Summer 2023 | Newsletter
After nearly one year as executive director, I still feel fortunate to have stepped into my role at an organization which already had a menu of well-run programs valued by the community. It’s allowed me to focus my energy on meeting with funders, program alums, and stakeholders and listening to their ideas on what else NPLI can do to make a difference.
It’s been an exciting year and I invite you to take a moment and celebrate some of the milestones we’ve achieved this last year.
David Weiss, Executive Director
Milestone #1 – Providing a framework for a support network for nonprofit staff leaders. There is a demand for increased opportunities for nonprofit leaders to connect, so organizing small affinity groups of nonprofit leaders has been a priority. We currently have eight groups of 5-6 nonprofit leaders meeting monthly to support each other in their leadership journey.
Milestone #2 – The 7th cohort of Leadership Institute graduated! With the addition of these 15 graduates, there are now 93 program alums.
Graduates spent 72 classroom hours sharpening their leadership and nonprofit management skills during the year-long Leadership Institute.
Leadership Institute cohort 7 graduates: Carol Couillard, Atlas Science Center; Alli Oravec, Salvation Army; Courtney Osenroth, Thompson Center on Lourdes; Sarah Wylie, Achieve Brown County; Trisha Witt, United Way Fox Cities; Scott Radtke, Catalpa Health; Liz Wollenberg, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Tracy Guiou, Catalpa Health; Michael Hall, Impact Wisconsin; Beth Vanderloop, Building for Kids Children’s Museum; Adam Sutter, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin; Kathy Dean, Pillars; Peter Lee, Us 2 Behavioral Health; Kari Kuiper, Outagamie Housing Authority. Not pictured: Sarah Bassing-Sutton, N.E.W. Mental Health Connection
Milestone #3 – The third cohort of Board Academy graduated! These board members spent 15 class hours gaining a better understanding of their governance roles and responsibilities, which included financial, fundraising, and legal/ethical obligations.
Board Academy graduates: Seated: Robin Madson, Foundations for Living; Lindsay Roake, Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association; John Koehler, Fox Valley Veterans Council; Adriana McCleer, Casa Hispana Row 2: Cainan Davenport, People of Progression; Holly Kowalski, The Trout Museum of Art; Jenn Zenzick, Girls on the Run Northeast Wisconsin; Sheri Fetting, Appleton A Better Chance; Kimberly Craddock, Fox Valley Veterans Council; Brenda Smongeski, First English Lutheran Church; William Skarie, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve; Row 3; Jennifer McIntosh, Fox Valley Humane Association; Murali Balakrishnan; Kelly Hanink, Appleton Food Pantry; Rand Swenson, Foundations for Living Waupaca,
Not pictured: Eric Brieland, Trout Museum of Art; Sandra Hupfer, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra; Jodie Larsen, Faith Lutheran Church, Fanni Xie, Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association
Milestone #4 – Over 180 nonprofit staff and board members attended half-day Leadership Forums in May.
In collaboration with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, United Way Fox Cities, CLA, and Association for Fundraising Professionals-Northeast Wisconsin Chapter, we presented Board Engagement and Fundraising through a DEIAB Lens, with Christal Cherry of the Board Pro.
Partnering again with the United Way Fox Cities, we presented, The Cost of Impact: Determining the True Costs of Programs with Steve Zimmerman, Spectrum Nonprofit Services.
United Way and Community Foundation sponsors with trainer, Christal Cherry
Board Engagement & Fundraising Forum through a DEIAB Lens attendees
Cost of Impact attendees
Cost of Impact sponsors with trainer, Steve Zimmerman
You’re invited to join us in creating milestones that benefit our area nonprofits. Please consider investing in our work with a donation at npleadershipfv.org.