As far as I can remember, raising funds for charities has excited me ever since in school. While I started my career with BBC Radio in the UK and worked for television channels and print media in India, I was always looking to work with people in need.
While in the US, I found myself spending more time with non-profits like United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ten Thousand Villages. Somewhere I was always inclined towards serving the society but it was only after running the Cincinnati Fundraising Chapter for Dining For Women, I got a structured foyer in non-profits. There was always a desire to move back to India and have my charity where people can support one another in leading better and more meaningful lives. A place where donors and volunteers can come together and experience transformation. Touch and feel the impact their contribution is making.
In 2013 I joined Lotus Petal Foundation as a volunteer. The organization was working to bring the school dropouts back into the education system and prepare them to enter the mainstream with stable jobs. I could resonate with the cause as it was a holistic approach towards changing a child’s life for the better. I instantly wanted to be a part of the process.
Spending more time with the organization, made me realize that our vision was very ambitious and, we needed more resources to move ahead. This is where the biggest hurdle came along – convincing people about what we wanted to do and garnering funds. While we worked on ways to raise funds and support, I realized lowering our overhead costs without compromising on our quality could make a considerable difference.
Working with Lotus Petal made me understand how deeply I could connect with the work of the organization. In early 2017 I joined Lotus Petal as a governing council member and trustee and in another 6 months, started working full-time as an employee of Lotus Petal. It gave me more time to work with underprivileged children and deeply address their educational and nutritional needs.
As the organization started growing, I was thrown with a new set of challenges- I was no longer a volunteer but was leading the organization as a CTO and Co-Founder. It was not just about working backstage anymore but being in the front all the time, leading the team and steering them in the right direction, ensuring we never digress from our vision.
Today, as I look back from where we started, it humbles me to say that our donors and volunteers who joined us in the beginning, are still supporting us for our work and the impact we have been able to create in the lives of the beneficiaries.
From a person who found happiness in serving the needy to being able to empower people to serve, I feel I have come a long way. It has been a journey of tremendous personal growth and learning.
Shared by :
Saloni Bhardwaj,
Lotus Petal Foundation | Co-Founder & CTO
