INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO

Internship Period: January to December, 2016

Erin Crowther, Foundation Relations Intern

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Table of Contents

Internship Forms

Internship Learning Plan……………….…………………………... 3

Student Internship Evaluation.................………………………... 5

DEAL Reflections

September 12th……………………………………………………… 8

September 26th……………………………………………………… 13

October 10th…………………………………………………………. 17

October 24th…………………………………………………………. 20

November 7th………………………………………………………… 23

November 21st………………………………………....................... 27

Final Reflection Paper

Final Reflection…………………………………………………….... 32

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INTERNSHIP

FORMS

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Form 1: Learning Plan

Learning Plan

Internship at Feeding America, Foundation Relations

Erin Crowther, Fall 2016

Learning Outcomes

1. The student will gain an understanding of the role of nonprofit organizations in

society and where she personally might fit into the nonprofit sector by working within

a large nonprofit, gathering and analyzing philanthropic data, and observing the

relationships between a major non-profit and its foundation partners and prospects.

Strategy/action: Visit the Feeding America headquarters in Chicago, meet

onsite staff, attend a meeting and introduce yourself.

o Potential Visit: November 3, 2016

Staff Huddle

o Potential Visit: November 14, 2016

Lunch Topic: The Future of Leadership in Chicago’s Public

Schools

A vice president of the Joyce Foundation will be speaking

Strategy/action: Meet with a development team member at the Feeding

America network food bank in Indianapolis (Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana).

2. The student will use communication skills effectively for varied audiences, whether

through writing, presentations, speech, and technology, with audiences including

development team members at a large nonprofit, faculty and classmates in her

program, and possible foundation partners.

Strategy/action: Brief classmates at Lilly school on Feeding America’s

mission, activities, and fundraising goals.

Strategy/action: Draft a grant proposal narrative and cover letter and do

outreach to foundations.

3. The student will use interpersonal skills to collaborate well within a team and in

partnership with the intern supervisor and will address any issues that may present

themselves.

Strategy/action: Have weekly telephone meeting with intern supervisor.

o Scheduled to take place Wednesdays at 3pm (CST), 4pm (EST).

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Strategy/action: Initiate and respond to email correspondence with intern

supervisor and other Feeding America staff in a timely manner.

Products

Organized electronic files for all current and prospective foundations partners at

Feeding America.

A low five figure grant proposal for a project to be determined.

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Form 2: Student Internship Evaluation

Student's Name: Erin Crowther

Name of Nonprofit Organization: Feeding America

Internship Dates: Beginning: 07/16/2016 Ending: 12/16/2016 Semester or Summer Session: Fall 2016

Briefly describe your responsibilities as an Intern:

As an intern with Feeding America’s Foundation Relations department, my primary responsibilities

centered on supporting the Foundations’ team in any way I could. This involved the reorganization of

Feeding America’s foundation files, researching potential grants, researching and developing summary

sheets for former and potential future donors, and evaluating and summarizing any open grants currently

held by Feeding America. I took part in weekly phone calls with my supervisor and occasionally

participated in either electronic or spoken communication with other Foundation Relations team members.

A trip to Feeding America’s National Office in Chicago additionally allowed me to put faces with names

and further develop the relationships that I had formed with my co-workers throughout the semester.

What contributions did you make to the organization during your Internship?

Throughout my time with Feeding America, I reorganized the entirety of the Foundation Relations

department’s donor and prospective donor files. This information had been entered into the system

differently by many Foundation’s employees over the years, and organizing and establishing a consistent

system will benefit the department for years to come. In addition to this project, I simultaneously updated

the Master Prospect List and Pipeline spreadsheet for the Foundations team. Another aspect of my

internship was the development of prospect information sheets. This involved evaluating research reports

created for Feeding America’s donors and pulling apart the essential information that could efficiently

update a new staff member on the Foundation in question’s history with Feeding America. I completed

roughly forty of these reports throughout my internship experience. I additionally had the opportunity to

apply for a grant from Foundation “A”, which was an amazing experience and quite possibly my favorite

part of my internship. I additionally have been researching Feeding America’s open grants and developing

summary sheets for them.

Would you recommend this organization to another PHST student seeking an Internship? Why or

why not?

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I absolutely would recommend an internship with Feeding America to any other Philanthropic Studies

student. The foundation knowledge I gained during this internship has been critical to my understanding of

the Philanthropic Sector as a whole, and having the opportunity to work for such a large and well-run

organization was phenomenal. Furthermore, I have never worked with such wonderful and helpful

employees. I was constantly offered constructive feedback on my assignments, absolutely felt free to ask

any questions or bring up any concerns I might have, and truly enjoyed being a part of the Foundations

team.

Additional comments you would like to make about this Internship site:

I cannot be grateful enough for my internship supervisor. Her knowledge of Feeding America, foundations,

and the Philanthropic Sector and her willingness to share that knowledge with me made this experience

better than I could have imagined. She was a phenomenal supervisor and I am ever so thankful for the

opportunity to work with her.

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DEAL

REFLECTIONS

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DEAL Reflection: September 12th

Describe:

Since beginning my internship with the Foundation Relations department of Feeding

America, I have been involved in multiple foundation processes and activities. My primary

projects have been centered on reorganizing the Foundation Document Directory and evaluating

the research reports of foundations in order to develop brief, yet detailed, review check lists for

each organization. Through my personal experience as well as participation in various

management classes at IUPUI, I understand the importance of organization in completing work

in an efficient manner. As Feeding America’s Foundation Relations Department has experienced

quite a lot of turnover in the past few months, having a systematized file system is critical to the

smooth transition of new employees into the department. Assigned with this task, I have had the

opportunity to delve into Feeding America’s foundation files, some dating back to the 1990s, and

organize all important documents into folders related to their general purpose. These files include

funder communication, grant applications, and reports. Combing through past documents has

offered me the chance to both understand what Feeding America’s donor foundation

relationships look like and better appreciate the work of the organization.

Creating review check lists involves examining research reports relative to each

foundation and determining the most important details about the foundation. These details may

include any existing relationships between Feeding America’s employees and those of the

foundation, any past gifts to Feeding America or a food bank, any mission alignment between

the two organizations, and the next steps Feeding America should take with the respective

foundation, whether continuing to cultivate the relationship, developing a strategy for partnership

and support, or actually beginning work on a proposal. This project not only has allowed me to

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learn about over fifty foundations within the United States of which I previously held no

knowledge, but hone my ability to connect the goals of foundations with those of Feeding

America.

Examine:

In particular, I have found my work developing review check lists for various donor

foundations to Feeding America satisfying. Prior to working at Feeding America, I had a base

understanding of the ins and outs of foundations and their role within the philanthropic sector,

but since beginning my position, my comprehension of foundations and their purpose has grown

exponentially. Developing review check lists not only has introduced me to many of the major

foundations at work within the United States, but additionally provided me insight into how

organizations maintain their relationships with donors. Linking foundation interests with those of

Feeding America has also allowed me to discover the touch points and links between different

missions and organizational values.

I do believe my success in fulfilling this project can be attributed to my supervisor at

Feeding America, my personal work ethic and attention to detail, and a solid understanding of

Feeding America’s mission and goals. I am lucky enough to be working with an incredible

supervisor who genuinely cares about my personal growth and knowledge as well as my

completion of assigned work. She has thoroughly explained every project I have been assigned

and responded promptly to any questions I have while additionally offering her time to discuss

the field of philanthropy and her own personal work experiences with me. Her constructive

criticism has been essential in my ability to grasp the intent of my projects and what an excellent

product should look like. Furthermore, with a packed schedule and activities, I have had to

exercise proper time management in order to complete my work. Planning out my week in

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advance and sticking to my schedule has allowed me to stay on task, and my attention to detail

has allowed me to complete work correctly the first time around, avoiding significant editing.

Finally, as an intern for Feeding America, one is required to take part in onboarding curriculum.

This includes videos explaining the mission of the organization, its various programs, and how

the organization functions. These videos gave me a very strong understanding of Feeding

America and its goals, mission, and values, allowing me to make better connections between

foundation missions and those of Feeding America.

Articulate Learning:

As I go through this experience, I find myself progressively learning more about the

development work of nonprofit organizations. As fundraising is an area I am potentially

interested in pursuing in the future, it has been beneficial to gain experience as an intern.

Working with the Feeding America foundation’s team has introduced me to the process of donor

cultivation and communication, the importance of recording all interactions with donor

organizations and individuals, and how engaging these organizations and people in Feeding

America’s mission can create long-term donor relationships. Furthermore, the grant making

process has become much more comprehensible to me after joining Feeding America’s team.

There is much involved in preparing a grant proposal for a foundation, including developing a

letter of inquiry, a proposal if requested, and then additional reporting and communication with

the foundation as the grant plays out. As Feeding America’s foundations team is currently

composed of two individuals plus myself, it has shown me the incredible work that is occurring

to ensure a positive future for the organization.

My experiences in this internship have highlighted one Philanthropic Studies course

which I have participated in: Learning by Giving. While Learning by Giving offered the

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opportunity to learn about the grant making process from the funder’s perspective, my work at

Feeding America has shown me the other side of the process. Reading through Feeding

America’s past grant proposals allows me to understand the importance of creating powerful,

engaging documents that grasp the reader’s connection and make them want to advance an

organization’s mission. Furthermore, while Learning by Giving offered a base understanding of

foundations, my knowledge has greatly expanded through my work with the foundations team at

Feeding America. Building off the knowledge I gained in the Learning by Giving course has

allowed me to develop a much clearer understanding of how foundations operate within the

country and what their role is within the Philanthropic Sector. This understanding allows me to

complete my job more effectively and meaningfully participate in discussions with my

supervisors.

This experience has helped me to achieve Philanthropic Studies Undergraduate Student

Learning Outcomes #3 and #4, understanding the role of nonprofits in society, particularly

gathering and analyzing data related to philanthropy, and using communication skills effectively

for varied audiences. Working for Feeding America has greatly increased my internal knowledge

of nonprofits. While one can see from the outside whether a nonprofit is accomplishing its

mission or not, it is challenging to truly understand the work that goes into making that nonprofit

a success without delving into the organization itself. Furthermore, by visiting Gleaner’s Food

Bank of Indiana, a food bank within Feeding America’s network of partner food banks, I have

been able to see the fruits of Feeding America’s labor on a more local level. Their work at the

national level allows over two hundred food banks across the United States to better achieve

their missions and goals.

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Furthermore, my work for Feeding America has been significantly centered on effective

communication skills. Whether participating in my weekly phone call with my supervisor,

conducting emails to various employees throughout the foundations department, or developing

review check lists, understanding the appropriate method and tone of communication has been

critical. While review check lists are intended to be brief documents, it is still necessary that they

communicate the most important information in a clear and efficient manner. The style of these

documents has encouraged me to improve my writing abilities, making clear statements and

building my statements without unnecessary wording. Furthermore, working remotely requires

significant email communication, and my knowledge of proper professional email messaging has

greatly increased as I work with my supervisors in Chicago.

My internship with Feeding America has already encouraged me to better develop my

time management, communication, and interpersonal skills, and I look forward to see the

upcoming products of my work as I learn more about the organization and the foundations team.

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DEAL Reflection: September 26th

Describe:

Over the past two weeks of my internship, I have continued with my work delving into

Feeding America’s foundation files, going through them and organizing them into a method that

is much more clear and easier to navigate. The Feeding America Foundations team has just hired

an additional foundations specialist, so as she is introduced more fully to her position and the

work that the Foundations team accomplishes, having an organized file system is essential to an

easier transition for her.

However, while file organization and continued work on review check lists has primarily

highlighted my work recently, I have been discussing with my professor the upcoming work I

will be completing over the next few weeks. Feeding America has several open grants for this

year, and over the next few weeks, I am to create open grant summary sheets. This involves

looking into these foundations and grants, researching general information about them, including

the grant focus, grant period, and the relationship manner, and then digging a little deeper to

understand the purpose of the grant, any requirements that may come with it, and what the

budget and the execution of the grant should look like. An additional part of my internship that

my supervisor and I have been exploring is potentially working with Gleaners Food Bank of

Indiana, Indianapolis’ local Feeding America food bank. I have been in contact with Robert

Wilson, the Director for Foundation Relations at Gleaners, and we are planning on meeting next

week to discuss how Feeding America and local food banks collaborate on philanthropic work.

Examine:

While I have yet to fully become entrenched in the work, I am enjoying researching

Feeding America’s open grants. While the research can be a bit tedious when worked on for

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several hours straight, I do enjoy grants research. Not only does it introduce me to the different

foundations throughout the United States and what they stand for, but also allows me to see how

organizations like Feeding America connect their missions to those of the foundations, working

to receive funding to complete their work. Furthermore, as my job over the past few weeks has

consisted of file organization, I am able to see the fruits of my work in how easily grant files can

be located. While before information was scattered all over the place, files are much more

organized in a system that is logical.

While this activity is ongoing, I have been successful in fulfilling it. In order to complete

this work, it is first important to understand the mission of Feeding America and the terminology

used to discuss grants. Since beginning my internship, research and past conversations with

Foundation Relations employees have sufficiently developed my philanthropic vocabulary,

allowing me to better understand what I am looking for and what I should be discussing without

having to ask another person. Understanding the roles of master prospect lists, pipeline reports,

and relationship managers gave me insight into the relationship between Feeding America and

foundations. Because of this, I have been able to locate information easily and quickly,

completing my work more efficiently than I have been able to before. When considering what

contributes to my success in open grants research, my weekly conversations with my supervisor

are at the top of the list. She is such a positive mentor, clearly explaining any assignment I am

given and ensuring that I understand it completely. Furthermore, she is willing to answer

questions at any time, whether through email or by phone. Her support and encouragement in

this process and throughout my internship has certainly been one of the best parts of this

internship, as well as one of the most beneficial in encouraging and advancing my learning and

knowledge.

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Articulate Learning:

Through my participation in this internship so far, I am learning several things about

myself. At the forefront of my thoughts is the understanding that I truly can do this work, and do

it well. As a college student, I go to classes, have tons of information thrown at me, and just try

to grasp what I can. In my busy life, it sometimes feels as though I am drowning in information,

yet do not really grasp anything. However, through this internship, I have proven to myself that

not only am I gaining an excellent understanding of philanthropy through my studies at IUPUI,

but I am able to take that information and apply it to real-life work situations. As I am

approaching graduation and experiencing the fears that come with that, knowing that I have had

this experience with Feeding America where I have been a successful and valuable intern due to

my philanthropic knowledge gained in my undergraduate studies is certainly settling.

Once again, my participation in the Learning by Giving philanthropy course has been

critically important to my success at Feeding America. While that course offered a basic

understanding of foundations, it really dove into the topic of grants and their role within the

philanthropic sector. Because I have worked with grants before in that course, it has been much

easier to adapt to the Foundations department at Feeding America and carry on intellectual

discussions about grants with their staff. Furthermore, my participation in Historical Contexts

and Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy has been critical to my success in my internship.

Due to the vast amount of writing done within that class, my written communication skills have

been well-developed, allowing me to complete written work and personal communication in a

much more efficient and professional manner. Dr. Hatcher, the professor for that course, strongly

encouraged writing and put great effort into helping students achieve proficient writing skills,

and I am so grateful to her and that class for further developing my written communication skills.

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Once again, my internship so far has helped me achieve Philanthropic Studies Student

Learning Outcomes #3 and #4, understanding the role of nonprofits in society and using

communication skills effectively for varied audiences. My grants research and work with

foundations has definitely allowed me to better understand the relationship between nonprofits

and foundations, all under the greater umbrella of the philanthropic sector. These two types of

nonprofits are both so critical to the success of the sector, and seeing how they interact with one

another and support each other’s success has been fascinating, enlightening, and essential to my

success in my future career. Furthermore, my communication abilities have been challenged

throughout this internship. As I speak on the phone with my supervisor weekly, my phone

presence has significantly improved. I previously had the tendency to get jumbled up while

participating in phone conversations, but I have improved my skills in that area through our

weekly conversations. Furthermore, through communication with the Foundation Relations

Director at Gleaners, I have had to partake in professional email communication, a skill that I

continue to develop and that will benefit me for years to come. I continue to develop these skills

with each project I partake in at Feeding America, and I am looking forward to seeing where the

rest of the internship takes me.

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DEAL Reflection: October 10th

Describe:

For the past two weeks, I have continued with my work evaluating Feeding America's

open grants. As the organization's Foundation Relations team is growing, it is important for new

members to be able to easily understand the current state of foundation relationships and what is

expected to occur over the next few months. This process has involved researching these

foundations and grants, pulling out important files and documents, and determining from those

documents the amount, time span, requirements and expectations of the grant, budgetary details,

and reporting information. The process is certainly research heavy, as Feeding America's files go

back to the early 2000s. However, my organization of the common drive in my last project has

certainly moved the process along more smoothly and efficiently. Furthermore, as one of the new

members of Feeding America’s Foundation Relations team joined just last week, I had the

opportunity to speak with her in my weekly phone call and learn about her experience in the

nonprofit sector, which is always valuable when attempting to determine my future career path in

philanthropy.

Examine:

While I am learning a great deal from my involvement in the open grants project, it does

not come without its frustrations. This project is incredibly research-heavy, and for a person like

myself who thrives on contact with others, it can become tedious after a while. However, on the

plus side, I am truly developing much better research abilities. While college assignments have

always involved research, this project takes it to a new degree and involves learning about the

structure of various nonprofit and foundation documentation, which will be invaluable in the

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future. Furthermore, my success in this project is due, in part, to my determination to finish it,

but additionally draws significantly from the organization work I completed towards the

beginning of my internship. Locating the amount of an open grant and its report deadlines would

have been frustrating if I had to fish through hundreds of documents, but organizing each

foundation’s file has significantly sped up the research process. Support from the Foundation

Relations team at Feeding America has additionally been instrumental in my success. Any

questions or concerns I have about a project are answered quickly and clearly, and the

encouragement they provide in the completion of my work is reassuring.

Articulate Learning:

Through this internship, one thing I have learned about myself is that I would prefer not

to work remotely permanently. I really miss the experience of working within an office and

having relationships with co-workers, and that is not something one experiences when working

hundreds of miles away. Furthermore, I am learning that research is not my favorite aspect of the

philanthropic field. While necessary and certainly something I can do, I much more enjoy

spending time with other people in my work. Therefore, a position in fundraising, program

development, or education might be better suited to my interests and strengths.

When considering which Philanthropic Studies courses relate to my experiences,

Historical Contexts and Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy comes to mind. In Dr.

Hatcher’s class, students had the opportunity to perform research in the archives at IUPUI, which

was a new form of research for me. During our archives project, I was essentially going through

tons of documents, looking for some small detail that would solve the puzzle for me. The process

I went through during that class is quite similar to my experience researching for Feeding

America. While I may not know where something is located or even exactly what I am looking

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for at the beginning of the process, just meticulously diving into the material can offer me the

answers I am looking for.

My work with Feeding America has additionally help me achieve several learning

outcomes of the Philanthropic Studies undergraduate program. These include Student Learning

Outcome #6, articulating philanthropic values, civic identity, and strategies for increasing

capacity to take action through identifying career options that align with one’s philanthropic

values and civic identity and examining personal and professional experiences related to

philanthropy through coursework, reflection, and feedback from others. By participating in a

wide variety of experiences through my internship, I have really had the opportunity to discover

where I fit in into the philanthropic sector. I have determined what areas of nonprofits I enjoy

and do not enjoy, had experience with foundations and the way they are run, and have been a

part of an organization that manages hundreds of member organizations along with itself.

Participating in this internship at Feeding America has allowed me to narrow down my job

interests and really develop a better idea of the direction in which I want to take my

philanthropic path. Furthermore, by speaking regularly with my supervisor and receiving her

critiques on my work, I have truly been able to reflect on my experiences, understand what I did

incorrectly or could have done better, and then make the changes necessary to ensure better work

in the future.

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DEAL Reflection: October 24th

Describe:

For the past two weeks of my internship at Feeding America, I have continued to work on

researching the organization’s open grants, evaluating their different components, and

incorporating this information into a brief, cohesive document. As the Foundation Relations

department at Feeding America is just one part of a major organization, it is vital to the success

of the nonprofit that information can be easily shared throughout the various departments.

Creating these sheets fosters transparency within the organization, as well as simplifying the

process of bringing new employees on board and updating them on Feeding America’s current

work. Additionally, as of last week, I have been given the opportunity to apply for a grant from

Foundation “A”. As I have never applied for a grant before, this opportunity is a bit daunting, but

I am looking forward to the chance to broaden my philanthropic knowledge and potentially

benefit Feeding America in such a fundamentally important way. I have additionally continued

to communicate weekly with my supervisor via a phone call.

Examine:

While seemingly one of the more simple tasks of my internship, my weekly phone calls

and email communication with my Feeding America supervisor is one of the most valuable

components. Not only are these discussions beneficial in advancing my professional

communication skills, but they additionally bring so much knowledge into my internship about

the philanthropic world. As my internship is remote, I miss out on the office relationships that

are formed in a typical work environment, as well as the casual discussions that can challenge

and develop my understanding of philanthropy. However, my regular communication with my

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supervisor makes up for this missing piece. Simply discussing philanthropy, what I am currently

learning in my classes, and any concepts I may be confused about with a person who has

extensive experience in the philanthropic field is incredibly beneficial. She is genuinely

interested in what I am learning at school and from my work with Feeding America, and actively

encourages discussion of those topics. Furthermore, she regularly introduces me to new research

on relative topics, which is essential in my goal of broadening my knowledge of philanthropy.

Her dedication to me as a student and not simply me as an employee is not only inspiring, but

incredibly helpful in preparing me for a future career in the nonprofit world.

Articulate Learning:

Through working with my supervisor specifically, my understanding of leadership has

been greatly advanced. She approaches leadership in a very pedagogical manner, which has been

very effective in guiding me through my internship. She genuinely takes interest in my personal

life and shares information about hers with me, which is essential in building positive

relationships within the workplace. Furthermore, looking back on my experience at Feeding

America so far, my knowledge of the organization and the current happenings in philanthropy

has significantly increased, which I truly do believe is due to her gentle leadership style. She

constantly introduces me to new research studies, shares with me the happenings of the

organization that are both interesting and essential to my growth as an intern, and actively

encourages questions. She is truly one of the best supervisors I have ever had in a job, and I

certainly have grown significantly as an employee through her leadership.

When considering what Philanthropic Studies courses specifically relate to my current

work with Feeding America, the one that comes to mind is, once again, Historical Contexts and

Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy. I had never before been so challenged to go below

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the surface information in my work and truly understand the root causes and essential

components of topics. An effective research methodology has been essential to my work as an

intern this semester. Research is a major part of my job, and Dr. Hatcher’s course significantly

advanced my research skills. I not only gather the base information, but look for minor details

that may have affected the outcome of a situation or explained why something occurred.

My work over the past two weeks has certainly developed my understanding of Student

Learning Outcome #5, using interpersonal skills to address issues. Working with my supervisor

has not only advanced my understanding of teamwork and collaboration within a major

nonprofit, particularly in working with different departments throughout Feeding America, but

has additionally allowed me to recognize the different forms of leadership utilized in

organizations. I certainly benefit from her form of leadership, and I am grateful for her gentle

nature and way of teaching me new things, correcting me when I have made a mistake, and

encouraging me to expand my philanthropic knowledge. She encourages me to develop and

discuss my own ideas about philanthropy, and actively engages in conversation with me about

those ideas. My interpersonal skills have definitely grown through my work with Feeding

America and their Foundation Relations department.

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DEAL Reflection: November 7th

Describe:

Over the past two weeks, my internship work has primarily been centered on completing

a grant application for Foundation “A”. This involved planning, research, and communication

with my supervisor regularly, as I had never previously applied for a grant and the online

application process was new to me. However, the opportunity to partake in a task where the

outcome is actually tangible was exciting, and I greatly enjoyed the grant-making process. I was

able to really delve into Feeding America’s Master Case, look at the different ways they develop

their proposals to foundations and corporations, and use that information to develop my own

case. Furthermore, just understanding the basic requirements of a grant proposal and being able

to compile those into one cohesive document will be instrumental in my future career.

Additionally, my internship is unique in that I am working remotely, which means I have

never actually met my supervisors and co-workers face-to-face. Two weeks ago the Foundation

Relations team at Feeding America, composed of myself and three others, was having a staff

retreat, so I had the opportunity to call in to the retreat and discuss certain topics in the field of

philanthropy. This was an invaluable experience to simply share what I have learned about

philanthropy over the past few years with those who have been in the field much longer, as well

as learn from their insights. We even discussed the Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie,

which, since I had previously read it in class, was a really interesting discussion to be a part of,

especially when comparing Carnegie’s thoughts about philanthropy with what is occurring today.

As I participated in this retreat via phone, there were certainly times where I was unable to get a

word in or did not understand the topic of discussion simply because I was not in the same space

as the rest of the group. However, my supervisor had prepared me well in advance, giving me

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material to read ahead of time so that I was able to effectively participate in discussion, and she

even called me after the retreat so we could continue the conversation and discuss any points I

had not had the opportunity to during the call.

Examine:

I, to my own surprise, actually found the grant proposal process quite satisfying and

interesting. Research is not necessarily my favorite aspect of philanthropy, but I truly did enjoy

using research to make the case for funding for an organization to which I am deeply committed.

Not only did the grant process help me understand Feeding America and the organization’s

major components more fully, but it gave me insight into how the grant process actually works

within nonprofit organizations. Additionally, while not necessarily the most humble reaction, I

was quite proud of my work after hearing my supervisor’s positive reaction to the material I had

developed. It was a wonderful experience to put forth a significant amount of work that may

actually have a monetary benefit to Feeding America.

I was successful in completing the grant application for Foundation “A”. As I only had a

week from when the project was initially proposed to me to when it was actually due, I was on a

bit of a time-crunch. Developing a timeline with my supervisor of what I would submit to her for

review on what day was incredibly valuable, allowing us both to do our specific parts without

undue stress or hastiness. My work was approved four days prior to the grant, and I submitted

the application a day before the deadline. However, while the application went efficiently, I will

not know the outcome of the grant for a while.

Articulate Learning:

Through my work over the past few weeks, I have learned quite a lot about myself and

my philanthropic interests. While grant-writing was honestly the last thing I expected to enjoy, I

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really did like and appreciate the experience. Over the past year of my life, working for Feeding

America and at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I have determined that my philanthropic

passions lie significantly in the area of education. I enjoy sharing the missions of organizations,

their programs, and their ultimate vision for the world with others, and I believe this interest did

play into my interest in grant-writing. Grant applications are intended to engage a donor

organization in one’s mission and make them want to help, and what better way to accomplish

that goal than through education. When sharing the history of Feeding America, its programs,

and its future plans, I am educating someone else on the organization and all that it

accomplishes. I believe that looking at grant-writing in this way really allowed me to enjoy the

process and be open to that aspect of the philanthropic world in the future.

When considering what philanthropic courses relate to my experiences, Learning by

Giving immediately comes to mind. As that course was entirely focused on grant-making,

students were introduced to the different aspects of the world of grants. However, the course

focused primarily on the foundation-end of grant-making, rather than the proposal side, yet

having a background in that area definitely made the process of applying for the Foundation “A”

grant much simpler.

On another note, all the Philanthropic Studies courses I have taken to this point have been

incredibly valuable to the growth of my writing skills. Writing is critical to all aspects of

philanthropy, and the papers and projects we have been assigned in these courses has challenged

me significantly to become a better writer. Furthermore, receiving feedback from professors who

have been in the field far longer than me and understand philanthropic writing on a deeper level

is an instrumental aspect of the Philanthropic Studies program. While I certainly have a ways to

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go, my writing has significantly improved over the past three years due to my participation in

various Philanthropic Studies courses.

These experiences have allowed me to further advance my grasp of Student Learning

Outcome #4, the use of communication skills effectively for varied audiences. From spending

time at Feeding America, communication skills are critical to success in the philanthropic field.

To a certain degree, almost all nonprofit happenings rely on effective communication internally

or externally, whether in between departments or with a foundation half way across the country.

Participating in grant-writing further developed that understanding and introduced me to a new

form of communication that I will likely end up using again in my future profession.

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DEAL Reflection: November 21st

Describe:

Over the past two weeks of my internship, I had the opportunity to actually travel to

Feeding America’s National Office in Chicago. As I work remotely, this opportunity was a

wonderful experience. I have been collaborating with my supervisors and members of the

Foundation team since February of 2016, but this was the first chance I had to actually meet with

them face-to-face. During my time at the National Office, I not only got to meet with my

supervisor, but additionally interact with individuals from Feeding America’s Corporate Giving

team and Major Gifts team. As I am not certain what area of nonprofit work I would like to get

involved in when I graduate, the opportunity to discuss my future with individuals in all areas of

nonprofit work and hear their paths to Feeding America was invaluable.

While my visit not only offered me a deeper understanding of how Feeding America

operates as a national organization, I also was introduced to the philanthropic community of

Chicago. I attended a Chicago City Club luncheon with my supervisor, where the Vice President

of the Joyce Foundation gave a talk on the current status of public schools and education within

Chicago. It was fascinating to see how different influential organizations and individuals come

together to solve city-wide problems. It gave me a greater appreciation for Indianapolis’

philanthropic community and the progress it is able to make due to connections and a shared

interest in improving the city for the better.

Examine:

Visiting the Feeding America offices in person was perhaps my favorite part of my

internship so far. There is something so fulfilling in seeing how the small part one plays in a

major organization fits in to the wider picture. Speaking with different members of Feeding

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America in different departments and hearing how they interacted with the Foundations

Department clarified the importance of the work I am completing, as it truly does have a

significant impact on Feeding America and its success. While I knew this to be true, it was much

easier to understand and comprehend when actually physically in the National Office.

Furthermore, the opportunity to meet my co-workers and supervisors in person was wonderful.

They were just as wonderful and helpful in person as they had been electronically or over the

phone all semester, and it significantly strengthened our team connections and allowed me to

gain insight into how everyone works together to accomplish different tasks. While driving to

and from Chicago in one day was not necessarily my favorite aspect of the trip, I am so grateful

that I was able to go. I truly do feel as though I can approach my work with a newfound

perspective and connect with the Foundations team on a stronger level.

Articulate Learning:

After my Chicago trip, one thing that has become increasingly clear to me about

nonprofit organizations is the importance of collaboration and cohesiveness. Nonprofits would

not be successful with just a Foundations Department, a Major Gifts Team, or the Accounting

Department. They require each department, composed of individuals with different personalities

and skills sets, to be successful in their work. While this may seem obvious, it is an aspect of

nonprofits one does not see firsthand unless working directly in the organization, and I really

appreciated the opportunity to witness the collaboration of these different groups to make

Feeding America something great. As I love working with other people and communicating, my

trip to Chicago only increased my excitement for the work I will have the opportunity to

participate in after graduation.

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My Chicago visit truly incorporated the majority of the Philanthropic Studies courses I

have taken so far. Classes like Learning by Giving and Ethics have really allowed me to develop

verbal communication skills and understand the appropriate ways to act and interact in the

nonprofit environment. Philanthropy and Civic Engagement greatly enhanced my understanding

of social service nonprofits and the roles they play in modern society. Historical Contexts and

Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy developed my written communication skills more

than any other course I have taken, and all of the above courses challenged my research abilities.

What was so wonderful about this experience was having the opportunity to really understand

why we take each Philanthropic Studies course that we do, and what role each plays in

developing the skills necessary to bring real value to a nonprofit organization in the future. This

trip to Chicago really showed me how prepared I am to go out into the nonprofit sector thanks to

the courses I have been taking over the past three years.

As previously discussed, my most recent experiences with Feeding America have greatly

enhanced my comprehension of Student Learning Outcome #3, understanding the role nonprofits

play in society. While I have grown up in Indianapolis and have a strong understanding of how

the community’s nonprofits work together, travelling to Chicago and exploring its philanthropic

community gave me insight into how these same principles apply to another place. Furthermore,

as Feeding America is a social service organization, speaking with employees outside my

department and learning how the organization interacts with the government and the private

sector especially greatly enhanced my understanding of the roles and relationships between the

different societal sectors. As my visit took place just after the presidential election, my

interpersonal skills were also challenged and developed as I navigated the political environment

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of Chicago. Overall, this trip was a phenomenal experience for me, and I look forward to

returning to the Feeding America offices at some point in the future.

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FINAL

REFLECTION

PAPER

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Final Reflection

Introduction:

For the past semester, I have had the opportunity to work as a Foundation Relations

Intern with Feeding America, the third largest nonprofit within the United States. A hunger-relief

focused organization, Feeding America is the national umbrella organization working with a

network of over 200 foodbanks throughout the country, dedicated to alleviating hunger,

preventing food insecurity, and leading ground-breaking research projects on hunger within the

country and how this significant epidemic can be solved. As explained on their website, Feeding

America envisions a hunger-free America, and they intend to accomplish this goal through their

“mission to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and

engage our country in the fight to end hunger.” They have various programs centered on

different touchpoints in the hunger spectrum, including child and senior hunger, and have

developed unique and effective methods of addressing these groups.

Learning Plan:

At the beginning of my internship this semester, my internship supervisor and I

developed three specific learning outcomes that I would be expected to meet through my

participation in this internship with Feeding America. The first outcome involved gaining an

understanding of the role of nonprofit organizations in society and where I personally might fit

into the nonprofit sector by working within a large nonprofit, gathering and analyzing

philanthropic data, and observing the relationships between a major non-profit and its foundation

partners and prospects. I do believe I was successful in achieving this outcome. Prior to this

internship, I had limited knowledge of foundations and their role within the Philanthropic Sector,

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but working with foundations over the past few months, evaluating their missions and granting

methods, and even applying for a grant all greatly enhanced my understanding of the world of

foundations. I was introduced to the management style of a major nonprofit organization

working within the United States to achieve their mission, and I had the opportunity to speak

with members of Feeding America’s different departments on a visit to Chicago. Speaking with

people from accounting, marketing, corporate relations, program development, and more truly

gave me stronger insight into all of the moving pieces that come into play to maintain a

successful nonprofit like Feeding America.

Furthermore, speaking with each of these individuals during my visit was incredibly

beneficial in determining where I personally fit into the philanthropic sector. This internship

helped me discover my passion for educating others on the mission of Feeding America and the

impact their support can make, and therefore opened up to me another potential job route within

my philanthropic journey.

As my internship with Feeding America’s Foundation Relations department included a

great deal of research and analysis, I was able to significantly improve my research skills and

even enjoy the research process in some cases. Much of the research I completed was centered

on various foundations working with Feeding America, and evaluating these relationships

allowed me to better understand the donor communication system utilized by the Foundations

team, such as the division of the team into relationship managers and secondary relationship

managers for the various foundations with which they were working.

The two actions developed to help me achieve this initial goal were visiting Feeding

America’s National Office in Chicago, and meeting with a development team member at

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, a Feeding America food bank. While I was able to travel to

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Chicago and have an amazing experience exploring the control center for all of the nonprofit’s

work, I was unable to ever make contact with a development team member at Gleaners.

However, if I stay on with Feeding America this upcoming semester, I am hoping to perhaps

continue the pursuit of this meeting to learn more about Feeding America’s work at the local

level.

The second established learning outcome of my internship experience was evaluating and

using the appropriate communication skills effectively, whether through writing, presentations,

speech, and technology, with audiences including development team members at a large

nonprofit, faculty and classmates in my program, and possible foundation partners. Two

determined strategies to achieve this goal included sharing the work of Feeding America with my

friends, family, and classmates and drafting a grant proposal narrative. Through my

accomplishment of these strategies, I do feel as though I met this goal as well. Communication is

one of my stronger skills to begin with, but the weekly communication I had with my supervisor

over the phone, the emails I drafted to other Foundation Relations team members, and the

products I created that would be shared with future employees all challenged and advanced those

skills. Furthermore, discussing my internship regularly with my parents, friends, Lilly Family

School of Philanthropy classmates, and the School of Philanthropy’s Director of Student

Services’ freshman learning community, I really had the opportunity to develop my “pitch,” so to

speak, for Feeding America and their work and present the nonprofit and its work much more

clearly and eloquently. My work to develop a grant proposal for Foundation “A” significantly

enhanced my business communication skills. Evaluating the proper language to present Feeding

America’s programs, accomplishments, and objectives was a challenging, yet rewarding task that

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really allowed me to gain insight into how nonprofits and foundations communicate back and

forth.

My final learning outcome centered on using interpersonal skills to collaborate well

within a team and in partnership with the intern supervisor, in turn addressing any issues that

may present themselves. My weekly phone calls with my supervisor as well as regular email

correspondence with the Foundation Relations team was vital to my success in achieving this

goal. Phone conversation is certainly an area I can improve in, yet relying on those phone calls to

set my schedule and activities for the week helped me develop better, more productive, and

concise phone skills. Furthermore, as email communication is critical in any business

environment today, communicating primarily in that manner allowed me to hone the proper

composition of a professional email.

DEAL Reflection:

Describe

For the past semester, I have been working as a member of Feeding America’s

Foundation Relations team. In this position, my primary role has been to support the department

through the completion of various assignments and support work. Foundation Relations is

responsible for all of Feeding America’s grants from Foundations, and in this, the department

incorporates a significant amount of research and communication, both written and verbal, into

their work. As I have relatively strong communication skills and past experience with research,

this position was a perfect fit. As an intern, my primary responsibilities centered on supporting

the Foundations’ team in any way I could. This involved the reorganization of Feeding

America’s foundation files, researching potential grants, researching and developing summary

sheets for former and potential future donors, and evaluating and summarizing any open grants

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currently held by Feeding America. I took part in weekly phone calls with my supervisor and

occasionally participated in either electronic or spoken communication with other Foundation

Relations team members. A trip to Feeding America’s National Office in Chicago additionally

allowed me to put faces with names and further develop the relationships that I had formed with

my co-workers throughout the semester.

A large project I completed was the reorganization of the entirety of the Foundation

Relations department’s donor and prospective donor files. This information had been entered

into the system differently by many Foundation’s employees over the years, and organizing and

establishing a consistent system will benefit the department for years to come. In addition to this

project, I simultaneously updated the Master Prospect List and Pipeline spreadsheet for the

Foundations team. Another aspect of my internship was the development of prospect information

sheets. This involved evaluating research reports created for Feeding America’s donors and

pulling apart the essential information that could efficiently update a new staff member on the

Foundation in question’s history with Feeding America. I completed roughly forty of these

reports throughout my internship experience. I additionally had the opportunity to apply for a

grant from Foundation “A”, which was an amazing experience and quite possibly my favorite

part of my internship, and for the past several weeks I have been researching Feeding America’s

open grants and developing summary sheets for them.

Examine

Considering all of the work I have completed over the past semester, I do believe that

applying for an actual grant was one of the most fulfilling aspects of this internship. As I had

never applied for a grant before, this opportunity really allowed me to form a better

understanding of the granting system within the Philanthropic Sector. As I enjoy persuasive

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writing, grant-writing also gave me the opportunity to use that skill to advance Feeding

America’s mission and work, which was rather exciting. Educating people on the work of

Feeding America is one of my favorite parts of working there, and having the opportunity to do

so in order to receive funding put a different twist on that experience. Having the opportunity to

oversee the process from start to finish opened up a new side of philanthropy to me that I

actually quite enjoyed.

While the grant has yet to be approved or denied, I owe a significant amount of my

success in the completion of this project to my supervisor. She was incredibly helpful throughout

the process, answering any questions I had and offering constructive criticism on the work that I

had submitted for review. However, even with this oversight, she really did allow me to take on

this project in full and offered me relative autonomy throughout the process. While helping me

locate the appropriate resources to complete the grant application, she was very willing to allow

me to take charge of the project.

Articulate Learning

This internship opportunity really allowed me to learn a great deal about myself in the

professional work environment, which I am so grateful for. Entering the workforce after

graduation is a perpetual fear of mine, yet having this opportunity to work with a real nonprofit

organization in a helpful capacity helped me prove to myself that I am prepared for whatever

future job I accept. Furthermore, while I have always been interested in education, this

experience further highlighted my desire to incorporate education into my future profession.

Whether this means actually working within a nonprofit’s education department, teaching others

about philanthropy, or working as a fundraiser and educating donors on the importance of a

nonprofits mission, I understand that education is an aspect I would like to pursue in the future.

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On another note, this internship has reiterated to me that I have found the right profession for

myself. When I was coming to college, I had no idea what degree I wanted to pursue, and I

selected philanthropy somewhat on a whim when I could not make a decision. However, the

fulfillment that I have gotten every day from working for Feeding America has really shown me

that I am in the right place. I love interacting with other employees, sharing the organization’s

mission with others, and just being a part of an environment that is centered on hope. I am so

grateful to have received this opportunity.

While specific Philanthropic Studies courses have certainly played stronger roles than

others in preparing me for my work at Feeding America, I absolutely believe that the

combination of all of the courses I have taken to this point was critical to my success in my

internship. Each course is highly centered on developing excellent communication skills while

learning about various aspects of philanthropy, and communication, both written and verbal, has

been essential in my internship. Specifically, courses like Learning by Giving prepared me well

for the grant writing aspect of my internship, while also introducing me to foundations and their

role in the Philanthropic Sector. Having that background allowed me to meld into the Foundation

Relations department much more easily. Furthermore, the research aspect of Historical Contexts

and Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy really helped me develop my research skills,

which were essential to my internship. The majority of the assignments I completed at Feeding

America involved some aspect of research, and having that background allowed me to complete

these tasks more efficiently. As I mentioned, the well-rounded selection of courses offered by the

School of Philanthropy really has prepared me well for future nonprofit work, but Learning by

Giving and Historical Contexts and Contemporary Approaches to Philanthropy certainly gave

me an edge in this specific internship that was incredibly helpful.

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Through this internship, I have successfully achieved Student Learning Outcomes #3, 4,

and 5 of the Undergraduate Philanthropic Studies program. These include understanding the role

of nonprofit organizations within society, using communication skills effectively for varied

audiences, and using interpersonal skills to address issues. Working for such a large nonprofit as

Feeding America really allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of human

service nonprofits to the country, and my work within the Foundation Relations department

further developed my understanding of how nonprofits work and interact with foundations.

Furthermore, during my visit to the Feeding America National Office in Chicago, I had the

chance to speak with corporate relations officers, who helped me see the side of fundraising and

nonprofit work that relies on relationships with the private sector. Because of my remote status,

using communication skills effectively for varied audiences became essential to my success as an

intern. As I could not speak with individuals face-to-face, utilizing email, phone calls, and

platforms such as Skype was critical.

However, while I would not like to work remotely permanently, I do believe that this

experience has allowed me to further develop my communication skills. I have had limited

experience with communication outside of in-person discussion, and this internship really

allowed me to expose myself to the different forms of communication available to me and

develop new marketable skills. Furthermore, my interpersonal skills were benefitted by working

with a diverse group of individuals in a diverse environment. Issues such as the presidential

election regularly came up in conversation throughout the semester, and having the skills to

navigate potentially turbulent conversations was beneficial to my experience.

On another note, this internship experience helped me achieve IUPUI’s Principle of

Undergraduate Learning #3, the integration and application of knowledge. Any internship is

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going to offer a real world work experience to a student, requiring them to put to the test all of

the knowledge that they have gained through their college experience. The integration and

application of knowledge into my internship was critical to my success in my work. I have

developed so many different skills from my various courses over the past three years, and

incorporating these skills into my actual work experience allowed me to excel. Whether written

or verbal communication, research skills, general knowledge of the philanthropic sector, or

behaving properly in a professional environment, all of these skills were tested by my internship.

However, because of the preparation I have received at IUPUI, I was prepared to apply these

skills to different environments and remain adaptable, which greatly enhanced my transition into

work at Feeding America. I could not have felt better prepared and comfortable in taking on the

tasks assigned to me, and I owe that preparation to the courses I have taken at IUPUI and within

the School of Philanthropy.

Skills:

When considering three specific marketable skills that I developed throughout this

internship, adaptability, communication, and analytical capabilities come to mind. As a student

holding two jobs, adaptability is critical in my life. I have to be open to changes in my daily

schedule, be flexible in my availability, and occasionally put of personal issues in order to

accomplish other tasks. However, this skill was invaluable during my internship, and will

continue to be in the workforce. Because I worked remotely, my schedule was not a typical 9am

to 5pm job, and occasionally, in order to participate in activities my supervisor wished me to, I

had to work around my school schedule and various external commitments. Yet, I do think my

success in this endeavor further enhanced my adaptability to certain situations and will benefit

me in my future career.

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Communication skills were additionally incredibly important in my internship.

Regardless of what project I was working on, communication was involved at some level, and

this challenged me to enhance and improve my ability to communicate efficiently and effectively

with others, regardless of the medium being used. The modern workforce relies of effective

communication, and I do believe that this skill will be beneficial in my future pursuit of a job.

My ability to analyze various documents, reports, and situations was also critical

throughout my internship. I often was required to take large research reports and condense them

into brief summaries, and learning to pull out the important information that people are looking

for is essential in creating effective summaries. In the future, I do believe that my ability to

effectively analyze different reports or scenarios and respond appropriately based on that

analysis will be a marketable skill when entering the workforce.

Conclusion and Next Steps:

After working for Feeding America over the past several months in an internship

capacity, I am unbelievably grateful for the knowledge and confidence I have gained through this

process. I do not think I would be alone in stating that many college seniors fear entering the

workforce due to the concern that they are unprepared for a real position within an organization.

However, working for Feeding America has shown me how well the IU Lilly Family School of

Philanthropy has prepared me for entering the nonprofit sector and bringing real value to an

organization. The School of Philanthropy has encouraged the skills of leadership,

communication, and adaptability, all of which are essential in any job and allowed me to excel in

my intern position. My professionalism and work ethic were both challenged during this

experience, and working through any difficulties that came up has made me a stronger person

and a better student.

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As I finish this intern position, I am looking to stay on with Feeding America for at least

next semester. I have been working for the organization for roughly a year now, and through that

time I have come to understand many of the moving parts of this large organization and have a

good grasp of the duties of the Foundation Relations department. My supervisor and I spoke

about my potential continuance with Feeding America, and she is currently looking into funding.

However, regardless of whether I continue on with Feeding America or pursue a new position, I

know that the skills and competencies I have gained over the past semester will carry with me to

any future position I take. This experience has proven to me that I truly am in the right

profession and has caused me to look forward to my future career with excitement and intrigue.