The Inside Scoop: Applying to D-SIP

Being recent alums of D-SIP, we wanted to share some information about this incredible paid internship program and some advice to help you throughout the application process.  First, you should know that D-SIP has a 3 part application process!  We tell you this not to scare you, but to highlight that it is competitive.  You need to be prepared to present your best self in all three parts of the process.  So what are these three parts?!

Stage 1: Online Application http://www.giving.umich.edu/internship/index.php?page=apply

• Applicant Information (name, major, etc.)
• Two Personal Statements
• What does philanthropy mean to you and how does this understanding impact your pursuit of this internship opportunity?
• How has a past work/volunteer experience shaped you as a student and/or professional?
• Three References (*only need reference, NOT a reference letter)
• Cover Letter
• Resume

*Alumni Hints to Succeed at this Stage*

1. Be creative in discussing your meaning of philanthropy.  The recruiters know what dictionary.com says about philanthropy.  The question states, what does it mean to YOU!
2. Do not make careless errors in your essays, cover letter and resume.  Use Sweetland Writing Center , the Career Center, or a trusted friend to review your statements. 
3. Dress professionally because this is your first in-person presentation to D-SIP.
4. Let your voice shine through in your application materials so that the reviewers get a good idea of what type of applicant you are. Program administers are looking for the ‘wow’ factor in this section. A good start would be asking your friends and family what they think sets you apart from other highly qualified individuals.
5. Ask your references if you can use their name before you put them down. This will allow them time to prepare what they are going to say about you instead of being caught off guard when the recruiters call, which will also result in a better reference for you!

Stage 2: Round I Interview

• Interview Component: You will participate in an individual 20-minute interview.
• Group Discussion: You will participate in a group discussion about a provided article discussing relevant philanthropic issues with five other applicants.

*Alumni Hints to Succeed at this Stage*

1. Something as simple as knowing what the term ‘development’ means in relation to this program should not be overlooked during this round. Seriously.
2. Send a follow-up email to your interviewer. This will show that you are committed to the position and appreciate them taking the time to speak with you. Plus you’ll show you know a little bit about “stewardship” (a facet of development) from the beginning!

Stage 3: Round II Interview

• Interview for a position within a specific University School or Unit, Office of Development unit, or Ann Arbor Community Non-Profit. Interviews are half an hour in length.

*Alumni Hints to Succeed at this Stage*

1. Make sure to research the unit with which you will be interviewing. For example, if you are meeting with the U-M School of Kinesiology, you might want to read up on their advancement team as current research initiatives and student perspectives.  And, you better know where the School of Kinesiology is located on campus!
2. Again, follow-up with your interviewer! The people you interview with in Round II are usually your summer employer, so let your excitement and passion shine through.  Don’t be afraid to sell yourself!

To prepare for the interview stages be sure to utilize campus resources like the career center, academic advisers and other alumni of the program you may know. Overall, aside from the lasting friendships you will forage, D-SIP will afford you endless opportunities to grow professionally because of the knowledge you will gain and the network and relationships you will build while participating in the program.

To continue learning more and to apply, please visit:
www.giving.umich.edu/internship
www.facebook.com/UMDSIP

Good Luck and Go Blue!

Mandi, Matt and Kyle (D-SIP ’11)

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Why do YOU want to work in Philanthropy (part 3)

Now that we’ve figured out why you’d want a job in the philanthropic sector and what kinds of jobs there are, it’s time for the third (and last) question. How exactly do you go about finding one of these jobs?

As I mentioned before, some of your best resources are going to be networking with professionals, doing informational interviews, and volunteering in the community. However, there are a lot of opportunities available through the online job postings and they’re a great way to see what’s out there.

My strategy? Regularly search a variety of sites for job postings. By using the search tools I’m able to sort through the postings to find ones I might be interested in. Note that by using all of them, you may find postings that overlap, but it’s better to spend a few minutes looking over the same listing than missing one you’d love.

Job posting sites that I’ve found useful include:

• Idealist (idealist.com) has soooo many listings – make sure to use the advanced search options and narrow down the listings, but it’s really great for discovering jobs you wouldn’t have thought about
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy (philanthropy.com), which has an average 20 new postings each weekday, mainly focused on fundraising and foundations
• HigherEd Jobs (higheredjobs.com), a good starting place for positions with colleges and universities
• Philanthropy News Digest job board (foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs), which is conveniently organized by state and provides a variety of job opportunities
• Local listings, such as the Michigan Nonprofit Association (mnaonline.org/jobs.aspx) and Crain’s nonprofit listings (crainsdetroit.com/article/20080515/STATIC/60406002/nonprofit-classifieds#) if you’re interested in staying in the area
• Individual regional foundation association’s job boards, provided in a list from the Giving Forum’s website (givingforum.org/s_forum/doc.asp?CID=17&DID=6817), even though it’s a pain to search each of them and not all links are specifically linked to the job page, they can be great resources for jobs in both foundations and non-profits
• Individual university websites (such as umjobs.org), which again are annoying to search individually but will often have more details and more entry-level positions than job search sites

Of course, there are a number of other job search sites – some targeted to non-profit and fundraising, while other sites post a broader selection of jobs – but these are the ones I like best. Also remember that there are many, many job postings in the philanthropic sector. Take time to reflect on what you want in a job, what skills and opportunities you need to build, in order to find a job that “fits” even if it doesn’t exactly look like what you expected – remember, job titles aren’t everything.

Now that I’ve given away my good secrets on philanthropic job hunts, I’ve got to continue working on my own search!

Post by: Katelyn Videto, D-SIP 2009

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Why do You want to work in Philanthropy? (part 2)

Ok – have that question of why you want to work in philanthropy answered? Good, because you’ll need the insight to continue in the job search process. Only by understanding motivations and passions can we face the second question: “what kind of jobs could you have in philanthropy?”

Throughout nine years in the philanthropic sector and this job search, I’ve learned that there are more jobs in philanthropy (and with a variety of different titles) than I could enumerate. Want to work for a higher education institution, like the University of Michigan? Or a smaller non-profit doing hands-on work with people in the community? Maybe a job in grants management with a foundation would better suit me? Is it the mission of the organization that matters to me, or the actual tasks I’d do?

I’m still working on answering these (and many more) questions, but here’s some of what I’ve learned about the specific types of jobs in the philanthropic sector that has been useful. First, there are administrative assistant positions, which are good for getting your foot in the door. They can give you a lot of exposure and let you figure out what you like in philanthropy.

In fundraising, there are also positions in a variety of areas, including major gifts, annual giving, events, corporate and foundations giving, planned giving, stewardship, alumni relations, gift processing, prospect research, and many more. Development generalists work in a number of these areas and are typically called development assistant/associate/coordinators/managers, while specialists focus on one of these areas and titles are area-specific (ex – major gift officer, stewardship coordinator).

Other opportunities in non-profits include hands-on program work and management, grant writing, and volunteer management/coordination, depending on the mission of the organization. Program jobs give you the opportunity to work directly with issues and people while getting hands-on experience with a non-profit. In foundations, there’s work in grantmaking, evaluations, foundation programs, and fundraising – work covered by grant managers/coordinators, program assistants/associates/officers, and support staff.

I’ve listed a few job possibilities here, but the best way to research jobs in philanthropy isn’t to read a blog post – it’s by figuring it out for yourself. Peruse job descriptions to discover what fits with your work style, skills, interests and passions. Volunteer with an organization to understand their needs and challenges. Do informational interviews with people in the sector to learn about what they do, what kind of jobs they’ve had, and advice they can give.

Sounds like a challenge? Yeah, it is for me too. But, in the end, I’m learning a lot about the sector (and myself) while working on finding the job that’s “right”. Just gotta keep believing!

Post by: Katelyn Videto, D-SIP 2009

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Thoughts from the first D-SIP applicant

In 2006, D-SIP began recruiting students for the first year of the program.  Brian Restuccia was the first applicant so we asked him to write down some thoughts about his experience.  Here they are!

When I was in my junior year of college, the University of Michigan career center was able to provide me with a lot of internship opportunities to help me decide what I wanted to do.  There were different industries and companies that I looked at, but one opportunity especially caught my eye.  I saw a listing for the Development Summer Internship Program and wanted to learn more.  As a student, I had been engaged in both volunteerism and campus life through my community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.  I saw D-SIP as a way to extend my relationship with the University that I love and get more involved in campus life.

The internship program was a fantastic experience.  Our program director, Kat Walsh, gave my time at D-SIP structure and pushed me to get the most out of my experience as possible.  In addition to the office experience, one of my favorite memories was a specific event.  Our internship group went up to Petoskey for an alumni event, and we were given the challenge of meeting and networking with the alumni at the event.  This pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop skills that are important to not just a career in development, but anywhere.

I had a lot of great experiences in D-SIP, made a lot of great friends and learned about the field of development, which I hadn’t even heard of before I applied.   I think that the most impactful thing I took away from my time in D-SIP was seeing the way that the University of Michigan has touched so many lives.  From hearing the scholarship stories of students that had been able to succeed because of donor generosity, to hearing about donor’s motivations about why they give, it was truly amazing to see the scope and magnitude of the impact that the University of Michigan has.

Looking back at that summer, I am filled with pride to know that I was a part of the Michigan Difference.  While I currently don’t work in the nonprofit world, my experience at D-SIP has helped me select where I do work and that is something that I will take with me wherever I go.  Seeing how the ripple effects of giving can touch so many lives makes it an important criteria for me in finding a company I want to work for.  Knowing that impact has also kept me active and engaged in my community once I left the University of Michigan.

 Thank you D-SIP for all you’ve taught me and all you’ve done for me!

–Brian Restuccia

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Another reason to appreciate Fridays

Don’t worry – there is coffee available on Friday morning class (thanks D-SIP alum!)  Luckily, the Friday educational component offers plenty to keep you awake and interested!

Plenty of interns enter D-SIP unfamiliar with the development profession and field.  Friday morning class offers an opportunity to explore the history of philanthropy, the psychology of giving, and the impact donors have within the university and Ann Arbor community.  Class time also allows interns the opportunity to discuss their projects – any questions about the workplace, research challenges, and accomplishments.

The best part?  The opportunity to hear from a number of university and community leaders about their philanthropic experiences.  D-SIP connects interns to major donors, dedicated Michigan volunteers, and nonprofit leaders.  These speakers help put the development experience in perspective, and offer candid advice about entering any profession.  We had the opportunity to ask questions and make connections with individuals who have had an incredible impact on the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor community.

It’s safe to say that Fridays with D-SIP offer some of the best experiences you’ll have as an intern – and as a bonus, you can even take the class for credit.  If you have questions, feel free to email me at kbalzer@umich.edu – I’d love to hear from you, and I hope you’ll consider applying!

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People are Just People

Last night I sat down to dinner at a looks-like-a-hole-in-the-wall-but-was-delicious Chinese restaurant. The waitress came to fill our water glasses and I greeted her, smiled, and asked how she was doing. She replied that she was fine and asked the same question of me. I said that my friend and I were starving and, after a pause, pointed out that I liked her boots. Our initial greeting turned into a friendly conversation and, before I knew it, the whole waiter-customer dynamic had disappeared. To me, it kind of felt like she was a potential friend who just happened to be working at a restaurant.

After the waitress left the table, my friend chuckled and said, “Wow. Someone’s still in work-mode.” After I threw a puzzled look across the table he explained that I was acting like he’d seen me behave when interacting with anyone from work – donors, colleagues, or volunteers.

I think that when you work in development, it’s hard to leave your work personality at the office. It isn’t like being an athlete where you can spend a few hours a day doing something completely unrelated to sports, or like being a musician where it’s best to spend a significant amount of time away from your instrument. Development is about interacting with people, and (apparently I’m just realizing this) people are everywhere. I mean, you really can’t escape them.

So, was I still in work-mode last night at the Chinese restaurant? My behavior certainly wasn’t something I was consciously enacting. This could mean that being available is something that has become engrained in my personality after over a year of working in development. But is the work behavior of a development professional even genuine? Do we really mean the things we say, or are we just faking it until we get what we want?

I think the answer lies in the fact that it feels good to be nice to people. Once, while I was working in development at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, I had just emerged from what I had thought would be a tense and angry interaction. Surprisingly, though, all had gone relatively smoothly because, I realized, I had tried to be as open, understanding, and responsive to the other person as possible. A (wise) colleague of mine responded to my explanation of the scenario with a simple phrase: “You catch more flies with honey.”

I continue to carry this sentiment with me. Today, I made many phone calls to the guests of an upcoming benefit for the institution where I work about a whole host (no pun intended) of issues – seating requests, meal requests, payment requests (ah, the life of an intern). During some of these calls, I held my breath (just a bit) while I waited for an answer from someone who I knew would be short with me or who was unhappy with the Festival or who might be having a bad day. By staying as positive as possible, however, I emerged from the experience relatively unscathed.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when working in development is that there is more (or less, depending how you look at it) to the people we work with than we think. Inside everyone we work with – from the woman in the framing shop to the Vice President of your department to one of the most influential philanthropists in the country – is a person who, behind any façade of power and money exists the same way the rest of us do.

So that’s why I find the line between my work and personal personality becoming increasingly blurred. Somewhere along the relatively short life-journey I’ve had so far I’ve realized that it helps to remember that we’re all human, we all make mistakes, and, most importantly, we can all learn something from each other.

PS – Many thanks to the brilliant Regina Spektor. The title of today’s post comes from her song, “Ghost of a Corporate Future.”

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Development as a stepping stone to next career

Last night after our co-ed slow pitch softball game, a few of my teammates and I headed to dinner for a post-game victory dinner and somehow the conversation turned to what it’s like having a career in fund-raising. Caroline, our slow pitch softball pitching mvp, works on the low end of the totem pole in development for UVA athletics.  Given her “lowly” position she described with great angst about her week full of making calls to all the donors who owed them money from pledge commitments. In her eyes, one of the most frustrating tasks about being in development. She continued to complain more and more about her job all awhile I am thinking in my head, “I would be SO THRILLED to have your job right now.”  But of course, after one or two complaints she stopped herself and reinstated the many GREAT aspects of development. The GREAT aspect being most importantly,  the interesting, passionate, and often eccentric people she gets to meet and develop lifelong relationships.

What struck me outside of the obvious enjoyment of building relationship, is how she explained the most rewarding part of building these relationships for her has been getting to learn about the hundreds of different careers out there and learning about how these professionals became so successful in those areas of expertise. She said that the conversations she held with potential and current donors became similar to informational interviews about a new career.

This being her very first job directly from undergrad, she said she had no idea what she really wanted to do and was basically offered the position without really applying so took a chance in fund-raising with very little background or knowledge of the field.  Consequently, she does not plan on staying in fund-raising for much longer, but during the process has gathered an incredible amount of knowledge about what else there is out there to pursue professionally.

A casual dinner conversation, reminded me that while many of us may not stay in development forever, we can all look at it as a potential stepping stone to another career. My parents always tell me that when one door closes, another door opens. In the world of development, you especially never know who you could meet and what you can learn that could transition you into a new adventure.

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Can’t we all just get along?

I woke up this morning feeling, for the most part, totally refreshed and ready to greet what promises to be a busy week of work as my office prepares for a our second benefit of the summer. But, before my mind could dart between the guest list, seating chart, decoration decisions, and phone calls that lay in front of me, I quickly rolled over on my side and frantically flipped open my phone that had spent the night charging on the window sill. The screen taunted me by only reading the time (7:25). No missed phone calls.

Impossible, I thought. I reached under my bed and tossed my computer onto my lap. I threw open the cover and impatiently flicked the screen while my apartment’s wireless Internet kicked in. As fast as I could, I logged onto my G-Mail account and hopefully waited for my Inbox to load. All that greeted me was an e-mail from my mother (love you, Mom) and a message reminding me of the latest sale at Express. OK, I told myself. It’s my turn to reach out. Maybe nothing will happen until I make a move. Reaching out will show that I care, that I’m invested. Then things will start to work out the way I’d been planning.

Even though, deep down, I knew the person on the other end would spend about thirty seconds reading the (brief) e-mail I was taking almost twenty minutes to write, I still painstakingly chose my words and phrases. Just checking in, I wrote. Wanting to see how things are going…I read and re-read the words on my screen. I finally took a deep breath and pressed send. I immediately felt nauseous. What if I’m trying too hard? What if I’m being annoying? What if this e-mail winds up being a complete and total turn-off?

My day did not get much better. One eye was on the work I was supposed to be doing, half an eye was on my phone, sitting directly on my mouse pad so I would feel it vibrate if an incoming call arrived, and half an eye was on the G-Mail icon at the bottom of my screen, telling me how many unread e-mails were in my Inbox. I compulsively refreshed the screen. I repeatedly looked at my phone. I comforted my increasingly anxious mind, telling myself that the person I was hoping to hear from was probably just busy, or was probably just thinking of the right thing to say back. I promised myself that things would work out and that I would, soon, be in the situation I so desperately wanted.

What does this sound like to you? Does it sound like being involved in a romantic relationship? One that is ridiculously unstable and unclear, but one in which you still have strong feelings and actions invested? Or does this sound like part of the mind-numbingly frustrating process of looking for a job? I’ll admit, while I have been victim to both of these scenarios, the correct identification is with the latter label. I, along with millions of other people in this country, am looking for a full-time job. And I’m getting sick of it.

“Why does this feel like dating!?” I screamed to a close friend over the phone this afternoon. “This sucks! And the worst part is, I can choose not to date if it makes me too crazy! I can’t choose to stop looking for a job! I have to find a job by the end of the summer!”

Fortunately, my friend, who is both impressively understanding of my tirades and not currently looking for a job, said something that made me stop and think. “You just can’t get too invested,” he told me. “You can’t get too attached to every interview you have. You’re hopefully going to have so many interviews this fall, and if you get like this with every single one you’re going to drive yourself crazy.”

He’s right, I thought, after we had ended our conversation. But if that’s the case, then what the heck am I supposed to do? I got out of my car and walked into the shop where I was picking up something for work. The owner was assisting another (angry) customer. She saw me and said, “Oh, Patrick, I’ll be right with you! I just need five minutes to finish your project up.” I told her not to worry – I had, after all, said I wouldn’t be in town for the pick-up until tomorrow, and how would she know that I would stop in unexpectedly? I had merely found myself in town and thought I would stop in to check-in.

“Oh,” she said. “I don’t mind helping you. You all are so nice.” I accepted the compliment on behalf of my organization, but I wasn’t doing anything special. I figured she, like I, had a job to do, and anything that anyone could do to make that job easier would be appreciated. Plus, she had always been kind to the organization I was representing, so why shouldn’t I return the favor? Come to think of it, a similar thing happened to me last weekend. A bartender gave a friend and I our tab and told us that he had not only given us the 10% discount the bar gave to members of my institution, but he had also given us an additional 5% discount “because we were so nice.”

Take that for what you will. No, I’m not saying that all you have to do to find a job in this world is be nice. There are plenty of nice people out there who are unemployed, and, for that matter, there are plenty of employers out there who are not as nice as they should be. I do believe, however, that (like my mother continually tells me) things will always work out the way they should. Maybe not necessarily the way we expect or hope them to, but in a way that will undoubtedly give us an experience from which we can learn. The way to find these experiences, it seems, is not only by working hard, but also by making sure that we expend the same amount of goodness we hope to get in return.

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The Right Internship

Now that we’re nearing the end of the internship (<4 weeks left!) I have found myself reflecting more and more on my overall experience. When I was originally deciding to choose D-SIP I was actually weighing an offer for a full time campaign job that would have lasted until November. I chose D-SIP because it was the right mix of the best program and timing. I wanted to explore a career in philanthropy, because I knew it aligned directly with my interests. D-SIP offered me great experience, skill building, and mentorship, which is why I picked it. I love that we get to learn in the workplace and in the classroom that makes this internship so unique. I am happy to say that I was also recently offered another campaign job, so I am headed to do fundraising on a U.S. House of Representatives back in Connecticut when this is over. So now I get to experience the best of both worlds–I’ll have to keep you updated on the differences.

I was reminded of this original decision-making process by a recent article in the Sunday New York Times titled “The Coveted but Elusive Summer Internship”. There are new government regulations surrounding internships, making it difficult to find opportunities these days—especially unpaid opportunities. On top of that, in a tough economy all types of jobs continue to shrink and internships become much more competitive. For example this year ESPN received 10,000 applications for 90 paid spots.  It also mentions a recent internship “auction” in which spots were at top-tier media firms were auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity. It’s a good cause, but a little bizarre to me that someone recently paid $42,500 to work unpaid at Vogue this summer. For me, it put in perspective how hard it was, especially this summer, to get an internship. And I feel really lucky to be in this program.

As opportunities for internships continue to shrink, it’s super important to start thinking about your summers early on. The D-SIP process starts early, so you need to be thinking about what you want to do next summer in the fall. Heading to information sessions and trying to gather as much information as possible is crucial. I am really happy that I found the right fit with D-SIP this summer. The application and interview process was pretty demanding, but if you can prove that this is something you’re passionate and curious about it is definitely doable. You don’t have to pay for an internship, there are still good one’s out there, but you still need to find that right fit.

Next week we are headed on our annual trip up north with some exciting donor events on tap! Look forward to a future post about that, hopefully with photos!

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Open Casting Call

At the beginning of my very first class with the oboe studio of Dr. Nancy Ambrose King at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Dr. King opened the session with a few words about herself, her teaching philosophy, and her hopes for the members of her studio. “Look around you,” she said. “Behind you, next to you, in front of you. Respect everyone in this room, because you never know when you will run into each other again. Someone in this room could be in the place to recommend you for a gig, and you would hate to have burned that bridge back in college.” (OK, that was almost four years ago so that might not have been exactly what she said, but the gist is there.)

Dr. King began every year with that same speech, and every year I realized a little bit more how true her words were. However, it wasn’t until last week, when students began arriving at the music festival where I am working for the summer, that this message hit home harder than the storms I hear have been tearing through Ann Arbor over the past several weeks (my phone still gets text messages from UM’s Emergency Alerts System).

The idea of never knowing when you might run into someone again is true of most fields, but I think it holds a particularly remarkable truth in the arts. Musicians are probably some of the most mobile professionals I know; if you are a performer, it is unlikely that your sole source of income is from one stable position in a symphony orchestra. More often than not, musicians are gigging around the cities in which they live, playing with many different people in a given week. Sometimes musicians might be in and out of different cities in a particular region. And it is more than likely – for younger musicians in particular – that summers are spent studying or teaching at a festival far away from their home bases, mixing with musicians from all over the world.

Last week, I was in the main administrative building of the music festival where I work when I noticed a package addressed to someone I studied with at Kinhaven Music School in high school. I saw him at lunch the next day; with him was yet another person with whom we had shared a music summer. The following day I ran into someone else I had gone to Kinhaven with. And then someone I knew from Michigan. This past weekend I was out with a friend, who is currently a student at the festival, and he introduced me to a new friend of his. Turns out she and I played in orchestra together two years ago at an opera festival in Italy.

These sentiments were the message behind the keynote speaker’s address this morning at my institution’s Student Convocation. I think her words summed the idea up perfectly; she said, “Look around you. These are your colleagues for life.” She spoke the truth. My experiences last week were a huge wake-up call – the people I have performed and worked with as a musician have the potential to be in my life forever. Whether I am performing or working in the arts at the administrative level, I remain a member of the (sometimes frighteningly small) arts community.

In addition to the keynote speaker, the Festival’s President and CEO delivered some brief but eloquent remarks. He spoke about the word ensemble, initially referring to the exceptional brass choir that had opened the ceremony with a regal serenade, but then morphed his observations into commentary about the “ensemble” of the Festival as a whole – the mutual respect and understanding that should exist between the students, faculty, and staff.

That’s the thing about this lesson I’ve been gradually learning over the past few years. The message that I learned from Dr. King and that was reinforced in the words of the speakers today has been lost in the professional jargon of “networking” and “making contacts.” Somehow, navigating the professional world has become such a priority that the importance of our own “ensembles” has disappeared. Maintaining a positive and fulfilling way of life is full of exciting and unique interactions, each with its own purpose, but ultimately needs to be about recognizing the common humanity in everyone’s own cast of characters.

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