Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

I’m so excited that I had the opportunity to attend the Seeds of Growth event, a premier Huntington-sponsored program focused on fostering business growth through access to resources, connections, and opportunities.

During the event, I heard from financial experts on topics such as finance fundamentals, navigating business financial challenges, and integrating A.I. into business operations. I also had the privilege of networking with business owners from across Ohio and deepening my understanding of private-sector finance.

Finance continues to be a growing area of interest for me because it sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and decision-making. I’m grateful for opportunities like this that allow me to learn from industry leaders and continue expanding my knowledge.

Additionally, I attended a programming session with Chase Bank for program participants. This opportunity allowed a business coach from Chase to discuss how banks can support small businesses beyond traditional banking services. I particularly enjoyed this session because I am committed to learning more about finance, and I gained valuable insight into loans, investments, angel investors, and banking relationships. I was especially grateful for the opportunity to see how small business owners evaluate different financing options to scale and grow their businesses.

Lastly, I developed a digital social media strategy to spread awareness of and increase registrations for the Festival for Good. This process pushed me outside of my comfort zone and challenged me to think creatively. At this point in my internship, I feel I have mastered navigating Canva and can confidently add it to my resume!

I am extremely thankful for this opportunity because I am genuinely developing new skills and gaining knowledge that I will carry with me throughout my career. Every week, I continue to grow professionally while exploring areas of interest that align with my long-term career goals.

This week was busy, but full of connection and reward. Starting Monday, I began sending out emails to local businesses asking for in-kind donations for Taste to Remember. Anne Marie and I were able to sort these asks into different categories to create the best auction baskets. I used an email template to reach around 50 businesses to see if they can give donations of experiences, merchandise, gift certificates, or any other unique items for our silent and live auctions. I am currently monitoring our fundraising email, and have received some positive responses. 

In addition to this project, I have started a side research project exploring various venue spaces around Columbus and Ohio. I am gathering data on location, parking, max capacity, catering and AV details, etc. As CHA continues to host amazing events for the community and parties for their staff, they can use this data as a resource to find the perfect venue that fits their event. 

I also had the opportunity to attend the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) luncheon on the State of Nonprofits. It was neat to see all central Ohio nonprofits come together. It truly showed me how interconnected each cause is and that Columbus is a much smaller town than we may realize. The conversation revolved around the relationships between nonprofits and local government. As our society and politics are ever-changing, there is definitely concern in the nonprofit community for funding. Many organizations are feeling these pressures, so it is important to work with one another. 

Today, I am discussing details about CHA being part of a community campaign with our Director of Grants, specifically what the costs and benefits will be. Later today, Anne Marie and I are going over to DLZ to set up a table for their car show fundraiser for CHA! Great way to end the week and start a three day weekend.

This week at PAST involved a multitude of tasks! Next week, we have a new age band (High School) entering our data pool.  In order for our research team to be ready, we needed to modify our surveying instruments.  There was a lot of trial and error.  We want to be specific in our language, but not overly complex.  It’s a tough line to tread.  My team held lots of brainstorming sessions figuring out the best way to target Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Standards as well as our own research interests.  This was quite the challenge, but we finished with a project we are proud of. 

On top of that, I had been working on a side project of analyzing data.  The PAST foundation holds lots of programs other than summer camps.  The data I was analyzing this week was from such programs.  I began using a chi-square test to identify any trends in the data I had received. Unfortunately, it was not until a few days later when I realized I should have utilized a McNemar test instead! While it may have been seen as a setback, I was glad to get practice with statistical analysis again! Also, I was able to learn about McNemar and how to interpret the results.  So, I count that as a major win.  After this test, I worked on qualitative analysis for a different data set.  I have always found quantitative analysis to come easier to me than qualitative.  While it was difficult to begin, once I talked to my supervisor, she helped prompt me on ways to speak about the data without numbers. Such as in the way the words participants used changed. 

It was fun to be challenged in such a way this week.  I look forward to everything I will learn this summer!

See you next week,

Danyelle Bumpus

This week was entirely focused on the students. TECH CORPS launched two separate programs at its main office building, Artificial Intelligence and ITonRamp+. Each class was comprised of high school freshmen and sophomores from all across the Columbus area. I chosen as an observer and assistant for the programs, I was able to learn alongside the students and get an insider look.

The artificial intelligence program has four main learning targets: detecting AI usage, using AI responsibly, and career opportunities. Starting with detection, students are trained to recognize AI’s patterns. They learned what AI looks like when used for deepfakes, what it sounds while replicating someone’s voice, and its typing habits when prompted to write. The students were able to accurately pinpoint every time AI was used. Secondly, they learned how to use AI responsibly. Questions such as “How can AI be problematic?” and “What should and should not be shared with AI?” were discussed throughout the class as constant ideas. The students had nuanced opinions and were able to discuss openly and freely. Thirdly, future careers in AI. Students were informed on possible careers available to them. The students were able to hold mature conversations with one another about their futures. Despite not being the intended ‘audience,’ I learned new information I would have never learned otherwise.

In the other program, ITonRamp+, students learned about developing software as well as using mathematics for data analysis. As of today, the students are in the prototyping phase of creating their apps. They will work on it as the class progresses. While working on their apps they will be learning advanced mathematics beyond the typical high school skill level. They were on par with college level curriculum, specifically college algebra and calculus 2. I was able to help personally, giving them future advice and techniques that puts them ahead of their potential classmates.

I enjoyed working with both the instructors and the students. I look forward to seeing where what they will learn next.

My name is Annabelle Krygier, and I had an amazing time during my first week at Homeport. For reference, Homeport is a non-profit developer whose mission is to “Create strong communities by developing quality, affordable homes on a cornerstone of dignity, security and opportunity.” Additionally, Homeport serves low to moderate income households supporting individuals, seniors, and families. On my first day, I was very kindly greeted and given an office tour by the Office Manager. Later on in the day I traveled to one of their many properties to check out the produce fair where Homeport distributes fresh fruits and vegetables provided by the Mid-Ohio Food Collective to its residents. I also got to shadow my wonderful supervisor, Ms. Price, as well as additional Homeport individuals as they coordinated to plan the logistics of their Homebuyer Resource Fair. On my second day I attended a meeting focused on this same event. Specifically, they discussed marketing and outreach as well as some more event logistics. Later I met with the Vice President of Programs and Impact and attended another meeting. On my third day, I began by meeting with the CFO of Homeport who discussed finances with me. Because I am working with Real Estate Development next week, she focused on this department. I was also able to observe her virtual meetings, which were very interesting. Lastly, I met with the Vice President of Real Estate Development where I learned about their goals and criteria for building a development.

This week I have learned that there are a lot of things that go into making a non-profit successful. I have also learned that a large part of what Homeport does is listen to their clients. For example, Homeport holds a monthly meeting for seniors living on Homeport properties where they express their thoughts about and work with Homeport to improve their communities. Furthermore, in relation to my studies, Psychology, I have learned that there is specific counseling and training that clients must go through if they desire to purchase a home from Homeport.

Overall, I am extremely excited to work with each department here at Homeport as well as learn how all these distinct aspects come together and create a successful organization.

One of the highlights of my week was working alongside our Director of Operations and Member Experience on the Human Service Chamber’s 2026 State of the Sector Survey. We send this survey to our 250+ nonprofit members, and I had the opportunity to dig into the data using Airtable and the raw survey responses. What I found most interesting was not simply identifying trends, but thinking critically about what questions the data raises. As we reviewed the results, we continually asked ourselves: If you were a community member, funder, policymaker, or elected official, what would make you stop and say, “I want to know more about that?” I loved looking for those deeper stories within the data.

Policy research was another major focus this week. I had the opportunity to attend a webinar hosted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness on the FY2026 Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). While the outlook for federal homelessness funding remains challenging, the webinar helped me better understand the realities organizations face as they navigate uncertainty while continuing to provide critical services. I also conducted research on Ohio House Bill 795 and its potential implications for Medicaid. My goal was to help our team better understand how proposed legislation could impact both the nonprofit organizations we serve and the communities they support.

On the communications side, I was pumped to see our Impact Solar social media post go from concept to publication. There is something rewarding about contributing to a project throughout the entire process and then seeing the finished product shared publicly. I am also currently developing graphics to promote our Board Interest Application, which helps connect community members with openings to serve on local nonprofit boards. 

I’m also excited to share that one of my responsibilities will be managing our shared community calendar by reviewing event submissions from members and entering them into our website’s backend system. Through this process, I’ve discovered just how many free workshops, trainings, networking events, and community programs are happening across Central Ohio. It’s been encouraging to see the level of collaboration, learning, and engagement taking place throughout our nonprofit community.

To wrap up the week, I spent Friday afternoon volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity Playhouse Build. It was an incredible experience working alongside other volunteers to create play structures for local kiddos. Throughout the afternoon, I got to paint, drill, and even help with roofing. Our team’s playhouse was Mickey Mouse themed, which made the project even more fun. Beyond learning a few new construction skills, it was a meaningful reminder of how important it is to step out away from the desk and experience our members’ impact firsthand.

Week two of the fellowship is already in the books, and the pace hasn’t slowed down. Between volunteer shifts, meetings, and a development session at the Columbus Foundation, it was another full and rewarding week.

A highlight was sitting in on several meetings where I got to observe how Besa approaches bringing on new nonprofit partners. There’s a real intentionality to how they build those relationships, and seeing that process up close gave me a better appreciation for the infrastructure behind what looks, from the outside, like a simple volunteer sign-up.

On the ground, I was back out volunteering at three different sites. At the Gantz location of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, I had genuinely eye-opening conversations with immigrants and refugees from all over the world. I’ll leave it at that for the sake of keeping this post under control, but those conversations gave me a lot to think about. At Dress for Success Columbus, I helped sort a large donation of clothes alongside Bath and Body Works employees and learned about how their mission supporting women’s economic empowerment has grown into a global movement. And back at Ro’s Kitchen for the second week in a row, I put my baking skills to the test and made more banana bread than I thought was physically possible in a single kitchen.

In between all of that, I started digging into the research side of my project, exploring contemporary and evidence-based strategies for increasing volunteer engagement and fill rates on the Besa platform. I’m enjoying this part of the work and looking forward to developing those findings into a concrete proposal.

Lastly, the development session at The Columbus Foundation with my fellow cohort members on Wednesday has truly stayed with me. We have been exploring our “why” and how it influences everything we do. It is so refreshing to discuss these ideas not only with an engaged and bright group of peers, but especially with Dr. Lomax himself. I think this is an incredibly valuable concept to reflect on, not only now but throughout our entire careers. It will shape what we do as future leaders and be reflected in the impact we have on others. I am still working through my own answer, but I am eager to continue exploring it and move closer to a conclusion.

Hello everyone, I just completed my second week at the Columbus Museum of Art! This week was a fun mix of things, from various Excel projects, program projects, and a rewarding outreach experience! I started off my week by concluding my research on existing college-age programs at other art institutions and presenting my findings to my supervisor Julie on Wednesday. In the end, I thoroughly surveyed 14 leading institutions in the US for programs, special events, and academic opportunities available for/target at ages 18-25. Although I am still early in the ideating phase of my own program proposal, Julie and I have begun to workshop a “back to school” event at the Pizzuti that could potentially take place this September! In addition to my current research, I hope to interview the Columbus Foundation fellows to gain more insight into what kinds of extracurricular events that fellow university students would be interested in attending. 

Our biweekly fellow professional development session on Wednesday was also a highlight of the week! It was wonderful to hear everyone’s week 1 updates and learn about the different tasks we are all taking on at vastly different nonprofits. Dr. Lomax gave a presentation on the many roles that the Columbus Foundation plays locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. We also watched a TedTalk by Simon Sinek to learn about the why-forward approach and the law of diffusion of innovation and Dr. Lomax led a very enlightening discussion about power and how we all inherently have power by nature of being human. Another highlight of the week was getting lunch with my fellow fellow Eva at the museum’s cafe during our break!

In the latter half of the week, I worked on a future programs database in Excel, which contained key information about upcoming programs for internal reference. I also created a database for potential contacts from external organizations (e.g. OSU and CCAD faculty) to invite to future programs, based on individual areas of interest and expertise. Today (Friday), Julie and I met the teen participants in CMA//Next at the Pizzuti location to discuss various careers in the arts. This summer’s CMA//Next teens are designing programming for young people, planned around the current exhibition on view. It was exciting to hear their perspectives and plans for the opening event! Tomorrow (Saturday), I plan to attend the museum’s documentary film screening of THIRD ACT, a special event accompanying the East of the Pacific exhibition. 

An exciting announcement is that the Columbus Museum of Art is now offering FREE admission for all visitors under 25 starting on July 1st, thanks to a $4 million lead gift from the Walter Foundation. Be sure to come visit us at the museum this summer!!

– Muji

This week at the Women’s Fund, things started ramping up. We have an event next week, so the team is mobilizing to get things ready. I finalized my interview questions and materials needed for my interview booth at the party, and I also went through about 15 binders chock-full of old material that needed to be either thrown away or shredded. Going through these binders was actually a very educational experience — I saw through all of the materials from the old Keyholder events, old brand standards, strategic plans, and grant applications. I was able to get an idea of the history and work of the Women’s Fund that I couldn’t get as easily browsing the shared drive or website.

Taking that into consideration, you could say this week’s theme is history. In tandem with going through old binders, I also sorted through news clippings and pictures from the Women’s Fund’s events in its early years. Morgan and I went through and scanned these for use in a social media campaign celebrating the 25th anniversary. Today, I started to put together a carousel template for it. I also dove into much older history working on the collaborative project with The Columbus Foundation.

On Monday, I solidified my thesis and main ideas. I pitched my plan and thesis to the team on Tuesday, met with Arielle and Jenna to clarify it, and then had a meeting with the Foundation a couple hours later. While the timeline for the project will stretch on past my time at the Women’s Fund, I will still get to play a part in it, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. The tentative plan for the project is conducting interviews, using those interviews for a video social media series, and then creating a long form article out of it. I am planning on brainstorming interviewees with the team and coming up with interview questions soon. I have been exploring Columbus Dispatch archives and looking at mentions of women’s philanthropy dating back to the 1870s for my own sense of context and have found some very interesting tidbits of information. I also just received more materials for project on The Columbus Foundation’s side, and I am enjoying digging into that as well.

Apart from my historical adventures, I also read through the new annual report and left feedback on it, sat in and participated in several meetings talking about strategy, drafted a donor message for the thank you cards I designed, and worked on outreach to more organizations to feature in the Women for Women Wednesday social media series.

See you next week!

Eva