College is often described as a time to figure out your interests—and for me, that process has been anything but linear. Over the past three years at Manhattan University (formerly Manhattan College), I’ve made a concerted effort to explore a variety of fields that intrigue me—journalism, law, sports production, youth activism, and even fashion modeling. Heading into my senior year, I wanted to keep exploring different career paths while also challenging myself in a professional setting.
I stumbled upon The Non-Profit Alliance (TNPA) Leading EDGE program one day while desperately searching for summer internships. The opportunity stood out to me because, at the time, I was a brand ambassador for Truth Initiative, a nonprofit focused on preventing youth tobacco addiction. I enjoyed the work I was doing with Truth and was curious to learn more about the broader nonprofit world.
I applied to a few organizations through the Leading EDGE Program, including Concord Direct—a nonprofit fundraising agency based in Concord, New Hampshire. What initially caught my eye was their company values: curiosity, collaboration, and innovation, to name a few. I was super excited (and a little surprised) when I was contacted for an interview! I spoke with Cindy Kilgore and Kate Napoli, who immediately made me feel comfortable and encouraged from the moment we met. I didn’t know it at the time, but Concord Direct would become the focus of my career and personal development for the summer.
I logged onto Zoom on the first day feeling a little nervous but mostly excited to start learning. From the very beginning, everyone was welcoming—taking time to introduce themselves and walk me through the company’s internal systems. I felt embraced right away.
Concord Direct crafted a comprehensive and engaging internship experience. I discovered a whole side of the nonprofit industry I didn’t even know existed: fundraising agency work. Over the course of 10 weeks, I rotated through several departments, including sales and marketing, digital and direct mail campaigns, creative, client services, and strategic planning. I learned how Concord Direct approaches client campaigns—from creative brainstorming to budget and strategy, and everything in between. Before this internship, I assumed direct mail was outdated, but I now understand it’s a cornerstone of fundraising for many organizations. Additionally, I was encouraged to step outside my comfort zone, using unfamiliar platforms like Asana for project management and finding new ways to work with systems I already knew well, like Google Drive.
One of my biggest takeaways from my time at Concord Direct was the importance of collaborative problem solving. As someone who has done several group projects for school, I have had varying experiences with working collaboratively in the past. With Concord Direct, however, it was refreshing to observe how people with different skills and expertise can come together to create something impactful. Everyone works together to deliver meaningful work for nonprofit clients, and it was clear that their values really guide what they do.
I want to give a huge thank you to everyone at Concord Direct for making this such an enriching experience, and a special thanks to Cindy for her mentorship and guidance throughout the entire process. I’m incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity and excited to carry everything I’ve learned into my future endeavors.