At the conclusion of my fifth week of the Columbus Foundation Fellowship, I have reflected on the versatility of the non-profit sector. Not only the versatility of the services that non-profits provide for our communities but also the versatility of skills required for those who work in the non-profit sector. 

One of my favorite things about working with Hope Hollow is that each day is unpredictable. At the beginning of the summer, Kevin, Hope Hollow’s co-founder and co-director, presented me with a list of tasks to work on throughout my fellowship. I originally viewed this list of projects similarly to that of a class syllabus. I believed I had set projects that needed to be accomplished by a set deadline, the end of my fellowship. But, in reality, because non-profit work is centered around the immediate needs of the communities they serve, new tasks that were not on the original agenda are added meaning other projects may be delayed. 

While the main priority for Hope Hollow, fulfilling each and every referral from cancer patients and their loved ones that are received from medical institutions and hospitals in Central Ohio, remains constant, the day-to-day projects are widely variable. Unlike major corporations or even small businesses who have departments and individuals that largely focus on just their professional realm, Hope Hollow’s co-founders and co-directors, who are the only full-time workers for Hope Hollow and completely volunteer their time, have to be jacks of all trades. 

Day-to-day conversations with Kevin typically encompass touching bases on numerous different ongoing projects. In conversation, Kevin and I have pivoted from talking about Hope Hollow’s social media presence to Hope Hollow’s upcoming fundraising efforts. While at times it can be challenging to focus on so many different projects, it is also exciting to know that there are never-ending opportunities to better Hope Hollow in hopes of furthering its mission and impact. 

To outsiders, the amount of work that Kevin and Jane shoulder may appear insane, especially for a retired couple. But, Hope Hollow’s mission and the cancer community are so extraordinary that Hope Hollow’s co-founders and co-directors have decided to volunteer their “time, talent, and treasure” (as Jane always says) to the immense project of helping the cancer community.