2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018

I started this summer curious about what working in the nonprofit field is really like, and after CIIP, I can confidently say that I have learned everything I wanted to. FreeState Justice is a legal services nonprofit that serves the Maryland LGBTQ community through free legal ser- vices, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and trainings conducted in community institutions such as healthcare providers and schools. My position was the Development and Commu- nications Intern and, although I didn’t have much contact with our clients or other commu- nity members, I gained a much greater understanding of the inner workings of nonprofits and the work necessary to create the impact seen on a community level. Specifically, I learned a lot about the funding sources and structures behind nonprofit work. It was exciting and rewarding for me to see words that I had written on my own be submitted to interna- tional foundations to request up to $100,000. It feels good knowing that I have become very comfortable with grant writing, a concrete, marketable skill that I knew nothing about before, through this internship. Along with donor communications, website editing, and event planning, I feel comfortable saying that I now know how nonprofits really work. Additionally, I have seen firsthand how a well-funded and relatively larger-scale organiza- tion can remain rooted in its community. Every single decision the board and staff makes is based on what our community members need, and the mutual respect that the staff attor- neys and clients have is undeniable. I began this internship feeling concerned that I would feel less connected to Baltimore than some of my other interns because I would not be conducting fieldwork or meeting with community members, but seeing how the work that I was doing directly affected and helped FreeState’s clients quickly assuaged those con- cerns. I am overjoyed to know that relatively abundant funding and grassroots connection are not mutually exclusive. Overall, I am ending this experience feeling deeply inspired by the tireless and mindful work of my colleagues, and completely supported by my community, whether that be the community of FreeState Justice, CIIP, or Baltimore itself. • Wrote grant proposals, letters of in- tent, and grant reports to foundations funding FreeState Justice’s activities • Wrote tax acknowledgements and other communications to FreeState’s individual donors • Planned and publicized fundraising events with community partners on FreeState’s social media and website 27 Community Partner: FreeState Justice Intern: Nicole Kiker Site Supervisor: Mark Procopio What is FreeState Justice? FreeState Justice is a social justice and legal advocacy organization that works statewide to improve the lives of LGBTQ Marylanders and their families through legal services, policy advocacy, outreach, education, and coalition-building. Our work brings to the forefront the experiences of youth, commu- nities of color, low-income individ- uals, and transgender and gender non-conforming people.

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