Strengthening Nonprofits

Our Work with Nonprofits

A nonprofit's capacity to grow, fulfill its mission and operate efficiently and effectively is reliant upon the knowledge and ability of its board and staff, a strong governance framework and a strategic approach to all of the aspects of its work – from program execution to marketing to fund development.

Like any other skills, these are learned. And in many cases, those who work in the nonprofit sector or volunteer to serve on nonprofit boards have not had the training necessary to assure their capabilities in these areas.

We offer comprehensive services for our nonprofit community. In addition to funding, we offer workshops and learning opportunities, online resources and volunteer matching. The Lowcountry is rapidly changing and we're here to help prepare nonprofits to better serve their clients, ensuring charitable dollars are used effectively and work harder.

Capacity Building Support

We recognize the need for capacity-building support. For those who need it, we offer workshops to bridge the gap between passion for the organization's mission and work experience. Some of the workshops we've offered in the past include:

• Nonprofit Board Orientation
• Board Roles and Responsibilities
• The Value of Endowments
• Consultation on Governance Concerns

Interested in attending a workshop?

Here are the workshops we currently have scheduled. Workshops are held in the conference room at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's office - 4 Northridge Drive, Hilton Head.

Capacity Building Workshops:

4/15/2020, 9:00 – 1:00, Communications for Leadership Staff

6/03/2020, 9:00 – 1:00, Executive Directors and Board of Director Communication

Executive Director Leadership Academy

August 2020 – July 2021 (Call for information)

Additional Local Impact

The Community Foundation was instrumental in establishing a local SCAVA (South Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration) affiliate chapter. SoLo SCAVA is a professional organization for volunteer administrators who wish to learn more about volunteerism, develop new skills, and shape the future of service opportunities in the southern Lowcountry.

Upcoming SoLo SCAVA meetings (at Palmetto Electric Coop – Okatie, SC)

5/11/2020, 8:30 – 10:00

7/13/2020, 8:30 – 10:00

10/05/2020, 8:30 – 10:00

December Holiday and Volunteer Appreciation Event, TBD

Community Foundation also helped establish a local Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) sub-chapter. AFP is a professional association for fundraisers that keeps members informed of new ideas and latest trends in the profession. Local AFP program meetings provide opportunities to network with colleagues, specialized training and access to experts in the field, all of which helps build capacity in Lowcountry nonprofit organizations. Individuals can connect with the AFP Southern Lowcountry sub-chapter through the AFP South Carolina Lowcountry chapter.

If your organization is interested in learning more about opportunities to tap into our Strengthening Nonprofits Initiative, contact Debbie Cahoon at 843-681-9100.

Additional Resources

Consultants

Consultants can provide expertise often not available within an organization. The decision to use a consultant to strengthen an organization can be a challenging one, so we offer additional information on working with a consultant.

Nonprofit Connections

We regularly publish a e-newsletter aimed at local nonprofits and filled with information about grant opportunities, our services to the nonprofit community and what's going on in our Community Investment Department that's pertinent to you. The most recent version is below. If you're not receiving this newsletter and would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Debbie Cahoon.

Nonprofit Connections - January 2020