my guests is that we kind of fell into fundraising. We did not go to school and say, oh, we're going to be a fundraiser. When we grow up, we're going to ask people for money and we're going to, you know, grow an organization and the skills Are transferable, certainly from sales and storytelling, I imagine, is one of your superpowers, like being able to share your story or get other people to share their story in honesty and authenticity. So that's incredible. 15 years mentorship. That's wonderful. And you're still in touch with Jim?

[Ken Miller]

Oh, yes.

[Julia Campbell]

Amazing.

[Ken Miller]

And I want to make sure the not readers, but the people and listening understand this. I'm a black man. I'm a man of color. My mentor is a black man. And I identified early that there was a break or a split from individuals being mentored or being supported by older black men to lead them, hopefully to doing well. And so even at this time, I have a group called Pass it on. And we have four generations of black men supporting black Black men and mentoring black men. And so I have one level above me and then I have two levels below me. When I say levels, two groups of individuals or cohorts or age groups that are mentoring the level below them. And we mentor.

[Julia Campbell]

So there are three distinct areas of your work that you focus on. Mentoring, coaching, and workplace sponsorship. Now, I would love if you would maybe explain each of these three areas. What do they mean? You know, sort of. How do they differ?

[Ken Miller]

Okay, let's start with workplace sponsorship, because that's the one most people do not understand and or know about. Workplace sponsorship is when someone in an executive position or C suite level has identified other individuals within the organization to support, lead, prod, make available resources.

[Julia Campbell]

This is more internal.

[Ken Miller]

Yes, definitely. That's why it's called workplace sponsorship. So you're being sponsored by someone familiar with it. Again, I teach this from the stage, and it's a whole different area of how do we find a workplace sponsor? How do we work with the workplace sponsor? But that's workplace sponsor internal to the organization. Someone from an upper level sponsoring someone from the quote, unquote, junior levels. Next is coaching. Coaching is an agreement and. Or a contract between two individuals for pay. Really, to be a true coach, you're doing this for pay that is either paid by an external party, which could be your boss, could be your company, could be an individual that wants to help you and or support you. But it's usually for tactical reasons where the coach does most of this talking. Okay. And then mentorship, and this is real important that I make this different to different. This from coaching is free. Mentorship is always free. It's at no cost. And that is an individual that is willing to lead you, support you, give you information. A lot of things that I do for coaching and I'm a paid coach. I'll do for a mentor, but it's always for free. Oh, one other quick one. Coaching is always time limited, always because you're under a contract. Three months, six months, a year, you get extended. But usually coaching is a short term. All of my mentorship is open ended. I've been mentoring some of the same men for 14 years and we meet regularly every quarter and then they can always contact me in between.

[Julia Campbell]

I love that I really see those three distinct types of sort of professional development and how I've used them in my career. I think mentorship, you're right, it's open ended. Maybe you talk to someone every day for six months and then you don't speak to them for three years. But coaching seems to me you really have a goal at the end of the day, like a problem you want to solve or a skill that you want to acquire. And like you said, it's definitely a paid contract with a certified coach. And then workplace sponsorship is more internal and something that, you know, it's something that is happening inside your job and a person that is maybe a position that you want or maybe it's, you know, someone in the organization that you really admire. So I think explaining the difference between the three is really important. How do we know which one we need and what if we need all three? How do we go about this?

[Ken Miller]

If we need all three, then we need to seek all three.

[Julia Campbell]

Okay?

[Ken Miller]

The most important to me, 100% is mentorship, okay? Because I can get coaching with mentorship. I coach a lot of my guys, okay? I will give them tactics, tactical information, I'll give them support, I will give them contacts, you know, to speak with. This is in mentorship, a lot of people, what they misunderstand about mentorship, mentorship is real. And what I mean by real, there is a corpus of information on how to mentor, best practices and one of the biggest problems. And I was listening to you, what you were saying, I haven't talked to my mentor in like three years. That wouldn't be really a mentorship to me. Not saying that you're wrong. I'm never one to say that. What I'm saying is mentorship and what I speak, when I speak from the stage on this or when I'm teaching a workshop, it's an explicit contract. It can be verbal and it is verbal, but it's an explicit contract. And the contract has two parties. One is the mentee, one is the mentor. But in that contract that I'm explicitly, I'll Say, I will meet with you on these times. This is how I will communicate with you, and this is what we're going to work on. When I mentor Julie, this is so important. I say this. Every person I've mentored, I've mentored probably 40 to 50 men across the country. At one point in July, I had 28 men that I had an explicit contract with to mentor. Okay, I'm down to eight for a very specific reason, but that's fine. But the first thing I say to every black man or man of color, because I have some that are Puerto Rican, I have other men of color, is one thing. What is your dream? Because that is what I am going to. That's my side of the contract, is to do everything within my power and capabilities to support and engender your dream. And I also say this. I give you permission to dream. And then I shut up. It's powerful. It's powerful because in my community or any community, I hate to, you know, make it just my community. In many community communities, we've taken away the power or the ability to dream. Oh, you can't do that. Why do you think you can do that? Oh, your big sister didn't do it, so you can't do it, you know, or we. We can't support you in that. You know, siblings, parents, peers. But I tell them, I give you permission to dream.

[Julia Campbell]

Why do you think that in the fundraising field, particularly that mentorship is particularly important? Like, what are some of the unique challenges face that you've seen?

[Ken Miller]

It's lonely. It's lonely.

[Julia Campbell]

It's lonely.

[Ken Miller]

Fundraising is a loan. I don't care if you're annual. I don't care if you're data. I don't care if you're a major gift officer. Yeah, I've been doing this for 15 years. I've taught all over the country, and I've met a lot of fundraisers, okay. And our development professionals. It's a lonely field. And many times you need support. You need someone to listen. You need empathy. Not sympathy, but empathy. And many times you need direction. And I will give you direction. And I always couch it in. This is a suggestion I would make. Bob, Jim, Larry, this is my suggestion. So that's why. That's why it's super important. One, there's a corpus of knowledge. See, as a mentor, I'm more experienced than you. I am very good in fundraising. Very good. I just say that, okay, I have this information. I had this experience. I've been there, done that, and if I Haven't done it. I know who has. I have a lot of friends in this field.

[Julia Campbell]

Right. Resource, connection to resources.

[Ken Miller]

So that's why, that's one of the main reasons why it's important in the fundraising field and especially again, for men of color. We're so few and far between. We sometimes feel like we're the only one when we go to conferences or we're the only ones that are doing this many times within our organization.

[Julia Campbell]

I do agree that fundraising is lonely, it's isolating. And often what I have seen, because I get women, white women, usually younger women, sometimes moms that are attracted to me for mentorship just because they see that similar experience of having been a development director and then, you know, sort of going off on their own to build a consultancy. And I think we are sort of attracted to people that have similar experiences and similar backgrounds. But I agree. I see mentorship as an ability to sort of pay it forward and pass on the knowledge that I have. And I love the idea of mentorship as a rising tide lifts all ships. Like, it's not a competition. Okay. There's a ton of money out there. Okay. Like there's a lot of money. Money out there. And just because fundraisers are helping each other, it doesn't mean, I think that sometimes executive directors or boards think that collaboration is not as desirable because they're like, no, we should just focus on what we're doing and our piece of the pie and our little corner of the universe. But I agree with you. I think that the more we can expand, expand the pie and the more that we can share what we know and help people overcome obstacles and challenges and do their job better. I just see generosity begets generosity. That's sort of how I see it. I see that it really expands. I guess I just have that mindset and as you do, I don't have that sort of that mindset where we have to be competitive with all of our fundraisers. Like, I really wish we would be more collaborative together.

[Ken Miller]

I agree. Yeah. I'm not from. I, I learned that first month I was on the job because I don't believe in the finite pie theory, the scarcity mindset.

[Julia Campbell]

That's what I was trying to say.

[Ken Miller]

Scarcity, yeah. The difficulty, I'll just say this real quick. The difficulty with boards, many times they come from the corporate world.

[Bloomerang]

Right.

[Ken Miller]

From the corporate world. And it is competitive. It's capitalism. So. But we're in the non profit world and there's tremendous largess out there from individuals and organizations. To support what we do in our communities, and there's no reason that we need to compete. And I. Anyone who knows me, and there's a lot of people that know me, know that that's never, never been my mindset.

[Julia Campbell]

So what advice would you give someone seeking a mentor? How can they identify the right person, and then how should they approach them?

[Ken Miller]

I would look for someone who's open, gentle, and experienced. And then you approach them. You do what we do. We make the ask. You just make the ask. And what I mean by that. And I talk about this. Yeah. Usually I would say, hey, do you have some time that I could possibly give you a call? Or we can have a cup of coffee, if it's, you know, local, and just sit down and say a little bit about yourself and ask them that. I am looking for a mentor, and I've identified you as someone that I would love to tap in with you. I would love to just absorb some of your ease that I least observe in how you carry yourself. Male, female, doesn't matter. And that's what I would do. But I'm looking. I'm always looking. And then the people I have in my life are open. They're gentle. God, that's a big word with me. Gentleness today. Kind, gentle. And then, you know, had the experience.

[Julia Campbell]

Can you share sort of a memorable mentorship experience, either as a mentor or a mentee, something that really sort of shaped your career?

[Ken Miller]

Sure, I have a hundred, but I'll just say one.

[Julia Campbell]

I'm sure you do.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah. So early on in my career, I had a. I had a mentor named Bernie Washington. He was a CFO at Alaska Public Media, and I was working for Bean's Cafe. He was a good friend with Jim Crockett, the executive director who hired me. Jim went on vacation. I was running while he was gone. He comes back. He said, I'm not feeling really well. And two days later, he was dead. I came in and was working his job, working for one of our programs, a program director. And I'm also the individual, of course, doing the fundraising. And it's December. I'm working. I worked 13 days straight, 14, 15 hours. And I remember going to him, and I'm really sad, because I loved Jim Crockett. He was a wonderful man, a good friend. And he was the executive director that gave me a shot with my past and background. Anyway, I went into Bernie, and Bernie was very good friends with Jim. And I was telling him, you know, a little bit about how much I hurt, and I started crying. And he said this to me I'll never forget. He said, ken, you need to take some time off. You have brought to Beam's Cafe a surplus of over half a million dollars. We would be happy with 150,000 surplus, but you're working yourself. And here you are, you know, in my. My office with this amount you. A lot has happened in the last three to four weeks, and I'll just never forget his compassion, because most people make more, you know, bring in more. And he's a board treasurer, but he's like, no, we don't need more. We don't need more. We need for you to be well. So that's just one of many.

[Julia Campbell]

Exactly. Oh, wow. If someone's looking to be a mentor, how can they put themselves out there? How can they be sending the right signals? How can they just make themselves more available?

[Ken Miller]

It's a good question. I've almost never looked at it from that side. I'm always having people ask, how. How do I. What I would do is be open, be gentle, and be experienced, and you will attract individuals, especially the gentleness and the openness. They'll see your experience, okay? How you carry yourself, how you articulate, how you talk in the meetings or at the AFP luncheon. That part is easy. But being open also. And then the other thing, if you want to. I have asked, gentlemen, do you want to be mentored? Because I saw something in them. I don't think I've ever been turned down, but do you see what I'm saying? But I'd say 80%, 90% are individuals. This is interesting. Of the individuals that I mentor, most of them have come to me, ask them to be mentored. Then I have a large percentage. It's their mothers or their sisters or their cousins or whatever. Say, hey, would you talk to my cousin? Would you talk to my. My son? Because he may be having this concern or difficulty? And I was like, of course. You know me. Yeah, what's his number? And I always say, hey, I'm taking you out to eat. Let's go. What do you want to meet? And then I treat, I pay, and I tell them a little my story. And then, you know, I ask him, what's your dream? Once I get past the dream, I'm like, hey, do you want to be mentored? This is what I will do for you. I will expose you to information, books, podcasts, webinars. Great. I will introduce you to people, and I will also educate you. I know business. I know a bit. I own three businesses. So I know business, I know fundraising. Doctor. So a lot of my guys are fundraising, but a lot of them aren't fundraising, but they're all men and they're all of color.

[Julia Campbell]

Is there a community that you've built where all of your mentors sort of talk to each other or is this really sort of like an individual one on one relationship?

[Ken Miller]

Great question. That's interesting. Yes. So I could say three communities. So first of all, I had the passing on group that was. It still is in Alaska. If you go to my Facebook page, Ken Miller, Facebook, you'll see Pass it on. You'll see me with all my mentees and one of my mentors. We used to meet every summer for lunch, even though you had 15 guys and we'd get together once a year. Then I started a group called Men of Color and Development. I founded that. And in that group we have 16 mentors and 43 mentees. And many of the mentors I have reached out to, hey, would you mentor? I know you. I've known you for years. You're great. Da da da da da. And then I just started a new group which is called Imperium in Imperial Black Men's Book Study and Discussion Group. And those are all my mentors. Just started that this week, I mean, last week. Those are all my mentees or past mentees, some of them. I don't mentor anymore, but they're all in that group and we're doing the same thing. And our goal is to take that model and then have them do their own book study.

[Julia Campbell]

Wonderful. Are you attending the AFP conference in Seattle by any chance this year?

[Ken Miller]

I'm teaching there.

[Julia Campbell]

Wonderful. This will definitely be out before. So AFP icon is in Seattle this year. Well, I'm just thinking about the person listening to this that doesn't live in a city that's just starting out in fundraising. Maybe they're connected with a couple of people on LinkedIn. I always think conferences or even local chapter meetings are a great way to meet people and to find mentors. Are there other places that, that you find Ken, like LinkedIn or social media or if you're just in a really maybe like rural place that doesn't have many.

[Ken Miller]

Right.

[Julia Campbell]

Opportunities available locally?

[Ken Miller]

Yeah, I, so I've, I've done LinkedIn. I have job going to different, you know, zoom meetings and observe people on there because I've, I've moved into certain vertical markets. I, I joined the speaking world and.

[Julia Campbell]

It'S a world that's a whole different segment. I, I know I hear that I'm in that world.

[Ken Miller]

And I was looking for a mentor of color, male, and I reached out to a few guys, and I have a mentor of color that's male. But again, I, since I know this, I sort of know how to reach out. But then again, there was one or two that said, no, you know, which is fine, or not now, or I don't mention which is cool. I respect that. I'm. I'm an age. I can. But anyway, I would look again, what you're looking for in the field, if you want mentor slash coaching, you want to stay in the field. But if you're outside the. You want to go outside the field, but you want what we call whole person mentoring, they don't have to be in your field. Okay. They're just person you can run things by. They can still help you and support you on your journey of growth, both professionally and as a person.

[Julia Campbell]

I think what's so interesting about that is it's not about age. I think when sometimes people think about mentorship, they automatically assume they have to go to someone older than them. But it's not necessarily that. It's just someone that has experience in the field. So perhaps it's someone your same age that has just been speaking for 20 years, and it's a skill that you want to gain and you want to break into that field and you want to learn more. So I think that's a common misconception. Do you find that?

[Ken Miller]

Yes. And I, I don't know what I'm gonna say. I'm gonna push back on that because it's not a pushback. My thing is this. If you're looking for coaching or tactical, sure, you can find a peer or someone your age, but if you're looking to deal with the vicissitudes of life, an individual with some years underneath their belt has been there, has done that, if you have a good mentor. And so there's, you know, there's a thing in, in the. We work a lot in the tribal world, and they're called elders, and they're so well respected for their experience of life. And so I, I'm just, I, I, There's a grind.

[Julia Campbell]

That's a really good point.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah. So it is, It's. And again, yes, if you, especially starting out and that person has three years and you have zero or one month, reach out and ask them, hey, would you mentor me? You know, and you can stay and grow that relationship, but I would think at some point you may want to look at someone with more. I use the word maturity, but I love the word discernment. That's probably more my favorite word. And when you become older, you can have the ability to be more discerning.

[Julia Campbell]

Yeah, we're not just reaching for all the shiny objects anymore. We're tired. Yeah. We're like. We know we've thrown spaghetti at the wall. We've seen what sticks, and we're not gonna spin our wheels as much. Although I do tend to spin my.

[Bloomerang]

Wheels a little bit.

[Julia Campbell]

But I like to think that I have some experience that I can pass on for sure. Have made some decisions and definitely, you know, taken some paths that. Where I can guide others along the way and sort of steer them. So when I. This is so interesting because when I started out as a director of development, I did feel incredibly isolated. I was very young. It was like 25 maybe, when I was first director of development role. And I had moved from Massachusetts to Virginia. And I was in a completely different culture, a completely different town, a completely different everything. I didn't have my family. I didn't have my normal support systems around me. So for a fundraiser that is just kind of starting out, what is your sort of number one piece of advice? How should they navigate this crazy adventure?

[Ken Miller]

So this is what I would say. Continuing education, professional development. One, two. Get a mentor, period. Get a mentor. It's just asking people, and people are so. They're, like, honored that you would ask them. Okay. And they may not be the best mentor because a lot of people haven't been trained on how to be a mentor. I'll be honest with you. I deal with this. I teach this. And then the other thing is, if you are new in this field, learn AI, period. Learn a I, period.

[Julia Campbell]

Amazing. Can you elaborate on that? Like, what sort of what. What are the tools?

[Ken Miller]

I can speak on that. Next five hours.

[Julia Campbell]

I have a. I think I could do. I agree with you. Just like, learn about it. Don't be scared of it, basically.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah, exactly. Embrace it. That's probably the best word, is to embrace it. Because it will make you more effective. Effective. That's all we're trying to do. It'll make. Because you're more efficient, you can be more effective. AI will never do a major donor in person ask, period. Never. Okay. But to be able to get to that, there's a lot of steps that need to be done in between. When you're doing your annual campaigns, a lot of steps that need to be done in between. One of the most difficult things for fundraisers to get started. And AI is so great if you're working with the LLMs, the chat, GPT, the perplexities, whatever copilot is to get started and you can just put in your query. But most people don't even know how to use AI well, so I always say take a class. There's a place I go on. I do YouTube. That's how I learned originally. And then I went to AI Pioneers and then I went to AI Foundation. Awesome. Both of those organizations are awesome. And anyway, so I learned and I am would, you might say advanced. Anyway, I have a company that does AI.

[Julia Campbell]

Oh, amazing. I think the, the overall overarching, bigger picture lesson is just be on top of the trends and the tools and know, you know, maybe not every single thing is going to be for you, but don't be afraid to embrace the new technologies and just start somewhere. I think that's such an important piece of advice.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah, yeah. Let me say something, Julie.

[Julia Campbell]

Oh, okay.

[Ken Miller]

This is much bigger than a trend. And if I. Oh, right.

[Julia Campbell]

I don't want to d. This is. I don't want to say that AI is a trend. I mean, it literally is on my phone right now and helping us with this podcast. I mean, it's helping in every aspect of everything.

[Ken Miller]

It's a movement. It's where we're going. I call it trend text to donate. That was a trend when we used to duck the people in the water. I go back that far. I remember that red. Remember that?

[Julia Campbell]

I can't even remember we put ducks or flamingos on their lawns. Do you remember that?

[Ken Miller]

Oh, no, I don't remember that one. Was that United way or something?

[Julia Campbell]

There's just so many things that have come and gone.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah. Flavor of the year, I call it.

[Julia Campbell]

Exactly. No, I completely, I completely agree. But I agree with you that it's sort of like a mindset shift that you have to make and embracing it. So for people listening, I think you might be getting inundated with mentorship requests. So if for you, how do you choose your. Who are you going to mentor? Like, what makes a good mentee? So if I want to be a mentee and I'm seeking a mentor, what can I do? How can I be a good mentee?

[Ken Miller]

Willingness. That's number one. Open mindedness. Willingness. Willingness to be mentored. For a lot of cultures, let me just say for black men, we don't. We're. We're like programmed to not ask for help, period. Okay. How can I talk to about my community? So anyway, you have to have that willingness to allow another man to give you direction. So that's one of the first things that I would say. And then the other thing I look for in a mentee is do you, do you learn? Do you, do you take the advice and run with. You don't have to do everything. Everything I do is a suggestion. But if I ask you to read something or look at something and three months later or a month later when we meet up again, you haven't even looked at the five minute YouTube video. That tells me something. That tells me something. Yes. I am limited. Let me put it. Let me just say this real quick, Julie. In July of last year, I had 52 volunteer commitments, 23 organizations and 29 men and 28 mentees. One sponsor in the programs, the Anonymous program. And I had to make a decision because I was starting a new business and because I just didn't have the capacity. I just did not have the time. I was spending between 600 to 1100 hours a year volunteering. And so I had to have a discussion with my mentor.

[Julia Campbell]

Real conversation.

[Ken Miller]

Real conversation.

[Julia Campbell]

Yeah.

[Ken Miller]

I cut it back to eight men and then plus I got rid of all the organization, got off of every board I was on, everything. And because I have a bigger picture and a bigger thing that I'm going for that will affect more people if I do it. And then the other thing is I did that and then I did start a group like I said last week, but that's my one organization is that Men's Book Study now.

[Julia Campbell]

So you will be at icon, afp, ICON in Seattle. Any other conferences coming up this year that you want people to know about? A million.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah. Storytellers Conference, npcc. Yeah. Just got off the phone with Josh. Anyway, I have like four or five. I have I think 15 speaking engagements already this year in the fundraising world. I speak at Chapters. I teach fundamentals. I teach the Faculty Training Academy, which is a great course to learn how to do adult learning how to teach to adult learners. And then real excited, I have my new book coming out which is going to be phenomenal. It's called Surviving Ken A Black Man's Journey from the Ivy Leagues to the Streets, the Penitentiary and Back. So that's coming out next month.

[Julia Campbell]

When does that come out? Tell me the date.

[Ken Miller]

February. It's going to be mid February. I haven't. I'm meeting with the publisher this afternoon.

[Julia Campbell]

Okay, so have a Drop dead. I will put the link in the show notes. Is there a place people can connect with you? Get on your email list connect with you on LinkedIn so they can get all these updates.

[Ken Miller]

Yeah, yeah. LinkedIn is KenMiller84. That's, you know, my tag, KenMiller84. And then the website is KenMillerSpeaks.com that's probably the easiest one. Or Denali FSP.com which is my fundraising.

[Bloomerang]

Wonderful.

[Julia Campbell]

I will add all of these to the show notes so people can connect with you. This has been wonderful and it's just been such a great conversation and it was so wonderful to meet you finally. And hopefully I'll see you at one of these conferences.

[Ken Miller]

For sure. For sure. And thank you, Julia. Thank you for having this and taking the time and doing this. Truly, thank you. I think it's wonderful.

[Julia Campbell]

We'll have to set you up with a podcast next. I think you have a lot to say. I can mentor you for it to do a podcast.

[Ken Miller]

Let's talk about it someday. Whatever you want to talk about it, we'll talk about it. Because I been thinking about it. Okay.

[Julia Campbell]

Thanks so much.

[Ken Miller]

All right. Appreciate it.

[Julia Campbell]

Well, hey there. I wanted to say thank you for tuning into my show and for listening all the way to the end. If you, if you really enjoyed today's conversation, make sure to subscribe to the show in your favorite podcast app and you'll get new episodes downloaded as soon as they come out. I would love if you left me a rating or a review because this tells other people that my podcast is worth listening to and then me and my guests can reach even more earbuds and create even more impact. So that's pretty much it. I'll be back soon with a brand new episode, but until then, you can find me on Instagram. Juliacampbell77 Keep changing the world, you non profit unic.