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

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)

http://umdsipshowcase.wordpress.com/

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

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! 

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

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

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

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