The New Currency of Giving: Skills, Stories, and Support
by Krista Murray, NextFlex Manager of Philanthropy & Workforce Development
The idea of donating or even the word philanthropy hits differently these days. Headlines are splashed with the cost of eggs, childcare expenses, mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty. This can make philanthropy feel like a luxury reserved for the ultra-wealthy.
We tend to picture philanthropy as million-dollar checks, black-tie galas, or getting your name etched into the side of a shiny new building. But what if we challenged that image? What if giving could look more like sharing your story to resonate with a student or giving your time mentoring someone figuring out their path? When it comes to NextFlex’s education and workforce development, this kind of everyday gift is meaningful and essential in building tomorrow’s workforce.
Give Skills
Join the NextFlex Ambassador Network. Students and jobseekers don’t need perfection; they need real people in real careers who are willing to share what they’ve learned along the way. Whether you work in tech, engineering, advanced manufacturing, or another STEM field, your experience could light the path for someone else through mentorship.
One of our ambassadors at NextFlex spoke to a group of community college students and walked away unsure she’d made an impact. A week later, she received an email that read, “I didn’t know someone like me could do this work until I heard you talk.” That’s the kind of ripple effect you can’t put a price tag on.
Give Stories
Your journey and career path can resonate and inspire. People don’t connect to job titles; they connect to journeys. They want to know how you got here, what you struggled with, what you wish you knew. When you share the messy middle of your career story, you give others permission to dream, pivot, and push through their own challenges. At NextFlex, we’ve seen people who were laid off, raising families, or switching careers find their way into AI technician roles, clean tech, or microelectronics all because someone took time to say, “Hey, I’ve been there too. You’ve got this!”
Give Support
Financial giving still matters but it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. A one-time or recurring donation, a warm introduction to a grantmaking organization, or even encouraging your company to explore employee giving can go further than you think.
When we invest in STEM workforce development, we’re not just helping individuals. We’re building stronger families, communities, and a future-ready workforce. STEM workforce development fuels economic success because good jobs can transform household health and prosperity. This work fuels innovation through the advancement of new ideas and fresh perspectives. This work fuels national security because a strong, skilled, domestic workforce keeps the U.S. competitive.
So, giving now? Yes, 100 times, yes. Maybe you can’t make a seven-figure donation right now (or maybe you can!) but you can still make a real difference. In fact, you already have everything you need to be a philanthropist in the most powerful sense of the word – a skill, a story, or support.
Get involved. Reach out, share your story, or connect us with your network. You never know who you’ll inspire next. Connect with NextFlex to build the future together. Learn more at nextflex.us/ewd or contact Krista Murray at kmurray@nextflex.us.