Career Path Of A Philanthropy Officer At UNICEF USA
Bridget's career path began with a geology degree and a passion for "emergencies around the world," leading to a fulfilling but ultimately limiting role as a Teach for America science teacher. This experience, coupled with an MBA, propelled their focus towards fundraising, specifically in the non-profit sector, ultimately leading to the current position as a UNICEF fundraiser where they can make "a bigger impact" on children globally.
Nonprofit, Fundraising, International Development, Education, Career Pivoting
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
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. Bridget's career path combined her passion for science and helping people, starting with Teach for America.
2. Her MBA helped her transition from teaching to fundraising by applying business principles to the non-profit sector.
3. She highlights fundraising as a crucial aspect of non-profit work, enabling the delivery of their mission.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I went to college at USC and majored in geology. Through my degree, I knew I was very fascinated by natural disasters and emergencies around the world—things we can't necessarily control. But I also knew I'm a people person.
I actually joined Teach for America straight out of college and was a science teacher. This melded my science background with my people-person personality. I really enjoyed working with kids and found it to be a fulfilling job.
At the same time, I knew I wanted to have a bigger impact outside of my eighth-grade science classroom. My students would leave and go to high school, and I wouldn't see them again. Even though I maintained contact, there wasn't much I could do to continue shaping them.
So, I really wanted to make a bigger impact. That's when I went to pursue my MBA at USC to learn more about applying business principles to nonprofit sectors, specifically those related to children.
That's when I really stumbled upon fundraising. I saw it as the financial tool that keeps many nonprofits afloat. It's the financial part of nonprofits that can be controlled. You can raise more and more money every year to continue delivering on your mission.
That's what led me to my current role at UNICEF as a fundraiser for children around the world.