My Experiences

In the fall of 2022, I began my internship with a local nonprofit organization, Teachers' Treasures. My main focus was on the silent auction for their Dream Big Gala.  I was challenged to raise $25,000 from this silent auction. This was an increase of nearly $6,500 from the previous year. After applying the skills of articulating ideas, producing evidence through written and verbal communication, and understanding the role of collaboration and teamwork, I surpassed that $25,000 goal raising $26,768 for the organization. 

In 2022, the executive board of The MRA Foundation decided to expand its annual event, The Rosie Awards. The Rosie Awards was held for one community youth organization for the first six years. In early 2022, I contacted community youth theatres in central Indiana, asking for a meeting to discuss The Rosie Awards and inviting them to participate. I reached out to 14 organizations, and to my delight, ten organizations committed to participating in the 2023 Rosie Awards. Using my past event management experience, I secured a larger venue, oversaw the food and beverage order, secured an Emcee, planned the program order, assembled a committee, and held regular meetings. Each participating organization shared a performance as part of the event's entertainment. The attendance at The Rosie Awards increased from 175 to 400, and we recognized twenty young people for their outstanding character qualities.

I look forward to adding more organizing to The Rosie Awards in 2024. 

Through my work on the 2022 Career Fair for the Indiana University School of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management (TESM), I built on my past event management training and experience to redesign and execute a career fair attractive to today's employees and emerging young professionals. The challenge of addressing past low attendance allowed me to use my innovative problem-solving skills. The 2022 TESM Career Fair received positive feedback from employers and students who attended the event.  

As part of my Donor Motivation I Individual Giving class, I ran a GivingTuesday campaign for The Melanie and Rosaile Albright Foundation. This project was the culmination of learning how to ask for donations from individual supporters. In this project, I learned to interpret trends and social movements, placing them in the broader context of philanthropy. Specifically, how to use social media as a fundraising tool. I also applied my understanding of using effective communication for a diverse audience. 

In 2022, I had the opportunity to intern with the IU School of Medicine Office of Gift Development and Alumni Relations. My primary task was to help with the Medical Alumni Weekend. This MAW was notable in that it would celebrate three of every class to make up for the cancelation of the prior two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience allowed me to implement my skills of gathering and analyzing data and demonstrating the ability to articulate ideas and produce evidence through writing and speaking.