The Foundation Grows and Improves Skills

September 2020: The Foundation Grows and Improves Skills

In 2019, the Foundation faced an evaluation of processes, procedures, staff and skills. The opportunity arose through a planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to participate in an Organization 360 assessment.

Working closely with a consultant, several organizational needs emerged to be addressed in 2020.

The Foundation would transition to a new fund and donor management system. Additional staff would be added to the team. Office space would be reworked to make room for the new staff. Current staff would access training to enhance specific skill sets to take on new roles within the Foundation.

When the pandemic hit, the ball was already rolling. Staff began the conversion process to a new software for fund management, accounting, and donor relationship management. The new software will be a benefit to staff and donors alike. Ensuring that data had transferred correctly has been a challenge. Foundation staff are grateful to donors and nonprofit organizations that have shown patience and grace as we work through the details.

The Foundation’s first full-time finance officer, Trina Bowling, and administrative assistant, JoAnna Darda, began their new roles at the Foundation during the second half of the year as we said goodbye and congratulations to Cheryl Decker, long-time administrative services officer upon her retirement.

Foundation staff: JoAnna Darda, Carly Acree-King, Trina Bowling, Kelly Shrock, Amy Tuttle, Marcy Minton, and Kallie Sulanke

AS DONORS CONTINUE TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE FOUNDATION, OUR ROLE IS EXPANDING FROMGRANTMAKER TO COMMUNITY LEADER. WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO PROVIDE STRONG LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MUNCIE AND DELAWARE COUNTY.

- Kelly K. Shrock, President of The Community Foundation

Office space at the Delaware Building was reworked to keep all staff located in the main office suite, and to create a large, practical workroom. The offices remained closed to the public during 2020, but staff were able to spend most of the year working together in person (with masks on).

Additionally, leading up to 2020 and during the year, staff expanded skills through professional development opportunities. Two staff members earned certifications in Results-Based Accountability, a framework for setting and working toward collective community goals. An additional staff member plans to earn her certification in 2021. Four staff members were trained in Facilitative Leadership to develop skills to engage groups of people through planning and decision making. Foundation staff participated, along with nonprofit leaders, in the CORE Fundraising Training during 2019 and began putting learned skills into action in 2020.