Over the past seven weeks, I have had the opportunity to experience the internal workings of a nonprofit childcare center and have made considerable strides in developing a volunteer program for the organization. During the past week, I have been able to witness the Columbus Early Learning Centers from a slightly different angle by attending the CELC’s monthly development committee meeting and board meeting. The focus during the development committee meeting was primarily on fundraising, and how to ensure that the organization meets its fundraising goals by the end of the year. However, since a major component of development is volunteering, we spent about fifteen minutes diving into the work that I have been doing with the program. It was great to hear their feedback, both positive and constructive, about the work that I have been doing. Although the flow of the full board was much faster paced, I still had the opportunity to share the work that I have been doing and receive feedback from the full board.

Reflecting upon these meetings, I believe I have had two big takeaways. First, my thought process up to this point as I have been developing the program was centered on how volunteers can help the day-to-day operations of the facility run more efficiently. However, attending the board meeting has allowed me to step back and consider how the work that I am doing could better align with the overall, long-term goals of the organization. For example, since the meeting, I have been considering ways in which volunteers could help the organization meet its fundraising goals. As a result, I am working on ways to target corporations and groups within the community, in addition to the college students and individuals that I have been targeting all along. By shifting this focus, I am hoping that additional fundraising channels will open, and that I will help enable the development committee to be able to achieve its fundraising goals by the year.

My second takeaway was an increased understanding of how a professional, nonprofit board operates. Although I am involved in the leadership of several organizations on campus, the atmosphere of the room was considerably different at the CELC meetings. Particularly, there were differences in how the board members communicated as far as assigning action items, maintaining respectful communication, and handling dissent. I am hoping that I can apply some of what I learned at these meetings in those leadership organizations in which I participate. Therefore, in the end, my participation in these board meetings has allowed me to reflect upon my work both inside and outside the organization.