SHREVEPORT – The journey officially began for 10 local nonprofit leaders Thursday as they met for the first time as a cohort.
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, nonprofit leaders will participate in a series of nonprofit capacity building workshops to strengthen organizational fundamentals such as board development, fundraising and marketing and brand recognition.
The Institute of Nonprofit Administration and Research (INAR) at LSUS is orchestrating the professional development, which will last into next spring and culminate with a presentation about the program’s impact on each nonprofit.
“INAR is grateful to partner with CFNLA to provide professional development and capacity-building support to its grantees,” said Dr. Heather Carpenter, executive director at LSUS’s INAR. “Research on the impact of previous capacity-building efforts has been shown to increase organizational efficiency, leadership, program development, and revenue, which enhances overall mission achievement.
“Today’s first meeting is about the cohort getting to know each other and their mentors as we lay the groundwork for what will happen over the next six months.”
Nonprofits in this cohort include Shreveport Green (Lauren Jones), Sci-Port (Dianne Clark), Dress for Success (Nicole Lowe), YWCA (AJ Dunn), Junior Achievement (Nita Cook), Highland Center (Madison Poche), Theatre of the Performing Arts (Martina Williams), TEAMS (Cassie Hubble), Catholic Charities of North Louisiana (Diane Libro), and Berstein (Francis Williams).
Grantees were selected by CFNLA based on demonstrated need and interest via a competitive application process.
Libro, who stepped into the executive director role at Catholic Charities just five months ago, said she’s excited to glean knowledge from the program.
“There’s so much to learn from the incredible women in this cohort,” Libro said. “Areas in which I’m particularly interested in learning more include board development from a standpoint of our different roles and how they intersect.
“And of course fundraising. I’m excited to learn how other nonprofits are thinking about that and their approach.”
Libro, though a seasoned veteran in the local nonprofit scene, is one of many newer executive directors who are replacing longtime leaders in their organizations. Shreveport Green, YWCA, and Dress For Success are other cohort members who have undergone similar transitions in recent years.
Each nonprofit will be assigned a mentor, typically a nonprofit leader from the community.
The mentor will assist the nonprofit to develop and implement a specific project that will greatly benefit the organization.
INAR has facilitated similar opportunities in the past, most recently working with a group of 15 local nonprofit organizations such as The Robinson Film Center and The Red River Revel in the 2023-24 academic year.
This cohort will be the second such group with which INAR has partnered.
The first cohort was made possible with grant support from the Carolyn W. and Charles T. Beaird Family Foundation.
The Beaird Foundation is sponsoring another cohort with applications opening Oct. 15. Contact Carpenter via email at heather.carpenter@lsus.edu for more information on the next cohort.
INAR serves as a connector between nonprofits and the community as well as a research and information hub for nonprofits across the state.
Through INAR, LSUS offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nonprofit administration as well as online certificates at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
Visit the LSUS website to learn more about INAR’s services and educational offerings.
