During my summer at Fundación Aladina, I worked as a project leader primarily defining the strategy blueprint for the fundraising process of Casa Aladina. Fundación Aladina is the leading organization in Spain within pediatric cancer care. Through a comprehensive program of emotional, psychological, and material support, along with a line of work in education and research, Fundación Aladina provides the most innovative programs to children with cancer and their families with the aim of improving their quality of life. Casa Aladina, to be built and operated by the foundation, will be the first and only day care center in pediatric oncology in Spain and among the first in Europe for patients of childhood cancer and their families, families of deceased patients and survivors.

My research was directly connected to the organization’s mission, as Casa Aladina is the expansion of the foundation’s programs in hospitals. My work helped define the fundraising needs of this project, identify and contact new potential grant donors, brainstorm new fundraising activities leveraging the existing and new channels available for raising funds, and identify best practices in fundraising from other day care centers for children with cancer.

During this internship, I worked closely with director Ishtar Espejo and the projects and corporate alliances director Maria Luisa Sarandeses to define the scope of my project and determine research project outcomes. Among these outcomes, the three main deliverables consisted of the dossier to send to potential grant donors, the application to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to secure 2M€ for the construction of Casa Aladina, and a document with the strategy blueprint for the construction and maintenance of Casa Aladina for both individual and corporate donors.

I applied several skillsets from my recent master’s degree to effectively contribute to the fundraising strategy for Casa Aladina. My coursework in Digital Marketing proved invaluable in reaching out to potential individual and corporate donors. I leveraged principles from this course to design targeted outreach campaigns, utilizing social media and email marketing to increase awareness and engagement. This approach helped us identify and connect with a broader base of potential donors, enhancing our fundraising efforts.

Additionally, my knowledge from Behavioral Economics and Decision-Making was crucial in developing fundraising activities tailored to individual donors. By applying insights on how people make financial decisions, I was able to design donation tiers with different price points and create compelling images and narratives that resonated emotionally with potential donors. This strategic framing will potentially encourage higher contributions and foster a deeper connection between donors and the cause.

Furthermore, my studies in Entrepreneurial Strategy were directly relevant to defining the overall fundraising blueprint for Casa Aladina. This course equipped me with the tools to analyze the competitive landscape, identify unique value propositions, and develop innovative fundraising strategies that aligned with the foundation’s mission. By integrating these academic insights into practical applications, I contributed to creating a robust and sustainable fundraising plan for the construction and maintenance of Casa Aladina.

Overall, my academic background provided a strong foundation for tackling the challenges of fundraising in the nonprofit sector, enabling me to make a meaningful impact during my internship at Fundación Aladina.

One challenge I faced was the limited time frame of my internship, which was only two months. This short duration meant I couldn't see my project fully materialized, as the grant application, if successful, will secure the funds later, and Casa Aladina's construction is estimated for 2027. Additionally, I had little prior experience in fundraising, so I had to quickly familiarize myself with fundraising strategies and best practices without much context. Despite these challenges, I committed to continuing my support for the project, even if it will be more sporadically, to ensure the success of the fundraising for Casa Aladina in the long run.

My experience at Fundación Aladina was transformative, providing me with several key takeaways. Firstly, I gained a deep appreciation for the intricacies of fundraising within the nonprofit sector, particularly in pediatric oncology. I learned the importance of crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with potential donors and the necessity of strategic planning in securing funds for long-term projects like Casa Aladina.

One of my primary goals was to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy, and this experience taught me the value of leveraging academic knowledge in real-world applications. I applied digital marketing techniques to enhance donor outreach and engagement, utilized principles from behavioral economics to design effective fundraising activities, and employed entrepreneurial strategies to create a robust fundraising blueprint.

Another significant takeaway was the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. With little prior experience in fundraising and a short internship duration, I had to quickly get up to speed on the topic. This challenge underscored the value of being proactive, resourceful, and willing to seek guidance from experienced mentors like the Director and the Projects and Corporate Alliances Director.

Moreover, I learned the importance of long-term commitment in social enterprise projects. Although I couldn’t see my project fully materialized within the internship period, I offered to continue supporting the initiative sporadically. This experience reinforced my dedication to contributing to meaningful causes beyond immediate results.

In summary, this internship solidified my passion for social enterprise, equipped me with practical fundraising skills, and highlighted the importance of adaptability and long-term commitment in achieving impactful outcomes.