Foundation kicks off its nonprofit capacity building program
The Foundation held an orientation today for the inaugural class of its Osborne Meese Academy. The program is designed to build and support nonprofit organizations and to act as a catalyst to encourage stronger collaboration in the community.
The Osborne Meese Academy encompasses three key components: education, professional support and grant writing assistance. The new initiative was named the Osborne Meese Academy to honor the Foundation’s founding father.
Twenty nonprofit organizations were selected for the first year of the program based on the following criteria: willingness to collaborate to address community issues, willingness to embrace organizational change and growth, current strength of an organization with regards to programming, governance, staff leadership, financing, administrative, staffing and marketing.
The organizations participating are: Catholic Charities, Community Action for Capable Youth, Culliver Reading Center, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Friendly House, Harmony House Homeless Services, Journey Life Center, Kingwood Center, Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield YMCA, Mohican School in the Out-of-Doors, Ontario Growth Corporation, Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Renaissance Performing Arts, Richland Academy of the Arts, Richland County Children’s Auxiliary, Richland Newhope Industries, Taking Root Farms and The Domestic Violence Shelter.
Foundation President Bradford Groves said, “This is a perfect way to recognize the work done by Osborne Meese at the beginning of the Foundation. He believed in and was passionate about this community. It is not just about what can be done today, it’s about helping agencies fulfill their mission and to improve over time to positively impact people.”
Half-day educational workshops will be held through November at the new home of the Foundation, 181 South Main Street. Topics such as developing a marketing and fundraising plan, engaging in collaborations and grant writing, building an effective board and identifying outcomes and measures will be explored.
