A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships
Nonprofit organizations are critical to our community. These organizations are doing incredibly important work and deserve appreciation and support for the difference they make in Hancock County. As a community foundation, we support them in many ways – one being the workshops and coaching opportunities we call organizational strengthening.
For more than 12 years, The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has offered organizational strengthening for nonprofit organizations. Each year, we offer a year-round curriculum of workshops, private coaching, certification programs and individual professional development funds. While all of these support staff members at nonprofit organizations, workshops and private coaching are available beyond staff, extending to board members and volunteers. Topics include fundraising, evaluation, governance, advocacy, finance, storytelling and many others.
According to the Nonprofit Times, nonprofit organizations across the country are working to offer high-performing initiatives and programs and be high-performing organizations to support their mission. Findlay and Hancock County nonprofit agencies reflect this trend. We’ve offered this program for 12 years and we strive to include new participants each year. Organizational strengthening is often an entry point for us to engage with a newer nonprofit, as well as new staff, board members and volunteers within existing organizations.
Prior to the new year, we complete a full needs assessment with nonprofit feedback to determine what to offer as part of the curriculum in the following year. The Foundation’s board members review the curriculum and vote to allocate funding to the program.
This work makes a positive difference for nonprofit organizations, staff, and volunteers. We often hear success stories from those who have participated. Participating organizations have seen higher return from fundraising efforts, growth in staff or volunteer satisfaction, more effective programming and many other wins.
“The sessions provide our organization with a clear direction. We have many goals, but they help us to home in on the most manageable and provide us with a roadmap to pursue and achieve those goals.”
“The biggest benefit for me was having the ability to speak openly and honestly about issues and having someone to assist with ways to navigate through them and make change.”
“The coaches showed genuine concern for how to help make our organization better. They offered guidance and support so we can do what we do to help individuals in our community.”
Empowering nonprofit organizations to strengthen themselves encourages self-sufficiency and growth. Organizations that improve themselves can better serve their clients and the community. A rising tide does lift all ships.
If an organization you’re involved with is interested in participating in future sessions or you’d like to support this work at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, contact us or call (419) 425-1100.
This editorial was originally printed in The Courier Monday, August 1, 2022.
