Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach me at david@holdfast-coaching.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Mentoring is when someone with more experience in your field shares their knowledge and advice based on what worked for them. They tell you what they did and suggest you do similar things. It's directive and they're guiding you down a path they've already walked.
Coaching doesn't rely on the coach having done your job. A coach asks questions that help you figure out your own answers. Coaches work on how you think, not what you should think. The solutions come from you, not me.
Mentors are great for learning the ropes and avoiding mistakes they made. But they can only offer solutions that worked in their context, which may not fit yours.
Coaching helps you develop your own problem-solving ability. You're not getting my playbook, you're building your own. This means you can handle new situations independently, not just copy what someone else did in different circumstances.
We talk for 30-60 minutes, usually every 2-4 weeks. You bring a real issue you're facing such as a decision, a challenge, or a goal you're stuck on.
I listen and I ask questions. A lot of them. Not random questions, but strategic ones designed to help you see your situation from different angles. You do most of the talking. I might point out patterns I'm noticing or challenge assumptions you're making.
By the end, you have greater clarity on next steps that you've decided on and make sense to you.
Honestly, sometimes it feels uncomfortable. Good coaching pushes you to examine beliefs you haven't questioned. It can feel slow at first if you're used to getting quick answers.
But it also feels productive. You leave with insights you didn't have coming in. Over time, you notice you're thinking differently about problems—less reactive, more strategic. Any discomfort comes from growth, not from being judged.
Get a mentor if you're:
- New to fundraising and need to learn the basics
- Looking for someone to open doors and make introductions
- Wanting specific tactical advice from someone who's done your job
Get a coach if you're:
- Facing challenges that don't have obvious answers
- Ready to move into leadership and need to develop your own approach
- Stuck in patterns you want to break
- Making a transition where others' experience won't directly apply
- Needing to build skills like strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, or decision-making
Then coaching isn't for you right now, and that's fine. Some people need answers and direction. Some situations call for that.
But if you're reading this, chances are you've already gotten plenty of advice and you're still stuck. That's usually a sign that more advice isn't the answer. You need to develop your own capacity to work through these challenges.
The questions aren't meant to be annoying; they're simply tools. Once you get used to them, you start asking them of yourself. That's when coaching really pays off.
Bottom line: Mentoring gives you a map. Coaching teaches you how to navigate. Both are valuable. Which one you need depends on where you are and where you're trying to go. I come equipped to help you sort out your options.
Contact me to set up a time to talk
Contact me with questions or to set up a complimentary discovery conversation!
I will get back to you promptly!
David Woodruff
