Happy Monday! Today, I’m using a Volunteer Time Off day. @CandidDotOrg has a great policy where we get two a year for volunteering for mission-driven work. I’ve put in more than 30 hours this year to the @TuftsAlumni council, with another meeting today. (1/x)
This has been a volunteer commitment for me since I graduated in 2008, with several leadership opportunities on the council. I’ve advocated for greater inclusivity and equity in our practices, but it’s higher ed—there’s still a lot of work to do.
I’m most proud of my work through the development committee &the connected shared interest group Young Friends of Tufts Advancement, where I’ve helped show that “every gift is Jumbo 🐘” (it’s not about size) &contributed to a culture of giving. We started #TuftsGivingTuesday.
It’s been interesting to see parallels over the years to what’s happening in my work & apply learnings from one context to the other. The alumni council has been thinking about changes on top of the rest of the work...neat that @CandidDotOrg is in a time of change too.
We’re also talking about access, equity, committee structures, leadership roles, effective communications, fundraising ideas, and learning from others in both contexts. And of course, both @CandidDotOrg and @TuftsAlumni use data to inform decisions. These parallels are fun!
I give back to @TuftsUniversity because I wouldn’t be where I am without the experience as a student and as an alumni. At Tufts, I learned how to question the status quo, build relationships, and work towards something. I learned about hard work, and grit, and failure.
I learned how I wanted to show up for friends, and how I wanted to show up in the world. I got my start in nonprofits and philanthropy there. Could this all have happened elsewhere—sure. But it happened there and I’m forever grateful.
All this to say: it’s neat to give back in ways that build on, and can also help inform, what you think you know. You get something when you volunteer, and you also might have more wisdom to give than you think. What are some of your volunteer commitments, and why do you do them?
You can follow @jenbo1.
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