YOUNGSTOWN/WARREN, Ohio –Ten local nonprofits will receive fundraising training and software for free thanks to a partnership between the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and nonprofit-software company Bonterra.
Over the course of 2024, the organizations will go through Bonterra’s Jumpstart program, which provides fundraising software, personalized coaching, development planning and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. The program is underwritten by a $50,000 commitment from the Community Foundation.
“When we talk to organizations about what they need help with, fundraising is easily the most common response,” says Community Foundation President Casey Krell. “We’re always looking for new ways to support the Valley’s nonprofits, so when Bonterra approached us about Jumpstart, it felt like a natural fit. This group of nonprofits represents a wide range of missions and communities served. The Community Foundation is excited to see where this opportunity leads.”
Selected to take part in the Jumpstart program are:
- ACTION
- Compass Family & Community Services
- Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties
- Economic Action Group
- Nikki’s House
- OCCHA
- Ohio Urban Renaissance
- Students Motivated by the Arts
- Thrive Mahoning Valley
- TriYou Cares
The nonprofits were selected in consultation with Bonterra after interested organizations filled out a survey on current fundraising work and planning, attended an informational webinar and met one-on-one with the Jumpstart team.
Organizations will begin their work in mid-January by interviewing and selecting their Jumpstart coaches before delving into implementing the fundraising software and creating an organizational development plan.
The launch of the Jumpstart program in the Valley builds on the Community Foundation’s work to provide nonprofits with capacity-building tools and professional development, such as the Nonprofit Mentoring Network pilot program in 2023, scholarships for Philanthropy Ohio’s Summer Learning Series and workshops hosted across the Valley by CFMV staff and partners.
While the Nonprofit Mentoring Network – which connected five pairs of nonprofit leaders for a yearlong partnership to develop their organizations and leadership abilities – will not return in full next year, elements that participants found particularly useful will be brought back in 2024.
“We heard great feedback from all 10 Nonprofit Mentoring Network participants throughout the program and it’s clear that giving leaders a space to work through challenges together was much appreciated,” says Josh Medore, the Community Foundation’s community impact coordinator who supported the pilot program. “The Foundation’s community impact team is looking at how we can continue to offer the best, most useful parts of the program to nonprofit leaders.”