How did you get involved in serving nonprofit organizations?
During my time pursuing my B.A. in Public Management, Leadership, and Policy at The Ohio State University, I got to learn about a variety of nonprofit organizations serving Central Ohio. I was fortunate to intern at several government offices before pivoting to the nonprofit sector, where I enjoyed the slightly quicker pace of innovation. I volunteered as a mentor to young New Americans at Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), served as an AmeriCorps Summer VISTA with Franklinton Farms, and officially joined the nonprofit sector as a full-time employee in January 2021, when I became a Site Coordinator at Finland Middle School for Communities in Schools of Ohio.
Why did you join Benefactor Group?
Benefactor Group’s mission to serve those who serve the common good is very close to my heart. I’m honored to bring detail-orientated focus, structure, and effective project management to the clients we get to work with! Each project teaches me something new, whether it’s a client opening my eyes to an innovative solution to a social issue or our consultants deepening my understanding of development planning best practices. I feel lucky to be part of serving the common good while also having fun and learning along the way.
What inspires you to serve the common good?
The people I most look up to are the ones who have found the sweet spot of synergy between their strengths and the way they are called to serve others. I’ve been blessed with a supportive network of people who uplift me and exciting professional opportunities that have shaped my skills and strengths; I aim to honor and appreciate these gifts by utilizing them to empower others in my community.
We are living in rapidly changing times—which extends to the philanthropic landscape. What gives you hope for the future of philanthropy over the next 5 years?
My peers! My generation is eager to make a difference in the world. We notice the feeling of helplessness that accompanies the challenges we’re confronting—from climate change to a lack of connection among neighbors—and we run to the problem instead of running from it. Philanthropy is a powerful tool for transforming big problems into big opportunities. I’m hopeful that, as my peers and I enter our philanthropic eras, we will grow to be increasingly generous. As our careers develop, so too will our understanding of and commitment to uplifting others.
What influences how you give, volunteer, or advocate?
My charitable values have been informed by my friends, family, and faith. Friends with heritages and beliefs that are different from my own have shaped the way I think about what constitutes a “gift” and encourage me to give as selflessly, genuinely, and often as possible. My family raised me with empathy as a daily practice, which strongly informs which causes stand out to me. My faith leads to me to trust my intuition about how I can give most generously to an organization or cause—whether that is through a financial gift, volunteering regularly, calling a government representative, etc. Giving money, time, or energy to any cause is a very personal decision, and I’m grateful to have so many wonderful people who inspire me to share what I have to offer in service of others.
If you could make $1 million gift to any organization, where would you direct your contributions and why?
Franklinton Farms! This organization has had my heart since I first learned about it in 2020. Nestled into Columbus’s west side, Franklinton has been a food desert for years; in 2007, Franklinton Farms (originally ‘Franklinton Gardens’) established a community-centric approach to sharing hyperlocal produce at affordable prices—or free! Their mission is to nourish neighborhood wellbeing through farming, gardening, and education. Their approach is whole-hearted, environmentally sustainable, and driven by input from Franklinton neighbors. Plus, I’m a sucker for local produce, and I love that I can support their mission by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from their social enterprise!
Where can someone find you when you’re not at work?
Walking my dogs, snuggling up with my cat and a good book, or on a road trip with my fiancé!
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
One of the most perspective-changing books I’ve read in the last 5 years is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. She generally writes literary fiction, but this novel is nonfiction and details a year in her family’s life when they committed to eating locally. She explores the industrial agriculture, discusses family traditions and recipes, and shares her experience of growing food for her family through her thoughtful, analytical, sustainability-inclined lens. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy local ingredients, cozy descriptions of nature, and thinking about humans’ connection to our ecosystems!
