Before interning at Kennari Consulting, I knew I wanted to go into development, but I didn’t know where to start. I knew a little bit about grant writing, but if you had asked me about a table-hosted event or a capital campaign, I wouldn’t know what you were talking about. However, through professional development and hands-on projects, Kennari Consulting has given me a broad view of the development sector and prepared me for what this career entails.
Throughout the internship, I was given time to access educational resources and shadow meetings between Kennari staff and clients. These materials helped me understand the key concepts behind fundraising. Since each team member has a unique skillset, observing multiple Kennari members allowed me to see the strategy behind many areas of development, from major giving programs to event planning to database management. In every meeting, whether client-facing or internal, the Kennari team showed respect, clear communication, and a wealth of knowledge. Learning from these professionals was inspiring!
Not only did I shadow meetings, but I also got hands-on experience working on projects for Kennari and its clients. I have a background in Communications and an interest in grant writing, and Kennari tailored my projects to my skillset by assigning me a press release, social media posts, and grant prospect research. From these meetings and projects, I learned that I enjoy more than just grant writing—I also like major donors and communication plans!
One of my greatest takeaways from this experience is that nearly every task relies on relationships. Donor bases cannot expand without building new relationships with individuals, and many foundations require a connection in order to apply for grant. Also, by attending fundraising and networking events, I learned how nonprofits can connect their mission to interactive activities and tell stories that acknowledge the humanity of the people they serve.
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work with this team, even if only for a few months. This internship has given me the toolkit I need to navigate the world of nonprofits, and I’m excited to use the skills I’ve learned at Kennari in the future!