Employer Name  

The H & R Block Foundation

Employer  Website

http://www.blockfoundation.org

Job Title  

Senior Program Officer- Secretary, Board of Directors

Major and Class Year

BA Interdepartmental Major-1986

Additional education

University of Kansas, Master' Degree:  Behavior Disorders, 1995

Briefly describe what you do   

As Senior Program Officer for the Foundation, I make make financial investments in charitable organizations throughout the greater Kansas City area on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.  In addition, I serve as the grants manager of the Foundation- tracking all of the Foundation's charitable contributions and annual progress of projects and programs supported.  As secretary of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, I am responsible for keeping the Foundations' history and documenting activities throughout the year.

What other jobs have you had?

• Special education teacher:  Genesis School

• Development director:  Genesis School

• Deputy director:  Genesis School

What are the key skills, abilities, and personal qualities necessary to succeed in this type of work?  

• Evaluation of program design/outcomes measurement

• Analysis of revenue and expenditures for non profit organizations

• The ability to recognize and prioritize community needs

• The ability to research social issues and to apply theory and best practices to real community needs

• The ability to work with a wide-variety of individuals at all levels of business (for and  non profit)

• The ability to work in partnership with others- putting principles before personalities

• Understanding the difference between charity and philanthropy and knowing when both are necessary and/or appropriate

• The desire to make the world a better place and having a sense of hope

What do you enjoy most about your current position?  

I enjoy being exposed to a broad array of community issues and needs and being able to participate in social change.

Most important/valuable lesson or activity in college that impacted your career  

My coursework at Trinity prepared me for the intensive research that I do on a weekly basis for my work at the Foundation.  Trinity professors offered me much needed guidance and opened my mind to possibilities and taught me that anything is possible with determination and work.  In my special education program, my professors exposed me to a variety of children with many needs- classes were not limited to theory- but actual practice.  I learned to value other professional services and gained the knowledge of serving underserved persons using a "holistic" approach.  True philanthropy does not limit itself to one approach- nor does it limit itself to one solution.

What advice for someone entering this field?

Get your hands dirty- successful grant makers have an in-depth knowledge of how non profit organizations function (at all levels).  Generally, this knowledge is gained by working in a non profit first- but if that is not an option- many successful grant makers have spent a great deal of time volunteering in non profit organizations.

Questions?

Email askalumni@trinity.edu
Put the name of the alumni you wish to contact in the subject line, then type your question.