By: Julia Pieri
When I first started thinking about my capstone project, I was mostly focused on the financial side of nonprofit organizations. As an accounting and finance student, I naturally gravitated toward budgets, revenue sources, and long-term financial sustainability. I expected my research to be centered around numbers, but my time in Florence showed me that there is so much more behind those numbers.
The people most directly connected to my research are the nonprofit leaders, employees, volunteers, donors, and the individuals who depend on these organizations every day. If a nonprofit struggles financially, it is not just the organization that is affected. Families, children, older adults, and entire communities can feel the impact. I also realized there are many indirect stakeholders, including local businesses, government agencies, and community members who benefit from the work nonprofits do, even if they are not involved with them directly.
I chose this topic because it combines two things that interest me: finance and making a positive impact. Before this experience, I assumed that the biggest challenge for nonprofits was simply raising more money. After learning more and speaking with people involved in these organizations, I realized the challenge is much more complicated. Financial sustainability is about building trust with donors, creating diverse sources of funding, and making thoughtful decisions that allow organizations to continue serving their communities for years to come.
As I looked through the research for my literature review, I noticed that most studies focused on statistics, financial performance, and strategies used by nonprofit leaders. Those perspectives are important, but they do not always capture the human side of the issue. What stood out to me most in Florence were the conversations I had with people who are passionate about the work they do. Hearing them talk about the challenges they face and the reasons they continue doing this work reminded me that financial decisions are never just about money. They affect real people and real communities.
One of my favorite parts of this experience has been getting to know people from different backgrounds. Whether it was talking with nonprofit professionals, professors, local residents, or other students, every conversation gave me a new way of looking at my project. Sometimes I learned something related to my research, and other times I simply learned more about Italian culture or how someone else’s experiences shaped the way they see the world. Those moments were just as valuable as anything I learned in a classroom.
I hope to stay connected with some of the people I met, especially the professionals who took the time to speak with me about their organizations. Even if we do not stay in regular contact, I know these relationships have influenced the way I think about my future career. They reminded me that behind every spreadsheet, budget, or financial report are people whose lives can be affected by the decisions being made.
Looking back, this experience has changed the way I approach both research and my future career. I still enjoy working with numbers, but now I understand that the numbers only tell part of the story. Taking the time to listen to people’s experiences has given my project more meaning, and it is something I hope to carry with me long after my time in Florence.
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