People often ask how I found my way into nonprofit fundraising, and for me, the answer begins long before I ever entered this field. I am a social worker first. Early in my career, I worked with children who had experienced abuse and neglect. I loved those kids, but I also lived with a constant worry: What happens when they turn 18? Where do they go when the system ends? Who protects them when childhood services stop, but homelessness and trauma continue?
That question changed everything for me.
I made the decision to move into work with teens and young adults experiencing homelessness because I wanted to be part of the solution, not just a witness to the problem. That’s where I found nonprofit development: a place where I could combine advocacy, compassion, and resources into real change. I realized I could help build systems that prevent homelessness and support people in rebuilding their lives—with dignity…