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Ten area nonprofit organizations will receive training in fundraising and software through a partnership between the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and Bonterra, a social good software company.
Throughout the year, the groups will participate in the Bonterra's Jumpstart program, which provides fundraising software, personalized coaching, development planning and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
The local organizations taking part are ACTION, Compass Family & Community Services, Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties, Economic Action Group, Nikki's House, OCCHA, Ohio Urban Renaissance, Students Motivated by the Arts, Thrive Mahoning Valley and TriYou Cares.
The nonprofits were selected in consultation with Bonterra after interested organizations filled out a survey on current fundraising work and planning, attended an informational webinar and met one-on-one with the Jumpstart team.
Organizations will begin this month by interviewing and selecting Jumpstart coaches before delving into implementing the fundraising software and creating an organizational development plan. The program is underwritten by a $50,000 commitment from the Community Foundation.
"When we talk to organizations about what they need help with, fundraising is easily the most common response," foundation President Casey Krell said. "We're always looking for new ways to support the Valley's nonprofits, so when Bonterra approached us about Jumpstart, it felt like a natural fit."
Bonterra, which has offices in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C., in June released a study by Jumpstart that found fundraising is a major hurdle for nonprofit organizations. Fund development was noted as the most common barrier to operational success by respondents, according to the study.
Other key takeaways included nearly 40% of those who responded reported they actively use fundraising technology and the organizations struggle most with such things as upgrading donors, acquiring new individual gifts and developing fundraising plans.