Pivot to U.S. Domestic Nonprofits
On September 10, 2025, Tara Murray (Executive Director of the Washington Bureau, Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy, National Urban League), Anne Reynolds (Chief of Staff, LA Wildfire Recovery, American Red Cross), Mandy Sharp Eizinger (Program Manager, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy), and Glenn Prickett (President & CEO, Gulf of Maine Research Institute) shared their experiences working in nonprofit roles, offering tips on how we can leverage our international development backgrounds to transition into this space. John Dorrett (Georgetown SFS) moderated this event, and Steve Radelet (Georgetown SFS) also provided additional commentary.
This session was the seventh in our Pivot to New Career Paths seminar series, designed to offer attendees the opportunity to hear from colleagues who have already made these important career transitions and glean how to best embark on these changes themselves.
There is no question that the formal closure of USAID has ushered in a new chapter: a reimagination of service and purpose rooted in the domestic sphere. This shift has prompted many international development professionals to look inward—toward U.S. communities—by exploring opportunities in the U.S. nonprofit sector, which offers the ability to contribute meaningfully to various socio-economic causes, often adjacent to the public sector.
During this event, the featured panelists all agreed that there are significant opportunities in this space, despite the risks. They all agreed that we have the skills and expertise that will benefit us in our job respective searches and will make us highly attractive to various nonprofits around the country.
Most important, that speakers felt strongly that careers in nonprofits often align with our broad (and shared!) sense of purpose. We all share a commitment to advancing social causes for public benefit, and our resourcefulness, program management, and strategic thinking all make us uniquely well-positioned to transition into the space and thrive once we have the opportunity to do so.
Other Previous Sessions
Please feel free to browse our other previous sessions to access summaries, video content, and more information about our other events!