Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Impact Foundation of Fargo Launches Leadership Initiative for North Dakota Nonprofits

On February 24, The Impact Foundation announced a statewide capacity-building initiative that will benefit nonprofit organizations across North Dakota. Assisted by a $2 million grant from the St. Paul, MN-based Bush Foundation, the Impact Leadership Institute will provide training, education and resources to increase nonprofit efficiency, reenergize nonprofit boards, improve communication strategies, increase revenues and diversify nonprofit funding streams. Impact estimates about 800 nonprofit executives, board members and staff will be trained through this initiative.

“North Dakota communities rely on nonprofit organizations for vital services,” said Bush Foundation President Peter C. Hutchinson. “We formed this partnership with the Impact Foundation so nonprofits could receive the training and support that will allow them to be even stronger leaders as they identify problems and work with communities to solve them.”

“The generous funding from the Bush Foundation allows the Institute to greatly improve its capacity-building services for nonprofits throughout North Dakota,” said Impact Foundation Executive Director Pat Traynor. “This exciting new leadership initiative includes an ambassador network with members representing communities across the state to help guide the initiative.”

Jim Davis, President of Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, will chair the Institute Ambassador Network. According to Davis, “A major component of the initiative will be establishing a new nonprofit leadership center for board members and executive directors. Leadership Advanced North Dakota (LAND) will produce and network more capable leaders, highly effective management and strong governance that will improve the societal impact of nonprofits statewide.”

The LAND program will be led by David La Piana, founder of La Piana Associates of Emeryville, Calif. A popular speaker and teacher, La Piana is a regular contributor to the national dialogue on nonprofit leadership and foundation effectiveness. He has written several books and has developed a training program to create empowered, innovative and resilient executives, capable of navigating change and moving their organizations toward social innovation with greater impact. La Piana’s latest book is The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World.

The Impact Leadership Institute has contracted with the North Dakota Association of Nonprofits to coordinate training and education throughout the state.

For more information contact Julie Haugen, Institute Director, Impact Foundation, (701) 356-3133 or Pat Traynor, Executive Director, Impact Foundation, (701) 271-0263.

Posted by Howard Barlow, NRS, Fargo

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