From Painting Sets to Making an Impact: My Journey in Nonprofit Work

Today’s guest post comes from Sarah Rodgers, Account Supervisor at NNE Marketing—one of our 2025 Leading EDGE & Workforce Development sponsors whose support helps connect students with transformative nonprofit career opportunities. Read on to discover how Sarah’s path began with painting sets at a community theatre.

“There is no single route to getting involved. You get to create your own!”

Growing up, I did not know that I enjoyed nonprofit work specifically. I only knew that I loved being part of a community and helping the people around me. My introduction to that world began at a small nonprofit community theatre in New Hampshire. (Shout out to Kids Coop Theatre!) The entire model of the theatre relied on families coming together to keep costs low for the kids. That meant parents and volunteers building sets, creating costumes, and working backstage at every performance. As a kid, the idea of painting sets might sound boring, but it was the opposite for me. Those afternoons spent covered in paint, sharing brushes and stories, felt like magic. I remember thinking that working together for the greater good felt genuinely rewarding. I did not realize it at the time, but those early experiences set the foundation for the kind of life and career I am building today.

As I got older, I noticed that I was actively seeking volunteer opportunities. I was always at my happiest when I had the chance to support others, mostly through school and community projects and activities. I spent my summers organizing and fundraising for local walks in my community, gathering donations, recruiting a team, and helping coordinate event details. It became something I looked forward to each year because it gave me a sense of purpose and connection. I got to pull an all-nighter with my friends and make a difference? Sign me up! Being part of something bigger than yourself brings a feeling of fulfillment that is hard to replicate. Looking back, I can see that my childhood experiences only hinted at how impactful nonprofit work could be.

I have also been incredibly privileged to work with organizations like the American Lung Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The Wilderness Society, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. These organizations have very different missions, but they all share one important thing. The people behind the work care deeply about the communities they serve. They are not just clocking in and out. They are advocates, believers, and often firsthand witnesses to the impact their work creates. Being surrounded by individuals who truly care about their mission has been one of the great honors of my career so far.

In my day-to-day work at NNE Marketing, the dedication of both my colleagues and our clients continue to inspire me. We spend hours crafting fundraising campaigns, refining messages, and making sure every detail supports the client’s mission. We celebrate our victories and learn from our losses. We strive for strong results, not because of the metrics themselves, but because those numbers represent real people and real outcomes. I love being on a team that cares so deeply about the work they put into the world. I often hear the saying that you should not take your work too seriously because “you are not curing cancer,” but in this line of work, you could be working towards that! Knowing that the work I do today could make a difference for a person or community in need is incredibly powerful. There is a unique satisfaction in knowing your work can contribute to real change. It’s also cool that I get to see the packages I help produce show up to my house each month (even if my local post office has serious trouble fitting it all into my mailbox).

Even though I am still early in my career, I am grateful for every opportunity I have had so far. I hope to continue finding ways to leave the world a little better than I found it. My journey has not been linear. There have been twists, setbacks, and unexpected turns, but each step has helped shape the professional and person I am becoming. I would not trade that growth for anything.

If this story resonates with you, or if nonprofit work is something you think you might be interested in exploring, you are in luck. The Nonprofit Alliance Foundation’s Leading EDGE Student Internship Program offers both summer and year-round opportunities. The program connects students with nonprofit organizations and supporting companies. It provides a platform to gain hands-on experience and learn about the wide range of careers within the nonprofit sector. You do not need a lifelong history of volunteering or a clear idea of where you want to end up. Sometimes all it takes is an interest in painting sets for a community theatre. The nonprofit space has countless paths to explore, there is no single route to getting involved. You get to create your own!

For me, that path has been meaningful, sometimes challenging, and always worth it. I am grateful for where it has brought me and excited for the next chapter.

As with all our guest posts, the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of The Nonprofit Alliance.

Summer enrollment is now open for nonprofit and corporate employers who are looking to hire talented university students from the D.C., NYC, and Chicago areas for both remote and in-person positions. Read more and request an enrollment form by January 1. Need more time? Email Shelby Truxon, VP of Internship Experience, at struxon@tnpa.org.