What a CEO at Farrukh Foundation Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Nonprofit Industry
Humzah, CEO at Farrukh Foundation, advises undergraduates to seek entry-level roles in "fundraising, campaign management, program development, or communications," emphasizing the transferability of skills from other sectors. The ability to demonstrate "critical thinking and problem-solving," perhaps gained through experiences outside the nonprofit world, is equally valuable.
Fundraising, Campaign Management, Program Development, Communications, Marketing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Humzah Farrukh
CEO
Farrukh Foundation
UCLA
N/A
Anthropology, Sociology
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Internships in fundraising, campaign management, program development, or communications are valuable entry-level positions.
2. Building skills in marketing and communications is crucial for success in this field.
3. Experience in other sectors, such as technology, can be transferable due to the need for critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the non-profit industry.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I encourage undergraduate college students to find internships or roles that involve fundraising, campaign management, program development, or communications. These are all fields where you can build valuable skills.
Marketing is also very important and ties into campaign management and fundraising. Anything that builds your communication and marketing skills is crucial for the industry.
There are also other important skills you can develop through entry-level jobs or internships. These don't necessarily have to be at nonprofits, but will help you build relevant abilities.
These skills include critical thinking and problem-solving. For instance, working in the technology industry often involves dealing with complex problems, much like the nonprofit sector where you must solve dynamic, changing challenges.
This is a helpful tip for students: if you lack direct experience in a specific field, you can leverage experience from other areas. You can identify transferable skills and roles that are needed in the industry you're targeting.
Many skills are transferable to the nonprofit sector, and the positions I mentioned previously will be invaluable.