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Enabling Nonprofit Growth Through Technology Investment

For your convenience, you can download the webinar slides here.

Community foundations play a vital role in helping nonprofits connect with the communities they serve. Increasingly, one of the primary ways they can support nonprofits’ resilience and growth is by funding technology needs to drive efficiency and effectiveness. We learn how three community foundations adjusted their grantmaking to fund nonprofits’ technology enhancements, how this positively impacted the communities served, and what lessons they learned along the way.

In this on-demand webinar, you’ll hear from:

  • Sara Palmer, Director of Grants and Communications at Community Foundation of Elmira Corning and the Finger Lakes
  • Terra Winter, President and CEO at Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
  • Lisa Stachula, former Grantmaking Specialist at Quad Cities Community Foundation and new Client Success Manager at Foundant

SPEAKERS

Sara Palmer | Director of Grants and Communications, Community Foundation of Elmira Corning and the Finger Lakes
A graduate of Binghamton University with a master’s degree in public administration, Sara Palmer served as Director of Grants and Communications for the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes for 10 years, becoming Vice President of Programs in 2018. Sara is responsible for all program and grantmaking activities at the foundation totaling over $2 million annually. Before joining the Community Foundation, Sara managed fund development and alumni affairs at Corning Community College and was Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes. She serves on the board of directors for Glove House and is the dedicated treasurer and concessions manager for the Elmira Elite Travel Baseball Program. Sara lives in Elmira with her pitcher and first baseman son.

Terra Winter | President and CEO, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
Terra joined the Community Foundation team in June 2017 as the Executive Director. Previously, she served as the Associate Vice President for Development at the New Mexico State University Foundation in which she was involved in the campus’s most ambitious campaign to raise $125 million. Previous to this position, Terra served as the Assistant Dean for Donor Development and Alumni Relations for the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences. Her love for the NMSU Aggies and NM Agriculture drives her continued connection as an alumna and donor.

As a lifelong New Mexico resident, Terra is passionate about nonprofit work throughout the state. Her professional background includes ten years with Mesilla Valley Hospice where she served the organization in many facets of community outreach, education, fundraising and board development. She has volunteered for multiple organizations including the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Las Cruces.

Terra obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, minoring in Health Sciences, and a Master of Public Health from NMSU. She completed her Interdisciplinary Doctorate with an emphasis in philanthropy, nonprofit management and leadership in December of 2017. 

Lisa Stachula | Client Success Manager, Foundant Technologies
Lisa has been working in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector for more than 15 years. She started her professional career in higher education, first as an internship coordinator, and moving on to Advancement as a grant writer. She has spent the past 4 years as a Grantmaking Specialist at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, where her responsibilities included managing the scholarship program, designated and agency funds, and application based grant programs. Lisa recently joined the Foundant team as a Client Success Manager for GLM/SLM.

About the Author

Brad joined the Foundant team after years at the Council on Foundations as the Lead Strategist for Community Philanthropy, with a keen focus on Community Foundations. Brad is also a former community foundation CEO who led the merger of two community foundations in Indiana and has firsthand experienced with the complexity of big change at a community foundation. With over 2,500 volunteer service hours across Europe, United States, and South America, Brad cares deeply about place, the connections and commitment of the people within their communities, and how important place and belonging matters. Brad resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, two children and rescue dog, and is eager to support community foundations with innovative technological solutions to advance the field.

Profile Photo of Brad Ward