I joined the charitable field because I saw work being done that I wanted to be a part of. Work that is helping people. Work that is trying to fix systemic problems in our society. Work that is, in short, good.
That’s why I got my Masters in Public Affairs, concentrating in nonprofit management. I didn’t know which part of the field I wanted to work in, but I knew I could write, I had a head for research, and I cared deeply about all things political.
Work that is, in short, good.
I found my niche in my Masters internship at The Servant Center. They needed someone to help write grant applications, manage online media and communications, and start a grantsmanship calendar, so I dove right in. Before they even hired me for a full-time position, I had written private and government grants up to $25,000. Eight months into my internship, they hired me as the Marketing and Development Director.
I could have seen myself staying longer at the Servant Center if I hadn’t already spent nine months living apart from my wife when I finished my Masters. Instead, I moved to South Bend, IN to be with my wife and I started my own consulting business to provide professional development for small and growing organizations.
Eight months into my internship, they hired me as the Marketing and Development Director.
In my time as a consultant, I have worked on everything from grants to social media and donor communications. I managed the 2018 annual dinner Evening of Magic for Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Joseph County, an event which cleared over $130,000 and the capital campaign for Upper Room Recovery Community’s Women’s Home, which opened in 2019.
More recently, I have worked as the Grants and Foundations Relations Manager at Newport Mental Health and as Director of Development for Generation Schools Network (which is my current position).