In the future, I want my giving to be based on relationships and a willingness to serve rather than just an obligation. After seeing the behind the scenes work it takes to create impact in nonprofits, I hope to stay involved in organizations that serve and build trust in communities. I think inspiring communities to take initiative is one thing that our nonprofits this semester did very well. In the future, I want to give consistently and learn more about causes that are outside of just my interests. My goal after college is to work in the nonprofit sector with a focus on foster care. I’ve become more aware of the challenges that children in the foster system face during this class and that grew the desire I have to advocate for them even more. I want to be part of an organization that advocates for these children and helps provide them with stability, family, and faith. Whether that looks like supporting foster families, helping with placement resources, or creating programs that invest in these kids, I want my work to make kids feel more seen in the midst of a very crazy system. This is an area where philanthropy can be deeply personal and impactful, and I hope to approach it with both compassion and commitment. I also hope to use my career to increase my ability to give. Helping nonprofits tell their stories and connect with donors is something I have experience in, but I want to be able to give with finances and resources as well. As we talked about in class, sustainable impact often comes from strategic thinking and considering breadth versus depth, not just short term success. Because of that, I want to be thoughtful about where I invest my resources. Something that it’s important to me is supporting organizations that prioritize teaching and creating lasting change for children and families. Our class conversations also highlighted the importance of listening to communities instead of assuming we know what they need. Ten or twenty years from now, I hope to have similar and growing values of service, compassion, and intentionality. My hope is that revisiting this vision will continue to inspire me to serve and give in a way that creates change and growth.