I was recently asked why I work in the nonprofit sector and why I believe in philanthropy. The first answer that came to mind was that nonprofits make a positive impact on the community, and philanthropy fuels that impact. That impact can be profound and, in many cases, life-changing or lifesaving for youth and families who need help.
But I paused before answering. While I truly love my work because of that impact and the generosity of those who enable it, the pause led me to what happens behind the scenes to fulfill the mission of a nonprofit that runs with integrity and accountability.
In my role at UWTC, I am a witness every day to the incredibly hard work put in by our marketing team — who make sure we can enthusiastically talk about our mission; our accounting and development teams — who make sure we can confidently report on our fundraising; the program team — who delivers impact to the community; and our admins, who keep our office running.
So, my answer to the question was all about the tremendous respect I have for the people I get to work with behind the scenes who devote so much of their lives to activating and stewarding philanthropy and building toward a community where all can thrive.
- Kris Canfield*, Chief Development Officer