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Gianna, Development & Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast: Advize Career Interview
A deliberate career path, starting with high school internships and progressing through diverse nonprofit roles, led to a current position as Development & Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast.
The work integrates marketing, fundraising, and communications—a holistic approach that views marketing as foundational to individual giving.
A dynamic schedule blends focused work with team collaboration and unique opportunities mentoring youth.
Strong communication, creativity, and passion are highlighted as essential skills, while time management challenges are addressed through self-awareness and a supportive team.
The environmental nonprofit sector offers values-based living, fulfilling a desire for work aligned with a low-waste lifestyle.
A creative mindset thrives in this field, proving misconceptions about low pay and limited opportunities incorrect.
Key lessons include the attainability of a livable wage, overcoming imposter syndrome, bringing one's whole self to work, and the immense value of early, relevant experience.
Early career success was built on gaining almost five years of experience before graduation, demonstrating that proactive experience-seeking significantly enhances job prospects.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Gianna Sollitto
Development & Communications Manager
Groundwork Southcoast
Bryant University
N/A
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Communications
Nonprofit
Sales and Client Management
Disabled, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
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Career Path of a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna's career path reveals a deliberate strategy of gaining diverse experience across marketing, public relations, and development within the nonprofit sector, starting with a high school internship and continuing through various roles at nonprofits and agencies. The progression from individual giving and event coordination at the MLK Center to grant writing for Citizens Climate Lobby and ultimately their current role as Development & Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast showcases a commitment to "grassroots movements" and a passion for environmental advocacy.
Role of a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna's role as Development & Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast, a local chapter of a national nonprofit, involves "producing all foundation materials," overseeing fundraising events and individual giving, and managing communications and marketing. The insightful aspect of their career is the integrated approach to these responsibilities, viewing marketing and communications as "the fundamental building block of individual giving programs," rather than separate functions, reflecting a holistic and impactful approach to nonprofit work.
A Day in the Life of a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna's role as Development & Communications Manager features a dynamic hybrid schedule, allowing for focused work ("hunched over in my pajamas, like writing grants") alongside collaborative team efforts and unique opportunities mentoring youth, enriching both their marketing skills and Gianna's understanding of the organization's impact. This varied approach, incorporating activities like community garden visits and working in an indoor growing space, allows for creative freedom and stronger storytelling in fundraising and communications.
Most Important Skills for a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna, a Development & Communications Manager, emphasizes that strong communication skills—both oral and written—are essential, alongside "outside the box thinking" and "creativity" which are vital for fundraising, a key aspect of their role. Ultimately, however, Gianna believes "passion" is an inherent quality outweighing other learned skills.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Development And Communications Manager At Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna appreciates the "hybrid schedule" and flexibility of their role as Development & Communications Manager, enabling travel and "working from the road," while also highlighting the fulfillment derived from seeing the direct impact of their work, including grant successes and effective social media campaigns, ultimately contributing to a larger mission of empowering local youth.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Development And Communications Manager At Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna's biggest challenge as Development & Communications Manager is time management, a deficit stemming from ADHD; the coping mechanisms developed in adulthood, including "tricking myself into getting things done," and a supportive team are crucial to success in a role with "so varied and so big" responsibilities.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Environmental Industry as a Development and Communications Manager
Gianna's favorite aspect of the environmental nonprofit industry is its alignment with her personal values, enabling a fulfilling integration of work and life; the Development & Communications Manager describes this as "values-based living," where the work is an extension of her "low waste lifestyle," resulting in a deeply satisfying career.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Environmental Nonprofit Industry, According To A Development And Communications Manager At Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna, a Development & Communications Manager, reveals that a creative mind is key to thriving in the environmental sector, describing the field as "fundamentally...a creative space," despite initial misconceptions. The work, while encompassing fundraising, relies heavily on "creativity and building campaigns," showcasing that diverse skill sets are welcomed but a creative mindset is particularly advantageous.
What a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Nonprofit Industry
Contrary to common misconceptions, Gianna's experience as a Development & Communications Manager reveals that a livable wage is attainable in the nonprofit sector, dispelling the myth that "you won't earn a livable wage." The most impactful lesson learned was overcoming imposter syndrome by recognizing that a seat at the table is earned, and early career wins combat self-doubt.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Development And Communications Managers
Many entry-level nonprofit positions exist, and prior agency experience offers a significant advantage. Gaining "a wide knowledge base" and exposure to "fast-paced, competitive cultures" in for-profit agencies helps candidates avoid developing "bad habits" sometimes seen within the nonprofit sector, providing a "real leg up."
Significant Career Lesson From a Development and Communications Manager at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna's most significant career lesson centers on bringing "your whole self" to work, finding a place where authentic self-expression is valued, rather than masking aspects of one's personality. This approach, essential for improving quality of life and maximizing work fulfillment, is a lesson learned after recognizing the toll of compartmentalizing oneself in the workplace, particularly for neuro-atypical individuals.
College Experiences That Helped A Development And Communications Manager At Groundwork Southcoast Succeed
Gianna's success stemmed from accumulating "almost five years of experience" before even graduating, achieved through strategic internships and volunteer work at nonprofits, advising students to prioritize gaining relevant experience, even if unpaid, to boost their resumes and stand out in a competitive job market. This proactive approach allowed Gianna to enter the workforce with a significant advantage, highlighting the importance of hands-on experience in securing a strong career start.
How Identity Influenced a Development and Communications Manager Career at Groundwork Southcoast
Gianna, a Development & Communications Manager, initially hid their neuroatypicality but found freedom in disclosing their ADHD and other challenges at Groundwork Southcoast, a supportive nonprofit. This transparency allowed for authentic self-expression, leading to improved job satisfaction and a collaborative approach to skill development, as exemplified by their boss's support in building budgets, despite a self-identified "deficit in math."
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/giannasollitto
Twitter: x.com/GiannaSollitto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/giannasollitto/
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