Building a Career in the Nonprofit Sector (Amie Dugan)

Are you prepared for the hard work the nonprofit sector requires? Working for a mission you believe in can certainly be both rewarding and fulfilling, but many well-intentioned individuals are surprised by the realities of being a professional in the sector. In episode #219 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with a seasoned nonprofit leader, Amie Dugan, about what it truly takes to build and sustain a successful career in the philanthropic sector. Amie discusses specific skills and attributes found in leaders that naturally draw exceptional talent to follow and learn from to advance their missions.

"Nonprofit work is certainly for the big of heart but definitely not for the faint of heart."

ABOUT AMIE

Amie Dugan's 27+ year career and experience in the nonprofit sector encompasses working with missions and organizations ranging from the grassroots to international levels. She currently serves as Vice President, Organizational Development for Special Olympics North America and leads the Organizational Development team which provides guidance and oversight to all SONA Programs in the US, Canada and the Caribbean), guiding the operational and programmatic advancement, excellence, and sustainability. She also served as VP of Marketing and Communications - a role she established. She began as a Special Olympics volunteer in 1994, and was inducted into the Special Olympics Florida Hall of Fame in 2011. Prior to Special Olympics International, she worked for Special Olympics Florida, the Walt Disney World Company and the Juilliard School of Music. Amie is an instructor, consultant, and curriculum developer for the nonprofit governance certificate program and custom consultation programming at The Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. She is a BoardSource certified nonprofit consultant and is a WISE (Women in Sports and Events) Within mentor, on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run (Central Florida), and is a member of the Greater Orlando Organizational Development Network.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Amie recommends reading anything by Brene Brown
• Learn more about Special Olympics in your community 
• Hear more from fellow Special Olympics leader Keith Fishburne in episode #129
• Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Check out Patton's book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector and watch for the audiobook coming soon!