In regards to leadership development workplace giving campaigns there are campaign events known as charity fairs which can be used to develop leadership. During a charity fair, charities from the workplace giving catalog are invited to come to the organization's offices, and staff a table with their representatives, give out their materials, and answer any questions that the potential donors might ask. These events can be an ideal practice field for emerging non-profit leaders (Tedesco and Doncaster, 2008). Charity fairs are seen as one of the best leadership development opportunities that exist in the non-profit world. Non-profits that have integrated workplace giving campaigns into their overall leadership development efforts often use them to provide low risk, high value opportunities to their staff in a number of areas, including project management, public speaking, and team building. The skills that can be developed and practiced through participation in charity fairs include:

Oral Communication -- public speaking skills can be practiced dozens of times in the course of a campaign.

Team Building -- the non-profit action officer can get practical experience in creating and leading a team of paid staff and volunteers.

Listening Skills -- the non-profit team will have the opportunity to listen to hundreds of people in the community. These people are potential donors and supporters and being able to listen to them is important.

Written Communication -- there are several opportunities to develop one's writing...

No one is going to blow a major gift solicitation at a charity fair, but the future leader can gain experience in reading people (Tedesco and Doncaster, 2008).
Developing good leaders is important for the success of any organization. But no organization provides a better built in training program than does the non-profit one. By utilizing workplace giving campaigns and charity fairs they have a great way to provide training for up and coming leaders in a basically risk free environment.

References

Huddleston, Bill. (2009). Non-profit Leadership Development -- Where's the practice field?

Retrieved September 11, 2009, from Web site:

http://cfctreasures.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/non-profit-leadership-development-wheres-the-practice-field/

Non-profit organization. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2009, from Investor Words Web site:

http://www.investorwords.com/3331/non_profit_organization.html

Tedesco, Paul and Doncaster, Jim. (2008). Retrieved September 11, 2009, from Web site:

http://www.alliance1.org/Conferences/National2008/materials/D8/nonprofit_leader_%20

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