Overview

The term “nonprofit organization” or the broader term “nonprofit sector” may draw a wide array of images and ideologies. Typically, though, many people may view the idea of nonprofit organizations or the nonprofit sector as a band of people with limited resources, working collectively to provide a service and/or meet a need in the community that they feel may be missed by the local, state or national government. But this is not a complete picture of the nonprofit sector, nor its impact in the fabric of modern society (Worth, 2020). Since the beginning of American history, nonprofit organizations have served as an opportunity for citizens to express and exercise their humanitarian values, promote, advocate and advance various causes that they are passionate or invested in, spread awareness and education and feel connected to their community on a more personal level (Grobman, 2005). To date, there are more than 1.5 million IRS-registered organizations in the United States. The nonprofit sector also contributes a significant portion to the U.S. economy; in 2016, 12.3 million people were employed within the nonprofit sector, and more than $638 billion was paid in working wages. In addition, the number of organizations has risen, with more anticipated in the near future (Worth, 2020). This raises the question on how to manage these organizations; do you approach them the same way as you would a for-profit business, or are there unique rules that must be governed when dealing with nonprofit organizations? This is where an education and an understanding of the nonprofit sector and, more specifically nonprofit management, becomes important for the future of the nonprofit sector. Developing and educating leaders who are passionate about serving the community and have an education and knowledge base on how to lead within the nonprofit sector will determine the direction and future of the sector, which will, in turn, impact the surrounding communities where these leaders will serve.

Why Did You Pursue This Particular Academic Path?

When I graduated from UCF in 2013 with my degree in Journalism, my goal was to use my gift with words and my developed writing skills to become a voice for the voiceless in the community (however I defined that in my line of work) through multimedia storytelling. During my career as a news reporter/writer for The Villages Daily Sun newspaper in The Villages, FL, I covered many stories that were connected to the efforts of local residents and organizations to serve and improve their surrounding community through charitable efforts. Seeing the work that these organizations and people committed themselves to everyday to help the less fortunate up close and personally lit a fire in my heart to do the same thing, but on a deeper level. I didn’t want to just tell their stories; I wanted to hear their stories and find a way to change the ending if I could. I was especially impacted by stories that dealt with people who struggled with hunger, poverty and food insecurity. This led me to begin dreaming of creating a program or even launching my own nonprofit organization that would help people learn techniques that would help them address food insecurity within their own living, especially focusing on creating healthy alternatives to boxed and canned, processed food that typically is given out at food banks and food pantries. In 2017, I decided that I wanted to return to school and earn a master’s degree in nonprofit management and public administration to learn how to navigate both arenas successfully.

How Has It Enhanced Your Knowledge About The Nonprofit Sector And Nonprofit Management And Leadership?

Throughout the course of this dual degree program, I have found that the courses from the nonprofit management program have been my favorite courses to take. The courses have helped me to dive deeper into the nonprofit sector and work more closely with organizations that I’m interested in, or to study organizations that address the same society issues that I’m interested in. But it has helped me learn how nonprofit organizations can operate and should operate in order to be effective, from understanding how to work with volunteers, to finding and developing donor/funding relationships, to how to navigate public policy and advocate on behalf of your organization. Combining this education with studies and knowledge on public administration has also provided me insight on the government on a local and state level, which will be crucial when working alongside the government within the nonprofit sector as we collaborate and connect to serve the local community.

What Do You Plan Next In Your Career?

Currently, I work at the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, which operates as a nonprofit organization under the Florida legislature, here at the University of Central Florida. As I just started this role in July 2022, my next step is to continue working at FCSUA. My next step would be to work with a nonprofit organization in Central Florida (Second Harvest Food Bank is my dream job) to learn more about how nonprofit organizations work with the community to address food insecurity and hunger. In the next five years, I would like to lay the foundation for my own nonprofit organization (tentatively called Helping Hands, Hungry Hearts) that would take the next step in addressing hunger and food insecurity in America.

How Do You Plan To Use Your Master Of Nonprofit Management Degree?

I’ve always been drawn to professional fields where I could use my gifts, skills and talents to serve and help those around me. I’ve also always been a servant-leader; I believe in doing for others before doing for myself and always strive to find any opportunity to serve the community around me. I believe that my master’s degree would provide me more authority to navigate through the nonprofit sector. It has built me into a stronger, more confident and knowledgeable leader with a greater understanding of the various sectors of the nonprofit organization, from top-level leadership within the board of governors, to understanding and developing ideas and systems that will draw volunteers to work alongside the mission of the organization. I believe that this degree will strengthen my resolve to work within the nonprofit sector as a leader and a social entrepreneur, searching for new and innovative ways to solve society and community concerns.

References

Grobman, G. M. (2005) The Nonprofit Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization. 4th edition. White Hat Communications. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Worth, M. J. (2020) Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice. 6th edition. SAGE Publishing.