Maureen Mulhern
Director, Office of Career Development
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Sparkill, NY
Non-Profit
Forums:
Connecting
Contemplation
of Career Paths
to the Promotion
of Common
Good
Overview
What?
Who?
Planning
Implementation
Knowledge
gained
What is a Non-Profit Forum?
Introduction
Dispel
Myths
Suggest Opportunities
Discuss Benefits
How Did We Get Started?
 Began
in Spring 2013
 Initiator:
Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP
Development Director for the Dominican
Sisters of Sparkill
 Idea:
Educate our students
 Collaboration
Collaborations
 Student
Activities Director
 Campus
Ministry Director
 Student
Government Presidents
 Student
Leaders
 Asst.
Dean, School of Business
 Director
Business
of Experiential Learning, School of
Program Planning
Event Planning Meetings
 Fall
and Spring Meetings (1x/month)
 Thoughts
 New
ideas?
 Structure
 What
on prior year’s event?
of event?
areas would we like panelists from?
 Length
of Program
 Marketing
 Divide
Responsibilities
Program Planning
Thoughts on prior year’s event
 Students
not involved enough in event
 Speakers
 Some
ran over on time
students didn’t
get the opportunity to
speak with panelists
in their career area.
Program Planning
New ideas?
More Student Involvement In Event
Introduction
of Program
Introductions
of Presenters
Photographer
Close
of Event
Program Planning
What areas would we like panelists from?
Education
Business
Communications
Criminal
Justice
Program Planning
Marketing
Email
To Deans/Faculty/Students
Word
Of Mouth
Student
Leaders Promotion
Program Planning
Marketing
Flyers
Each
student
committee member
invites 2-4 students,
personally
Program Planning
Requirements
 Professional
 Register
 Select
Attire
Online via Eventbrite
career field of interest
Program Implementation
Pre-Event Logistics
 3:00-3:30pm:
 3:45pm:
Committee Arrival
Students available to Check-In
Panelists
 Goodie
 4:00pm:
bags to Panelists
Panelist Arrival
Program Implementation
Pre-Event Logistics
4:15pm:
Name
Table
Student Check-In
Tags
Assignments
4:30pm:
Program Begins
Program Implementation
Structure of Event
4:30
– 6:30pm
General
Welcome (Sr. Peggy)
Overview
of Forum (Student)
Introduction:
Key Note (Student)
Program Implementation
Structure of Event
Key
Note Presentation: 15 Minutes
Introduction:
Panelist
Dinner
Panelists (4 Students)
Presentations: 5 Minutes Each
Break – Buffet: 30 Minutes
Program Implementation
Structure of Event
Assigned
Tables
Prepared
Questions on Tables
Networking
Table Questions For Panelist To
Discuss…
(Please feel free to use these or not to facilitate table discussion.)
 What
skills are most critical to success in
the work you are currently doing…or at a
Non-Profit, in general? What made you
choose to enter the Non-Profit world?
 Can
you compare working at a For-Profit
vs. Non-Profit? Benefits of working for a
Non-Profit over a For-Profit?
Table Questions For Panelist To
Discuss…
(Please feel free to use these or not to facilitate table discussion.)
 What
is the most challenging aspect of
working at a Non-Profit?
 What
is the most fulfilling aspect of
working for a Non-Profit?
 What
advice would you give to someone
who is interested in your field?
Our Panelists
Our Panelists
Keynote
Paul Trader
Executive Director
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Our Panelists
Education
Sr. Catherine Moran, OP
Retired, 22 Years at New
Community Corp., Newark, NJ
Our Panelists
Business
Harold J. Peterson
Senior VP/ Senior Managing Director
Sterling National Bank
Our Panelists
Communications
Diana Hess
Chief Communications Officer
Jawonio
Our Panelists
Criminal Justice
Mary Ellen Natale
Attorney
Legal Aid Society, Rockland County
What did students
LEARN?
What are Non-Profit
Organizations?
Businesses
Tax-exempt
Local
– International
What did students LEARN?
#
in Rockland County
Budgets
Types
Examples of
Positions Available
Administrative Staff










Executive/Asst. director
Bookkeeper
Development officer
Business manager
Volunteer coordinator
Office assistant
IT manager
PR/Marketing coord.
Communications coord.
Facilities maintenance
Program/Service Staff
Social worker
Nurses/PT/OT
Mental health
counselor
 Youth/childcare worker
 Project/event leader
 Safety/emergency
worker
 Drivers
 Artists
 Educator (eg. nutrition,



environment, technology)
S/W
What did students LEARN?
 What
to expect…
 Finding
an NPO
Benefits of Interning or
Working for a
Non-Profit
 Make
a difference!
 Explore
your interests
 Expand
your community
connections
 Enhance
your resume
with real-world
experience
 Meet
people, make new
friends, see the world!
Some Great Life Tips
We all make mistakes.
OWN IT AND GET OVER IT!
(Sr. Catherine Moran, OP)
Some Great Life Tips
 Young
people are needed for:
 Their Ideas
 Their Energy
 Social Media Knowledge
 Be
 You
involved; it makes a difference.
can be a major force in the NP World
(Harold J. Peterson)
Student Feedback
Key Tips Taken From Event?
 “I
can work for a Profit and still be a part of a Non
Profit Organization”
 “I
learned that there are many opportunities to help
others while having a stable career, and it is
important to do what you love.”
 “Even
though college majors may seem do different
from the non-profit world, they are actually very
closely linked. Many majors take part in the nonprofit world.”
Interested?
When you become detached
mentally from yourself and
concentrate on helping other people
with their difficulties, you will be able
to cope with your own more effectively.
Somehow, the act of self-giving is a
personal power-releasing factor.
Norman Vincent Peale, American Author
Questions?
Thoughts?