Tell us about yourself and your background. 

Davis: I am from Keller, T.X., and I am an incoming senior at Texas A&M, majoring in finance. I’ve been passionate about finance and money since the sixth grade: how it moves and what it does, so pursuing a finance major made perfect sense for me. In college, I am involved in various organizations. I am the Vice President of Future Business Leaders of America, which is both a professional and social organization. Additionally, I am the Treasurer for Move Texas, where we focus on mobilizing students to register to vote and keeping them informed about current political events. Aside from college and work, I have two Goldendoodles, Henry and Winston, who are brothers from the same litter. I am usually never home because of college, so it's nice to spend time with my family and my dogs while also interning at DAFgiving360.

Tell us about your role and how your experience has been so far.

Davis: My internship position is in Grant Processing. My role involves reviewing grants that individuals recommend to charities through DAFgiving360. Some grants are automatically approved, but those that get flagged come to us grant specialists for further review. My responsibilities include checking various criteria for each grant, contacting charities, donors, and advisors. Essentially, I interact with everyone involved in the grant process. The first few weeks involved extensive training with my mentor, who was amazing. He was patient and wanted me to become proficient quickly, pushing me to dive in and gain confidence. Now, I’m handling about 15 to 20 grants daily, checking designations, and communicating with various parties. I have a supportive team of other grant specialists who provide guidance and critique. The variety of daily tasks keeps the work interesting, with new learning opportunities every day. 

How has your internship helped you develop your skills and knowledge? 

Davis: The biggest improvement for me has been my communication skills. While I’m a good public speaker, my initial fear was talking confidently when I wasn’t entirely sure about the subject. This internship has helped me develop the ability to think on my feet and respond confidently, even when I need to figure things out as I go. It’s almost like developing improv skills, allowing me to answer questions on the spot with the knowledge I have. Additionally, I’ve gained a lot of general knowledge, learning how systems work and understanding the chain of command. Knowing who to contact for various tasks has been enlightening and extremely beneficial for my role.  

If you had to mentor a future DAFgiving360 intern, what is one piece of advice you would want to give them?  

Davis: It’s easier said than done, but don’t stress. The first few weeks can seem dauting, but you’ll learn the most by doing rather than just learning. Personally, I learned much more from making mistakes and becoming comfortable with them, knowing there will be people there to catch you when you fall. There are systems in place to ensure you won’t make significant errors, everyone is aware of your situation, your shortened training time, and your newness. My biggest piece of advice is to never stop learning and stay curious.  

What are your plans after this internship? 

Davis: I’ll be finishing my senior year at Texas A&M. I’ve set myself up for a relatively easy senior year, so I plan to really live and enjoy this last year. It’s amazing how quickly time has flown by, and I feel like I’ve just gotten comfortable with college life. Now, realizing it’s my last year, I’m focused on embracing change, even though it’s inevitable. After graduation, my biggest goal is to live in a city and work for a company that cares about me and my growth.