Development Work in DC
Jacob
Experience Information
Employer: United Planning Organization
Job Title: Development Department Intern
Major: Political Science
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
The United Planning Organization (UPO) is the community action organization of DC involved with helping low-income DC area residents achieve self-sufficiency. They provide a variety of opportunities in areas like job training, early childhood education, youth development, family and community services, case management and referrals to other supportive services. Each program is comprehensive in an attempt to tackle all the hardships of poverty. For example, home construction is one job-training program where low-income adults receive a relevant and hands-on learning experience. Alongside the curriculum, a financial counselor guides the students through handling finances since many low-income people have no prior understanding of bank accounts or checking. With the added assistance, students are able to triumph after the course without falling victim to other parts of survival. This comprehensive nature is present throughout each department and reflexive of the UPO's attempt to improve the lives of DC's impoverished and unite people with opportunities.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I interned in the Development Department of the United Planning Organization (UPO). The aim of the department is to secure increased private funding of the UPO's programs. After the government shutdown and the general sequester mentality of Washington, the large amounts of DC and federal government funding became vulnerable. Therefore, the Development Department was established to steer UPO funding towards the private sector where money is more secure and has less stipulations. My primary role over the summer was the main project manager of the upcoming online auction. In this role, I helped procure donations reaching out to private businesses and UPO connections for support. There was a heavy amount of messaging involved as my supervisor and I constructed email and phone scripts for our methods of reaching out. The different types of potential donors required unique arrangements of information and different stresses in that information as well. I also compiled item images, descriptions and company logos for the donated items and their online pages. The online auction site also involved an auction homepage which I played part in crafting. I also handled some other projects as the Development intern. One type included research of potential partners for future UPO projects. For example, the UPO was hoping to begin an IDA program to help low-income residents save money. This required a partnership with a private matcher of the funds, so I conducted research on financial institutions to determine a likely partner in this arrangement. I searched for their philanthropic activity in hopes of finding an organization who participated in a similar program in the past making them most viable to approach. Beyond research, I also attended many meetings with UPO department heads to discuss fiscal year 2015 funding along with various conferences about development strategies and related non-profit business.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Throughout my experience, I gained a whole host of knowledge and fostered many skills related to development work, non-profit management and professionalism. First, I was exposed to the art of networking. Networking has been tossed at me before, but at the UPO and in DC generally, I obtained a full understanding of techniques and importance of the skill. I was always skeptical of networking thinking it was artificial and challenging to ask favors of people I met for sometimes only five minutes. Though, I realized I was thinking about it wrong. Networking is a continual partnership for advancing your career, business and other interests. Cultivating connections is not heartless either. It can be as easy as meeting for coffee to ask them questions about their field or how they enjoy living in DC. Hearing the connections just UPO co-workers had themselves made me realize networking is an incredible tool to use to advance. Someone also showed me the potential of LinkedIn, so I will be fully utilizing that tool very soon. I had in some form been networking my whole life, but my experiences in DC gave me ideas to expand my network in other ways as well. Asking for donations gave me greater confidence and understanding of using conversations to my benefit. In my follow up calls to potential donors, I always needed to strategize my approach. Some donors may be swayed by certain information over others, and I needed to have the necessary facts ready depending on where the conversation headed. It was here where I got the value in being opportunistic. My supervisor told me that in development work a 'no' does not mean no; it means you have a conversation and your strategy didn't work. As a result, thinking opportunistically is a skill I practiced while making asks. Lastly, I learned how a non-profit functions from a development angle and how it cultivates continual donors. Development work requires you be aware of department programs and routinely in touch with the grant writer, finance and communications departments. In joining my supervisor at these meetings, I generally could see others work and the operations of their respective departments. Donors can also be cultivated by bringing them into this family. When they feel like their donation has made an impact for the cause, they are more willing to donate routinely and in other ways besides cash. Interesting how concepts from psychology and communications find their way into non-profit and development work.
Favorite Part of the Experience
I really enjoyed my internship experience. One part in particular was working under a great supervisor in a very welcoming non-profit. I worked pretty closely with my supervisor and traveled with him around DC to conferences and online auction business, so I had many chances to get to know him and hear his experiences. He was a very smart guy and had lots to teach me. For instance, I definitely appreciated his opportunism. He would take a result and see ways to use it for something better. We also shared some good laughs picking out fur headbands for the online auction and getting lost around a mall trying to find the car. I became an emerging kosher expert with his stories of Jewish life, food and wine too. My other co-workers at the UPO were wonderful as well. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. They all were very passionate about the work and had great personalities making it a joy to work there.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
In review of this experience, I am still undecided on my specific career goals. Though, my options are much more defined after this summer. Working at the UPO, I have a clearer example and definition of poverty and how low-income communities operate. I also better understand the differences between hands-on non-profit work versus the more policy driven government side. Through my experience at the UPO and the Washington Center combined, I am interested in seeking a position in government to feel the different perspective. Whether I try a job on Capitol Hill or in the State Department, I would like to remain involved in community development work. Non-profits will remain on the table, but after a government experience, I will have something better to compare. What I do know for certain is I plan to further develop my skills in networking, making sales pitches and spotting opportunities. All are impactful skills in any field, and I will continue what I practiced in DC to become a successful professional.