Reflecting on Our 2023: A Year of Progress and Collaboration
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s the best time to reflect on our remarkable journey of the past year. With a keen focus on our mission of supporting nonprofits, our second year was filled with swift victories and real challenges. We expanded our signature programming and launched new services to strengthen local nonprofit organizations and bring our community closer together. Here is a quick recap of what we accomplished last year.
Fostering Connections and Equipping for Success
Our Nonprofit Essentials program with Shafer Leadership Academy and Network Huddles have been instrumental in connecting with organizations, sharing experiences, and equipping nonprofits with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive. Through 26 sessions focused on special event fundraising, recruiting and hiring nonprofit staff, managing conflict among board members, and more. Our skilled facilitators were a blend of regional experts and seasoned nonprofit professionals, enhancing our community’s access to available resources.
We utilized what we heard from nonprofits and launched two new peer groups, Community Food Service Huddle and Board Leader Huddle. Both focused on providing professional development and capacity-building resources based on similar mission work and organizational positions. In 2024, we’ll continue to provide networking and education opportunities for nonprofits and persist in our programming to be relevant and responsive.
CORE Fundraising: Strengthening Financial Sustainability
We continued the legacy The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County established by hosting the third cohort of the CORE Fundraising Training Program. From June to November 2023, 18 nonprofit professionals from 15 local nonprofits spent more than 35 hours studying various topics related to fundraising and development. Led by fundraising expert Adam Clevenger, Partner at Loring, Sternberg, & Associates, the program included custom courses from The Fund Raising School at IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, personalized one-on-one support, and, most importantly, an opportunity for participants to connect and learn with each other. One participant shared,
“I really appreciate the course and the content, but even more so, I appreciate the opportunity to learn from the others. There is so much experience in this group, and there are so many resources that I am already feeling more confident, better prepared, and more capable!”
We’re proud to continue providing fundraising training through a partnership with Muncie Public Library, as they host the first-ever Grant Writing Learning Circle utilizing Candid’s Foundation Directory Online. This free cohort-style program is customized to support nonprofits in our community.
Launching the HR Resource and Help Desk
Our strong collaboration efforts led to one of our most significant milestones, launching the HR Resource and Help Desk with Open Door Health Services. This pilot resource has served as a valuable support system for nonprofit executive directors and board presidents seeking guidance on various operational and strategic issues, such as employee attendance, performance evaluation, and staff transitions. The positive feedback from those who have utilized the Help Desk reaffirms its importance as a resource hub for the sector. Next year, we’ll strengthen our partnerships with local HR professionals as we focus on a proactive approach to strengthening the human resources of our nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit Summit: Celebrating Achievements and Learning
The Nonprofit Summit was a highlight of the year, bringing together nonprofit professionals from across the sector for a celebration and learning. It was an honor to have Suzanne Smith, CEO and Founder of Social Impact Architects, as our keynote speaker in Muncie. The Nonprofit Summit exceeded our expectations, packed with distinguished speakers, engaging breakout sessions, energized attendees, and nonprofit champions. The Steering Committee rose to the opportunity to design and implement this groundbreaking gathering, and we’re so grateful for their support.
In 2024, we’re focusing on strengthening and sustaining our programs and services by fostering partnerships and promoting collaborations to address the evolving needs of nonprofits. We’re investing in our mission by examining nonprofit needs and plan to use a variety of research and studies to educate our staff, board, partners, and stakeholders about the realities of capacity-building in Muncie-Delaware County. We look forward to sharing more about what nonprofits need to be healthy, well-supported, and sustainable.