First off I'm eventually getting a second Master's in public policy and international development in hopes of starting my own NGO one day. I have only ever worked at non-profits and I've been volunteering with non-profit organizations since I was a child. The culture of philanthropy was always very important in my household. I would serve food at soup kitchens, donate percentages of birthday money and allowance to different organizations I deemed interesting, etc. As a teenager I became a youth delegate for Easter Seals (a charity helping children with disabilities and their families) and sat on the board. I organized events for the kids and did cold calling to businesses getting them to donate supplies.
As an adult (gosh, I don't think of myself as one, but yeah), I have worked at Oxfam Canada (an international NGO focusing on women's rights, social justice, poverty relief, etc) in Donor Relations and Gender Justice policy, I have worked at a community health center focusing on the needs of marginalized women (minorities, lesbians, transgendered, HIV patients, etc), I have worked at a shelter for at-risk pregnant teens and young mothers, and right now I'm working at a multi-service non-profit agency that helps newcomers to Canada, seniors, HIV patients, the homeless, etc.
In terms of current philanthropic ventures, I am a monthly donor to Oxfam Canada, Mediciens Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), the Alzheimer Society, and a regular donor to World Vision, the Red Cross, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Yeah, basically charitable causes are a huge part of my existence and I absolutely intend to open my own international development NGO (or at the very least be an overseas program manager) after I complete my next Master's and acquire the necessary tools, knowledge, and connections to do so.
