Why I Came Back

I’ve worked for and with a number of nonprofits in my short, albeit varied career. Working with nonprofits varying from small, large, and somewhere in between; I’ve experienced the best and the not-so best of what this sector has to offer.

I worked with Justin back in 2007 to put his ideas into “official” action (ie. gain 501(c)(3) status), and served on the board for two years.

When all of us were in the office, we dreamed about the day when we could all work together and have this be our “job.”  “Oh what a great day that would be!” we would say, almost jokingly.

That was almost four years ago. Those four years served me well—I went to graduate school, worked for two nonprofits, one for-profit company, and traveled to different parts of the world. I learned invaluable skills that I can only hope will serve those around me and those I work with and for.

The four years were well spent, but I kept longing to come back to TNHF. Everyone I worked with knew about TNHF and people I met around the world now possess either a TNHF business card or a napkin with thesenumbers.org written on it. My heart wanted to come back. Working for other companies made it even more clear that TNHF is something special. I could boast about the financial integrity and keeping our overhead costs down, I could boast about our great website and creative campaigns, or I could choose to boast about the new Women’s Empowerment Campaign and our community impact model. Yes, all of these things are great, groundbreaking and necessary in running a responsible and sustainable nonprofit organization. However, what kept me wanting to come back (and writing our website on napkins) is the integrity and heart from which this organization operates.

We say time and time again that it is about relationships. But, you know what, it is actually true.

And what is noteworthy is that it isn’t just our relationships with the students and staff in South Africa, but it is also with each other here in Portland. We are friends. We are friends with a mission, who understand the gravity of what we’ve been given to steward, and who know how to work hard. But when push comes to shove, if the lights went out tomorrow, we would still be on the phone with the students in South Africa and with each other.