What I Learned as a Homeword Intern
My name is Keaton, and I’m a fundraising and communications intern at Homeword this summer. As a business marketing student at the University of Montana, with interests in entertainment management and digital design, I’ve learned how what I’m being taught in the classroom can be applied in a nonprofit setting at Homeword and contribute to their mission of creating safe, healthy homes and sustainable communities.
What drew me to Homeword was the mission. Growing up in a low-income family in Frenchtown, Montana, I’ve seen firsthand how vital affordable housing is. I wanted to be part of an organization that didn’t just talk about change but worked to make it happen. Homeword’s commitment to long-term sustainability and community impact really resonated with me. The opportunity to blend my marketing education with a cause I care about felt like the perfect fit. One of the first things I did was meet with nearly every team member to better understand the different departments and ask questions about their roles and responsibilities.
Early on, I hoped to learn more about how the organization communicates with donors and partners and I’ve had the chance to explore that. Much of my time has been spent with the fundraising manager. I’ve learned how to use tools like Bloomerang and DonorSearch to help identify and retain donors as well as generate marketing lists and new partnerships. These tools have helped us find people, companies and foundations with philanthropic interests that align with Homeword’s work. I’ve also worked closely with the fundraising manager to support a major collaborative event: Housing Night with the Missoula PaddleHeads baseball team. This event brings together five local housing organizations Homeword, Missoula Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity of Missoula, NeighborWorks Montana and Front Step Community Land Trust to connect with the community and raise awareness about the resources available and the need for affordable housing.
My internship with Homeword has taught me a lot about professional communication, not just through writing and outreach but also by observing how relationships are built and maintained across different organizations. I’ve had the chance to see how the fundraising manager collaborates with other nonprofits and Missoula PaddleHeads to organize Housing Night, and that experience gave me a deeper appreciation for how much behind-the-scenes work goes into events like Housing Night. As someone who’s interested in sports management, I was surprised to learn how many moving pieces go into a baseball game, from community engagement to promotional planning, all to keep the crowd excited and the team energized.
In addition, working at Homeword this summer has shown me how transferable marketing and communications are across different industries and how important it is to be adaptable, creative and organized. Looking ahead, I’m excited to take the skills I’ve developed at Homeword into future roles, whether that’s in sports management, marketing, or nonprofit work. I’ve learned how to approach projects with both a strategic and creative mindset, how to adapt quickly when plans change, and how to build authentic relationships with partners and supporters. No matter where my career takes me, I know these experiences will help me make a meaningful impact while staying grounded in causes I care about.