Philanthropy Intern Today, Philanthropist Tomorrow?

The Development Summer Internship Program as a whole (work, class and leadership development components) led to a paradigm shift due to it being such an eye opening experience. To this day when reflecting on my summer as a D-SIP intern, I continue to redefine my professional aspirations.

In order to gain a deeper understanding into how this thought process came to be, let me backtrack a little. During my time in D-SIP as an intern for the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology Office of Development and Alumni Relations, I had the privilege to work on the 9th annual Movement for Life Golf Invitational. The annual event served as a major fundraiser in which proceeds benefit research in therapies for people with motor disabilities. From my work component I gained valuable skills including: marketing, leadership, collaboration and adaptability. Furthermore, through many successes and challenges experienced while planning this event, I was able to gain lasting lessons regarding professionalism and where I wanted to translate these newfound skill sets into a future work setting.

Originally when starting D-SIP I felt destined to become a businessman in the sport industry as an agent or a member of the front office for one of my favorite professional teams. However, since participating with D-SIP I have become open to working in the nonprofit sector for my favorite charity, as a development officer or even in athletic community relations because I still have an unwavering passion for sports.

Overall, this modification has taken me from solely thinking on an individual level, such as achieving economic independence, to also including more community based goals in which my accomplishments would benefit many.  I have come to this understanding from assessing my strengths gained from D-SIP. I now understand and value trying to afford others with the same opportunities that were provided to me. Additionally, it is now clear that I seek to work with others as a team to bring positive change through the work I do.

Since finishing D-SIP, and as I prepare to enter a career setting, I am now confident in my overall ability to present myself as a valuable addition to any organization. This confidence is the result of understanding the importance of proving myself every day. Whether it is by being on time or presenting my deliverables to supervisors, all of this can be attributed to what D-SIP taught me

Above all else, what I will continue to apply most from D-SIP is always remaining cognizant of how I can impact the world from a personal, professional and philanthropic standpoint.

Post by:

Kyle Nowels, 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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D-SIP Alumni Awards

Leadership is one of the competencies considered during the selection process of our interns, so it is no surprise that our alumni can do great things.  But, what does surprise us is what they do.  Because of the impressive work completed by our interns, two newly created awards  have been, and will be given out annually at the D-SIP Closing Ceremony.

One of these awards is given to an individual who works in the development profession and remains steadfast in making the profession better in some capacity.  This award,  the Chrissi Rawak Award of Distinction in Development, is named after Chrissi Rawak whose vision was critical in the creation the Development Summer Internship Program.  Although the impact of her work goes beyond students, her passion for creating a pipeline for students to enter into the development profession has created a transformative experience for many U-M undergraduates.

The other award granted this year was the Block M of Honor for Community Impact.  This award is given to an individual that has made an impact in their community. 

Without further ado, let’s meet the honorees.

 Amy Pfaehler, D-SIP 2007, was granted the Chrissi Rawak Award for Distinction in Development.  Just as Chrissi helped to create a pipeline into the profession for young professionals, Amy continued such work for D-SIP alumni.  An advocate for development work, Amy gladly met with all D-SIP alum searching for jobs in the D.C. area and provided guidance.  In fact, her help led one of our alumni right into another political fundraising position in D.C. 

The Block M of Honor for Community Impact was given to Nick Glauch, D-SIP 2007.  Nick was responsible for raising 25,000 dollars for an endowment he established for his local high school.  He achieved his goal due to his ability to work with the senior class, alumni, and community members.  In today’s economy, such an endowment is quite an accomplishment and, even more, a great help to his high school.

Congratulations Amy and Nick! 

 

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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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My experience working in development

When I was offered my first position at a university, I wasn’t too intentional about my choice.  I was just happy to have a job!  Since my professional entry into the world of higher education, I’ve purposely sought opportunities in a variety of university settings . . . at the program level, dean’s office, and in central administration.  You’d be surprised how your vantage point from within an institution can have an effect on your priorities and sense of connectedness with the institution at large.

Along my professional sojourn here at Michigan I had the good fortune to serve in central University Development.  It really opened my eyes to how many dimensions there are to this field.  Annual giving, major gifts, communications, research, stewardship, events, legal services, foundation relations, planned giving, just to name a few.  And, at an institution the size of Michigan there are departments of development nestled within both academic (schools and colleges) and non-academic (museums, libraries, athletics) units too, which means your skills may even help advance one of your own personal passions—music, cancer therapies, emerging technologies, physics, 18^th century English literature, you name it.  Perhaps the most amazing thing about a career in this growing profession is the distinct sense you get of being part of something really special and bigger than yourself.  Universities are engines of the future, with a track record for permanence.  It’s pretty awesome to think that the work going on today may positively impact future generations.

I value the skills and knowledge gained while working in University Development.  I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the role of private gifts to the institution, the powerful impact a donor can have on the lives of students (and vice versa), and the importance of always expressing gratitude to each donor—past, current, and future!  I can truly say I am a better professional because of my experience in the field of development.  

Post by: Melinda Richardson

 Assistant to the Director, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE), University of Michigan

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Why do YOU want to work in Philanthropy?

This question comes up often in the general discussion about plans after graduating college, and rather more often (aka, always) when you’ve got a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and are pursuing a job in development/foundations/non-profits. But (just to be fair) it’s also something that’s critical to a job search in the philanthropic sector. Understanding why you want to do something helps inform your reviews of the job search boards, makes interviewing a bit less scary, and allows you to talk concretely to your network about what you’re looking for. So – to answer the question, personally: To me, philanthropy isn’t something you do once and never again. It’s not a check-list item. It’s a way of life, a continuous desire to use your time, talent, and treasure to make the world a better place. I want to be first and foremost a philanthropist. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve realized that this should be a full-time job for me – hence the job search. The philanthropic sector is a place where your passion can really make a difference. Passion is the driving force in my life – running through my veins, exciting me, and driving me to build the skills necessary to follow my passions. I love going to work and loving being there. I love feeling like I’m making a difference, feeling like my work can have an impact on the world. It’s also a field where you can have a hand in changing the way things are into the way things ought to be. You can be part of building community resources, of bringing people together to talk about issues, of working collaboratively to solve a variety of problems in a community. And though it seems like my engineering background doesn’t really fit with my search, I believe it’s just part of how I intend to go about changing the world. The problem-solving, process-oriented approach to my work gained from a technical degree makes me organized, efficient, creative, and thorough. When in combination with my experience and skills, this approach and degree will make me successful – now I’ve just got to find a job. And though it might have taken a while for philanthropy as a career to “click” for me, it’s the right one. Now, it’s your turn. Can you answer the question, personally?

Post by: Katelyn Videto, D-SIP ’09

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The intersection of academia and philanthropy

University of Michigan School of Education

Several years ago I had a discussion with some university colleagues about the growing impact that philanthropy was having on colleges and universities. The signs were all around us as beautiful buildings went up, exciting new programs were announced and the influence of major gifts became increasingly more important. It seemed that the trend toward greater giving to higher education, while it raised some questions, was overwhelmingly a “good thing” and would only accelerate.

Still, we were struck by a couple of things:

• A whole new field of work was emerging in higher education: It was very exciting and dynamic. The influence of new donors, interesting new technologies and the rapid sophistication of fund raising practices was creating many new roles for practitioners. A different conversation was taking shape at the intersection of giving and receiving.
• Preparation for service in the field was still uneven. There was very little consensus on what it took to be a successful fund raiser and the capacities needed to effectively give money away were even less obvious.
• The profession, as it was starting to earn that distinction, didn’t yet represent the diversity of backgrounds and experiences—nor the breadth of disciplinary knowledge—that characterized the campus.   The next generation of individuals entering the field would be different in many ways than those that created it.

It was this last point that especially struck home. With university advancement officers sitting on executive teams and spending more time with college presidents than ever before, it was clear that fund raising and development were fast becoming intergral components of university leadership. At an institution like the University of Michigan, the strategic plan of every school and college was grounded in a plan for donor support. Faculty recruitment, student scholarships, program development and even a new roof depended on effective interplay between donors, deans and development officers. We were sure that individuals who would fill these roles needed to know a great deal more about college and universities as organizations including their traditions, values, decision patterns and challenges.

Working with colleagues from the Office of University Development and guided by previous graduates from our program in higher education administration, we have tried to build an integrated response to the observations we shared a few years ago. Undergraduate students are introduced to the field of development through our award winning Development Summer Internship Program, now in its fifth year. Through the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) we now offer a special concentration in our master’s program focused on philanthropy, advancement and development in higher education.  Both of these programs have demanding internship requirements and strong mentoring activities….and have attracted strong interest from applicants.

Some of our recent graduates are already making an impact in the field. Catherine Roosevelt and Elena Chesney are employed in fund raising roles at the UM School of Medicine where they did their initial internships. Joe Serwack recently was appointed to a senior communications post in the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  Ayana Richardson works with the Baldwin County College Access Network helping to match students with scholarships for college.  We also have recent CSHPE graduates who have taken positions in major foundations or as development officers in schools around the country.

We think it is important that the graduates of our programs are finding opportunities on “both sides” of the philanthropic relationship.  This reflects our belief that the field is essentially a discourse between people who are trying to use resources in different ways to solve common problems, strengthen institutions and to improve society. Even more important than the money that is exchanged is the flow of great ideas. We want to instill a sophisticated sense of optimism that many things are possible whenever the will to bring change to the world is matched by the means to make it happen.

Contact Information:

 

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Philanthropy in the Corporate World

Painting murals during Volunteer Day at L’Oreal

Corporate Social Responsibility were words that basically meant nothing to me prior to D-SIP. But through my internship I’ve seen words that I used to shrug at like “matching gift” and “corporate volunteer initiatives” actually feed the hungry and house the homeless. Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer just an empty claim to use less paper but a shift in the way companies function. With savvier consumers and stricter federal laws (and lets not forget last summers’ manmade natural disasters), companies have begun to reexamine what it means to function not as a “company” but as a citizen in the modern world. Having recycling programs in place is now becoming a norm, corporate sponsored fundraisers and grants are spreading like wildfire. Firms like Pepsi and American Express have found ways to let the Social Media storm help build both their brand image and provide much needed funds to non-profits across the nation with initiatives like the Pepsi Refresh Grant and American Express Members Give. Working in Ozone House showed me how much non-profits depend on the kindness of corporations, and although I am currently working in the for profit sector, it is a lesson that I still hold close. Corporate social responsibility was something that I researched before even applying to a company. If I was spending my whole summer at a company, and potentially a large portion of my adult life, it better share some of the values that I do and it better have matching gift. This summer is half way over and the upcoming interviewing season is looming not far ahead. And it is a time that most people ask themselves, “Am I good enough for this company?” but don’t forget to ask yourself, “Is this company good enough for me?”

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Do something funny for money…

…is the tagline for a U.K. event called Red Nose Day.  It’s a simple concept, yet what’s amazing about the U.K.’s “Do something funny for money” campaign or Red Nose Day is that it’s recognized by the whole country. Everyone is challenged to raise money. Adults and children participate and raise money by singing, dancing, wearing pajamas to work, donning a crazy hairstyle, planning a sponsored silence, etc..  The day ends with TV specials on the BBC where celebrities and comedians come together to raise money through laughter.  Powerful documentaries are mixed in within the comedic specials to remind viewers of the need for support as well as to highlight the impact the raised funds can have. Proceeds from Red Nose Day go to programs that help those in need in the U.K. and across Africa.

For a great video that gives a general overview of Red Nose Day, please click here to visit the official Red Nose Day site.

Or you could smile and learn more by checking out the YouTube video below.  :)

Should the U.S. have one day where all citizens are encouraged to fundraise?

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So you think you know a lot about philanthropy?

Prove it!  The website learningtogive.org has several fun quizzes that test your knowledge of philanthropy.  Below is a philanthropy pretest.  Do you know what percent of adults give?  Perform community service?

http://learningtogive.org/lessons/institute/defining_philanthropy/page1.asp

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