Biggest Challenges Faced by a Philanthropy Officer at UNICEF USA
Bridget's biggest challenge as a UNICEF USA Philanthropy Officer is persuading donors to support children in other countries whom they will never meet, unlike organizations that can offer in-person interactions showcasing their work. The difficulty lies in respectfully sharing the needs of these children and their communities in a way that compels support without exploiting or demeaning them, while competing with the appeal of local causes with readily visible impacts.
International Development, Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, Cross-Cultural Communication, Ethical Storytelling
Advizer Information
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Bridget Maxim
Philanthropy Officer
UNICEF USA
University of Southern California, 2013
University of Missouri St. Louis (Secondary Education); University of Southern California (MBA)
Environmental & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Fundraising for international causes requires creative strategies to connect donors with beneficiaries they will never meet.
2. Building trust and conveying the needs of people in other countries respectfully and without exploiting or demeaning them is crucial.
3. The challenge lies in effectively communicating the impact of donations and inspiring action when donors cannot witness the work firsthand, as they might with local initiatives.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
That's a great question. At a place like UNICEF, we are running programs for children in other countries, not here in the US. We're asking people to give to those they will never meet.
This can be rewarding, but also incredibly challenging. Many other non-profits, like fundraisers at UCLA, can bring donors to campus to meet a student. They can have in-person interactions to see the work firsthand.
We have very limited opportunities for people to see our international work. It's challenging because we can't take everyone to see the difference they are making.
So, the question is how do we share the needs of people in other countries? We need to do it in a way that doesn't exploit children or come across as knowing what's best for them.
It's also important not to demean these populations. We aim to tell their story respectfully and with dignity. This way, our donors and supporters feel compelled to make a difference.
We know they could easily choose to make a difference locally and see firsthand the work they are making possible.