Current student Lilly Parker blogs about her summer with the North Carolina Community College Foundation
Lilly Parker is a 2nd year student in the MPA program. As a former teacher from Kentucky, Lilly’s interests are centered around education, advocacy, and child and family welfare. She earned a BA degree in Education from Wake Forest University in 2021.
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From the Classroom to the Foundation: Launching My Summer with NCCCF
This summer, I’m thrilled to be serving as an advancement intern with the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation (NCCCF) as part of my Professional Work Experience (PWE) in the UNC MPA program. The opportunity to work directly with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Katie Loovis, who also happened to be my professor for nonprofit management last semester, has been especially rewarding. Learning from her both in the classroom and now in a professional setting has provided a powerful bridge between theory and practice, and I’m excited to continue deepening my understanding of nonprofit management and advancement.
Although my PWE has only just begun, I’ve already been trusted with meaningful projects that align with my interests and push me to grow professionally. I participate in weekly fundraising strategy meetings where the team maps out how to engage funders, shape program pitches, and prepare for meetings with stakeholders. I also have regular one-on-one check-ins with both the executive director and the chief advancement officer to share updates, receive feedback, and discuss how I can continue to contribute to the Foundation’s mission.
My current responsibilities include drafting a gift acceptance policy and a gift agreement for NCCCF, as well as managing the application process for solicitation licenses in new fundraising states. The centerpiece of my summer, however, is a research project focused on nonprofit earned income strategies. I am conducting a literature review on best practices, analyzing IRS Form 990s to understand how peer foundations generate earned income, and interviewing executive directors of other community college foundations to learn from their insights. The final deliverable will be a set of strategic recommendations I’ll present to the NCCCF Board of Directors. I was able to pitch my research proposal during my first week on the job, and I’m proud to say it was met with enthusiasm.
As a former teacher and current MPA student with an interest in nonprofit management and development, this experience is helping me imagine what a future career in development/advancement could look like. I feel incredibly fortunate to be working for an organization that is committed to making higher education more accessible across North Carolina, while also sharpening my skills in fundraising, research, policy writing, and professional communication. Plus, since I’m working remotely, I get to do it all with my sweet dog, Athena, by my side (see pictures)! I can’t wait to see how the rest of the summer unfolds!
