Area Organizations Selected for Second Cohort of Nonprofit Excellence Initiative

“Our area nonprofits require strong organizational leadership to fulfill their missions,” said Catherine Bocke Meckes, the Initiative chairperson. “This initiative aims to assist in retention of a nonprofit’s employees and offers leaders the tools necessary to grow both themselves and their respective organization.”

The Nonprofit Excellent Initiative will take place in 2 phases. Phase 1, which began in April, will focus on organizational assessment, leadership training, and executive coaching. Phase 2 will utilize knowledge gained in phase 1 to implement organizational strategic planning. Each nonprofit will receive $5,000 in unrestricted operational support after it completes each phase, totaling $10,000 per agency. 

Applications for the initiative were accepted early this year. To be eligible the nonprofit had to have a 501C3 status, a minimum 2.5 full-time employees, a minimum operating budget of $100,000, basic structure and processes in place, and board commitment to this project.

“Giving these organizations the tools they need to continue the invaluable work they do in our community is what this initiative is all about,” said Jean Buckley of the Tracy Family Foundation. “Through knowledge, shared experiences, and leadership-level coaching we aim to further grow our community through our wonderful nonprofits.” Participants in the first cohort of the Nonprofit Excellence Initiative were Bella Ease, Cheerful Home, Horizons Social Services, Quincy Community Theatre, and the Quincy Family YMCA. 

The Quincy Area Funders Collaborative is a partnership of John Wood Community College Foundation, the Moorman Foundation, Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the Tracy Family Foundation, and United Way of Adams County, IL.