Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hi again everyone! I’m Anaika and I am back to talk about my incredible second week working at Netcare Access.

I started this week off strong with a Pickleball Event hosted by Netcare and Maryhaven. It was mostly run by my two supervisors, so I got to jump right into all the event planning and set up. The event was on Saturday and included a free Pickleball Clinic as well as a competitive, friendly competition in the afternoon. As a marketing intern for Netcare, I was able to assist in setting up our event, as well as, helped direct players and competitors to their respective courts. It was an incredible opportunity to meet Netcare staff and board members in a social, casual setting while understanding what the behind the scenes of an event of this scale looks like.

This week at work, I got to dive into a lot of different softwares that we use. I learned how to schedule social media posts, how to design and write professional emails, and even how to edit our website! My favorite task of the week was drafting an engaging email for all of our subscribers including event pictures, sponsorships, and just general information as a recap of our weekend event.

The last few days I was also introduced to a new project. The HR team came to us with a request for a hiring campaign that would ideally increase the number of applicants we get for specific staff positions. My mentor and I had a meeting with HR where we discussed all of our goals and ideas for the campaign, and I had the opportunity to start drafting up some social media posts for it. I am extremely excited to continue working on this campaign!

Overall, I had another incredible and fun week at Netcare while also getting to know my mentors and other staff much better. I am looking forward to future weeks and opportunities with the team!

Best,

Anaika

Hello! It’s week 2 at ETSS and I’m getting into the nitty-gritty of event planning. This week, I’ve begun working on all the projects required for the day. This includes coordinating with corporate volunteers, nailing down logistics, and reaching out to companies to secure in-kind donations. My master notes document has grown unwieldy already with answers to the many questions I’ve asked. I am placing heavy emphasis on record-keeping, both for my own organizational purposes and for the organization’s future. I hope to create a folder of resources like donor lists, marketing pitches, and SOPs for various tasks for the next person who undertakes this project.  

I am working closely with the Advancement team, who have been a huge help with everything relating to communications and fundraising. I also met with our wonderful Volunteer Coordinator to flesh out all the various volunteering roles we’ll need for the Youth Summit—over 100!  

On Friday, I got to help with the Teen Summit, where middle and high school students from our after-school program came together to celebrate the end of the school year. Each site has been working on a student-led group project focused on mental health, including a line of t-shirts and tote bags with the Suicide Hotline number (988) they designed themselves, and a soccer club they used to raise awareness. It was incredibly rewarding to see the program’s tangible impact on their lives. I was so impressed by how seriously they took it, remembering how cynical I was at their age.

Working on the Summer Youth Enrichment Program has left me feeling inspired. Later today, I will tag along on our Whitehall site’s first field trip, where they will be playing soccer. I’ll get to meet some of the kids and get feedback on their Youth Summit experiences, since it is their day first and foremost.

See you next week,

Sanay  

Hi all! In my second week with the Center for Disability Empowerment, I have continued to work on the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As the event approaches, there are many moving parts we are trying to pull together. Now that I have a better  grasp on the project, I found that I have been able to work more independently this week. I started working on tasks on my own and sending out emails to sponsors about program information. I have certainly seen how important it is to keep information well documented and organized for event planning. 

One unique opportunity I had this week was to attend the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities meeting. I accompanied Sue Hetrick, the CDE Executive Director, as she presented about the Anniversary Celebration of the ADA we are working on and encouraged the DCBDD to sponsor the event. I have never attended a board meeting like this before, and never considered that something like this may be an occasional responsibility of a nonprofit executive director. We have not heard back yet about a decision from the board, but are hopeful that Sue’s succinct and effective pitch has made them willing to sponsor the event. 

After the Fellows Learning Session at the Columbus Foundation on Wednesday, I tried to think about how I could be a leader at the CDE even as an intern. I reflected on some of my strengths as a worker and team member, and thought about how these strengths could be a positive example or inspiration to anyone I have been working with, no matter their position in the organization. This was a motivating thought, and I hope to continue to put forth high quality work at the CDE to lead in a small, but nonetheless powerful way. 

Until next week, 

Rachael McCague 

Hi everyone!

My name is Kat Jolley and I’m a rising senior at Indiana University studying marketing and international business. This summer, I have the privilege of serving as a Marketing Intern at LifeCare Alliance through a placement with The Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship Program. LifeCare Alliance has always been close to my heart, I’ve been volunteering through their Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) program since I was five years old. This week marked a full-circle moment: I’ve gone from helping deliver meals with my family to now contributing behind the scenes to improve client and volunteer experiences through strategic marketing and development efforts.

My first day began with a staff meeting where I was introduced to the Advancement team, which includes four subteams: Grants & Strategic Planning, Marketing, Community Engagement, and Development. These are the people driving LifeCare Alliance’s growth and impact forward, and I’m excited to collaborate with them throughout the summer.

Much of this week was devoted to gaining a comprehensive understanding of the organization. I explored onboarding materials, read through LifeCare Alliance’s history, and reviewed their wide range of services, from cancer support and diabetes management to pet care, home modifications, and of course, meal delivery. Learning about the organization’s evolution and ambitions for the future gave me critical context for the main project I’ll be contributing to: a customer journey initiative centered on the Meals-on-Wheels program.

My internship centers on improving the client and volunteer experience through the customer journey initiative. Early in the week, I met with key team members, Molly (VP of Operations), Andrea (my supervisor and Director of Grants & Strategic Planning), Leah (Nutrition Operations), and Claire (Volunteer Services), to understand the goals of the initiative and my role in the process. Reviewing transcripts of their past interviews and examining the customer journey framework used for another program, Help-at-Home, gave me a head start.

I’ll be independently interviewing 13 staff members to help map the client and volunteer experience and identify areas for improvement. I’ve also begun analyzing insights collected in Mural (our collaborative digital workspace) and familiarizing myself with marketing materials, such as the LifeCare Alliance style guide, which shapes the organization’s brand voice and messaging.

This week wasn’t all desk work! I had the opportunity to tour our Harmon Avenue facility, where our kitchen and a second office are located. While there, I attended the annual Senior Prom, an event celebrating our senior clients and bringing community joy in tangible ways. I also joined in on a partner meeting with Ohio Health to observe how LCA fosters external relationships for client support and referral growth.

In addition, I began my one-on-one meetings with members of the Advancement team. These conversations were incredibly insightful, not just for learning how the departments function, but also for gathering creative ideas and pain points related to internal communication and workflow.

From a marketing perspective, I gained insights into how LCA communicates its mission across platforms. I learned about the organization’s 3 C’s, Culture, Clients, and Continuity, which anchor their five-year strategic plan and guide how LCA seeks to grow sustainably. I also discussed with David (Client & Community Engagement Liaison) the importance of storytelling, particularly the use of impact stories from clients, as a way to build emotional connection and promote services.

This week, I focused on absorbing as much information as possible to prepare for the meaningful work ahead. I’m incredibly grateful to be in a space that not only values impact, but also encourages interns like me to think critically and creatively. I’m Excited to begin the customer journey initiative and help shape the future of LCA’s client and volunteer experience.

More to come in Week 2!

Hi everyone!

My name is Graci Jackson, and I am a rising senior at The Ohio State University currently pursing a BFA in Dance and minors in Nonprofit Management and Integrative Approaches to Health and Wellness. This summer, through The Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship program, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with The McConnell Arts Center in Worthington, OH. The MAC, as we fondly call it, is an arts organization that has a focus on “building pathways [for people] to experience the joy and wonder of the arts”. I am looking forward to all that I will experience and learn this summer thanks to the amazing people at both The Columbus Foundation and The McConnell Arts Center!

On Monday, I started off my first week with an orientation at The Columbus Foundation. It was, honestly, an inspiring start to the fellowship as we engaged with Simon Sinek’s TEDx Talk titled “Start with why — how great leaders inspire action” and used it as a springboard to both illustrate and narrate our own whys for pursuing nonprofit work. My nervousness soon turned to excited anticipation as I was inspired by my peers and reminded that we all have the power to live inspired and to make an impact on the world around us.

During the rest of the first week, I got the chance to familiarize myself with the MAC and its staff and their roles through one-on-one meetings. Everyone on staff is so friendly and so willing to share their knowledge, and I found this extremely helpful as I am someone who wants to eventually work in a nonprofit organization but does not yet know what role I would want to fill. In my first week, I also got the opportunity to attend a Worthington Partnership meeting with the MAC’s executive director. The Worthington Partnership is basically made up of for-profits (mostly small businesses) and nonprofits and members of the city who have a heart for their community and who want to support one another. In this meeting, I learned important information surrounding waste and financial management. I got to wrap up my first week by attending the Columbus Arts Festival, with MAC staff, where we had a craft and information booth. I had a wonderful time, amongst artists and community members alike, as I got to practice my marketing and outreach skills.

I am excited to see what next week holds, especially with the upcoming Worthington Arts Festival organized by the MAC next weekend!

Talk to you soon,

Graci Jackson

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Hart and I am a rising senior at Ohio State studying Environmental Policy & Decision-Making and I’m so excited to be sharing my internship experience at Green Columbus this summer. This week was technically my second week, so I’ll share about last week and this week.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Linden Tree Nursery and plant tree samplings. I also learned more about Green Columbus’ mission to increase tree equity in Columbus. My boss showed me several maps of Columbus and a website called TESA that displayed tree canopy data and ranked different Columbus neighborhoods on the amount of trees in each area. I also updated the Green Columbus website and the StoryMap website with data from tree plantings. My boss also informed me of the current projects the organization is working on and the current status of nonprofits in Columbus and Ohio. It was interesting to hear these updates firsthand from someone in the nonprofit world. Much of the websites, data, and other information I was exposed to aligned very closely with my major coursework so it felt like all of the different subjects like GIS, law and policy, and environmental justice that I had learned about were converging.

This week I attended the Midwest Sustainability Summit in Cincinnati with my boss and learned so much about Indigenous Knowledge Systems in sustainability. Several of the speakers at the summit were Indigenous leaders from across the country who spoke about their experiences with advocating for environmental justice and being Native American in the U.S. It was awesome to hear their inspiring stories and perspectives. I also attended a breakout sessions about green workforce development that was also very interesting. I overall felt that I learned so much from attending this conference and it was certainly the highlight of my work week.

Good evening, Fellows!

On Monday, June 2, 2025, I began a summer-long journey as an intern with the incredible organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio (BBBSCO). What is BBBSCO? It’s the Central Ohio affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected youth mentoring organizations. BBBSCO serves children and youth across Columbus and surrounding communities by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that empower young people to reach their full potential.

I’m honored to be working under the leadership of three amazing individuals in the Impact Department. This department plays a vital role in evaluating and improving the effectiveness of BBBSCO’s mentoring programs. It collects and analyzes data to ensure programs meet youth needs, maintains high quality, supports continuous improvement, and provides transparent reporting to stakeholders. Their work ensures BBBSCO’s programs remain responsive and impactful. Each person in the department leads with a servant’s heart — they remind me daily that their work helps heal the past, strengthen the present, and “throw breadcrumbs” into the future.

If I had to describe this first week in one word, it would be expectancy — expecting to be challenged, to learn, to connect, and to step out of my comfort zone. Although I recently earned my Master of Public Administration, I’m quickly learning that you never stop being a student. True mastery lies in continued curiosity and humility. Several pieces of wisdom from my team have already stood out to me:

1. Show Up Well.
Showing up well doesn’t always mean being perfect, on time, productive, and composed. Sometimes, it simply means being present, even on days when your capacity isn’t what it was yesterday. To show up with vulnerability, honesty, and effort is, in itself, enough sometimes. Have the spirit of excellence, not perfectionism.

2. Be in the Moment.
Tasks will come and go, but what matters most is being grounded in the why. Embrace the process — the victories, the mistakes, the unexpected lessons. This experience is a gift, and I intend to absorb every golden nugget of wisdom it offers.

3. Ask Questions.
As Dr. Lomax reminded our fellowship cohort on Day 1, we only get as much out of our host sites as we’re willing to seek. One of the greatest gifts from BBBSCO has been my onboarding training — I’ve been able to connect with team members across Franklin, Delaware, Knox, and Morrow counties. I’ve learned about their unique paths and perspectives, asked questions about my role, and arranged shadowing opportunities to better understand how Match Support Specialists (MSS) operate. It’s also shown me how the Impact Department ensures quality assurance and supports their important work.

As this first chapter of my ten-week fellowship comes to a close, I am grateful. I’m thankful to The Lord for placing me here, and to the Columbus Foundation for this opportunity. Week 1 is in the books — here’s to what’s next!

Hi! My name is Emoni Harmon, and I’m a recent graduate of Ohio State University, where I got my MA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Nonprofit Management. I became interested in the Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship Program during undergrad, so I’m incredibly excited to not only finally get to be a Summer Fellow but also to work with a nonprofit as longstanding and wonderful as Huckleberry House.

Overall, I’d describe my first week at Huck House as both exciting and very busy, as my first day was just three days after Sleep Out, Huck House’s largest fundraising event of the year. So, after all the standard onboarding stuff, setting up my desk, and meeting all the lovely staff in the Admin office, I got to work on one of the biggest post-Sleep Out tasks — putting together 500+ letters to send out to lapsed donors and 500+ thank you letters to those that participated in this year’s Sleep Out.

While putting together and sending out all these letters may not seem like a very fun or glamorous task, I found it to be an insightful one because each letter I put together was a physical reminder of just how many people in Ohio and beyond believe in and financially support what Huck House does — provide shelter, support, and guidance to young people facing difficult situations. Also, they were a tangible reminder of the importance of each individual donor and taking the time to steward a relationship with them, because that is how something like raising over $120,000 at Sleep Out this year is made possible.

However, later in the week, when I helped accept an in-kind donation and met a corporate partner volunteering at one of Huck House’s transitional living sites, I learned the importance of both monetary and non-monetary donations to helping Huck House operate all its programs.

So, I would say the biggest takeaway from my first week is that every dollar, in-kind donation, and volunteer hour that Huck House receives truly makes a difference, which is why they take the time to acknowledge each donor behind every type of donation. I can’t wait to see what else I’ll learn about throughout my 11 weeks at Huck House!

Until next week,

Emoni

Hello! My name is Rachael McCague, I study English at William & Mary and the Univeristy of St. Andrews, and I will be working with the Center for Disability Empowerment this summer! In my first week as a Summer Fellow, I have started to familiarize and immerse myself in the work of the Center for Disability Empowerment. Going into this program, I had never heard of the CDE before and was not familiar with most of their work. In my first couple of days, I have learned a lot about what the CDE does as an organization and its importance to the central Ohio disability community. 

I have been brought on to the CDE team this summer to assist in planning and implementing the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event is on July 11, so the planning has really started picking up this week. At first, I felt quite overwhelmed with the amount of information I was receiving about the event, and I didn’t feel like there was much that I could contribute with my limited knowledge. However, Jackie Martin, the CDE’s grants, contracts and donor relations administrator, has done a wonderful job getting me up to speed and making me feel welcome as a member of the planning committee. Jackie has started delegating tasks to me, including consolidating and organizing documents, drafting social media posts and emails, and creating a deadline calendar for the event, which has allowed me to become much more acquainted with the project. I was able to sit in on a meeting with the sponsorship committee as well as take notes for a meeting with the planning committee. Observing the collaborative effort of event planning has made me appreciate how both individual as well as combined efforts are necessary for bringing an event like this together. 

In the coming weeks, I am excited to continue working on the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the ADA. I anticipate taking on more responsibility in the planning process as I become more familiar with the project and the CDE.  

Until next week,

Rachael McCague