Are you ready to learn about another amazing organization where you can make a difference? Good! Today's service opportunity is Better World Books.
In short: Better World Books is a U.S. based online book seller. The Better World Books mission statement is “to capitalize on the value of the book to fund and support literacy initiatives locally, nationally, and around the world.” They raise funding for over 80 non-profit literacy programs. They have collected over 24 million books, raised over US$6.4 million for non-profit literacy programs, US$1.2 million for libraries and US$850,000 for student groups. BWB's primary literay partners are Books for Africa, Room to Read, Worldfund, the National Center for Family Literacy, and Invisible Children. By operating as a social venture, BWB provides its non-profit partners with a consistent and stable source of unrestricted funding, so they can focus on inplementing programs in literacy and education, rather than spending all of their time raising funds.
So, what can an individual do? First, you can buy books from BWB. The money from books that are sold creates a stream of funding to help the non-profit partners. Second, you can run a book drive! Many donated books are passed directly to the partners, while some are sold. BWB finds the best possible use for each book. Any books deemed unsuitable for sale or partner use are recycled.
For more information or to purchase books, go to www.betterworldbooks.com. To get more information on how you can organize a book drive on campus, go to http://www.betterworldbooks.com/Info-Get-Started-m-27.aspx. You can also find more information about donating books by clicking on the "reuse first" link at the top of the main screen.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Summary of Chronicle of Philanthropy Live Discussion: Breaking Into a Career in the Non-Profit World
Today, I participated in an hour long chat about ways in which people (recent college graduates and working professionals alike) can break into the non-profit sector. Below are a few key points of interest, along with my personal commentary.
Point 1- How do you go about obtaining a job in NYC or D.C. if you are not from the East Coast?
Answer: Word of mouth will be a great way to get your foot in the door. Another suggestion is to find a long weekend and some friends in the city so that you can head out for a few days to do informational interviews or office visits just so that they have the opportunity to meet you. Personal connections are key! Also, highlight your passion for the organization, and how your passion for this cause is so great that you would move to a new city.
Thoughts: As is often the case, networking is key. If you don't have any connections in those larger cities, you have a few options. First, if your cause is national or international, just getting more involved in the organization could be helpful. Let's take March of Dimes as an example. If you are involved in your local chapter, perhaps you can work with the chapter to organize a larger scale project or fundraiser. If you are successful and other chapters start to take notice, this might give you a leg up when job hunting in this larger cities, as the chapter directors can give you excellent letters of recommendation, and contact chapter directors in larger cities on your behalf. At the very least, it's a great accomplishment to put on your resume.
If your exact organization doesn't exist at that large level, still work to carry out a fundriasing campaign or program for a cause you are passionate about, as it can translate to similar organizations.
Point 2- If you are fortunate enough to land a entry-level job in the non-profit sector, what steps can you take to make it a career?
Answer: Keep educating yourself by reading and participating in professional development, document what you're accomplishing, build strong ties to your local professional community through networking, keep looking for new skills to build and hone, ask for honest feedback from the people you work with, and set goals.
The most important thing is to do a rackstar job in your current position, even if it involves a lot of "grunt work." Be as productive, creative and innovative as you can in the projects you’re responsible for. Then take it up even one more notch. If you do the kind of work that people can’t help but remember, it will reap benefits for you over and over when you need recommendations for other jobs, or are looking for other opportunities.
Another way to make new contacts is to volunteer with other organizations in your field. I once volunteered to staff the registration table at an event just so I could meet the organization's CEO and mingle with the staff so I could have a better chance of getting a job there. It was a great way to build relationships with the right people so that when my resume crossed their desk, they already would know who I was.
Start a YNPN in your area, if one doesn't already exist. That would be a great way to gain experience, grow your network, and have an incredible opportunity to build the network.
Thoughts: This was a lengthy segment of the chat, but one that provided a lot of good insights. A lot of people have the misconception that non-profit work is easy, and doesn't require much thought or a developed skill set. Nothing could be further from the truth; you really have to put a lot of time and energy into your work! Another piece of advice thatr came up was joining the Board of Directors for an Organization- this is a volunteer position, but gives those involved the opportunity to learn new skills (such as fundraising and grantwriting), and demonstrate leadership skills.
Point 3- Since many applicants have volunteer experience, leadership skills, advanced degrees, etc, what is the best way for young people just entering the non-proit sector to stand out from the competition?
Answer: Here again is where word of mouth and personal recommendations are key. Make networking a priority (through volunteering, board service, events) so that you can develop those relationships that will help move your resume from the masses to the top of the pile.
Nonprofits look to their pools of volunteers and interns and then to pools of volunteers and interns at partner organizations when they are looking to fill positions. So, if you want to play the number, get out there and get involved. This will be the single-most effective way to "stand out".
There is a ton of competition with recent grads that have stellar education and experiences as you described. But most of them don't frame it well and get tossed out with the others. Specifically regarding volunteer experience, if you have volunteered at a nonprofit similar to the one you're applying to or for a related cause, by all means list it on your resume. It shows that you have a passion for that particular arena and that you're already familiar with the kind of work the organization does. When listing your volunteer experiences, be sure to highlight any leadership role you played. On your resume you should mention that you coordinated all of the other volunteers, or started a project from the ground up in an unpaid capacity. These kinds of examples show the organization what you'd be capable of doing if they were to hire you.
Thoughts: This was my question, and it really made me think about the kind of work I do with non-profits. I do volunteer A LOT (as anyone who knows me will attest), but while I take on leadership positions in CKI, I don't necessarily take on leadership roles in the organizations with which I volunteer. So, I think the key points here are 1). Volunteer with a variety of organizations to get your name out, 2). Intern, and 3). Pick at least one (but not more than a few) organizations in areas you are very passionate about, and get more involved. If you like working with Boy or Girl Scouts for instance, volunteer regularly with their programs, create your own program or presentation that you can present to troops, or become an assistant troop leader.
Also, if you are interning- make sure that you do more than just fulfill administrative tasks! The point of an internship is to give you experience at a variety of levels within a particular organization. You should be able to develop programs, sit in on meetings to see how the organization is governed, learn grantwriting/fundraising techniques, and anything else that could be useful when looking for a job in the non-profit sector.
Point 4- Should you get a Master's, or not?
Answer: For the kinds of entry-level positions in which recent college grads are usually placed, a Master's degree is not required. But if you want to move up in the nonprofit field quickly and earn a higher salary, explore going back to school for a Master's degree.
Especially for young nonprofit professionals in particular, a lack of extensive work experience can keep you from obtaining positions of leadership in the nonprofit field. Organizations that are concerned that you haven't "paid your dues" may in fact respect your advanced education enough to offer you an upper management position. While you may not learn everything through a graduate degree program, the prestige affords you the kind of legitimacy that as a nonprofit professional it would normally take years to attain.
Thoughts: I think it's especially important for young people who haven't worked much to get a Master's. Depending on your undergraduate major, you may not have much experience with fundraising, PR, management, budgeting, web design, grantwriting, programming, and the like. You may not have extensively volunteered or interned. In this case, a Master's will help- IF you do it for the right reasons. If you pursue a Master's to avoid the "real world" for a few more years or because you can't find a job and are bored, you will most likely be dissatisfied, and it will be a waste of time and money. Evaluate why you want a Master's before you apply to the program.
To view the complete transcript of the chat, check out http://philanthropy.com/live/2009/10/career_in_nonprofit/
Point 1- How do you go about obtaining a job in NYC or D.C. if you are not from the East Coast?
Answer: Word of mouth will be a great way to get your foot in the door. Another suggestion is to find a long weekend and some friends in the city so that you can head out for a few days to do informational interviews or office visits just so that they have the opportunity to meet you. Personal connections are key! Also, highlight your passion for the organization, and how your passion for this cause is so great that you would move to a new city.
Thoughts: As is often the case, networking is key. If you don't have any connections in those larger cities, you have a few options. First, if your cause is national or international, just getting more involved in the organization could be helpful. Let's take March of Dimes as an example. If you are involved in your local chapter, perhaps you can work with the chapter to organize a larger scale project or fundraiser. If you are successful and other chapters start to take notice, this might give you a leg up when job hunting in this larger cities, as the chapter directors can give you excellent letters of recommendation, and contact chapter directors in larger cities on your behalf. At the very least, it's a great accomplishment to put on your resume.
If your exact organization doesn't exist at that large level, still work to carry out a fundriasing campaign or program for a cause you are passionate about, as it can translate to similar organizations.
Point 2- If you are fortunate enough to land a entry-level job in the non-profit sector, what steps can you take to make it a career?
Answer: Keep educating yourself by reading and participating in professional development, document what you're accomplishing, build strong ties to your local professional community through networking, keep looking for new skills to build and hone, ask for honest feedback from the people you work with, and set goals.
The most important thing is to do a rackstar job in your current position, even if it involves a lot of "grunt work." Be as productive, creative and innovative as you can in the projects you’re responsible for. Then take it up even one more notch. If you do the kind of work that people can’t help but remember, it will reap benefits for you over and over when you need recommendations for other jobs, or are looking for other opportunities.
Another way to make new contacts is to volunteer with other organizations in your field. I once volunteered to staff the registration table at an event just so I could meet the organization's CEO and mingle with the staff so I could have a better chance of getting a job there. It was a great way to build relationships with the right people so that when my resume crossed their desk, they already would know who I was.
Start a YNPN in your area, if one doesn't already exist. That would be a great way to gain experience, grow your network, and have an incredible opportunity to build the network.
Thoughts: This was a lengthy segment of the chat, but one that provided a lot of good insights. A lot of people have the misconception that non-profit work is easy, and doesn't require much thought or a developed skill set. Nothing could be further from the truth; you really have to put a lot of time and energy into your work! Another piece of advice thatr came up was joining the Board of Directors for an Organization- this is a volunteer position, but gives those involved the opportunity to learn new skills (such as fundraising and grantwriting), and demonstrate leadership skills.
Point 3- Since many applicants have volunteer experience, leadership skills, advanced degrees, etc, what is the best way for young people just entering the non-proit sector to stand out from the competition?
Answer: Here again is where word of mouth and personal recommendations are key. Make networking a priority (through volunteering, board service, events) so that you can develop those relationships that will help move your resume from the masses to the top of the pile.
Nonprofits look to their pools of volunteers and interns and then to pools of volunteers and interns at partner organizations when they are looking to fill positions. So, if you want to play the number, get out there and get involved. This will be the single-most effective way to "stand out".
There is a ton of competition with recent grads that have stellar education and experiences as you described. But most of them don't frame it well and get tossed out with the others. Specifically regarding volunteer experience, if you have volunteered at a nonprofit similar to the one you're applying to or for a related cause, by all means list it on your resume. It shows that you have a passion for that particular arena and that you're already familiar with the kind of work the organization does. When listing your volunteer experiences, be sure to highlight any leadership role you played. On your resume you should mention that you coordinated all of the other volunteers, or started a project from the ground up in an unpaid capacity. These kinds of examples show the organization what you'd be capable of doing if they were to hire you.
Thoughts: This was my question, and it really made me think about the kind of work I do with non-profits. I do volunteer A LOT (as anyone who knows me will attest), but while I take on leadership positions in CKI, I don't necessarily take on leadership roles in the organizations with which I volunteer. So, I think the key points here are 1). Volunteer with a variety of organizations to get your name out, 2). Intern, and 3). Pick at least one (but not more than a few) organizations in areas you are very passionate about, and get more involved. If you like working with Boy or Girl Scouts for instance, volunteer regularly with their programs, create your own program or presentation that you can present to troops, or become an assistant troop leader.
Also, if you are interning- make sure that you do more than just fulfill administrative tasks! The point of an internship is to give you experience at a variety of levels within a particular organization. You should be able to develop programs, sit in on meetings to see how the organization is governed, learn grantwriting/fundraising techniques, and anything else that could be useful when looking for a job in the non-profit sector.
Point 4- Should you get a Master's, or not?
Answer: For the kinds of entry-level positions in which recent college grads are usually placed, a Master's degree is not required. But if you want to move up in the nonprofit field quickly and earn a higher salary, explore going back to school for a Master's degree.
Especially for young nonprofit professionals in particular, a lack of extensive work experience can keep you from obtaining positions of leadership in the nonprofit field. Organizations that are concerned that you haven't "paid your dues" may in fact respect your advanced education enough to offer you an upper management position. While you may not learn everything through a graduate degree program, the prestige affords you the kind of legitimacy that as a nonprofit professional it would normally take years to attain.
Thoughts: I think it's especially important for young people who haven't worked much to get a Master's. Depending on your undergraduate major, you may not have much experience with fundraising, PR, management, budgeting, web design, grantwriting, programming, and the like. You may not have extensively volunteered or interned. In this case, a Master's will help- IF you do it for the right reasons. If you pursue a Master's to avoid the "real world" for a few more years or because you can't find a job and are bored, you will most likely be dissatisfied, and it will be a waste of time and money. Evaluate why you want a Master's before you apply to the program.
To view the complete transcript of the chat, check out http://philanthropy.com/live/2009/10/career_in_nonprofit/
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Importance of Direct Action
Recently, I came across two very different, yet equally interesting articles about blogging. The first post by Nisha Chittal (http://politicoholic.com/2009/03/02/25-ways-to-use-your-blog-and-social-media-to-create-change/ ) gives readers twenty-five suggestions about different ways one can use blogs and social media to create change. All of these suggestions are certainly useful for those entering the world of professional blogging for the first time. After reading the blog post, I scrolled through the comments section, and found one to be rather intriguing. The poster, DemiOrator, commented that perhaps a rewrite of the suggestions was in order, and posted a link to his list of suggestions at http://demiorator.blogspot.com/2009/04/25-ways-to-change-society.html. While I don't agree with all of his specific suggestions, I must say that his emphasis on action is extremely important, and one with which I can agree completely.
In our modern world, few can deny the importance of the written word, especially in the non-profit sector. People write letters asking for donations to a charitable organization. They circulate petitions, post advice, and link to websites about all sorts of charitable causes. You can even join facebook groups dedicated to particular causes. None of this is bad, of course. However, it is important to remember that reading about a cause or reading posts about an issue isn't the same as doing something about the issue. Yes, it's a good way to become more informed. Yes, it can assuage your conscience and make you feel that you are doing something valuable. However, there is no substitute for direct action. To take an extremely obvious example, lets examine the issue of hunger. Is it more productive to read an article about hunger in the world, or should you spend your time in a local soup kitchen working to alleviate hunger?
There will always be some people who dislike direct action, for a number of reasons. It's far easier, safer, and more comfortable to read posts and articles online than to go out into the world and face problems head on. When one is removed from the reality of the situation, these pressing issues somehow become less urgent, and it is easy to lose focus and get distracted by petty matters. Others simply feel uncomfortable volunteering; they prefer to remain behind the scenes, and not directly work with the people whom they serve. Others might argue that they have no time in which to volunteer, so blogging is as much as they can do.
Again, I would like to reiterate that it is not wrong to research, blog about issues, or work behind the scenes, and all of the above are useful and good in their own right. However, one can't lose focus on the key point of non-profits: serving others. Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Whether you are involved in research, administration, fundraising, or some other aspect of an organization, make sure to take the time to go out and physically help others, whether through building a home, mentoring, packaging meals, or anything else. You don't need to stage a radical protest (as the author of the self-proclaimed radical/activist blog stated), but you do need to be willing to have an open mind and heart open to others.
Final thought of the night- if, over the weekend, you find yourself thinking about poverty, the problems within inner-city schools, pollution, or any other issue, stop for a minute. Ask yourself, "what can I do to go help alleviate this problem right now?" Then go do it! This can be as simple as going through your cupboards to find canned goods to donate, or taking the time to help a child improve his or her reading skills. It doesn't matter how small and insignificant the action may seem to you; to others, it means a world of difference.
In our modern world, few can deny the importance of the written word, especially in the non-profit sector. People write letters asking for donations to a charitable organization. They circulate petitions, post advice, and link to websites about all sorts of charitable causes. You can even join facebook groups dedicated to particular causes. None of this is bad, of course. However, it is important to remember that reading about a cause or reading posts about an issue isn't the same as doing something about the issue. Yes, it's a good way to become more informed. Yes, it can assuage your conscience and make you feel that you are doing something valuable. However, there is no substitute for direct action. To take an extremely obvious example, lets examine the issue of hunger. Is it more productive to read an article about hunger in the world, or should you spend your time in a local soup kitchen working to alleviate hunger?
There will always be some people who dislike direct action, for a number of reasons. It's far easier, safer, and more comfortable to read posts and articles online than to go out into the world and face problems head on. When one is removed from the reality of the situation, these pressing issues somehow become less urgent, and it is easy to lose focus and get distracted by petty matters. Others simply feel uncomfortable volunteering; they prefer to remain behind the scenes, and not directly work with the people whom they serve. Others might argue that they have no time in which to volunteer, so blogging is as much as they can do.
Again, I would like to reiterate that it is not wrong to research, blog about issues, or work behind the scenes, and all of the above are useful and good in their own right. However, one can't lose focus on the key point of non-profits: serving others. Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Whether you are involved in research, administration, fundraising, or some other aspect of an organization, make sure to take the time to go out and physically help others, whether through building a home, mentoring, packaging meals, or anything else. You don't need to stage a radical protest (as the author of the self-proclaimed radical/activist blog stated), but you do need to be willing to have an open mind and heart open to others.
Final thought of the night- if, over the weekend, you find yourself thinking about poverty, the problems within inner-city schools, pollution, or any other issue, stop for a minute. Ask yourself, "what can I do to go help alleviate this problem right now?" Then go do it! This can be as simple as going through your cupboards to find canned goods to donate, or taking the time to help a child improve his or her reading skills. It doesn't matter how small and insignificant the action may seem to you; to others, it means a world of difference.
Resources
Many years ago when I was in elementary school, I completed several assignments which involved research of some sort: either we had to learn about a country, bats, or some other random topic. In my earliest elementary school years I didn't have access to the world wide web at home (hard to believe, I know). Thus, I limited my research to Grolier and Encarta encyclopedias (the software came with our computer- yet another relic of the past), and the good old-fashioned library. I got the information I needed, but who knows what I could have learned from online resources.
My point in this little anecdote is that although libraries and such are still useful resources for everything, there are a ton of great websites, blogs, and e-books available via the internet for anyone interested in the non-profit sector. Here are just a few of my favorites that I've recently discovered:
http://www.change.org/: has a variety of articles, videos, blogposts, etc dedicated to a variety of social issues, including human trafficking, women's rights, social entrepreneurship, global warming, and more. The site also includes job listings, which is also useful.
www.idealist.org: In the words of the people who run the site, "Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives." On the site you can find links to different groups, volunteer/internship/job opportunities, learn more about the non-profit sector as a whole, and read more insightful blogs. This brings me to...
http://www.idealist.org/en/career/guide/firsttime/fullbook.html: this is a link to idealist.org's Guide to Non-profit Careers for First Time Job Seekers. If you are even remotely interested in going into the field (or heck, getting a job in any field) READ THIS BOOK. It contains advice about resumes, networking and interviews (here geared towards non-profits, but applicable to any field), and also helps you to pinpoint exactly what you want to do in the sector, how to increase your appeal to employers, and how to best go about searching for non-profit job opportunities. It even contains information about starting your own non-profit. It is available to download for free, or you can obtain a physical copy for the cost of binding.
http://rosettathurman.com/: Rosetta is a member of the Millenial generation who is passionate about promoting next generation leadership for social change. She shares nonprofit career advice for young professionals, is a contributer to Jobs for Change (see the first link I listed). Her blog topics range from how to use social media for networking purposes, to developing leadership skills, to issues facing women and minorities in the non-profit sector. This was one of the first sites I stumbled upon when I decided I wanted to go into non-profit work, and I found her posts to be interesting and very helpful.
www.ynpn.org: The Young Non-Profit Professional Group engages and supports future nonprofit leaders through professional development, networking, and social opportunities. Like other young professional groups, this is a great way to network and have the opportunity to pursue professional development events. This is a fairly young organization, so not all areas have a chapter. If you go to the "chapter" tab, you can see if there is one in your area. If there's not and you want to start one, there's an e-mail link for that. For those of you in the Grand Rapids area, good news: a chapter already exists! I haven't joined it yet, but I plan on doing so within the next year.
http://www.gryp.org/: Grand Rapids Young Professionals. While not tailored specifically to those in the non-profit sector, this particular chapter (and probably many others) has a wide variety of professional development programs, volunteer opportunities, and other resources. More general young professional groups are also more widespread than the non-profit groups. Thus, if you're not in GR, try searching for a young professionals organization in your city.
I think it's important to note that there are many more resources than what I've listed here. While I won't list every single blog or every non-profit organization's personal website, I would love to know if you have found any resources that are especially helpful, whether related specifically to non-profit organizations, or simply related to career development in general. If so, feel free to leave a comment.
By the way, I want to give a shout out to the people I know who have read this blog thus far. Thank you! It means a lot to me that you are taking the time to read it, and I definitely appreciate your support and input.
My point in this little anecdote is that although libraries and such are still useful resources for everything, there are a ton of great websites, blogs, and e-books available via the internet for anyone interested in the non-profit sector. Here are just a few of my favorites that I've recently discovered:
http://www.change.org/: has a variety of articles, videos, blogposts, etc dedicated to a variety of social issues, including human trafficking, women's rights, social entrepreneurship, global warming, and more. The site also includes job listings, which is also useful.
www.idealist.org: In the words of the people who run the site, "Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives." On the site you can find links to different groups, volunteer/internship/job opportunities, learn more about the non-profit sector as a whole, and read more insightful blogs. This brings me to...
http://www.idealist.org/en/career/guide/firsttime/fullbook.html: this is a link to idealist.org's Guide to Non-profit Careers for First Time Job Seekers. If you are even remotely interested in going into the field (or heck, getting a job in any field) READ THIS BOOK. It contains advice about resumes, networking and interviews (here geared towards non-profits, but applicable to any field), and also helps you to pinpoint exactly what you want to do in the sector, how to increase your appeal to employers, and how to best go about searching for non-profit job opportunities. It even contains information about starting your own non-profit. It is available to download for free, or you can obtain a physical copy for the cost of binding.
http://rosettathurman.com/: Rosetta is a member of the Millenial generation who is passionate about promoting next generation leadership for social change. She shares nonprofit career advice for young professionals, is a contributer to Jobs for Change (see the first link I listed). Her blog topics range from how to use social media for networking purposes, to developing leadership skills, to issues facing women and minorities in the non-profit sector. This was one of the first sites I stumbled upon when I decided I wanted to go into non-profit work, and I found her posts to be interesting and very helpful.
www.ynpn.org: The Young Non-Profit Professional Group engages and supports future nonprofit leaders through professional development, networking, and social opportunities. Like other young professional groups, this is a great way to network and have the opportunity to pursue professional development events. This is a fairly young organization, so not all areas have a chapter. If you go to the "chapter" tab, you can see if there is one in your area. If there's not and you want to start one, there's an e-mail link for that. For those of you in the Grand Rapids area, good news: a chapter already exists! I haven't joined it yet, but I plan on doing so within the next year.
http://www.gryp.org/: Grand Rapids Young Professionals. While not tailored specifically to those in the non-profit sector, this particular chapter (and probably many others) has a wide variety of professional development programs, volunteer opportunities, and other resources. More general young professional groups are also more widespread than the non-profit groups. Thus, if you're not in GR, try searching for a young professionals organization in your city.
I think it's important to note that there are many more resources than what I've listed here. While I won't list every single blog or every non-profit organization's personal website, I would love to know if you have found any resources that are especially helpful, whether related specifically to non-profit organizations, or simply related to career development in general. If so, feel free to leave a comment.
By the way, I want to give a shout out to the people I know who have read this blog thus far. Thank you! It means a lot to me that you are taking the time to read it, and I definitely appreciate your support and input.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Volunteer Opportunity of the Week: Circle K International (and the rest of the Kiwanis family).
Today I present to you my first Volunteer Opportunity of the Week blog post. This (hopefully) weekly feature will give details about one particular non-profit/community service organization that I have either personally worked with, or researched a great deal. Since I have mentioned Circle K a few times in my previous mosts, I thought that there's no better way to start off this feature than to give some information I talk about so much.
So, what is Circle K? Circle K is the world's largest collegiate service organization! Its 12,000+ members dedicate themselves to the tenants of service, fellowship, and leadership. Let's take a quick look at each:
Service
Service is certainly at the heart of what Circle K does. Whether it's tutoring a child, packaging meals for elderly citizens who are homebound, cleaning a park, or helping to raise money for any number of worthy causes, Circle K members love to help others! Since CKI does not focus on one particular non-profit, it's a good way for college students to explore what volunteer opportunities exist, and to see what they enjoy the most.
Leadership
Opportunities for leadership development occur often in CKI. Members can become officers at the club, district, or international levels. They can also serve as a committee chair or a committee member at any one of these levels as well. Many CKI clubs are small to medium sized, which gives new members plenty of opportunities to play an important role in the organization, and to have their voices heard. Moreover, leadership conferences and workshops at other conventions also help members to achieve their full leadership potential.
Fellowship
College students like to have fun, and CKI members are no exception! Clubs, districts and subregions often plan social events, where members spend time getting to know one another. Some examples include going on ski trips, tailgaiting at a football game, or going bowling. In addition, clubs hold district-wide events, where the first part of the day consists of service, and the second part consists of a social. This enables members to meet other people from CKI clubs throughout their state, or grouping of states. At the conventions, socializing, service, leadership training, business matters, and celebration of accomplishments are all combined into one awesome and jam packed weekend. All districts hold a convention (usually in March), and it is a great experience. Even more amazing though is the International Convention (ICON), where you can meet Circle K members from all over the country, and possibly from some other countries as well!
Another great thing about the Kiwanis family (all of the related clubs under the Kiwanis umbrella, of which Circle K is just one) is that anyone can get involved at any age! The different groups are:
K Kids- elementary school group
Builder's Club-the middle school group
Key Club- the high school group
Circle K- the college group
Kiwanis- the "adult" (aka working professionals) group.
Golden K- geared towards older adults.
Aktion Club- geared towards people with disabilities.
These groups may all have different names, but they all share the same purpose of serving others, especially the children of the world.
This post hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of what Circle K and the Kiwanis family are about, but it would be impossible to tell you everything in just one post. So for more information, check out www.circlek.org and www.kiwanis.org.
As a sidenote: CKI works with several service partners. Thus, my next few "Volunteer Opportunity of the Week" postings will be about these four organizations: Better World Books, UNICEF (and specifically the Six Cents Initiative), STUFH, and March of Dimes.
So, what is Circle K? Circle K is the world's largest collegiate service organization! Its 12,000+ members dedicate themselves to the tenants of service, fellowship, and leadership. Let's take a quick look at each:
Service
Service is certainly at the heart of what Circle K does. Whether it's tutoring a child, packaging meals for elderly citizens who are homebound, cleaning a park, or helping to raise money for any number of worthy causes, Circle K members love to help others! Since CKI does not focus on one particular non-profit, it's a good way for college students to explore what volunteer opportunities exist, and to see what they enjoy the most.
Leadership
Opportunities for leadership development occur often in CKI. Members can become officers at the club, district, or international levels. They can also serve as a committee chair or a committee member at any one of these levels as well. Many CKI clubs are small to medium sized, which gives new members plenty of opportunities to play an important role in the organization, and to have their voices heard. Moreover, leadership conferences and workshops at other conventions also help members to achieve their full leadership potential.
Fellowship
College students like to have fun, and CKI members are no exception! Clubs, districts and subregions often plan social events, where members spend time getting to know one another. Some examples include going on ski trips, tailgaiting at a football game, or going bowling. In addition, clubs hold district-wide events, where the first part of the day consists of service, and the second part consists of a social. This enables members to meet other people from CKI clubs throughout their state, or grouping of states. At the conventions, socializing, service, leadership training, business matters, and celebration of accomplishments are all combined into one awesome and jam packed weekend. All districts hold a convention (usually in March), and it is a great experience. Even more amazing though is the International Convention (ICON), where you can meet Circle K members from all over the country, and possibly from some other countries as well!
Another great thing about the Kiwanis family (all of the related clubs under the Kiwanis umbrella, of which Circle K is just one) is that anyone can get involved at any age! The different groups are:
K Kids- elementary school group
Builder's Club-the middle school group
Key Club- the high school group
Circle K- the college group
Kiwanis- the "adult" (aka working professionals) group.
Golden K- geared towards older adults.
Aktion Club- geared towards people with disabilities.
These groups may all have different names, but they all share the same purpose of serving others, especially the children of the world.
This post hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of what Circle K and the Kiwanis family are about, but it would be impossible to tell you everything in just one post. So for more information, check out www.circlek.org and www.kiwanis.org.
As a sidenote: CKI works with several service partners. Thus, my next few "Volunteer Opportunity of the Week" postings will be about these four organizations: Better World Books, UNICEF (and specifically the Six Cents Initiative), STUFH, and March of Dimes.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Why Non Profit: Part II
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...
The last time I posted, I wrote about my involvement in volunteering. I then promised that the next post would explain my academic plans, and how I ended up figuring out what I want to do for the rest of my life. So, here we go!
Upon entering my first year of college, I thought that I wanted to become a high school teacher. I knew I wanted to make some positive impact on the world, and thought teaching would be the best way to do it (and I still maintain that it is an excellent career field by the way). In my first semester of college, I took a European Civilization sequence to fulfill my arts and humanities requirement for the honors college at my university. This particular section of EuroCiv emphasized Russia; I had an interest in Russia growing up and I heard the professors were very good, so I was very excited to take the course. Partway through first semester, I had a conversation with my professors; they thought that with my personality and passion, perhaps I was better suited to teach as a college professor, rather than as a high school teacher. After giving it some thought, I agreed. I dropped the emphasis in secondary education, added a Russian Studies major to go along with my English major, and figured I really knew what I wanted to do with my life.
Fast forward four years later. A college senior, I was rather worried about graduate school, for a number of reasons. Chief among them: PhD programs were competitive; I didn't speak Russian well enough; I don't particularly want to focus on research, publishing, academic conferences; I wanted to go out into the world and make a difference in fewer than 5 or 6 years; and most importantly, while I love Russian literature and such, I wasn't sure I was passionate enough to devote my life to Eastern European and Slavic Studies for the rest of my life. On a whim, I began to look up information on careers in the non-profit sector, and to see what opportunities were available. I was pleased to find that in my city alone, there were quite a few job opportunities, far more than if I were to pursue a career as a college professor. As I researched more, I grew more and more excited, and became convinced that this was what I had been looking for. For the first time in ages, I felt incredibly enthusiastic about this path. Every past semester, I had misgivings about obtaining a PhD in Eastern European and Slavic Studies, but my professor always managed reassured me that I would be fine. I couldn't fool myself any longer; I knew what I truly wanted to do. I contacted the head of the MPA department at my university, and after I had heard everything, I knew this was it!
So, now I am in the process of applying to the Masters in Public Administration program, with an emphasis in non-profit management and leadership. Most people I know are incredibly supportive of this decision, and think that it better suits me. A few question whether I will find a job, or say I won't make enough money. Honestly, I've never chosen to do anything for the amount of money I can make. Wealth doesn't bring happiness and fulfillment for me; serving others does.
So, that's the end of this story- but not the end of this blog! You never know when or what I'll post next, so stay on the lookout for updates!
The last time I posted, I wrote about my involvement in volunteering. I then promised that the next post would explain my academic plans, and how I ended up figuring out what I want to do for the rest of my life. So, here we go!
Upon entering my first year of college, I thought that I wanted to become a high school teacher. I knew I wanted to make some positive impact on the world, and thought teaching would be the best way to do it (and I still maintain that it is an excellent career field by the way). In my first semester of college, I took a European Civilization sequence to fulfill my arts and humanities requirement for the honors college at my university. This particular section of EuroCiv emphasized Russia; I had an interest in Russia growing up and I heard the professors were very good, so I was very excited to take the course. Partway through first semester, I had a conversation with my professors; they thought that with my personality and passion, perhaps I was better suited to teach as a college professor, rather than as a high school teacher. After giving it some thought, I agreed. I dropped the emphasis in secondary education, added a Russian Studies major to go along with my English major, and figured I really knew what I wanted to do with my life.
Fast forward four years later. A college senior, I was rather worried about graduate school, for a number of reasons. Chief among them: PhD programs were competitive; I didn't speak Russian well enough; I don't particularly want to focus on research, publishing, academic conferences; I wanted to go out into the world and make a difference in fewer than 5 or 6 years; and most importantly, while I love Russian literature and such, I wasn't sure I was passionate enough to devote my life to Eastern European and Slavic Studies for the rest of my life. On a whim, I began to look up information on careers in the non-profit sector, and to see what opportunities were available. I was pleased to find that in my city alone, there were quite a few job opportunities, far more than if I were to pursue a career as a college professor. As I researched more, I grew more and more excited, and became convinced that this was what I had been looking for. For the first time in ages, I felt incredibly enthusiastic about this path. Every past semester, I had misgivings about obtaining a PhD in Eastern European and Slavic Studies, but my professor always managed reassured me that I would be fine. I couldn't fool myself any longer; I knew what I truly wanted to do. I contacted the head of the MPA department at my university, and after I had heard everything, I knew this was it!
So, now I am in the process of applying to the Masters in Public Administration program, with an emphasis in non-profit management and leadership. Most people I know are incredibly supportive of this decision, and think that it better suits me. A few question whether I will find a job, or say I won't make enough money. Honestly, I've never chosen to do anything for the amount of money I can make. Wealth doesn't bring happiness and fulfillment for me; serving others does.
So, that's the end of this story- but not the end of this blog! You never know when or what I'll post next, so stay on the lookout for updates!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Why Non-Profit: Part I
Normally I won't post twice in one night, but I feel that it's important to give a bit of background information as to who I am and how I came to decide on my career.
I grew up in a loving home where my parents were able to provide for all my wants and needs. I have been fortunate enough in my young life to have never experienced hunger, homelessness, or the violence of gangs. Although I was a fairly sheltered child by most standards, I always possessed a keen awareness that there were many people not as fortunate as me, who needed to be helped. Much of this was due to my mother's stories. Although she spent much of her life in the same town where I grew up, her circumstances were very different. She lived in poverty because her father, who worked in construction, would take much of this money and spend it on alcohol. When he did return home, he would abuse his wife, and bring home "girlfriends" for whom she would have to cook. Needless to say, these stories made quite the impression on my young mind. Throughout my school years, I always desired to give back to others in some way; thus, I joined Girl Scouts and National Honor Society, in hopes of making a difference. As time passed, our troop became less active and NHS didn't offer nearly as many service opportunities as I would have liked, but I still did what I could.
After high school, I went straight to college. At this time, I was looking to join a service organization that was more active than my high school chapter of NHS, which had only required 10 hours of community service a year. By some stroke of fortune, I stumbled upon Circle K International. I had never heard of it before, and had only vaguely heard of Key Club, the high school level of the Kiwanis family. When I heard that it was an organization that worked with a variety of non-profit groups, I was hooked. I signed up at our student organization fair, and participated in the group all year. Although I attended the majority of meetings, I only participated in a handful of service projects. I looked to get more involved, and managed to be elected as the club secretary for my sophomore year. Needless to say, I was quite excited! I became more and more involved with the group: I increased the number of service events I attended, attended events where I met people from around the state of Michigan, and met many wonderful people who were dedicated to service. I also learned valuable skills related to administrative tasks, staying organized, and how to be an effective leader. I continued my involvement in Circle K by serving as president of my club during my junior year of college, and currently serve as secretary-treasurer for Michigan's lower peninsula. I also became involved with other service opportunities, including Transitions, our fall freshman orientation, and Student Ambassadors, where I gave tours of our campus to prospective college students. I truly enjoyed all of these activities (along with everything else I've done in college), and learned a lot along the way...
Stay tuned for part two, where I discuss my academic life and how I decided I wanted to have a career in the non-profit sector!
I grew up in a loving home where my parents were able to provide for all my wants and needs. I have been fortunate enough in my young life to have never experienced hunger, homelessness, or the violence of gangs. Although I was a fairly sheltered child by most standards, I always possessed a keen awareness that there were many people not as fortunate as me, who needed to be helped. Much of this was due to my mother's stories. Although she spent much of her life in the same town where I grew up, her circumstances were very different. She lived in poverty because her father, who worked in construction, would take much of this money and spend it on alcohol. When he did return home, he would abuse his wife, and bring home "girlfriends" for whom she would have to cook. Needless to say, these stories made quite the impression on my young mind. Throughout my school years, I always desired to give back to others in some way; thus, I joined Girl Scouts and National Honor Society, in hopes of making a difference. As time passed, our troop became less active and NHS didn't offer nearly as many service opportunities as I would have liked, but I still did what I could.
After high school, I went straight to college. At this time, I was looking to join a service organization that was more active than my high school chapter of NHS, which had only required 10 hours of community service a year. By some stroke of fortune, I stumbled upon Circle K International. I had never heard of it before, and had only vaguely heard of Key Club, the high school level of the Kiwanis family. When I heard that it was an organization that worked with a variety of non-profit groups, I was hooked. I signed up at our student organization fair, and participated in the group all year. Although I attended the majority of meetings, I only participated in a handful of service projects. I looked to get more involved, and managed to be elected as the club secretary for my sophomore year. Needless to say, I was quite excited! I became more and more involved with the group: I increased the number of service events I attended, attended events where I met people from around the state of Michigan, and met many wonderful people who were dedicated to service. I also learned valuable skills related to administrative tasks, staying organized, and how to be an effective leader. I continued my involvement in Circle K by serving as president of my club during my junior year of college, and currently serve as secretary-treasurer for Michigan's lower peninsula. I also became involved with other service opportunities, including Transitions, our fall freshman orientation, and Student Ambassadors, where I gave tours of our campus to prospective college students. I truly enjoyed all of these activities (along with everything else I've done in college), and learned a lot along the way...
Stay tuned for part two, where I discuss my academic life and how I decided I wanted to have a career in the non-profit sector!
Welcome!
First off, I'd like to welcome you to my new blog, One Can Make a Difference. My purpose in creating it is to give others a glimpse inside the life of someone who is striving to enter the non-profit sector. I hope to provide you with interesting insights into the life of a student who is entering this field, information about various non-profits and service organizations, useful links, and anything else that could be beneficial to someone looking to work at a non-profit, searching for volunteer opportunities, or simply searching for an interesting read.
Second, I'd like to give credit where it is due. The title of this blog stems from a friend of mine, Courtney, who serves as the bulletin editor for the Michigan District of Circle K International (more about this group later). She sends a weekly update titled "One Can make a Difference" to club officers in our district. While the information is useful, the title is equally as helpful. It serves to remind us that even though we are individual college students who appear to have little prestige and clout in the world, everything we do makes an impact. Whether we are playing bingo at a nursing home, feeding the homeless, or raising money for one of many charitable causes, we bring hope to the hopeless, joy to those who never thought they could smile again, or simply make a dreary day a little brighter. This thought strengthens us, so that even when we are sleep deprived or could easily go spend the day at the beach with friends, we instead willingly give back to our communities.
Third, I would like to encourage you to examine your life right now, and ask yourself a simple question: how do I serve others every day? Your actions can be as simple as a smile, or holding the door open for someone. Perhaps you have a few extra cans of vegetables to donate to a local food pantry, or a few extra hours a week to tutor a student. Regardless of your age, socio-economic class, education level, or any other factors, you CAN make a difference.
Again, welcome to One Can Make a Difference! This is a work in progress, so any comments, questions, or suggestions are welcome. Thank you!
Second, I'd like to give credit where it is due. The title of this blog stems from a friend of mine, Courtney, who serves as the bulletin editor for the Michigan District of Circle K International (more about this group later). She sends a weekly update titled "One Can make a Difference" to club officers in our district. While the information is useful, the title is equally as helpful. It serves to remind us that even though we are individual college students who appear to have little prestige and clout in the world, everything we do makes an impact. Whether we are playing bingo at a nursing home, feeding the homeless, or raising money for one of many charitable causes, we bring hope to the hopeless, joy to those who never thought they could smile again, or simply make a dreary day a little brighter. This thought strengthens us, so that even when we are sleep deprived or could easily go spend the day at the beach with friends, we instead willingly give back to our communities.
Third, I would like to encourage you to examine your life right now, and ask yourself a simple question: how do I serve others every day? Your actions can be as simple as a smile, or holding the door open for someone. Perhaps you have a few extra cans of vegetables to donate to a local food pantry, or a few extra hours a week to tutor a student. Regardless of your age, socio-economic class, education level, or any other factors, you CAN make a difference.
Again, welcome to One Can Make a Difference! This is a work in progress, so any comments, questions, or suggestions are welcome. Thank you!
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