Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Usually my posts are a very light-heart read make you (or at least I hope) smile because of the beautiful things happening with ETSS. I promise the end of this blog will return that, but I have to get something off my mind.

Today I was able to sit in on a meeting between ETSS and YUSA. It was extremely informative and I learned so much about the refugee and immigrant population not only in Central Ohio, but throughout the nation. Refugee families are placed in a location and given an initial 90 day “training” to integrate them in America. Now, I can honestly say I’ve taken 3 month long classes and came out of them with nothing, so I can not even imagine the stress and urgency that is placed on these families to learn everything in those 90 days. 90 days just isn’t enough time, hence the utmost importance of organizations like ETSS and the programs they provide. These families comes to ETSS because they trust them and they are in need of services, or do not know where to start looking for services. ETSS is ESSENTIAL to the PROPER integration of these people. Yes people. Despite some political rhetoric, refugees are indeed people and deserve every opportunity you or I have.

During this meeting there was talk of collaboration and a need for more resources in Central Ohio. There was talk of reaching out to some federal aid and a question was raised, “Would those resources still be available given the political climate”. This just broke my heart. The fact that organizations are trying to save lives (suicide rates are extremely real when refugees are not properly integrated) and provide these programs and opportunities for adults and youth but have to stop and worry about bureaucracy is infuriating. These political figures are promoting hate and leaking it’s toxicity into ignorant communities. I hate to pull this card, but America was literally founded on acceptance of all. What ever happened to, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”? Huh? I would love to even ask those political figures if they know what that is or where it’s located or really any question an intelligent person could answer. I don’t care if times have changed or ineffective, mediocre laws have been regurgitated by corporate bought Congresses. These are lives, human lives and that’s really all it boils down to.

So there’s my super serious rant. On a brighter note I was able to visit sites this week! It was so great being able to meet some of the youth benefiting from the program and just seeing them being kids and having fun. It doesn’t matter how we receive the families, it only matters how we can help them. And I personally believe allowing a child a unique, memorable childhood is one of the greatest gifts you can give. On an even brighter note, I had my very first Nepali meal this week! The restaurant’s name is “Namaste” and I had Chicken curry with rice. It was amazing. Peep the picture below. 😛 

In what seems to have happened in the blink of an eye, yet another amazing week working at the Ohio Association for Nonprofit Organizations (OANO) has come to a close. While I’m quickly gaining knowledge regarding the nonprofit sector and the various intricacies of OANO, I think my most significant growth this summer will relate to the things I am learning about myself.

This summer has challenged me, forcing me to reconsider many of my former ways of thinking to adapt to my new and constantly changing environment. Work has allowed me to open my heart to Columbus, seeing the city in a way that wasn’t possible from inside of the Ohio State bubble. As I’ve traveled to various conferences throughout the state, become acquainted with the unique (and more importantly, delicious) stores and shops surrounding my office, and attended fun excursions and festivals, such as Monday’s voyage to Huntington Field to cheer on the Columbus Clippers, I’ve been able to connect with the city in an entirely different way, becoming comfortable and incredibly fond of its quirky and zestful nature.  

Aside from my newfound appreciation for the majesty of Columbus, I’ve also become increasingly aware of the way I function as a professional, as well as the goals and desires I have for my future professional aspirations.

While I’ve always known with absolute confidence that I want to spend my life helping others, I’ve always struggled to define the capacity in which I would do so. My problem was that I truly wanted to help everyone– one day I would wake up passionate about the plight of homeless children in our community and the following night, I would fall asleep fretting about the status of our depleted ecosystem.  Working at OANO, I’ve come to quickly understand that one of the best ways to achieve that holistic and far-reaching impact is to serve as a system of support for nonprofits themselves. By acquainting nonprofits with the Standards for Excellence and teaching them how to remain ethical and accountable within their operations, I’ve been able to assist an incredible range of organizations in mission achievement, consequently fulfilling my desire to address a wide variety of social issues in return.

My time with OANO has certainly opened my mind to a potential career in consulting, or even a job working with the Standards themselves, as I’ve been able to recognize the limitless potential nonprofits can have once they’re equipped with the right materials. Most importantly, this summer has shown me a career in the nonprofit sector doesn’t necessarily have to pertain to one social issue, but rather, can be designed to address a variety of problems.

As the summer goes on, I anticipate the continuation of my journey of self-discovery and growth. While I won’t know for certain all the ways my fellowship experience will continue to impact me, I can already see that the changes from these past four weeks will influence me for years to come.

It’s often hard to explain to my friends and family what it means to be in a “fellowship” role. Usually they squint their eyes and nod slowly as I attempt to explain and many, I’m sure, leave the conversation thinking “Okay, yeah, she’s basically an intern.” Which is true, in some respects! But the learning experiences I’ve had as a Columbus Foundation Fellow, like the Giving USA Nonprofit Forum last Thursday, have distinguished this summer as far more fruitful than any internship position I’ve held.

The topic of last week’s Nonprofit Forum at the Columbus Foundation was central around Giving USA and its annual report. Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy is a publication released by the Giving Foundation that reports on the sources and uses of charitable giving in the United States. This discussion is incredibly helpful for my supervisor at Cristo Rey HS as well as the rest of her development team however it is also appropriate for me personally as its data affects a large part of my research project: fundraising strategies.

We were incredibly fortunate to have the lead researcher of the Giving USA report, Dr. Una Osili, as the presenter followed by a very diverse and knowledgeable panel. I would do a great disservice to the wealth of information and expertise that was present by trying to summarize the content in a 300-word blog post, but there were several takeaways that led to key “aha!” moments as I’ve returned to my research. The data presented provides concrete numbers to help focus the fudnraising efforts of nonprofit organizations, spelling out the current giving trends in the Columbus community. As I begin to reach out and interview other Cristo Rey High Schools across the nation, it is imperative that I have a solid, informed understanding of the fundraising environment. That way I can most effectively process, analyze and present my own data specific to Columbus with the underlying knowledge of national statistics and current trends. Further, understanding important buzzwords like “employee-match programs” and familiarizing myself with relevant data and figures have all been useful as I begin to frame my future discussions for interviews and focus groups.

All that being said, I continue to find myself feeling so challenged, supported, and motivated by the opportunities provided by the Columbus Foundation and Cristo Rey. Yes, similar to an intern, I have a temporary role that needs guidance and my purpose is to serve whatever needs may arise for Cristo Rey, but it is so much more than that. My engagement with the nonprofit sector is continuously progressing and my knowledge is building. I have already learned so much more in these three weeks than I have during entire 3-month internship programs. I’m a work in progress, absolutely, but hey, as long as I’m not making coffee for anyone…

Last week, there were two standout encounters that reminded me of the life-saving work of The Center for Balanced Living. It filled me with a whole new appreciation for The Center and gave me even more motivation to work hard throughout my fellowship.

At the staff meeting, the HR Director introduced a new item on the agenda where she asks someone to share a client spotlight/success story. One of the program directors shared a very inspiring story and ended with a statement along the lines of “She constantly thanks us for saving her life. I think we often forget that that’s what we’re doing each day – saving lives.”

NEW FED TR (the 5 day program for individuals with anorexia nervosa that I mentioned in my previous blog post) was last week and so when I would walk through the office or come/go for the day, I passed clients and their supports. On the last day of the program, I came across a distressed mother. I couldn’t imagine the stress that she was going through in this anxiety-filled process. I don’t know her name or her story but I do know that the Center is equipped with experts to do everything possible to save her child’s life.

Out of all mental illness, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. I am continually reminded of this as I am creating content for social media, beginning to work on Google Ads (free for non-profits!! You need to check it out!), developing a new outreach program, crafting a marketing strategy for the nutrition app and writing blog posts for the website.

Although I am not meeting with clients or doing any dietetic or psychological work, it is so moving to be a part of a non-profit organization that directly saves lives. My “behind-the-scenes” work is educating the public, creating awareness for the Center and hopefully bringing new clients through the door so they can receive the help they need. Just maybe my work will be included in someone’s life-saving story.

As Derek Shepherd constantly said in Grey’s Anatomy (any fans out there?!), “It’s a beautiful day to save lives.”

This week I was reminded of the exhilarating feeling of doing something new and scary for the first time. I took the teens on our first summer field trip to Trapper John’s in Grove City to go canoeing and kayaking.  My prayers to the weather gods to spare us from a thunderstorm were answered, and we were able to spend the afternoon in the sun floating down Big Darby Creek. The teens had never been canoeing before.  I got into a canoe with one of the girls, and shortly into the trip we got stuck on some rocks in a shallow area. Together we worked together to navigate out, as she screamed and lamented our inevitable demise (unlikely considering we were in two feet of water and had life jackets).  After we got out she laughed and recounted our adventure to the others.  Later, she switched with someone else to navigate a kayak on her own, teaching herself how to steer and problem solving when she got stuck.

One of my goals for the summer is to expose the teens to diverse experiences, and it felt good to see them do so well on our first trip. Watching the teens push their boundaries has led me to reflect on how often I force myself out of my comfort zone in my personal and professional life.  During our learning session last week some of our speakers discussed how they worked in roles where they had no background and experience, requiring them to ask for help and grow quickly. In trying to build up the programming down at Southpoint I’m trying a bunch of different strategies and projects to engage the teens who haven’t participated in the past. Some will be successful, others will fail. I’m learning to embrace the art of taking away what you can from your failures, and keeping it moving.

This week I had lunch with the Clinical Director at Concord Counseling. Her spirit and energy reminds me why I decided to pursue my Masters in Social Work, and we had a great discussion about how lasting change for the teenagers at Southpoint will require them taking a leadership role there. In the coming weeks, I’ll be starting to work on engaging the teens to help me redesign a place for them down in their community center.

At the heart of every Non-Profit organization I have volunteered at, interned with, or worked for is one central core. There is one specific, essential piece to every Non-Profit that is needed to make it operate effectively. This entity is there day in and day out, performing necessary actions to make sure the organizations mission is lived out each and every day. They are a Non-Profit’s sole greatest valuable asset. Can you guess what this person is called?

No, not the CEO.

No, not the Board of Directors.

No, not the fellows. (Wouldn’t that be nice?)

While the above folks are essential to the successful operation of a nonprofit, (Maybe not the fellows, but I’d like to say we help) at the center of successful giving are VOLUNTEERS.

As I shadowed volunteer groups around LifeCare, encountered volunteer drivers, and experienced the Senior Farmers Market Coupon Distribution this past week, I pondered how an organization such as LifeCare Alliance could function without volunteers. I came to a conclusion: they could not.

The volunteers who deliver meals each day, the people packing groceries in the pantry, those assisting in Carrie’s, those helping pack meals, as well as packing dog and cat food, are essentially what make it all happen. Without volunteers, all of the hard work that the staff members administer and devote their time to, would be squandered.

In addition, I was able to attend the Giving USA results presentation on Thursday at the Columbus Foundation, which broadcasted the annual report of philanthropy for the year 2016. While these results included financial giving, there was also discussion about different kinds of gifts that donors present. This includes volunteers. It was stated that about 25% of Americans volunteer, showing that volunteering is a large part of American life. In addition, a correlation between volunteering and dollar giving was mentioned, proving another significant benefit to why volunteers are so imperative.

Recruiting and retaining volunteers can present other challenges. Appealing and motivating volunteers is yet another facet of Non-Profit work. It is important to engage volunteers with an organizations mission and encourage them in their volunteer work so that they can become passionate about this mission as well. This can lead to retention of volunteers, as well as possible donations. They should know just how valued they are at an organization and how significant their work is. This is why volunteer/donor luncheons, dinners and/or awards are also another important dynamic of a Non-Profit organization. This past week at LifeCare Alliance I also witnessed a donor/volunteer luncheon taking place which showed donors just how important their contributions are.

Throughout my life, I have always been surrounded by volunteering. My mom and grandma have set exceptionally high expectations as they have continued to volunteer on a regular basis at a number of different organizations. While I have volunteered since grade school, I am just now beginning to realize how essential and significant volunteers are, why they are so needed, and what a large role volunteers play within an organization. Not only does volunteering create life changing and learning experiences for volunteers, but it allows organizations like LifeCare Alliance to further their mission. Volunteers truly give life to Non-Profits.

There’s something thrilling about Ohio’s summer storms. A bright, sunny day can be rapidly overtaken by great dark clouds in an instant–you blink a few times, and suddenly, the sky is consumed by a ferocious pounding of rain, an ominous booming of thunder, and a blinding flash of lightning. I’ve always loved thunderstorms. And although this week in Columbus was filled with awe-inspiring, physical thunderstorms, my week at KIPP also felt excitingly thunderous as well.

With my supervisor out of town for the week, I’ve been assigned the task of re-creating test score-tracking spreadsheets for this upcoming year. The spreadsheets have left me with some rather interesting problems that have my brain twisted up in fun knots of frustration (like realizing that the reason your formula hasn’t been working for two hours was because… you added an extra space after a number. Oh boy.) But besides the Great Extra Space Debacle of June 16th, I’m loving the methodical, thoughtful way of searching for solutions that the work entails. But just when I started to settle into a pattern of regular computer work, my coworkers realized that with my supervisor gone, I’m open for any other business they have for me.

Earlier in the week, I was sitting in my office when one of my coworkers came in and politely asked if I had any time to help her out with a project. I agreed immediately–I want to get to know my coworkers better, and I also want to experience as many different types of jobs as possible during my time at KIPP. To my delight, the small “raincloud” of alternate work soon turned into a whole flood of other coworkers asking for my help on projects.

This week, I got to help organize and take inventory of the school’s books, edit a PowerPoint presentation on KIPP’s performance over the past year, and help prepare materials for KIPP’s incoming new teachers, just to name a few things. Not only have I been broadening my breadth of work at KIPP, but I’ve also been getting to know more of the amazing people that I’m working with. When it rains, it pours, indeed.

A leading nonprofit scholar, Joel Fleishman notes, “The greatest threat to the not-for-profit sector is the betrayal of public trust, the disappointment of public confidence.”

After spending a week analyzing the inner depths of OANO’s Standards for Excellence Educational Packets and codes, I can honestly say I have never felt so appreciative of the extraordinary amount of effort nonprofits must dedicate towards stewarding public trust and confidence. While I’d started this fellowship with a sufficient amount of knowledge regarding the nonprofit sector due to my studies at Ohio State, I now realize I wasn’t aware of even half of the amount of steps nonprofits take to ensure accountability and ethics within their operations. Seriously—disclosure policies, personnel policies and practices for employee evaluation, ethical ways to report financial improprieties…the list goes on and on! By Friday, I felt like I’d turned into a “How to Manual for Nonprofits,” able to recite various facts about standards and expectations for these organizations at the drop of the hat!

The literally hundreds of principles nonprofits must ascribe to in exchange for public trust are by no means an easy feat to accomplish, but the extreme amount of effort required is certainly indicative of the passion of the sector as a whole. Even by week three, I know in my heart I am in the perfect sector for me, where people strive to perform at their highest capacity to further the missions of causes they truly believe in. I love the idea of heading to work in the morning excited for the day because I genuinely value the work I am doing and even more so, I love the idea that thousands of other working Americans are headed to their nonprofit jobs feeling the same. I’ve never totally bought the idea that a job needed to be purely about work. Instead, I think that having a job should be about passion and if I’m dedicating nearly one-third of my life to the confines of an office, you better believe it’s going to be for an organization that I believe in!

Lucky for me, the work of OANO is some of the most valuable work in the state. I have never seen such a small staff work so tirelessly on behalf of others and the passion and enthusiasm of my coworkers inspires me to achieve on a daily basis. I’m so fortunate to have the opportunity to explore my passions this summer and I cannot wait to watch my fellow colleagues do the same!