The Advancing Macomb Nonprofit Executive Roundtable continues to bring leaders of Macomb County organizations together to have an open discussion about important issues, challenges, and successes for their nonprofits and the people they serve. Through these conversations, participants are able to provide feedback, brainstorm solutions, and identify areas for collaboration to support the nonprofit infrastructure in Macomb County during the pandemic and beyond.

Members are encouraged to share their experiences and to suggest topics and speakers. On the topic of steps to evaluate the future of your nonprofit, Madeline Bialecki from Gilda’s Club Lake House location in St. Clair Shores shared her experience with taking a hard look at the sustainability of her organization. The assessment of their strengths and needs ultimately led to a merger between the Lake House and Gilda’s Club to continue providing cancer support services in Macomb County. Upon Madeline’s suggestion, we invited Laura Varon Brown, Executive Director & CEO of Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit to speak the group at the following meeting about growing a healthy reserve fund and encouraging board participation in fundraising.

Other recent topics have included: the effects of COVID-19 on nonprofits, CARES Act funding access and an overview and discussion of the 14 Attributes of a Healthy Nonprofit from the Nonprofit Leadership Lab.

Advancing Macomb’s Nonprofit Executive Roundtable meets every other week on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. At our next session on September 16, Amanda Herr of Digital Desk will join us to talk about virtual storytelling and digital marketing. If you would like to join the roundtable, please contact Diane Banks at diane@advancingmacomb.com.