The Philanthropic Social Network: 10 Interesting People You’ll Meet Working in a Local Nonprofit

It has been over a year since I started working in resource development for United Way of Denton County (based in North Texas), which works towards four major goals in my community: to help children and families succeed, to guide and serve veterans and their families, to advocate for overall mental health, and to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. A year ago, I had no idea how this job would change my life and my friends list. As in the corporate sector, relationships are key to keeping nonprofits moving towards their philanthropic goals. If you’re thinking of working, interning, or volunteering for a local nonprofit, here are 10 inspiring people you’re likely to meet:

Working in a nonprofit has made me a community insider; I know who is making moves in local politics, business, and activism. From the writer at the regional newspaper to the realtor whose face is on highway billboards, working for a nonprofit means you’re more likely to meet the public faces of your community. These people can become some of your most interesting and influential partners.

The database software used by United Way is specific to our organization, and like any software, it comes with a bit of a learning curve. After a year of emails and phone calls with customer support, I’m on a first-name basis with most of the software company’s associates. One of the support staff went out of their way to teach me a few tricks in Excel, and I’ll be forever grateful.

United Way of Denton County works closely with the local government to collect data and work on solutions for the most pressing issues among area residents. Working for a nonprofit has me keeping an even closer eye on local politics.

Through my work, I’m lucky to witness coworkers doing amazing things in the community every day. One of my favorite parts of the job is listening to the “wins” shared at the weekly staff meeting. Every week, someone is helping a local veteran find housing, landing a donation from a key corporation, funding a suicide prevention workshop, or training volunteers to help with tax assistance. My coworkers keep me on my toes and encourage me to aim high.

Like many nonprofits, our organization is thankful for relationships with generous, high-earning donors that help fund our work. However, what has surprised me the most about fundraising work is the generosity from people of all income levels. There are many “average” people in my area willing to give a part of their monthly paycheck to support community resources.

All volunteers are invaluable, but some will go the extra mile to secure a donation, distribute resources, or decorate for a special event. Some volunteers are so special, you wonder if they have superhuman-sized hearts.

Because my organization allows donors to designate their dollars to almost any other 501C(3), I’ve been able to learn about many other unique nonprofits in my local community, state, and country. For example, I now know there is a nonprofit in Texas called Hunters for the Hungry that processes meat donated by hunters.

If your nonprofit conducts workplace campaigns to fundraise, you’ll likely form relationships with employees leading the effort at their company, whom we call campaign ambassadors. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from a variety of businesses and corporations that exist in my local area. I always appreciate it when an ambassador is willing to get creative with their fundraising strategy!

Working for a nonprofit sometimes means making do with limited resources, so you’re likely to meet a multitasker or two on your team (or maybe, the multitasker is you). I’m constantly amazed at my coworkers’ abilities to change hats with a moment’s notice.

Working for my local United Way has further opened my eyes to the needs in my area. Sometimes, I see the ugliest, most frustrating, and most persistent of social problems. Other times, I see the most driven, creative, and selfless spirits working towards change for the better. Either way, I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet my local community.

• Check out local volunteer opportunities through websites such as https://www.volunteermatch.org/. Many nonprofits are offering virtual or limited-contact opportunities to volunteer during the pandemic.
• Consider local nonprofits in your next job or internship search. These organizations can be a great way to network, gain experience, and get to know your community. Some nonprofits may offer research opportunities for college courses or graduate students working on their thesis.

–Madeline Fink, Content Creator