this is what i do

"What do you do?" Many people ask: college friends, LAFSC friends, acquaintances, family relatives, friends of family relatives, and as an introductory question when meeting new people.

I work at a nonprofit organization called Good Neighbors.

And this is my job description:

• Works to sustain positive and mutually-rewarding relations between the Good Neighbors USA and its donors.
• Oversees the facilitation of donor recognition and assists in the coordination of various fund raising events related activities for potential donors.
• Oversee events logistics
• Compose letters, compile appropriate invitation lists for events, engage featured program participant, create event programs and provide program materials
• Establishes and manages donor information tracking including acknowledgments, recognitions, on-going communications and continued cultivation of past and current major donors to enhance relationships with children or projects sponsorships.
• Increases the likelihood of continued contributions through personalized mailings of progress report, newsletters, and reminder letters.
• Design, develop, manage and execute the bi-annual sponsored child progress reports.
• Collaboratively work with Development Director and Director of E-Marking Strategy.
• Update donors in both print and Web-based publications.
• Additional office support as needed.

Although the organization is really big, having offices in almost 30 countries

worldwide now, the one in Los Angeles is fairly small (a lot smaller than most offices in the field) since it just started a couple of years ago. And one of the perks of working at a small office is that I get to asked to be involved in many other things that may not fit in my job description, allowing me to learn more in depth about nonprofit organization's structures and mechanics.

I am thankful for the work I do, reminded each time as I go through the updated pictures of the children from our field offices, going through their handwritten or drawn letters for their sponsors, and when I read encouraging notes from our sponsors. I have learned a lot, and am in the process of learning more, trying to make the sponsors happier with their heartly donations.