Category: Nonprofit Leadership Initiative

By Kim O’Brien Nonprofit Leadership Initiative Executive Director Starting this week, up to 10 Fox Valley nonprofits will get a tremendous opportunity to sharpen their fundraising skills through grants, cloud-based software and one-on-one coaching for 12 months as part of a collaboration between the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative and Network for Good. Network for Good is […]

How many times have you been encouraged to step out of your comfort zone? We know doing this can be anxiety producing, but it also creates opportunities for growth and learning. But for me, I don’t typically embrace the opportunity when presented. As a participant in the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative’s (NPLI) Leadership Institute, I was […]

Written by Andrea Peterson, Program & Communications Manager for Nonprofit Leadership Initiative In today’s complex nonprofit landscape, exceptional financial leadership is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Whether you’re an Executive Director, Program Manager, or Board Treasurer, mastering financial strategy is crucial for ensuring mission success and organizational sustainability. That’s why the Nonprofit […]

By Kim O’Brien, Executive Director, NPLI The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI) is a partnership of Fox Valley-area nonprofits, funders, educational institutions and businesses dedicated to providing resources needed by effective nonprofit boards and executive leaders. We are a program within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.  Our mission is to provide Fox Valley […]

Hello! My name is Hope Schaefer (she/her) and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI) team as Program and Communications Manager! My official start date was May 1, but I’ve been part of the NPLI community for several years. I’m a graduate of the 2019-2020 Leadership Institute, I’ve attended many […]

  June in Wisconsin is filled with celebrations – graduation parties, wedding receptions, and the official start of summer. The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (NPLI) has reason to celebrate too – June 30, marks the official end of our third fiscal year of operation. Top 5 reasons we are celebrating: #1 An Attitude of Gratitude We […]

By Annette Look, program manager, NPLI Calling all nonprofit staff whose goals include leadership development and increased knowledge of nonprofit operations: the Leadership Institute program is now accepting applications!     The Leadership Institute, a program in collaboration with Fox Valley Technical College, is a series of seminars, taught by content experts, designed to increase participant competencies […]

You are balancing a lot– limited resources, growing community needs, staff burnout, the endless emails, growing daily task list, and slowly pushing strategic initiatives forward. Pursuing your own professional growth may not feel like it’s worth the initial time investment with so many competing priorities. The investment is worth it. You are worth it. And […]

Walt Zerrenner makes the Fox Cities a better place to live. Walt and his late wife Aline (pictured above) attended the first Memory Café at the Appleton Atlas Coffee Mill in 2012. They had such a positive experience that Walt joined the Fox Valley Memory Project (FVMP) Executive Coordinating Committee. Walt and the committee worked […]

By: Andrea Peterson, Program & Communications Manager – NPLI  According to BoardSource’s latest Leading With Intent report, only 29% of nonprofits surveyed reported that they have adopted a written succession plan or policy to guide the board when the CEO/Executive Director transition occurs. Why is that?  Succession planning is often framed in terms of the […]

By Kim O’Brien, Executive Director, Nonprofit Leadership Initiative We’re starting a tradition! We’re again marking the end of our fiscal year by reflecting on the best things that happened for the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative:   #1: 14 graduates from the Leadership Institute. The fortitude and dedication to becoming better leaders demonstrated by these nonprofit leaders is […]

Board member engagement is critical for nonprofit success. The million-dollar question is “What exactly is the role of the board?” Is it surprising to learn the role of the board may not always be clear to nonprofit board members? Is the role of the board of directors to be actively engaged in fund development activities? […]