How Valuable is a Mentor?

Hello all,

After 2 months on the job, I’ve been promoted to a director-level position for a small nonprofit. My main objective is to fundraise. I’m a former teacher seeking to solidify a career pivot towards a communications-related role, which I initially had within my current organization before being promoted.

I do not have any mentors or leaders here. I have no official history of ever raising funds (former History teacher). The interim Executive Director will be leaving in a few months and I’m weary about their forthcoming search as this is a position that has been unfilled for nearly 2 years. My supervisor (who I replaced) quit due to challenges with the organization.

I self-taught my way into my initial role handling communications, but now I feel like I’ve been thrust into a completely different arena without any guardrails. I’m sure I can learn the ropes alone, but I have a hard time shaking the feeling that in order to get a solid footing in the field of Communications, I need to at least learn from an experienced supervisor, which I do not have.

Is it better to retain my role as a self-taught Director despite turbulence within the organization or leave for a strategist/coordinator-level position elsewhere with a more firm path to learn the ropes?



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