Meet-A-FLiP: Rosetta Thurman

The Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington brings nonprofit leaders together in order to effectively address issues that affect nonprofits. Their mission is to build the strength, influence, and visibility of the nonprofit sector in the DC area.  The Roundtable’s members include service providers, advocacy organizations, and foundations that share the role of shaping and advancing nonprofits through identifying issues and developing solutions.

Rosetta Thurman, Director of Development and Finance at the Nonprofit Roundtable, manages the fundraising and financial management aspects of the Roundtable.  Previously, she served as Program Assistant for Fair Chance, where she developed hands-on nonprofit capacity building expertise through strengthening youth-focused organizations in Wards 5-8, Washington, DC’s most underserved communities.

Future Leaders in Philanthropy (FLiP): Tell us a little about yourself: where you went to school, what you majored in, and the interests that led you to a job in philanthropy.

Rosetta Thurman (RT): I attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond for my undergraduate degree and majored in English.  Afterwards, I moved to DC to get my Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Trinity University.  I first got into nonprofit work by volunteering as an English tutor for low-income youth throughout college. Then, through my school’s English department, I continued my work in nonprofits as a grant writer for a small historic preservation organization.  I didn’t know what the heck I was doing, but I loved writing for a cause, and that passion stuck with me. 

FLiP: How has your education helped prepare you for your current roles?

RT: Having an English degree really made the technical parts of nonprofit work pretty easy. Whereas most people hate research writing, I love it, which allows me to handle many different aspects of fundraising.  Also getting a Master’s in Nonprofit Management was invaluable as it took me through the ‘circuit’ of how to manage a nonprofit – top to bottom.  I already had the passion, and my education just allowed me to make myself productive for the nonprofit organizations I’ve worked for.

FLiP: Describe your role at your current job.

RT: Currently, I’m the Director of Development at the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington. I raise funds primarily through foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and government contracts.  I work with the Executive Director and the Fund Development Committee of the Board to raise a budget of about one million dollars yearly to support our programs.

FLiP: What are some parts of the job you like? What do you dislike?

RT: I love engaging people about the work the Roundtable does to promote nonprofit strength and leadership, as well as educating new funders who may not realize the necessity of this kind of ‘capacity building’ work.  It is frustrating at times, however, because it seems as if there are not enough hours in the day to do it all!

FLiP: Who have been your biggest supporters?

RT: I’ve been fortunate to have really great bosses who understand the importance of mentoring young nonprofit leaders.  My biggest mentor is Amanda Marshall, who gave me my first “real” job as a Program Assistant at Fair Chance, Inc.  My current boss, Chuck Bean, is also very committed to making sure I take advantage of any and all career development available.

FLiP: What is a day or week like for you?

RT: My week consists of meetings with program staff, current and potential funders, writing various grant proposals and reports, and keeping track of our fundraising goals and projections.  I also make it a priority to include at least one professional development activity in each week, whether it is meeting with one of my mentors, attending a Young Nonprofit Professionals event, or reading material related to my field, such as the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

FLiP: What are two or three critical lessons you learned as a student or during the course of your work?

RT: There isn’t just one way to do something.  School teaches you the cookie-cutter version of doing things, but when you get out in the real world, you have to use your best judgment and problem-solving skills.  It really helped me to ask lots of questions of my peers and my superiors.  Time and time again, I have been able to draw on that kind of wisdom when my formal education isn’t enough.

FLiP: Where do you see yourself professionally in 10 years?  In 25 years?

RT: My goal right now is to one day serve as an Executive Director or President of a nonprofit or grantmaking organization.

FLiP: Any fun facts that you’d like to share?

RT: I love writing for my nonprofit blog, Perspectives from the Pipeline! It allows me to keep up with and share the aspects of nonprofits that I’m most interested in.  As Robert Egger once told me, I also make sure to “take time off to dance.”  To keep in touch with my creative mind, I write and perform poetry around DC.  I also try to have chocolate after every meal.

FLiP: Do you have any advice you would give to future FLiPs looking at a career in philanthropy? 

RT: Learn all you can from everyone you meet.  Make time to network frequently. There is no linear career path in nonprofits or philanthropy so you need to learn from many people to discover where you want to be.  Instead of pigeonholing yourself into one role, it’s better to try on different hats until you find what suits you best. 

FLiP: In your opinion, what are some issues within the sector that may be relevant to Future Leaders in Philanthropy?

RT: Professional development that is relevant to young nonprofit leaders is a big issue that the nonprofit sector has to overcome.  I think Generation X and Millennium Generation professionals learn differently than previous generations did and the sector needs to recognize that.  Young people are coming out with a ton of education, but less experience than our predecessors.  Therefore, we need more mentoring opportunities, productive internships, and ongoing on-the-job training.

Comments

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