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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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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what do the D-SIP interns work on?

D-SIP interns have worked on various projects in the past 5 years.  Please check out our new archive highlighting some of these projects, the impact they have had and the skills interns have walked away with!

 

http://umdsipshowcase.wordpress.com/

 

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Destination: Detroit

Even though it is less than an hour away, it is surprising how many U-M students do not visit Detroit while studying at the University.  As a city rich in philanthropic spirit, Detroit was an excellent choice for this year’s annual D-SIP retreat.

Interns spent their first day learning about careers in philanthropy, and Detroit specific philanthropy.  Many guest speakers spoke to the missions of their organizations revealing the power of giving and private support in the revitalization efforts for Detroit.

At dinner, our interns received messaging as future young professionals from current young professionals who chose to work and live in Detroit.  In sharing their experiences, the young professionals portrayed a Detroit very different from that presented in the media.   Interns left dinner wondering how they could make a difference with their careers of choice, and perhaps even a difference in Detroit.

But, perhaps, the best way to explain the impact of this retreat and the interns’ views of the city is to ask them!

• As a born and raised Detroiter, I know the city very well. From the bus routes to the best places to grab a bite, the city is my home. While I love Detroit, I had not felt connected to the city since graduating from high school. For a while, Detroit became what I saw and read in the news- it seemed violent, sober, and failing. I was nervous for the retreat and feared that my experience would perpetuate its common image. As soon as I entered the city, I realized that I had nothing to worry about. Many people (Detroiter natives and not) were facilitating and empowering social change through programs, partnerships, and (my favorite) philanthropy. Their commitment to the city was inspiring- it made me realize that Detroit, much like the University of Michigan, is a unique fabric that creates my human experience. I learned on the retreat that Detroit and Ann Arbor are not mutually exclusive- both are working together in partnership to make each other flourish. In short, I realized that the University of Michigan and Detroit have something in common- both are filled with vitality, life, and love. As a Michigan man and Detroit native, I am proud- proud of my University, proud of my city, and proud of the people that are making a difference. –Matt Griffith, Detroit native

• Unlike many of my D-SIP colleagues, I never ventured past the city limits of Ann Arbor in my three years as a U-M student. It never seemed necessary to travel to Detroit because (1) I could find everything in Ann Arbor and (2) I had already experienced urban life being a born and raised in Chicago. Needless to say, these beliefs changed after the retreat. During the first day of our trip, I listened to stories of development professionals who devoted their energies and talents to improving the living standards of their fellow Detroit neighbors. We also learned about the rich social and cultural opportunities available to Detroit residents. On the second day of the retreat,  we volunteered with the “Summer in the City” program.  Each D-SIP intern paired up with a child and explored the city of Detroit.  We were given a personal tour of the Detroit Opera House, strolled along the Riverwalk, and traveled to other neat places (e.g., local YMCA). As a result of my two-day trip to Detroit, I have developed a deep appreciation and connection to Detroit. I now recognize the enthusiasm and energy that beats through every Detroit resident and I look forward to my next visit to the motor city.  –Jon Fink, first time visitor to the city of Detroit

• I believe there is real potential for the University community to not only serve in Detroit, but more importantly, to interact with and learn from the residents of the city. I think that the D-SIP retreat showed us that Detroit is not merely a backdrop for service learning, but also a dynamic and vibrant city that is overcoming tremendous adversity. I hope, more than anything, that our time spent in the city will inspire my fellow D-SIP alums to continually come back to Detroit, not just as a place for service, but to witness incredible an transformation. –Chelsea Landry, a leader in the Detroit Partnership at the University of Michigan

 

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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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A Whole Different World

Hi! My name’s Pete Wangwongwiroj, a rising junior in chemical engineering. I am a current D-SIP intern at the Life Sciences Institute. First, I’d like to give special shout-out to my supervisor who is responsible for my summer experience with the Life Science Institute.

Now you must be wondering ‘Engineer and the Development Summer Internship Program (D-SIP)? What???’

The truth is… I’m as surprised as you are. I enter the development world from a seemingly wholly different planet. Nobody’s ever talked to me about development before. And when I tell my engineering friends that I work in development, they say ‘Oh! I do development too!’ By that, they usually mean software development.’ That is rather different.

I believe I am not the only person who has somewhat ‘stumbled upon’ the development community. I first saw the D-SIP flyer on the 4^th floor of the Union, a place I typically visit only once a semester. So I believe it is more than just a mere coincidence that I am currently in this program.

Naturally, the first thing that stood out in the flyer was the phrase ‘paid internship program.’ Hey, I’m looking for one of that! Great! After I attended the information session, I had an inkling that this program may potentially be a very eye-opening and memorable experience. However, I was hesitant then, because it is something as far from the typical engineering internship as I could fathom. I decided to apply anyway because I felt that I should give myself the opportunity to venture out of my comfort

Interns on field at Big House, Pete is in the middle of the front row

zone, challenge myself and learn something new in the process. After all, real life isn’t limited to my major. I shouldn’t let my major decide what kind of internship I should get. In fact, through my past experiences, much of my personal growth involves my experiences and interactions outside the classroom setting. So I applied. Little did I know, this internship has not only introduced me to the development world, but also deepened my appreciation for the staff at Michigan and enriched my soul as I continued to interact with mission-driven colleagues and friends.

I am a mission-driven individual, and I believe that I am here to serve a purpose that is more than just making money and gaining prestige for myself. As an engineer, I rarely get the exposure to the behind-the-scenes happenings or learn about what motivates individuals to behave the way they do. So to learn about the Michigan’s supportive donors and their motivations has really intrigued me. It gives me hope to know that there are talented and passionate staffs doing the behind-the-scenes work to continue to make Blue go.

As I continue on in this internship program, I will continue to blog about my experiences and expand on many of the issues I’ve mentioned in this post. I hope that, as a young student, a Thai, and an engineer, my perspectives and opinions on development will add to the many discussions about this meaningful profession. Goodbye for now!

Post by: Pete Wangwongwiroj, D-SIP ’11

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MPortfolio and the Division of Student Affairs

Paula Wishart, from the UM Career Center, converses with D-SIP interns about professionalism at the Etiquette Dinner

One of the reasons our program stands out as a national best practice is because of our strong partnership with the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) — the Career Center played a critical role in shaping our professional development curriculum; Intergroup Relations fostered dialogue amongst our interns on the interplay between interculturalism and philanthropy; and DSA Development has hosted and mentored 5 D-SIP interns. For this newsletter, we want to particularly focus on how our partnership with the MPortfolio initiative, through DSA, has transformed our interns’ learning.

In year two of the program, Simone Himbeault Taylor, associate vice president for student affairs, suggested that D-SIP become one of the pilot sites for the integrative knowledge portfolio process (MPortfolio). As a result, Melissa Peet, the academic lead for the MPortfolio Initiative at the time, and her team worked with us to create the processes to help successfully incorporate this initiative into our program.

Through MPortfolio D-SIP interns engage in self-directed reflection of their past and present experiences and then draw connections between these experiences and their overarching philosophy, vision, and goals for the future. They then post these reflections in an electronic portfolio.  By the end of the summer our interns:

• gain an increased awareness of themselves as learners, leaders, and professionals
• create examples of work and a philosophy statement that exhibit their skills, capacities, and lessons learned through D-SIP.

According to Joseph Sutkowi (D-SIP 2010), “MPortfolio was valuable because it required me to take my thoughts on the work I had done and the lessons I learned in D-SIP and put them into very concrete pieces. Having already put these thoughts into words, I was able to articulate my thoughts much more clearly to employers.”

The integration of the M-Portfolio dramatically changed the way our interns speak about their experience in our program and their understanding of the role philanthropy

An example Mportfolio page

will play in their lives as engaged citizens and future leaders. We want to ensure that our interns leave the program having learned about: the profession, the impact of philanthropy in education and in our global society, and most importantly, themselves as young professionals and future leaders. MPortfolio is essential in making certain this transfer of knowledge and type of reflection occurs. The  process of creating an M-Portfolio encourages our students to engage in life-long and life-wide learning.

Kat Walsh

D-SIP Program Director

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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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Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does.

~William James

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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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