My name is Natalie Morris, and this summer I had the opportunity to be the Corporate Giving Intern with Goodwill Foundation of Central and Southern Indiana. I am a rising junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville where I am majoring in both Child Studies and Human and Organizational Development. 

I looked into interning at Goodwill because I wanted to give back to my community while also developing my professional skills. I have gotten to do that in a number of ways, and I will explain some of those highlights. 

As the corporate giving intern, I assisted with the coordination and organization of activities related to corporate giving, volunteerism, and events, supporting three projects in particular.

My first project was to do research corporate gift matching – a charitable giving program that increases giving. When an individual gives a gift, they have the opportunity to have that gift matched by the company they are employed with. I researched this topic so the Foundation can implement a system to make the most use of this tool. 

My next project was to understand the process through which we are philanthropically engaging our vendors at Goodwill. I had the opportunity to meet with many internal leaders as well as leaders outside of Goodwill who are giving philanthropically and engaging with the mission. It was incredible to hear the amazing things they had to say about Goodwill and how much they enjoy giving back. It truly reflected the amazing work that Goodwill is doing and how much the community wants to support their mission.

My third project was to build out a standardized process to use donation drives as a way to engage corporate donors. I met with internal stakeholders and incorporated all the feedback and ideas into a standardized process. We are also hosting a donation drive just after my internship ends, and it was rewarding to be able to plan this drive and get to see the work that I did put into action. 

Along with my three projects, I had many opportunities to engage with the Goodwill community. I helped put on many volunteer projects, assisted with Gather for Goodwill, and even got to shadow a Mission Coach and really see the mission in action. 

Not only did I get to learn more about Goodwill’s mission, but I also got to grow professionally. I learned how to ask the right questions, always be open to feedback, and take every opportunity that comes my way.

The Foundation team and everyone at Goodwill was so welcoming and helpful during my internship. Their continuous support and encouragement for the future was highlighted in many ways throughout my internship. The skills and knowledge I learned this summer are some that I will carry with me throughout finishing school as well as my future career. 

A special thank you goes to the late Jack and Betsy Dustman for creating and supporting this internship program. Their unwavering support and service to Goodwill are what made this opportunity possible. 

Together, we are changing lives!