Nonprofits Archives - Omaha Community Foundation

Laura Contreras Promoted to Director of Community Investment

Omaha Community Foundation — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:43:54 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation is pleased to share that Laura Contreras has been promoted to Director of Community Investment, a role that sits at the center of how the Foundation works alongside nonprofits and responds to community needs.

The Director of Community Investment leads the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy and nonprofit capacity-building efforts, working closely with partners serving the community across the Omaha Metro. The Community Investment department draws on community data and nonprofit relationships to understand what’s happening across the region, then translates those insights into pathways for donors to engage in ways that are thoughtful, responsive, and informed by real needs.

Over the past five years, Laura has been deeply involved in that work. Beginning as Program Manager and then Senior Program Manager, she has managed grant programs from start to finish, guiding application processes, supporting review committees, and communicating decisions and feedback to nonprofit partners. She has also helped lead special initiatives tied to some of the community’s most complex challenges, including COVID-era ARPA funding, food relief efforts, neighborhood recovery following the 2024 tornadoes, and responses to housing instability.

Her work often brings clarity to situations that are still taking shape, drawing on both a strong understanding of the nonprofit landscape and close relationships with community partners. Through that work, she has helped translate donor intent into action and supported efforts that lead to visible, lasting impact across Omaha and the surrounding region.

Many of her colleagues have experienced that steady leadership firsthand. One colleague noted, “Anyone who has worked with Laura has seen the thoughtfulness, care, and steady leadership she brings. She has built strong, trusted relationships across our community and within OCF, with a clear commitment to the Foundation’s mission.”

When announcing this promotion, OCF President and CEO Donna Kush cited Laura’s deep understanding of local nonprofit and donor needs, her commitment to the community, and her strong work with the Foundation as reasons for the selection.

Laura’s leadership also extends beyond the Foundation. She currently serves as Board President for the Latino Economic Development Council and has been involved with several local nonprofit boards. These experiences reflect the same commitment to the community that guides her work at OCF.

As Director of Community Investment, Laura will continue to shape the Foundation’s grantmaking and partnerships while helping the organization stay closely connected to the people and organizations doing the work on the ground.

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New Learning Opportunities for Omaha-Area Nonprofits

Molly Mullen — Fri, 15 May 2026 17:50:18 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation’s vision is a connected community of passionate philanthropists, strong nonprofits, and thriving residents.

Because strong nonprofits are essential to a healthy community, we have offered capacity‑building workshops for more than a decade. This May, we are launching a new workshop series focused on finance and compliance, collaboration and partnerships, grant writing and fundraising, and other core topics designed to strengthen operations and improve long‑term financial sustainability. These workshops mark the first step in a new collaboration framework the Omaha Community Foundation is introducing this year to provide leadership, resources, and meaningful connections for our community’s nonprofits. All workshops are in person and free to attend.

*The first workshop, Community Foundations and DAFs 101, is full, and the waitlist is full. We will send updates if we are able to schedule another session of this workshop later in the year.

Please watch for an invitation to upcoming nonprofit workshops. If you are not yet subscribed to the nonprofit mailing list, you can join here.

Upcoming Sessions

Future workshop topics include finance and budget basics, donor relations, marketing and communications, and board support. A complete list will be published here once details are finalized.

Nonprofit Finances 101

Strong financial practices help nonprofits make informed decisions, communicate clearly with board members and donors, and plan for long-term sustainability. Understanding how resources are managed and reported builds trust and credibility with funders while supporting day-to-day operations.

June 23: Nonprofit Finance 101

This session will focus on practical insights nonprofit leaders can use to strengthen financial stewardship and align their financial practices with their mission. Learn the fundamentals of the three primary financial statements, including key ratios and metrics. You will gain a deeper understanding of operating activities, balance sheets, and how to analyze cash utilization.

When:
Tuesday, June 23rd 2026
1-3 p.m.

Where:
Project Harmony
11949 Q St.
Omaha, NE 68137

This workshop would be beneficial for Executive Directors and Finance and Accounting professionals. Our July workshop (Basics of Budgeting) will build on this content and be taught by the same team.

This workshop will be taught by Deyna Rouse, MSTax, MAC, CPA, Assistant Professor at Creighton University and Vanessa Denney, Vice President of Donor & Philanthropic Services at OCF.

Questions about the workshop? Contact Danielle Saunders at danielle@omahafoundation.org.

If you are not yet subscribed to the nonprofit mailing list, you can join here for future workshop invitations.

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Creating the Neighbor Recovery Fund: A Community Bank Model

Laura Contreras — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:17:22 +0000

In April 2024, tornadoes tore through eastern Nebraska, damaging and destroying homes across Douglas, Washington, and surrounding counties. In the immediate aftermath, the Omaha Community Foundation moved quickly to support relief efforts by establishing the Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund, allowing donors to give within hours of the storms. At the same time, OCF began organizing nonprofit, government, and community partners to coordinate response and reduce duplication. This early work focused on stabilizing households and setting the foundation for longer-term recovery, recognizing that while emergency relief is critical, rebuilding lives and homes requires sustained coordination, flexible funding, and trusted local partnerships.

As direct assistance needs became more complex, partners recognized that no single organization or funding source could fill the gaps alone. The Neighbor Recovery Fund was created as a direct assistance mechanism using pooled resources totaling approximately $1.6 million from specific Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Coalition partners.

This approach did not create new dollars. It brought existing dollars into one shared decision-making process, so partner funding could be coordinated, reviewed consistently, and applied where it would make the most difference for survivors.

“The Neighbor Recovery Fund was built to close the gaps that insurance and FEMA do not cover,” said Sarah Sjolie, Disaster Recovery Coordinator at the Omaha Community Foundation. “It lets our partners respond to what a household actually needs to move forward, based on a case manager’s assessment, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.”

Funding partners included:

Omaha Community Foundation (Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund)
The Salvation Army
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group
First Lutheran Church (Blair)

Centralized intake partner:

United Way of the Midlands 2-1-1 (routes requests to disaster case managers)

Disaster case management partners:

St. Vincent de Paul
Heartland Hope Mission
Christian Outreach Program Elkhorn
East Central Long-Term Recovery Group

How the Neighbor Recovery Fund Worked in Practice

Across cases reviewed, the panel stayed focused on helping households move toward safe and livable housing. Decisions were guided by case manager assessments and reviewed through a consistent process.

Key elements of the model included:

Intake through 2-1-1 and disaster case management coordination
Biweekly review panel with de-identified case presentations
Shared decision-making across funding partners
Less duplication between organizations
Faster decisions and deployment of dollars
Fewer steps for survivors navigating multiple systems

“Flexibility is what made this recovery effort work,” said Sarah Sjolie. “Without adaptable funding and shared decision-making, we would not have been able to respond to the complexity of these cases.”

As of January 2026, the Neighbor Recovery Fund approved 102 requests, supporting more than 46 households and deploying $864,037 in direct assistance. Most funding (73%) was used for debris removal, repair work, and construction gap funding, helping households prepare for construction or complete rebuilds. Data also showed that many families required more than one round of support as their recovery progressed. Rather than replacing insurance or FEMA assistance, the fund consistently covered critical gaps that were preventing repairs from moving forward.

Impact on Future Readiness

This work strengthened coordination among partners and clarified roles that can be used again in future disasters. It also created a more streamlined intake and review process that reduced confusion and improved follow-through across organizations.

Key outcomes included:

Clearer shared processes and partner roles
A streamlined intake approach between 2-1-1 and case managers
A shared review and decision model among funders
Documentation of lessons learned and what worked in practice
Stronger partner relationships/coordination that can be activated quickly in future events

The Neighbor Recovery Fund created a shared way to review needs, coordinate funding, and reduce delays for survivors. It helped limit the number of organizations survivors had to contact and reduced the burden of repeating their story. Most importantly, it supported households working toward safe housing and stability, even when traditional systems could not cover every cost.

The Neighbor Recovery Fund was made possible through the collective efforts of the Omaha Community Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, The Salvation Army, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, First Lutheran Church ELCA (Blair), and the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group.

The post Creating the Neighbor Recovery Fund: A Community Bank Model appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Omaha Venture Group seeking 2026 grant applications in five interest areas

Molly Mullen — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:12:21 +0000

The Omaha Venture Group (OVG), a giving circle facilitated by the Omaha Community Foundation, is excited to announce its 2026 grant cycle. If your nonprofit has a bold vision and a fledgling initiative that can make a difference in our community, we encourage you to apply for an OVG grant. Applications will be accepted from February 1 to March 1, 2026.

For more than two decades, OVG has empowered emerging philanthropists to pool their resources and direct meaningful funding to innovative nonprofits. Since its founding in 2002, OVG has granted over $800,000 to 178 organizations, driving grassroots impact across the Omaha metro.

Why Apply for an OVG Grant?

OVG focuses on venture philanthropy, awarding up to $10,000 to initiatives that spark growth and innovation. Each year, grants are awarded in the following interest areas:

Arts and Culture: Expanding community engagement in arts and cultural programming.

Health: Removing barriers to access quality healthcare, mental health services, and nutrition.

Neighborhoods, Civic Engagement, and Safety: Building stronger, inclusive neighborhoods with safe housing, public spaces, and connectivity.

Workforce and Education: Creating pathways to living-wage jobs and improving educational access and outcomes.

Youth Sports: Expanding access to quality youth sports experiences.

OVG seeks new nonprofits or bold new initiatives within established organizations and invests in newer ideas to make a big impact on the growth of the nonprofit.

Who is Eligible?

To apply, nonprofits must:

Be a public, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit or working with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal agent who can receive funds on your behalf.

Serve residents in the Omaha metro area.

Have an annual budget of $500,000 or less.

Fit into one of the five interest areas.

Have not received OVG funding in the last three grant cycles.

How to Apply

The application process is designed to be straightforward:

Applications will be open from February 1 and close on March 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CST.

OVG interest groups will review applications and select award recipients. Applicants will be notified if they are selected or not selected for an award in April 2026.

Applicants may be asked to complete a site visit with an interest group from the giving circle. This site visit is intended to give OVG members a better understanding of your nonprofit.  Site visits will be completed by April 30, 2026.

Check out the 2025 Recipients, 2024 Recipients, 2023 Recipients, 2022 Recipients.

Award recipients will be invited to our Celebration Night event on May 7, 2026, where they will celebrate with OVG members. All potential grants awarded by OVG are subject to a grant agreement with the Omaha Community Foundation.

APPLY HERE

Make Your Vision a Reality

At OVG, we believe that grassroots initiatives are the foundation of a thriving community. We are passionate about supporting nonprofits with the courage to dream big and the commitment to making Omaha a better place for all.

Don’t miss the chance to bring your ideas to life with an OVG grant. Apply today and join the movement of innovators shaping the future of the Omaha metro.

For questions, contact us at ovg@omahafoundation.org.

The post Omaha Venture Group seeking 2026 grant applications in five interest areas appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Community Interest Funds accepting 2026 applications from Omaha nonprofits, neighborhood groups

Omaha Community Foundation — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:09:19 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Community Interest Funds grant program from January 1 through 11:59 p.m. March 1. Eligibility requirements and priority areas vary by grant program. All must serve people living in the Omaha metro.

Learn more about our five Community Interest Funds:

APPLY

In 2025, the Community Interest Funds awarded a total of $664,994 to 86 nonprofits and neighborhood groups. See the list of grant recipients.

Grants made through the Community Interest Funds are strategic investments. Community members lead the grant process. Each committee is made up of residents who come from or identify with the population being served. They review proposals and decide which projects to fund based on the needs they are seeing in their respective communities.

Grant Application Support

We’re hosting a series of Community Interest Funds Info Sessions to help nonprofits and neighborhood groups learn more about the application process, ask questions, and strengthen their proposals.

Community Interest Funds Info Session: Learn, Ask, Apply (Virtual)
• Tuesday, January 13 | 12-1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 14 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Community Interest Funds Info Session: Learn, Ask, Apply (In Person)
• Friday, January 16 | 12-1:30 p.m. at The { } Exchange | Real Estate Education and Trade School, 1701 N 24th St. #102

Almuerzo & Aprendizaje: Fondo Futuro Latino (en español)
• Friday, January 23 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center, 3505 L St.

Schedule a private coaching session. We are offering one-on-one coaching sessions from January 5 through February 20, available in English and Spanish. Start a draft of your proposal in our online grant portal, then submit your draft and complete this form to request grant coaching support.

» If you are only applying to Omaha Neighborhood Grants:

One Omaha is here to help neighborhood groups navigate the grant process with the following resources.

Visioning Sessions. Use asset-based community development strategies to brainstorm and organize project ideas. Available August through January. Contact Alex O’Hanlon at alex@oneomaha.org to schedule.

Technical Support. Get small group assistance with your application from January through February. Email Alex to set up a meeting.

Additional Workshops

We’re partnering with the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) to support nonprofits in building essential grant writing skills. Sessions are free and open to all grant seekers.

Grant Writing 101
Wednesday, January 21 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Building a Project Budget
Wednesday, January 28 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Omaha Community Foundation, 1120 S. 101st St., first floor conference room

Fiscal Agents & Agreements
Wednesday, January 28 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Omaha Community Foundation, 1120 S. 101st St., first floor conference room

Grant Writing 101 for Spanish Speakers
Wednesday, February 18 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Location TBD

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Tri-County LTRG Honored with Good Neighbor Award for Ongoing Tornado Recovery Work

Molly Mullen — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:13:13 +0000

The Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) recently received the Good Neighbor Award from the American Red Cross, recognizing its steady humanitarian leadership following the Arbor Day tornadoes of 2024. The award highlights the coalition’s unique strength: a flexible, latticed system that adapts to changing needs across Douglas and Washington counties while keeping survivor support at the center.

This work is part of a broader recovery effort supported by nonprofits, government agencies, volunteer groups, and philanthropic partners. After the initial crisis response ended, the Omaha Community Foundation established the LTRG and hired a Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Sarah Sjolie, to bring structure, communication, and coordination to the long-tail challenges that follow a disaster. Today, the coalition manages casework, unmet needs, volunteer coordination, resource navigation, and community assessments, all while planning for future emergencies.

“A community foundation exists to meet needs as they arise, even in times of great challenge,” said Anne Meysenburg, OCF Director of Community Investment. “By understanding what our community requires and helping to build the LTRG, we demonstrate our commitment to resilience and recovery.”

The impact is already visible in the lives of survivors. One example is Max, a single father and non-native English speaker who spent his savings on repairs and basic expenses after a divorce. Facing the real possibility of homelessness, he connected with the LTRG and received support through the Neighbor Recovery Fund. That assistance covered critical repairs and debris removal, stabilizing his home and giving him a path forward as he returns to work and parenting.

At the same time, the LTRG is helping navigate deeply complex recovery cases that require legal support, technical expertise, and patient coordination. Blair Freeman, the coalition’s survivor owner’s representative, is currently supporting an elderly Washington County resident whose home shifted off its foundation and is no longer structurally secure. Insurance denied the claim, leaving her with few financial options and significant safety concerns. The LTRG is working with partners to explore viable reconstruction paths while ensuring she remains rooted in her community. Cases like this reveal the depth of coordination required to guide survivors through situations no household can navigate alone.

“For the Long-term Recovery Group, they get plugged in wherever the need changes,” said Laura Contreras, OCF Senior Program Manager. “If the group determines that the need changes, the structure stays the same. This is a latticed approach that can be flexed for the needs of the moment.”

To date, the Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund, launched by the Omaha Community Foundation in the immediate aftermath of the April 2024 Arbor Day tornadoes, has deployed a total of $1,103,357 to support impacted families. A key component of this effort is the Neighbor Recovery Fund, a collaborative initiative that helps fill financial gaps for households still rebuilding. In partnership with The Salvation Army, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, First Lutheran Church in Blair, and the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group, more than $739,000 has been committed across 93 approved requests, directly supporting 41 households with urgent needs like home repairs, debris removal, moving expenses, and other essential needs. These investments reflect a region-wide commitment to helping survivors rebuild and regain stability long after the initial emergency.

More than a year after the tornado, the work continues. With each home repair, case management milestone, volunteer effort, and community partnership, the LTRG is helping survivors regain stability while strengthening the region’s long-term resilience.

The post Tri-County LTRG Honored with Good Neighbor Award for Ongoing Tornado Recovery Work appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Fund for Omaha awards nearly $468K in grants for 2025

Molly Mullen — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:23:05 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation awarded $467,918 in Fund for Omaha grants to 24 local nonprofits focused on broadening essential services, fostering economic stability, and enhancing overall well-being.

The demand for flexible grant funding remains high. This year, the Foundation received over $2.9 million in requests across 136 applications. These grants address community priorities such as economic opportunity, maternal health and birth outcomes, housing and neighborhoods, and mental and behavioral health. Applicants can request up to $25,000 for general operating support.

Since its inception 37 years ago, the Fund for Omaha has granted more than $10 million to local nonprofits, making it the largest grant program funded by the Foundation in partnership with local philanthropists.

2025 Impact Report (PDF)

2025 Grant Recipients

100 Black Men of Omaha – Provides a variety of programming to mentor and support African-American men in areas like education, community, and emotional well-being. Programs intentionally foster personal growth, academic achievement, leadership development, and successful post-secondary transitions through long-term mentoring relationships and targeted enrichment activities. ($25,000)
African Immigrant Family Services – Empowers African immigrant and refugee families through health, education, and family support services. AIFS delivers linguistically and culturally appropriate programs, including maternal health, youth development, and community wellness. ($20,000)
Bluebird Cultural Initiative – Offers youth and family programs that promote healing and healthy futures through Native arts and traditions, supporting cultural preservation and community well-being. Bluebird also provides professional development for educators, healthcare providers, and other institutions to deepen cultural understanding and responsiveness. ($25,000)
Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership – Partners with individuals and families facing poverty to provide emergency assistance, food access, and financial empowerment. ($25,000)
For All Counseling Services – Increases access to mental health care for immigrants and asylum seekers by providing evaluations that ensure critical psychological factors are considered in legal cases and creating viable pathways to ongoing therapy. ($10,000)
Generation Diamond – Offers transitional services like tattoo removal, peer support, emergency essentials, and skill development to adults facing employment instability, system involvement, or acute life disruption. ($16,000)
Girls Inc. of Omaha – Offers holistic, research-based after-school and summer programming for nearly 800 girls, along with a college and career preparatory program for teens. Girls Inc. supports young women ages 19-24 through an alumni network, mentoring program, and transitional living program. ($20,000)
Healing Ribbons – Fosters intergenerational healing, cultural revitalization, and community wellness for Native women, two-spirit relatives, and their families through programs like the Art of Healing, regalia-making workshops, and cultural gatherings. ($10,000)
Heartland Workers Center – Develops immigrant leaders, promotes workers’ rights, and fosters civic engagement by supporting immigrant families through safety planning, leadership training, workforce development, and education. ($25,000)
IBBG – Builds economic opportunity, political power, and improved maternal health through community-led leadership. ($25,000)
inCOMMON Community Development – Works alongside local residents to help neighbors overcome poverty through programs that build economic self-sufficiency and community connections. They invest in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and engagement initiatives. ($22,000)
Latino Center of the Midlands – Guides middle/high school students, young adults exploring careers, and adult learners through education, opportunity and wellness. ($25,000)
Learning For ALL – Provides free English language classes, Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, one-on-one tutoring, and conversation classes to adults across Omaha for people who face barriers to education. ($15,418)
Lending Link – Combats predatory lending practices through its low-interest loan fund and provides educational programming, strengthening the regional economy and promoting greater financial stability in Omaha. ($25,000)
Midlands African Chamber – Provides a mechanism to establish, administer and finance programs that enhance the robust African and African American communities’ crucial needs, in line with the goals of the Midlands African Chamber. ($25,000)
MOMentum – Secures career opportunities for un/underemployed moms through career coaching and support services like transportation, housing, or childcare. ($10,000)
No More Empty Pots – Addresses food security, education, and economic opportunity. They connect people to improve self-sufficiency, regional food security, and economic resilience through advocacy and action. ($25,000)
Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty – Equips individuals with tools to more confidently budget for day-to-day and housing expenses, become self-assured in navigating unexpected costs, and learn to build on their support systems. ($25,000)
One Omaha – Engages communities and their leaders by providing education, facilitation services including brainstorming, visioning sessions, budget planning, and technical application assistance. ($10,000)
Project Houseworks – Provides essential home repairs, accessibility modifications, and revitalization services for low-income homeowners, focusing on older adults, immigrant and refugee families, and low to middle-income families seeking homeownership. ($17,500)
Refugee Women Rising – Empowers refugee and immigrant women through culturally grounded programs in three core areas: driving and transportation, culinary opportunity, and holistic wellness. ($22,000)
RISE Academy – Offers inmates an in-prison character development and job readiness program. Following reentry, graduates continue receiving support through opportunities such as the RISE Business Academy, family programs, policy work, and employment services. ($25,000)
The Bike Union Mentoring Project – Provides workforce development and personal growth opportunities to young adults impacted by the foster care system, including workforce development at Astute Coffee, financial literacy, cooking and nutrition, mindfulness meditation, academic tutoring, and more. ($10,000)
Youth Emergency Services (YES) – Provides emergency services to runaway, homeless, and near-homeless youth for over 50 years. YES is a National Safe Place organization and the only organization in the Omaha metro focusing directly on helping youth ages 16-24 address immediate crises and work to become self-sufficient. ($10,000)

These organizations demonstrate the power of collaboration, advocacy, and innovation to create lasting change in our community. Applications are accepted annually July 1 to August 1. Learn more here.

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2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series: Resources & Presentations

Molly Mullen — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:46:30 +0000

The 2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series was designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity, build community trust, and provide valuable insights into key topics identified by local organizations. Hosted by the Omaha Community Foundation in partnership with nonprofit experts, these workshops covered essential areas such as grant writing, financial management, strategic planning, and more. Whether you attended a session or want to catch up on what was covered, this page serves as a hub for all materials and presentations.

Workshop Presentations & Recaps

OCF 101: Understanding the Omaha Community Foundation

This session introduced nonprofits, board members, and financial advisors to the Omaha Community Foundation’s role in supporting local organizations. Participants gained insights into available funding opportunities, donor-advised funds, and strategies to strengthen collaboration with OCF.

Download the Presentation

Agency Funding: Building Financial Stability

This workshop focused on equipping nonprofits with tools to strengthen financial stability through endowments, emergency funds, and strategic banking relationships. Participants learned how to prepare for future funding needs and explore OCF’s financial support options.

Download the Presentation

Fiscal Sponsorship Fundamentals

This workshop aimed to help nonprofit leaders, board members, and community groups understand the structure and benefits of fiscal sponsorship. Participants explored key elements such as roles, agreements, financial oversight, and how this model can support emerging projects or initiatives without 501(c)(3) status.

Download the Presentation

Winning Grants

This workshop provided a practical overview of fiscal sponsorship, including the roles, responsibilities, and agreements involved in the model. Led by One Omaha and The Foundry Community, the session helped attendees explore how fiscal sponsorship can support nonprofit growth, expand community impact, and provide financial and administrative structure for emerging projects.

Download the Presentation

Navigating Funder Relationships to Sustain Support

Strong relationships with funders are key to long-term sustainability and deeper impact. This interactive session covered strategies for donor recognition, communicating outcomes effectively, framing operating support requests, and low-cost tools for prospect research.

Download the presentation

Developing a Strategic Plan for Growth

Strategic planning is more than a document, it’s a powerful tool to align an organization’s mission, goals, and resources. This session explored the purpose of strategic planning, how it supports organizational success across departments, and how to get started or strengthen an existing plan.

Download the presentation

Partnerships, Collaborations & Mergers

When does it make sense to formally join forces with another organization, and when is a strategic partnership the better path? How can nonprofits build toward long-term sustainability through collaboration? And what role can fundraising play in making these strategies a reality?

Download the presentation

More resources: Download the Memorandum of Understanding template, the partnership explorer tool, and the strategic alignment spectrum.

Strengthening Nonprofit Finance

This interactive session focused on financial best practices, including cash flow planning, budgeting, forecasting, and how to present financial information clearly to stakeholders. It included aligning an annual budget with mission growth for long-term sustainability.

Download the presentation

Exploring Nonprofit Business Models

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, nonprofit leaders must understand not only how to fulfill their mission but also how to sustain it. This workshop explored the spectrum of nonprofit business models, from traditional funding strategies to innovative, revenue-generating approaches that are reshaping the sector.

Download the presentation

The Nonprofit Lifecycle

Every nonprofit goes through predictable stages of development, from startup to maturity and beyond. Understanding where your organization stands on that journey can help you plan strategically and lead with clarity.

Download the presentation

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More Than $400,000 granted to Southwest Iowa Community Projects

Molly Mullen — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:36:57 +0000

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa has announced more than $444,000 to projects across nine counties.

This collection of community foundations and boards serves to benefit nine communities in Southwest Iowa and the people who live within them, with support for arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and historic preservation.

Below are the 2025 grant awardees:

Audubon County

The Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $42,310 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.