An unexpected, but rewarding, career path to philanthropy

Growing up in rural South Carolina I aspired to a career in forestry and recreation resources, not fundraising. But that all changed when, as a Junior at Clemson University, a friend with the Alumni Association asked me to serve as the first-ever Student Representative on the Alumni Board.

This was a great opportunity to mix and mingle with alumni who bled orange like me, make some connections for a future job or maybe even get better tickets to a football game from time to time. That simple ask turned into an avocation I would passionately pursue throughout my career.

The Alumni Board provided access to titans of the education and business world, from the President of the University to men who had gained extraordinary business success. They were typical of donors who are focused on higher-education giving because their relationship to their alma mater was unbreakable.

A university environment is conducive to teaching the value of giving back. Every graduate becomes a walking ambassador for the school and wants others to have the opportunity for a quality education at their school.

As my career transitioned to development positions with healthcare organizations, similar affinities emerged among donors, particularly on an experiential, emotional level. Donors feel compelled to give back to a hospital or other healthcare organization that may have saved their life or that of a loved one. And even people with family members who lost a health battle often feel driven to donate to ensure more positive outcomes for others through research or improved care.

Alicia Philipp and I met when I became the director of development at Crawford Long Hospital (now Emory Midtown). There I began to recognize the fingerprint the Community Foundation had on the good work being done locally.

Joining Alicia’s organization this summer was an exclamation point on my career.

In earlier roles it was easy to see how a philanthropist made a connection to a single organization, a defined cause. At the Community Foundation, many donors have a broad scope, they are philanthropists who share a common passion about our region and about boosting the great work of nonprofits.

Sure, it’s our slogan, but these people truly embody the joy of philanthropy. And I’m honored to play a part in helping to create a ripple effect around that joy.

By Mendal Bouknight, VP philanthropy, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta