My name is Ally Bright and I recently got back into the Philanthropy world.
I had wanted to be a teacher my whole life and went to BSU for Social Studies Education. At BSU I randomly heard of a job where you got paid to make phone calls. As the biggest extrovert you can meet, I was intrigued and that began my journey at Ball State's foundation for 4 years. I became their top caller and won the Student Philanthropy Award for 2020. I was the right hand woman of our Associate Development Officer.
As a teacher for 3 years, fundraising followed me. I was on many committees and initiatives that needed money and I was not afraid to ask for it. I loved the coordination, relationships, and successes of grants, corporate sponsorships procured and events funded plus funds raised for students. I decided I wanted this to be my full time gig.
I left teaching and was welcomed into the Philanthropy world with open arms from some amazing women in the industry in Indiana. I met 3 amazing mentors who I credit for my successes this year in Philanthropy. Their time talking with me, advising me, and networking with me helped me grow over just a month to get a job as a Development Coordinator at Ascension St. Vincent. They advised me to join Charitable Advisors, the Indiana AFP chapter, and to understand the connectivity of this industry.
I have now been able to grow and drink from the fire hose quickly in the 3 weeks in this position with all of the information that I can. I have read AHP journals, attended Raiser Edge seminars, and met with leaders in Grateful Patient Fundraising to benefit from their generosity of time and knowledge. I am grateful for the snowball effect of my previous relationships built leading to more doors being opened. Being an extrovert and go getter has led me to greater confidence in this new journey.
My work in the nonprofit space is one within events, corporate sponsorships, and grateful patient fundraising. There are many growth opportunities within joining AFP and AHP. I advise making connections, having philanthropy be a part of every conversation and seeking out all growth opportunities. Even if they are not what you currently do for work, you could oversee someone in a role different from your path or change roles. You can take in other knowledge from people's experiences that you did not know you did not know.