These last few months have been extremely busy and we all continue to pivot during constant change. It’s beautiful to see the nonprofit sector here in Idaho continually update practices and thinking to make the greatest impact.
One item that has kept us busy is the hiring process for a new CEO. The search committee, composed of board members, community partners, and staff, has been working hard to evaluate the future of the Center and select a new leader to carry forward our mission.

“My time serving as Interim CEO for the Center is almost over. The search committee has just finished the first round of interviews and we are excited to be one step closer to finding the next CEO,” says Sheila Hennessey.

During her time at the Center, Sheila has been a fantastic leader and has guided us in making important decisions. The bulk of her work has been dedicated to learning from our community to best prepare us for the future. Before launching the CEO search she:
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• Surveyed the board 
• Talked to staff
• Consulted with community partners 

Next week, the second round of interviews will take place and the committee and board will make the final decision after that. We hope to have a new CEO in the (virtual) office by August.

Taking the time to really think about what the Center will look like in the next 5 to 10 years has been a wonderful experience for the staff and board. It has forced us to really think critically about how to continue our mission: educate, advocate, and collaborate in support of stronger nonprofits.

Thank you to Kari Anderson, Principal, for your continued partnership and service to the nonprofit community!

Q: How can you/your company support the nonprofit sector?

​I build up nonprofits. From the inside out. By focusing on people, fundraising and systems, I work with clients to move their nonprofit organizations from survive to thrive. How? I help organizations build capacity. I support clients who are managing crisis. And, I support clients who are navigating change.

​Idaho Gives 2021 has come and gone and our team is amazed, yet again, at Idaho’s generosity! To be honest, we really didn’t know what to expect with the campaign this year. After 2020’s outstanding outcome, we were hopeful, but cautious. The state is beginning to open up and we are inching closer to something resembling normalcy, however nonprofits across Idaho are still in a precarious situation. Many continue to lose funding and resources, even as their services remain crucial to all of us. Our team was acutely aware of this situation and knew that Idaho Gives was as important as it’s ever been. 

This was the first time we’ve run the Idaho Gives campaign for a week. In 2020 we pushed it from one day to two weeks to address the sudden increased need due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This successful shift made us all realize that there was room to reimagine what Idaho Gives might look like. 

To recap, Idaho Gives raised $3,872,128 for 646 organizations from 16,083 donors. Not only did we have a record number of organizations register for Idaho Gives, but we raised almost as much in one week this year as we raised in two weeks last year! Thank you to everyone who gave back to Idaho!

This year has been bittersweet for me as it was my final Idaho Gives. I’m excited to move on to my next adventure, but I will miss my team at the Idaho Nonprofit Center and everyone involved in the Idaho Gives campaign tremendously. Being involved with Idaho Gives and the Idaho Nonprofit Center has helped me to grow and change in ways I hadn’t imagined when I signed on. Thank you to everyone who has been involved! 

Thank you to Elizabeth Lizberg, CEO/Executive Director, for your continued partnership and service to the nonprofit community!

Q: What does a typical week look like for your nonprofit?

​Currently, our days are very different and full of opportunity. The challenges of the past year with COVID-19 has actually provided some unique opportunities for us to step back and get creative. We have taken a big leap of faith to direct our efforts towards hosting camp programs at our new facility, Hidden Paradise. We plan to use the camp this summer, which is two years ahead of our original plans. With that goal in sight, you can come in our office and witness everything from volunteers gathering to plan new activities in new spaces, the medical team discussing how we will stay safe, staff working to support our volunteer efforts and always…lots of laughter amongst the hard work.

After deliberation regarding the pace and efficiency of Idaho’s 2021 Legislative Session, the Idaho Senate has voted to adjourn the longest session in Idaho’s history without an appointed date for resumption, while the House of Representatives voted to recess until the end of the calendar year. ​

As things progress, the Idaho Nonprofit Center will keep you updated on any other legislative actions sporadically, both locally and nationally, that have the potential to impact the nonprofit sector. ​

​If you are an INC member or a business affiliate we would love for you to share your quick story and we will feature you and your organization in feature INC communications.