Wayne County Foundation Hosts Nonprofit NICE! Series
The Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County recently hosted the first Nonprofit Involvement and Community Engagement (NICE!) series in July 2022. The program’s curriculum was adapted from Forward Wayne County’s Neighborhood Involvement and Community Engagement program and reworked to equip Wayne County nonprofits.
“It is incredibly important for us to give our local nonprofits the tools they need to sustain themselves,” shared Rebecca Gilliam, Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation. “The NICE! series provided a valuable framework for engaging with an organization’s constituents and creating a lasting plan.”
Funded through Lilly Endowment Inc., NICE! challenged participants to focus on the assets available to them in the community and how they can best serve their constituents and donors to achieve their organization’s goals. Topics included asset-based community development, servant leadership, organizational sustainability, donor stewardship, and fundraising.
Alex Painter, Community Engagement Officer for the Foundation, facilitated the series. “We couldn’t have been happier with our first nonprofit cohort,” said Painter. “Each participant brought their own unique vision and background to the program, which led to excellent discussion.”
Individuals representing 12 nonprofit organizations in Wayne County completed the series. Participants found the series extremely valuable.
“Thanks to the Foundation, Brighter Path was able to engage with other community nonprofits to build connections, create partnerships, and learn valuable nonprofit management skills,” said Emma Ullery with Brighter Path, Inc.
The Wayne County Foundation will continue to provide training opportunities for nonprofit organizations throughout 2022 and onward. For more information, follow the Wayne County Foundation on social media or visit waynecountyfoundation.org.
Since 1979, the Wayne County Foundation has existed to foster and encourage private philanthropic giving, to enhance the spirit of community and to improve the quality of life in the Wayne County, Indiana, area now and for future generations.