Every May, the senior class at Germantown Academy is sent off to participate in what is known as “Senior Project”. Each student does something different related to a certain interest of theirs. Each student has a “host” they shadow like a doctor, lawyer, or teacher. I have always been interested in the inner workings of nonprofit organizations. My first two weeks into the project were bumpy as my host did not reply to any of my emails. I needed to find a new host, so my advisor and I reached out to the organization. After one email, the GBS|CIDP Foundation International saved the day.
They excitedly welcomed me into the office. I was quickly put into meetings to get to know each person and what they do. Everyone was so happy and willing to help me, making the transition into a new area very smooth. Each person is so dedicated to what they do. Many people were out of the office traveling to foreign countries to recruit more volunteers, because GBS, CIDP, and MMN can affect anyone, not just Americans. The founder of the foundation, Estelle Benson, continues to come into the office at 94 years old!
Every day came alongside a new and interesting task. I learned how to properly file important documents, send out letters and postcards to donors, and see the day-to-day of a nonprofit organization. Most importantly, I was able to sit in on many different meetings with an array of topics. The meetings varied from effective use of software to how to get more donors. Some meetings had special guests who were experts in their specific field. Despite meeting people who had decades of experience in a certain field, some of the most valuable interactions I had were with the younger workers.
My cubicle-mate, Oreal Douglas, is a patient and community engagement organizer. I could see her take calls from various patients with their concerns and quickly provide them with a helpful solution. She aided in hosting “Coffee Chats” with different groups, like the veterans with GBS group, and let their voices be heard. In these meetings, she and other employees take feedback and use it to improve certain aspects of the foundation.
I worked very closely with the Development team and got to see some of the things they do to keep the organization running. Kaitlyn, the donor relations manager, and Charlotte, a development and marketing associate, were extremely supportive as I was learning the ropes of the foundation. I was extremely impressed at how both knew the donors on a personal level and were able to advocate for them during meetings.
Overall, my experience at the GBS|CIDP Foundation International was very transformative. I was able to do more than the average intern activities. I was able to dive in and really get to know what a future in a nonprofit organization would look like. I will be forever grateful to the GBS|CIDP Foundation International for being so open to letting me in and allowing me to immerse myself in the environment.
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