From Intern to Full-Time at Funds For Learning
I first heard about Funds For Learning (FFL) at a career fair while I was in college. I remembered how much the people there seemed to genuinely enjoy their work — describing FFL as professional but fun, with a strong focus on teamwork. A few years later, when I saw an internship position open for the summer, I decided to apply. That earlier experience stuck with me, and I was drawn to the heart of what FFL does: working hard together to help schools and libraries get what they need to be even better at what they do — educate.
Getting Started
From my very first day, I felt welcomed. It felt like I wouldn’t be allowed to fade into the background and not meet everyone — I was part of the team right away. My first responsibilities were pretty simple: building forms, saving and naming documents, and sending emails. As time went on, I began to see more of the big picture. The work at FFL is complex, but also rewarding because every assignment ultimately connects back to helping students and teachers have the resources they need.
Projects & Aha Moments
One of my favorite projects was organizing several years of funding data to present to a client. I was tasked with arranging the information so they could quickly see if the same schools were missing out on utilizing funds, whether certain providers were a common thread in that underutilization, and several other aspects. All of this while still knowing very little about E-rate. It was challenging but fun to turn raw data into something that told a story.
Along the way, I’ve had a few “aha” moments about E-rate. A big one was realizing that USAC reviewers are not experts — they’re people too, and they can make mistakes. Unlike the IRS, where their word is final, with E-rate you can actually catch errors and ask them to correct things based on their own criteria. That was eye-opening for me and showed just how important it is to be clear, detailed, and persistent in the process.
Team & Growth
The culture at FFL is so collaborative. Teams shift around, but that means you get the chance to learn from different people with different strengths. Questions are encouraged, and there’s always someone willing to share what they know. My manager, David Mead, pushed me to grow and adapt quickly, while my teammate, Hunter Paige, was a patient teacher when it came to consortium work. Both challenged and supported me in ways that shaped my experience — along with the rest of my amazing team.
Looking Ahead
Now that I’ve joined FFL full-time, I’m excited to start taking on clients of my own. I want to keep supporting my teammates by tackling the detail-heavy tasks that free them up to focus on bigger challenges. I’m also looking forward to building confidence in client communication, strategic thinking, and learning the ins and outs of a full funding year from start to finish.
If I had to describe my journey at FFL so far in three words, I’d say: unique, challenging, and supportive — with “fun” as a close fourth. I can’t wait to keep growing and contributing to the mission of helping schools and libraries get the Internet access they need.
