Community Foundation and Nonprofits Discuss Community Needs
$5,000 of Managing for Excellence Grants awarded
February 27. 2006 - The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts came to listen and learn from the nonprofit community on how the Foundation can leverage its upcoming grants for the greatest impact, which are scheduled to be made this summer.
The lively discussion, which was held at Levi Heywood Memorial Library, Gardner, included identifying community needs in four areas: arts and culture, education and after-school time, environment and social services. Over twenty onprofit participants from the greater Gardner region talked about the needs and possible innovative solutions that the Foundation could consider for their grant dollars.
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is a nonprofit, community corporation where individuals and nonprofit agencies establish endowments which provide a permanent source of income for a variety of causes.
According to Foundation President Phil Grzewinski, the five-year old entity which has approximately $9 million in assets is planning on holding a series of meetings. “This is the first of four forums we have scheduled to help us maximize our grant dollars.” The organization serves 31 communities in four regions.
“The purpose of the meetings is to take a macro look at a variety of community issues, rather than focus on any one agency, program or service need,” noted Melissa Maranda, director of gift planning for the Foundation.
Not only did nonprofit leaders get to express their opinions, four organizations received a Managing for Excellence Grant from the Foundation.
Grzewinski said the purpose of the grant was to promote capacity building for organizations that have taken advantage of the Nonprofit Institute at Mount Wachusett Community College. Gardner Community Action Committee, Gardner Visiting Nurse Association, Experience Works, House of Peace and Education each received $1250.
The Foundation created the Institute in 2003 after a similar series of forums where nonprofit agencies said they wanted a local resource center to help with grant writing, management and other capacity building programs.
