By Kristin Clark Miller, NIU Foundation and NNGO Staff Associate
Do you remember being little and having an adult ask you what you wanted to be when you grow up? I clearly recall aspirations to be a teacher, an archeologist, an advertising professional, or possibly the first female President of the United States. It was the latter that stayed with me the longest. I turned my focus to a life of civic or public service, and I honed my area of study as a wide-eyed college student. I spent four years studying Political Science at Bradley University and was pretty convinced of following a path that included law school and eventually running for public office. Then I graduated…and none of that happened.
The first step in my non-profit career path was a leap of faith. I am personable, positive, and a natural relationship builder. Looking back, it was some hometown connections and good interview skills that helped me land my first job just a few weeks out of college. I was proud to start my role as a Corporate Relations Associate at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It was a great first job, and I truly had no intention of staying there long. I’d made the decision to forgo law school, but I still wanted to be working in politics or on an election campaign – something aligned with what I studied in school.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had taken the first step on my true career path. Many campaigns were in front of me, just not the kind that I dreamt of.
Nearly 25 years later, I often wonder if I would have chosen a major such as NNGO Studies. I have always had a passion for helping people and making a difference in the world. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to a career in the non-profit sector and specifically as a development officer. I have had the great privilege of raising millions of dollars to help advance the missions of over a dozen non-profit organizations. Passion. People. Purpose. Those three words never get less exciting to me.
Today there is no shortage of people who need assistance. This means that the non-profit sector will continue to grow and become more specialized. When I was joining the ranks as a young professional, the mobility pathway was quite clear: work hard, and you can be promoted quickly. Ask questions and learn from the amazing leaders that hired me. Working in large organizations not only gave me a knowledge base rooted in best practices, but it also afforded the opportunity to learn a little bit of everything: Grant Writing, Corporate/Foundation Relations, Special Events, Annual Giving, and Major Gifts.
I imagine that many students in programs such as NNGO Studies are focused on positions that will provide a vast amount of experience in the sector – Marketing, Finance, Fundraising, Board Relations – that will lead straight to an Executive Director role. Will their career trajectory be more clear and linear because of their course of study? Or will they get in the trenches and decide to specialize?
My path has included working in the Arts and Culture sector as well as starting my own consulting business. This profession has allowed for flexibility as my life changed, and it has always given me a new set of challenges and goals. Before joining the team at the NIU Foundation, I had no experience in Higher Education fundraising. It was time to learn again. Another turn on my crooked road.
It is an exciting time to be a development officer in Higher Education. Not without challenges, of course, but colleges and universities have never needed their philanthropic partners more than they do at this moment. The shifting funding model for state institutions guarantees that those of us in front-line engagement roles will be needed long into the future.
As our students and their peers across the country graduate from programs that align with the non-profit sector, I know they will succeed. They are more prepared than ever and need not be worried if their career path takes some twists and turns.
Whether your path is the yellow brick road or guided by a Magic 8 ball, I know one thing to be true: Our work makes a difference, and that campaign is one I will always raise my hand to support.
