This spring, we partnered with Duke Energy Foundation to host Building Resilient Futures: Leading, Funding, Innovating for Impact across the state – from Asheville to Wilmington to Charlotte to Greensboro. It was an energizing series of conversations, connections, and shared learning!
More than 450 nonprofit leaders, board members, funders, and community partners joined us along the way. People were eager to sit down and talk about navigating the challenges and opportunities facing our sector right now.
Each event included a funders panel and in-depth sessions for participants to hear directly from funders and work together on strategies that build resilience and leadership, grow funding and fundraising, and find innovative and improved ways to operate in a changing environment. Feedback shows the series delivered exactly that – and more. And a few themes came up again and again.
Hearing from funders matters
Attendees appreciated hearing directly from local funders for their valuable insights and perspectives on funding priorities and trends. One participant shared, “It was lovely to hear the information they shared, but to also to have the opportunity to connect as humans.”
Many suggested building on the idea of regularly connecting with local funders and including invites for state and federal grant officers, funders with wider focus areas, and bank and community foundation trusts.
Fundraising & financial sustainability remain top topics
The sessions on fundraising and financial sustainability were the most highly rated across the events. Participants appreciated that different sessions offered new ideas, practical reminders, as well as confirmed things that they’ve been doing well. Small group discussions during some sessions gave people space to problem-solve current issues among their organizations and learn from each other.
Attendees expressed interest in future learning topics including sustainability strategies that scale for any sized organization, nontraditional funding streams, and more real-time problem-solving panels.
Connection matters most
If there’s one takeaway that stood out, it’s this. Nearly 90% of attendees said the connections they made will help sustain them as leaders and positively impact their work. And almost 70% made between 2-5 meaningful connections, including potential collaborators.
People especially valued the space to connect with other nonprofit leaders doing similar work and facing many of the same operational and sustainability challenges – and “also the same wins!”
As one participant said, “I always love an opportunity to meet new people and learn about what they are doing.” Another shared, “My colleague and I both made connections that we wouldn’t have previously. And I came away with a list of improvement for the next stage of our organization.”
We’re grateful for the partnership of Duke Energy Foundation, the foundation leaders and session presenters, and especially the nonprofit leaders and partners who joined us across the state. Thank you for showing up, sharing openly, and your commitment to serving your communities, which all made this series a success!
