People often ask me how I got a job working for a private foundation. There are two ways to take that question: How did YOU end up working for a private foundation or how did you end up working for a PRIVATE FOUNDATION?

I hope that generally the latter is what people have in mind,  and that they are really asking about career path advice.

In short, for me the key was being open to a variety of experiences and fully carrying out all the aspects of my current job. For example, as the Planning and Allocations Director at United Way in Tacoma I was able to participate in Philanthropy NW (then called PNGF) when the membership was much more restrictive. The United Ways in King, Pierce, and Snohomish were allowed to be members as an exception to the rule that you had to be strictly a funder, either a private foundation or corporate giving program.

Interestingly, I seldom saw my old boss from Seattle or anyone from UWSC at those meetings. But I wasn’t there with thoughts of a new job; I had the chance to represent all our member agencies and to share with them the concerns and interests I heard about from major funders. Little did I know that my presence would eventually lead to me being considered for foundation job, as in those days there was almost no movement in those positions.

But I was fortunate to be helped along by a great many people to even get to that point. One of those people who helped was Harry Wappler, who passed away just this week. I met Harry in early 1970, not along after he added the weatherman title to the other jobs he did at KIRO. One of those other jobs was working with students they chose to be student editorialists.

I had submitted an editorial promoting our state’s initiative to lower the voting age to 19; this was the year before the Constitutional amendment lowered the voting age to 18. I met with Harry and, with his guidance, had the editorial—both television and radio versions—done in a few takes.

Over the years we kept in touch, and in the mid-70s he introduced me to another colleague of his, a professional writer. That introduction ended up opening many other doors that I never would have even thought about.

I think about my varied career path when I meet with scholarship students we’ve helped. My key advice to them is to “learn how to learn” because you can't know what opportunities may arise. I certainly had no idea that my current job even existed when I was in college.

But by taking advantage of opportunities, doing all aspects of the current job, and showing a willingness to try new things, I found even more opportunities arose.

I also recall the great debt I owe to so many people who helped; and I know the only way to truly repay that debt is to pass on the same kind of support and encouragement to others. You don’t have to be a senior staff person to lend that hand. There are often times that you can be a source of support for a colleague or another staff who is just a bit newer to the job than you. And sometimes, in reaching out, you learn more about your organization and your community, which is good for all of us.