David’s Non-Profit Tip: Dress for Success

Twenty years ago – just about everybody in the world of business wore dress clothes to work – all the time. Then along came business casual – first just on Fridays – but now, who knows? Since I left the corporate world, knowing how to dress for meetings has gotten more complicated. Do I wear a suit, or just a sport coat - and what about a necktie? Or should I just go in slacks and a golf shirt? And it's probably more confusing for women than it is for men.

So if you work for a non-profit and you're going to meet with a donor or prospective donor in the business world, I suggest you try to find out the culture of the company you’re going to see. In my corporate career, whenever I had outside guests coming to see me, I was in coat and tie – even on Fridays. That will be true with a lot of senior people anyway – especially Baby Boomers.

I think it would also be okay to ask if you weren’t sure. But if in doubt, I suggest you err on the side of being more dressed up. So what if you have on a tie, and the person you're coming to see doesn’t? That’s better than if they have on a tie, and you don’t – and whatever the equivalent would be for ladies.