AFP Member Spotlight: Kathi Barber

How long have you been involved in the nonprofit sector?

I began working in the nonprofit sector in 1999 by necessity. At that time, I had my first child and searched for breastfeeding support in my community. There were almost no breastfeeding support groups or resources except those provided in the WIC program.

This began my search for lactation support from people who looked like me and opened my world to the breastfeeding disparities in the African American community. After doing lots of research and connecting with maternal and child health experts and advocates, I had no choice but to do something about the disparity and founded the African American Breastfeeding Alliance (AABA), the first nonprofit organization whose mission was to educate African American women and their families about the maternal, infant and societal benefits of breastfeeding. AABA has provided support to African American mothers and the community for over 17 years.

As a novice in the nonprofit space, I had to quickly learn the ins and outs of leading a nonprofit, especially the world of fundraising. My first experience with funding came through the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to support the early development of AABA. Writing and reporting on a government grant gave me a great foundation for the technical aspects of grant writing that I still relate to today.

Tell me about your current position. What are your responsibilities?

As the director of development at Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) in Wilmington, Delaware, my primary responsibility is to expand and diversify philanthropic revenue and further the culture of philanthropy across the organization. I provide overall leadership, direction, strategy and oversight of all development-related functions, including setting fundraising goals and strategy, developing and maintaining relationships across the organization and with external stakeholders, providing overall leadership to fundraising committees, and executing a strategic development and communications plan that steers the organization to success in meeting Habitat’s new strategic priorities. In addition to development and fundraising, I oversee Habitat NCC’s marketing and communications. My team includes a grants manager, development specialist, and marketing specialist.

What has your career progression been like so far?

It has been a natural progression, albeit a bit lopsided. As I mentioned, I was thrown into the fray of nonprofit fundraising out of the necessity to fund AABA. Back then, I did not have a clue about grant writing, but as I reflect on my career, I think tackling fundraising first has been an important part of my success.

I would guess that most people in the nonprofit sector try to stay as far away as possible from anything close to fundraising. And I get that. It is not for the faint of heart. During the early and mid-2000s, I gained solid skills in the art of grant writing. Due to my success with AABA, I began consulting with nonprofits across the country and internationally on grant writing, fundraising and organizational management.

So far, what are you most proud of in your career?

At this point, I am most proud of supporting small businesses as they pivoted and scrambled to stay afloat. At a previous nonprofit, I raised funding to create a program (in English and Spanish) to help small businesses get a handle on their finances, pivot to online and delivery services and learn best practices from others in their respective industries.

What advice would you give young professionals interested in the fundraising profession?

Learn the basics of grant writing and fundraising. There are many great, free resources online where you can get solid tools to help you. Be painstaking with your writing and download the upgraded version of Grammarly. It will catch grammar issues from the most seasoned writer. Good writing skills are critical in grant writing and in many other areas of fundraising, including appeal letters, donor thank you cards, etc. Research nonprofit organizations that speak to your soul, preferably small ones to start. Those are the ones that will help you cut your teeth in fundraising. Ask questions, and do not be afraid to say I do not know.

Do you have (or have you had) a mentor—formally or informally—and how has it helped you throughout your career?

I have never had a formal or coordinated one-on-one experience with a mentor. What I did have was a series of informal but impactful relationships that formed the basis of my work in not just fundraising but nonprofit development and leadership. Dr. Yvonne Bronner, a professor at the School of Community Health & Policy at Morgan State University and author of several studies on maternal and child health, helped me navigate the politics that are often involved in fundraising and nonprofit leadership. She played a critical role in helping me to be confident as a young African American woman in a space that is dominated by white men.

Learn the basics of grant writing and fundraising. There are many great, free resources online where you can get solid tools to help you.

Dr. Suzanne Haynes, a former senior adviser for science at the Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, was a champion in my fundraising at the government level, which proved valuable in getting me a seat at the table with officials as high as the Surgeon General’s office.

Lastly, although I have not met her, I have followed the career of Anna Barber, resident and principal consultant for Barber & Associates. Anna was part of the inaugural fundraising team at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. I have sat in on fundraising workshops and have learned important strategies on individual giving and goal setting from her.

What are some words of wisdom that have sustained you throughout your career?

First, expect the unexpected. There will always be competing deadlines, changing priorities, last-minute requests from a funder, budget cuts, family concerns (positive or negative) or a social media post that needs to be addressed in a thoughtful but swift manner. You will experience one or all of these areas, and more, in your career. The best way to manage is to give yourself space for these unexpected but very real circumstances.

If you work in an organized manner without rigidity, you will do simply fine when fundraising throws you a curveball. You do not have all the answers, and you will make mistakes. Laugh at them and give yourself grace. The perfection monster will steal your fundraising joy every time.

Attend regular webinars and workshops on different areas of fundraising. Network with colleagues in your field at other nonprofit organizations. Join an affinity group around your fundraising focus. Become a member of AFP.

Second, embrace change. There is always something new to learn, something that can be done better, and something you can put a new spin on.

What is the biggest challenge facing the profession?

The biggest challenge facing the profession is two-fold. First, there are not enough African Americans and other people of color at the executive level of nonprofit organizations; and those at the executive level are paid less than their peers. If you do not have diversity in leadership and equity in pay, then an organization’s reach can only go so far. Second, the stress of the fundraising profession causes burnout quickly. We often have to wear the fundraising and marketing hats, be a team of one, deal with narrow vision from senior leadership, give up work-life balance, and navigate high turnover rates with frequent changes in development staff year over year. Self-care for the fundraising professional is critical.

How did you hone your skills as a fundraiser?

Learn from every single mistake. Regularly audit your goals and make sure they are achievable. Constantly learn and stay up to date on best practices and trends. Attend regular webinars and workshops on different areas of fundraising. Network with colleagues in your field at other nonprofit organizations. Join an affinity group around your fundraising focus. Become a member of AFP.

How do you relax after a long day?

As an introverted leader, I must decompress. I sit on my couch and listen to my breath for at least an hour or more when I get home from work. Yoga is a regular part of my lifestyle, and before bed, it does wonders to calm the mind and body. And when I can on the weekends, I disconnect from work emails and social media and spend time in nature, either kayaking or sitting at the beach.

What is the last book you read (or TV show you watched) that you enjoyed?

The last book I read, for the second time, was “Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty. Fundraising is an extremely challenging but rewarding field, and the tips in this book help me quiet my thoughts when I become stressed and teach me how to learn from anyone that I meet. For sheer escape, I am working my way through the “Chronicles of Narnia” series.