Julia Quiroz: An Introduction to the Nonprofit World
The LSB Community Fellows Program has given me the incredible opportunity to work as an Education Programs Intern this year at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. Through this position, I support the management of HFSV’s various programs that strive to educate, advocate, and guide Hispanic families and students on their way to achieving higher education and career success in Silicon Valley. Being able to be a part of a team that so passionately and adoringly takes on this mission has been extremely rewarding, as I feel that I have been welcomed into an extended family.
After working at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley for a little over a month, I have quickly built connections, transformed my perception of non-profit operations, and learned about some of the real struggles limited income Hispanic families face in working towards higher education. However, the most surprising aspect of my experience so far has been observing the internal financial operations of a non-profit. Although non-profits seem to differ from other business models in terms of where and how money is obtained, these means are actually quite similar. One key example that was a big learning experience for me was at the HFSV Annual Ball. The Ball is the Foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year that requires an extensive amount of planning, strategizing, and coordination done in preparation. Preparation aside, much work is done on the big day to ensure that sufficient funds are raised: maintaining the right amount of charisma, paying attention to every detail, staying on a timely schedule, etc. Needless to say, the operations of a non-profit organization are impressive and well-calculated.
The familial bond between the HFSV team and the families and students they support speaks volumes about the work that they do and the lasting impact they make in the community. This aspect of HFSV has motivated me to want to not only contribute my skills and knowledge, but also my fellowship as a Latina also trying to navigate the professional world in Silicon Valley. In offering what I can to the HFSV community, I also hope to receive a greater understanding of the difficulties that exist within the Hispanic community by listening to people’s stories, persistently asking questions, and seeing every internship task given to me as an opportunity to be a part of a larger change.