Kirsten McIlvenna
Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words.
We want more stories! Don’t be shy – tell us what you do in a typical day as a nonprofit communications pro.
Kirsten McIlvenna is the Communications Director for International Child Care (USA), a nonprofit seeking to change the conditions of poverty in Haiti and the Dominican Republic by promoting health and empowerment. She started in February of 2016 after several years of trying to break into the nonprofit world. Although it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day life in her US office, she feels the most fulfillment when she gets to visit the programs in Haiti and the DR to meet and build relationships with those she works each day to help.
And this is her typical day:
Before 8:00 a.m. – My routine before work isn’t very long as I crawl out of bed with just enough time to get dressed and eat a bowl of cereal. Then I hop on my bike for the 5-minute ride to our office in downtown Kalamazoo.
8:30 a.m. – Check email; read news about Haiti and Dominican Republic; check in with coworkers. Review the millions of lists on my desk.
9:00 a.m. – Turn on the electric kettle for tea. Meticulously measure out some loose-leaf Cream Earl Grey into my strainer. Check out the ICC’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Obsess over the reach on Facebook and determine a post for the day.
9:30 a.m. – Get visited by my boss who says we need to write a press release about the current hospital situation in Haiti. Discuss a plan of action and get started.
10:00 a.m. – Remember that I’m making tea and go back out to turn on the electric kettle again. Determined to have a cup, stay there until it boils then watch the tea steep.
10:10 a.m. – Create text and image for a Facebook post; write a tweet. Finish press release, get approval, and send out to the appropriate sources. Feel accomplished.
10:30 a.m. – Start drafting two different e-newsletters to go out the following week. Get distracted multiple times by incoming emails and online articles.
11:00 a.m. – Drink second cup of tea. Send an email down to PR person in Haiti with details about the upcoming communications trip. Take a phone call. Check off a couple of minor things on my to-do list. Feel great satisfaction in doing so.
12:00 p.m. – Review intern’s work and provide feedback. Continue to work on e-newsletters.
1:00 p.m. – Ride bike home and eat lunch and play a game on my phone to relax.
2:00 p.m. – Finish up e-newsletters, send out to coworkers for feedback, and schedule them to go out once changes are made. Check in on reach of earlier Facebook post; respond to comments.
3:00 p.m. – Draft an article for the website about upcoming Race for Grace fundraiser.
4:00 p.m. – Wrap up the day with last minute emails and a daily conversation with the PR person in Haiti. Discuss travel logistics for mission teams and other communications questions.
Thanks for sharing your day, Kirsten!
Want to be featured in this series? Tell us what you do in a typical day as a nonprofit communications pro.
