How reaching out on LinkedIn landed two undergraduates an invite to one of the biggest nonprofit events in the world.
Erin Bauer (BA ‘26) wasn’t a complete stranger to the world of fundraising. She interned in Rome this past summer for Polo for the Cure and helped to organize an event to raise money for breast cancer.
Seeking a valuable fall break experience, Bauer came across the International Fundraising Congress. With roughly 700 attendees representing approximately 70 countries, the event represents a veritable “Who’s Who” in the nonprofit world. Members attend to learn, be inspired and perhaps create new collaborations.
Erin Bauer (BA ‘26) and Jane Miller (BA ‘26) on set for their interview with the selection committee for the Emerging Leaders Conference.
For Bauer, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the nonprofit world, but she couldn’t figure out if it was appropriate for her to attend.
So she asked. The CEO. On LinkedIn.
She understood receiving a reply was a long shot. But not only did event organizers find Bauer’s message appropriate, they found it inspired. In fact, the CEO offered to write a letter to Erin’s professors and prospective funders how this experience would be a valuable investment.
Ultimately, Mendoza’s Powerful Means Initiative (PMI) and the Pulte Institute for Global Development at the Keough School of Global Affairs sponsored Bauer and Jane Miller (BA ‘26) for the unprecedented chance to attend the October 2024 event at this early juncture of their scholarly careers.
“It was amazing how many people came together for this,” Bauer says. “They just saw the value in it and wanted to help.”
Noordwijk, Netherlands, here they come.
At the congress, the students were named to the Emerging Leaders group. Bauer, who is minoring in Accounting and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is the vice president and Miller a member of Mendoza’s Innovation for Impact club. The club supports the St. Bakhita Vocational Training Center in Uganda through PMI.
“And we were met with curiosity at the event, but we were absolutely embraced for being a part of this,” said Miller. “We told them our story and they would just be so positive and welcoming. People couldn’t do enough to share their stories and encourage us.”
The students connected with Nathan Chapell (MNA ‘07) senior vice president at DonorSearch, a database-centric organization that connects nonprofits and donors. Chappell, the co-author of “The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges,” who spoke at the conference about AI, contacted Bauer to set up a meeting.
“What he explained in his talk on AI at the event is that artificial intelligence shouldn’t be feared in fundraising and is something you have no other choice but to use to advance,” says Bauer. “He says you shouldn’t ignore the ethics of it but also realize its opportunities.”
The students had opportunities to hear from speakers including Dean Gillespie, digital and mass fundraising lead at the International Justice Mission, an organization dedicated to freeing the victims of sex trafficking and enslavement.
“He talked about the importance of finding your passion within your career,” Bauer says. “You can see how dedicated he is and how motivated he is, because he believes so much in his organization’s mission.”
Bauer left the conference with a much better sense of how global missions operate. “It was just transformative to be a part of it,” Bauer says. “It reminds me how there are so many different missions and ways to make a difference in the world. Events like this show how important it is to share ideas and strategies.”
After returning to campus, the two presented their experience to the Innovation for Impact club, reflecting on what they learned and how the club could apply some of their insights for St. Bakhita’s.
For Miller, the enthusiasm and passion of the attendees made a lasting impression.
“You had people from around 70 countries but they shared a common understanding of wanting to make things better,” Miller says. “You have some who are just getting started to those who have spent a lifetime contributing. So many were already friends or became fast friends because they want to change the world. Looking back, they were all so tremendously kind to us … Maybe it’s not surprising when you consider how kind they are to the world around them.”
Bauer also learned that taking the initiative could make all the difference, no matter your interest.
“I’ve said that many of the best opportunities you can get at Notre Dame come from you helping to make them happen,” she says. “I didn’t know what the CEO of the event would say, but what’s the harm in asking? It just shows that if you want to do something, take the steps to see if it’s possible. You never know.”
Erin Bauer is a junior studying Sociology with a minor in Impact Consulting.
This article was originally published on the Mendoza College of Business' News and Events page. See the original article here.