Blog

Corporate fundraiser Micah Jorrisch recognized for making impact among local nonprofits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 24, 2015) – Micah Jorrisch, Family & Children’s Place director of corporate partnerships, has been selected one of “Business First’s 20 People to Know in Nonprofits,” and is featured in the publication’s July 24 online editions.

Jorrisch, who has been with the child abuse prevention agency since early 2014, was identified as “making an impact in the nonprofit community,” according to the business oriented publication, which added its “20 People” features connect the Louisville area business community “with people who excel in their field, serve the community and have influence within their organizations.”

“I am surprised and pleased to receive this honor,” said Jorrisch, who is from Louisville but has worked overseas as well as New York and elsewhere before returning to his hometown to work with Family & Children’s Place. “What we do is important – helping child victims of abuse and their families recover – so if my work brings one more dollar, one more mention, one more child helped, then I see myself as truly making a difference.”

Jorrisch, who earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville and a Masters in International Business from the University of London, King’s College, says connecting people to opportunities that will challenge them and help them grow is what energizes him in his work.

Following are his responses to a Business First survey:

Years in current job: One.

Years in the nonprofit industry: Six.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management from University of Louisville; master’s degree in international business management from University of London, King’s College.

Favorite vacation:“Somewhere way off the beaten path in Mexico.

Favorite movie: “Big Trouble in Little China”

Favorite way to start his day: Hugging his wife.

Music he listens to most: ’90s rock

What energizes him: Connecting people to opportunities that will challenge them and help them grow.

Why did you choose to work in the nonprofit industry?
When I was finishing graduate school in London, I found myself applying to giant, multinational companies as well as smaller nonprofits. I kept being rejected by the big companies but the nonprofits loved what I had to offer. The rest is history. What really attracted me to the nonprofit world was a general lack of hierarchy within organizations and the opportunity for inexperienced professionals to be given important, meaningful work right off the bat.

How does the nonprofit you work for meet needs?
I have almost complete autonomy over my schedule, workload and strategy. In my role, I deal with a wide range of people, companies and community groups in Louisville, so every day is completely different for me. We place an emphasis on relationship building with donors, and I love meeting new people and bringing them and their network into our mission of protecting children throughout the Louisville community.

Why should people volunteer in community service roles?
Lots and lots of reasons. Louisville is a very philanthropic town, and there is a glass ceiling for professionals who don’t volunteer their time on a nonprofit board or committee. It’s an awesome form of networking as well. And most importantly, without the community’s support, we nonprofits couldn’t be successful.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to build a career similar to yours?
Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster. Many independent nonprofits lack the systems, technology and processes that make working for a larger, well-funded company easier at times. So you need to have a great sense of humor and lots of flexibility. That being said, for a proactive person, there are so many amazing opportunities to make a big impact in your community through a nonprofit career. Practically speaking, start volunteering to build your resume up. It’s tough to get that first full-time job.

Describe a gratifying experience with someone who was assisted by your organization.
I currently sit on a committee with the parent of a child who, years ago, was sexually abused. We provided a range of services to the family to deal with the life-changing trauma. Just knowing that they’ve gotten past that extraordinarily difficult time and are now able to give back to the organization in so many ways gives me goose bumps. Inspiring.

What is the greatest need of your nonprofit organization?
Awareness of the issue. If everyone truly took the time to understand how pervasive child abuse is throughout our entire community and how it impacts families, people would be lining out the door to get involved to help us stop this epidemic.

Why is a career in the nonprofit realm a good choice?
Why not? It’s a great choice for many people, depending on your values. If you can get beyond the lower pay, lack of perks (i.e., expense account, bonuses) and occasional chaos, it is an amazingly rewarding career path. I come home every day knowing that I made a decision that directly resulted in something meaningful being accomplished.

How do you use social media in relation to your work?
“I am always re-posting and sharing Family and Children’s Place’s Facebook posts, probably so much that I’ve started to annoy my friends. I also try to maintain a very professional LinkedIn page as well and post relevant information for the business community.”