Supporting Development and Programmatic Teams

I've always been at the intersection of development and programmatic teams. It often felt like I was being pulled between the two worlds. With a background in child and human development and counseling, I fully understood and appreciated the programmatic world. At the time, my title was Ministry Assistant, and I supported the organization in various ways. I recognized the needs of the individuals being served, and together with the staff, we formulated solutions to meet those needs. My approach to the programmatic world was always putting people first—service first.

Then, in that same role, I had the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, such as mentoring and tutoring. Talk about nervousness. I had no clue what I was getting into, and that's when the stretching began. I was being drawn into a world that revolved around money. The people still mattered, but it seemed like money held a little more significance.

Or at least, that's what it felt like. It was as if every conversation was centered around donors, sponsors, fundraising, campaigns, and appeals. It was an adjustment and presented various challenges. I struggled to see how having and raising funds were crucial for the programs to run, but eventually, I settled into this new reality.

I started familiarizing myself with development terms such as constituents, solicitation, charitable gifts, grants, foundations, and acknowledgments, to name a few. I became highly aware of how my role as a volunteer coordinator supported the development team. Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed the ways in which my role contributed to this team. Consequently, my title changed to Ministry and Volunteer Coordinator. In this role, I grew and expanded the volunteer program initiatives, increased volunteer retention, developed and executed internship programs, coordinated numerous service projects, built deeper relationships with corporate volunteers, advocated for program efficiency, and generated buy-in for the mission, among other responsibilities.

In this role, I experienced unexpected growth, which continued over the past 6 years and led me here. Here supporting, serving, and consulting with nonprofits. If you're looking to enhance your volunteer programs, assess and identify areas where volunteers can support your organization, or if you need assistance bridging the gap between your development and programmatic teams, please reach out to me at thegoodspiritcenter@gmail.com.

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