Reflections on 2022
It’s hard to believe that the year is already coming to an end, and soon Nonprofit Support Network will be kicking off the second year of operations. Our first year was full of learning and relationship building, as we explored the nonprofit sector and the carefully crafted how an organization like Nonprofit Support Network fit into it.
We’re still in the startup incubation stage in the Nonprofit Life Cycle where opportunities exist in the excitement of community partners and funders and nonprofit organizations wanting to belong. As we grow, we’re focusing on adaptive innovation through transformative change - improving ideas and processes, rather than just creating new ones. Our community has a network of valuable resources for nonprofits and we’re working to strengthen that network and help fill any gaps.
Nonprofit Support Network was established to provide programs and services that support the nonprofits in our community. At the very beginning, we set out to provide a space for nonprofits to plan, develop, and grow. Through peer groups and educational programs, we began to build community and strengthen the connections among nonprofit organizations and the individuals who serve them. Over the past eight months, we have connected with more than 80 individuals representing 32 nonprofit organizations.
We hosted nine educational and networking events ranging from fundraising training and professional development to nonprofit basics and employee wellness. We were super excited by the response to our Network Huddles, which sparked significant interest among nonprofit professionals responsible for fundraising and development for their organizations. In 2023, we’ll continue to provide networking opportunities for nonprofit workers and volunteers and explore ways we can launch additional Network Huddles that serve board leaders and organizations with similar missions.
We listened and responded to what nonprofits need and launched Nonprofit Essentials – a series of educational programs designed just for nonprofit workers. In collaboration with Shafer Leadership Academy, the program will be revamped and expanded with sessions almost every month of 2023. Session topics range from budgeting and marketing to volunteer recruitment and employee management. Be sure to check out the first session in January that is designed specifically for Executive Directors and Board Presidents.
Virtually, we connected with over 250 individuals through social media. (Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.) Our electronic newsletter is delivered to nearly 130 inboxes every two weeks. We wrote about volunteers, shared services, and how we got started. Our blogs about grant proposals and fundraising campaigns were crowd-favorites. In 2023, we will launch a nonprofit listserv that provides an opportunity for nonprofits to connect, share, and learn through a remote community.
All of this work would not be possible without support from nonprofit enthusiasts like you and our community’s funders. Grant support from The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Muncie Rotary Club, Ball Brothers Foundation, George and Frances Ball Foundation, AEP Foundation, and Lilly Endowment, Inc. ensured that Nonprofit Support Network got a strong start.
