Why did you get involved with serving nonprofit organizations?

I ended up in the nonprofit sector as many do—by accident. After graduating college, I wasn’t sure what type of career I wanted. I wanted to use my Spanish major and spend the time learning more about Columbus (outside of the suburban bubble I’d grown up in). That idea led me to AmeriCorps VISTA, where I served as a volunteer at a local human services nonprofit. I spent the next year writing grants, learning about the diverse needs of communities in Central Ohio, and seeing how lives are transformed when people help other people. 

Why did you join Benefactor Group?

My career plans changed while I was in graduate school at The Ohio State University. Entering the dual degree MBA/MPA program, I assumed I would leave school and get a corporate job. I could return to the nonprofit sector in the future when I had paid off my student loans. 

But the more I considered that path, the more I realized it wouldn’t make me happy. I wanted to stay connected to the nonprofit sector, but going back to work directly in nonprofits didn’t feel quite right either. I wanted to find something in between. 

In the tradition of MBAs, I needed to complete a summer internship before my final year of the program. Thanks to the advice of the career services team at Fisher College of Business, I found my middle path—nonprofit consulting. I had no idea that there were consultants that only worked with nonprofit organizations. I started looking at local firms and quickly found Benefactor Group. From the moment I looked at the website, I knew I wanted to work here.   

What inspires you to serve the common good?

Gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been given in my life and seeing how lives change when communities come together. Sometimes it takes the form of nonprofit organizations, other times its mutual aid funds, neighborhood groups, houses of worship, or a local book club.  

We are living in rapidly changing times—which extend to the philanthropic landscape. What gives you hope for the future of philanthropy over the next five years?

Community and the continued rise of trust-based philanthropy.  

There’s a feeling you get when you receive a large grant from a funder at a small nonprofit. Excitement, of course, because you have the resources to support or expand a program. And there’s a bit of apprehension. Did the grant allow us to cover any administrative expenses or just direct program costs? How much time are the quarterly progress and expense reports going to take? How long is the annual report? Are we going to build all of this capacity just to lose the funding next year? 

I understand the desire for accountability and calculating the ROI of a grant. And I’ve felt the burden and uncertainty it places on nonprofit organizations that are trying to help as many people as possible. Funds given over several years with few strings attached lightens the load on nonprofits and demonstrates trust and respect for the individuals running the organizations. 

What influences how you give, volunteer, or advocate?

Being a woman. Most of the nonprofits I support focus their work on supporting the mental and physical health of girls and women.  

If you could make a $1 million gift to any organization, where would you direct your contributions and why?

The Loveland Foundation—which funds mental health services for Black women and non-binary individuals. Healthcare is a human right, including mental health care. But it can be incredibly difficult (or sometimes impossible) to access it affordably. 

Where can someone find you when you’re not at work?

You can find me at home with my husband and our sons.

What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. It’s a beautiful, weekly journey through the author’s backyard over a year. It’s given me a new appreciation for winter in Ohio and the quieter, slower moments of life. We live in a world of constant productivity and movement, and I think we all need to take more time to pause.  

If you’re looking for a fiction read, I’d recommend checking out Brandon Sanderson, Pierce Brown, and Octavia Butler.