-: So I think it depends on what type of nonprofit
you're looking to go into.
If you're going into a arts nonprofit, maybe
you've had experience three or four years teaching the arts
or working in the arts, and then have decided to transition.
It's one of those roles that I think you can learn
as long as you're willing to learn, but it's very much
you hit the ground at a hundred miles per hour the minute
you start, and you really have to be a fast learner
in being willing to pick up those skills.
So Charlottesville has tons of nonprofits,
and other communities have lots of nonprofits.
And they usually always offer some type
of volunteer experience.
I have a few colleagues in the nonprofit sector
who said, "I started out here 10 years ago
"just coming to volunteer two hours a week,
"and then was looking for something different.
"They had a opening for a program manager,
"then I came in and managed programs, and then
"I became the deputy director of the organization."
And so, I think with that in mind, starting off
as a volunteer, just so you can kind of learn the mission
work of a nonprofit, and then you'll kind of have
that footing and that grounding to say, "This might be
"something that I'm interested in."
One of the biggest things for me is flexibility.
Nonprofit life changes all the time, and you have
to be willing to be flexible, and be willing to adapt
to whatever those circumstances are.
And so, for me, I think having someone who says,
"I can come into a situation, and if we have
"to change the plan within 10 minutes, I'm able
"to adjust to that, and I'm able to adapt."
Also, someone who is willing to try new things
and not say that you have to get them right.
One of the biggest things that means a lot to me
is saying, "I'm willing to try something new.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure that it's gonna work,
"but I have a vision, and I think I wanna see that happen,"
and that's something that I really value.