Gretchen Upholt

How would you describe your experience as a Wagner student?

Wagner was the first time in my professional career where I felt like I found other people like me -- people who are 100% committed to the nonprofit sector, of course, but also people who shared my work ethic and working style. I had not always experienced that in my career before Wagner. That helped me be more confident in my approach to my work and to seek out a working environment that was right for me (and I now knew existed) when I graduated.

DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT JOB.

I lead all aspects of business development for the Midwest region at FMA. This entails developing a sustainable revenue strategy, ensuring that revenue goals are met, and serving as a point of contact for all new business in the Midwest. I cultivate and maintain relationships with funder and client partners, represent the Midwest region in FMA leadership and strategic planning activities, and lead teams for consulting projects to improve financial systems and infrastructure. I help ensure that FMA provides training, consulting and capacity-building services for nonprofit and funder clients.

What are the advantages of the Wagner alumni network?

As an employer, the best way to really know if someone is a good candidate is to know them already or have someone you trust vouch for them. As a candidate, the best way to know if an organization is a good place to work is pretty much the same thing. The Wagner alumni network can provide opportunities to understand organizations, identify good candidates, and get trusted feedback in a way the cold email job application process can’t. Even if you’re not looking for a job, the alumni network provides access to like-minded individuals who may be potential clients, supporters, thought partners, and more.