Member Spotlight: Amanda K. Metskas
Amanda K. Metskas
Executive Director
Camp Quest
Q: Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?
A: Camp Quest is a network of summer camps providing weeks of fun, friends, and freethought to campers ages 8-17 across the United States. We’re aimed at giving kids a safe secular place to belong, challenge themselves, question, and grow. Last summer we served more than 1,100 campers at 17 weeks of camp staffed by more than 400 volunteers. I love the work that I do because I get to help kids flourish every summer. I hear from parents that their child has never found another place where they felt so comfortable being themselves. Camp people are amazing, and I love working with the Camp Quest team.
Q: How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?
A: I’ve been a member for two years. I’ve taken the Fundamentals of Fundraising training, I participate in the Small Shops affinity group, and I try to get to as many of the monthly lunch trainings as I can. I also had a mentor in 2015 through the mentoring program.
Q: What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?
A: The mentoring program was an amazing opportunity to connect one on one with a more experienced fundraiser. I learned a lot from my mentor, Joanne Spoth. She’s awesome!
Q: How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?
A: Eight years. I’m passionate about the mission of Camp Quest, and became our first paid staff person after many years of us being an all volunteer organization. To make what we do possible I had to become a fundraiser, but I’ve found that I really enjoy the work because it’s about connecting with people who share my passion for Camp Quest’s mission.
Q: What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite Restaurant?
A: Columbus is a wonderful city because it’s a cosmopolitan place with tons of arts and culture, educational opportunities, and delicious food, but I can still afford to live here as a non-profit professional! It’s a humane and livable city that also has many of the benefits of much larger cities. I live in the Short North and I love the restaurants and galleries. My favorites are the Rossi, da Levee, Philco, and Northstar Café.
Q: Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.
A: I’m a knitter. It’s a creative way to unwind (pun intended).
Posted February 2016