Thank you!
If you stopped by our Open House on August 10th, you already know why I am so full of gratitude. The room was full of good conversation, leaders representing our organizational endowments, neighbors asking thoughtful questions, and new connections taking shape.
One conversation from that day has stayed with me. An estate attorney and I were talking when they asked me, “What is the Community Foundation doing to help organizations be ready for legacy gifts from their clients?”
It’s a wonderful question, and one I think about often. A will, a trust, a beneficiary designation, these are among the most meaningful gifts a person will ever give. When someone entrusts an organization with that kind of gift, that organization needs to be ready to steward it well into the future.
That’s exactly why the Community Foundation partners with Mid-State Technical College each year to host the Nonprofit Leadership Institute.
This masterclass brings together nonprofit staff, executives, board members, and community members for eight educational sessions covering the foundations of running a healthy organization. It’s the Institute’s promise that the people leading our nonprofits have the skills to build organizations that are truly vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.
Since we began this partnership, dozens of organizations across Portage and Waushara counties have encouraged staff and board members to complete this training. It fosters the exact kind of organizational strength that donors are looking for when they decide where their legacy will live. This year, the Community Foundation’s own Sarah Ross will be co-teaching alongside Rikki Harry, a premier nonprofit consultant, bringing the Foundation’s perspective directly into the classroom.
Protecting donor intent is our most important guidepost at the Foundation and why we invest in this Institute. A donor’s wishes deserve an organization capable of carrying them forward faithfully for generations.
This year’s Institute runs September 10 through December 17, Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Stevens Point Downtown Campus. And here’s the best part, thanks to sponsorships from the Community Foundation and the United Way of Portage County, scholarships are available to cover the full cost of the course for those who live or serve in Portage or Waushara counties. Cost should never be the reason a committed leader misses this opportunity.
Classes begin in just a few weeks, so if you lead a nonprofit, sit on a board, or are simply dreaming about how you might serve your community, now is the time to act. Learn more or apply for a scholarship at cfcwi.org/nonprofit-leadership-institute-scholarship.
To everyone who joined us on August 10th: thank you for trusting us with your questions and your legacies. To everyone considering the Nonprofit Leadership Institute: thank you for investing in the strong, vibrant organizations our community is built upon.
If a question has been on your mind, I’d love to hear it. Send me a note at foundation@cfcwi.org with “Question for Jenny” in the subject line.
With gratitude,
Jenny Riggenbach
Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin
A Trusted Philanthropic Partner