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May 29, 2025



We are excited to welcome back a past premium sponsor, IFF, who champions nonprofits across the Midwest to shape more equitable and vibrant communities through community-centered lending, development, and real estate solutions.

Summer is here and it’s a great time to fill the open positions in your organization.

Did you know we can help you advertise your job opening on social media? When you post a job in GC Nonprofit News we can share the job posting on our social media channels. It is easy and affordable and a great way to expand your reach - click here to post your jobs!!!



In partnership with local nonprofits and our sponsors, GC Nonprofit News strives to create a more informed, open and connected community, by sharing nonprofit news, job openings, and resources. 

Be informed and stay connected by reading GC Nonprofit News every week. Jane😊



Jane Page-Steiner, Owner & Publisher – jane@gcnonprofitnews.com

Kelli Tarantino, Editor - kelli@gcnonprofitnews.com

*REMINDER: Please submit your news by 2pm on Tuesday and jobs by 10am on Wednesday for Thursday's issue of GC Nonprofit News. Jobs submitted after 10am on Wednesday will appear in the following week's eNews.



Say it Simply so Donors Feel it Deeply

By Claire Axelred

Now is not a time to hold back. If grant cutbacks, contract cancellations, executive orders, layoffs, economic uncertainty fear or something else are causing you to hunker down, resist.

Your supporters rely on you to tell them — plain and simple — how they can help. 

So many feel helpless and hopeless in the face of a firehose of (often conflicting) news. They don’t like a lot of what they’re seeing but have little clue what to do about it. It feels bad. That’s where you, the philanthropy facilitator, come in!

People feel better when coming from a place of love — rather than hate. From hope, rather than fear. And philanthropy, at its very center, is all about love of humanity.

Forget about money for a minute and refocus on your vision, mission and case for support. These are your body, heart and soul. Remember, you stand for something people value and find critically important. This is what brought people to you in the first place. They cared then. There’s no reason to think they’ll care less now. Make your persuasive case.

• Tell compelling stories that break people’s hearts and restore their faith. If you want people to give, you must move them emotionally. You must offer a perspective from which they can choose to act.
• Remind constituents of your shared ideals. The values you enact will draw like-minded folks like a magnet.
• Invite people to join you in enacting your collective values. As much as you have a vision, mission and values, donors have their own callings.
• Show the impact people yearn for. Make sure this impact is described on a scale people can visualize.

Strive to Have an Effect

In your nonprofit fundraising and marketing moving forward, take care to choose words that make clear to your audiences exactly what is at stake. Not just for your organization, but for the people who rely on you for services.

Don’t pussyfoot or speak in generalities, especially when your shared vision for a better world is at stake. Speak plainly, avoid jargon and triggering phrases, and use the most powerful words you can. You don’t need a lot of adjectives or adverbs.

Simply call out the wrongs being inflicted that need to be righted. As you write, ask yourself if a 6-year-old or 12-year-old would understand your message. “People are being grabbed off the street and taken away from their families” is stronger than “People are being deported without due process.” No word you use should have to be explained.

Tell Donors Specifically What Will Help

None of this “every dollar helps” nonsense. That's drop-in-the-bucket language. It's neither inspiring nor descriptive of impact.

Try to be as clear as a bell. Make a match between what will be sufficient to get the task done and what you need from the donor to contribute to the impact you both seek.

When someone listens to or reads your message, you want them to hear a “ring, ring, ring-a-ding, dang — that makes sense. That’s something I can do!”

For example, the other day, outside a local grocery store, my husband gave a man asking for spare change a couple of dollars. Apparently, that was enough to get him what he needed, as he proceeded to march right into the store to make a food purchase. It felt good, because it was so concretely helpful.

Make the Impact of a Donor’s Gift Plain as Day

If it’s not easy for someone to see, they won’t see it. So, guard against getting lost in the process. If you think, “We have to send a spring appeal,” you’re likely to lose important focus and meaning. And speaking of meaning, remember to consider and incorporate what’s inherent for the donor when they take ownership of helping create meaningful impact.

1. Get clarity on what you really want to tell the donor. If you need to raise $200,000 or risk shutting the doors to a food pantry, killing an essential wildfire prevention program or ending vital after-school programs upon which thousands of families rely, that’s precisely what you should say. Less than that won’t do the job.
2. Speak in easy-to-understand language. You wouldn’t use language that obscures the truth with your family and friends. If everything is not fine, help everyone understand what is true for you now.
3. Find an idiom or metaphor to clarify your message. The goal is to create an image in someone’s mind so they can picture and relate to it. It’s what you do when you say “I spent the day putting out fires.” This conveys more urgency and anxiety than saying “I had a hard day at work.”
4. Show a fresh, compelling photo of the problem if you can. Pictures are worth a thousand words — actually, more. Because they communicate instantaneously, and there’s no risk you’ll lose a reader midway through.

But if you’re doing great, say that too. Ask for what you need. Don’t ask for what you don’t need. But do tell folks how they can help your community and enact their values — even if it’s not through you right now.

This is how you’ll build credibility and goodwill, for today and tomorrow. Speaking plainly is all about truth, transparency and trust. And trust is the foundation of all sustainable relationships, including donor relationships.

Be clear, be real and make them care.



PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Best Point Education & Behavioral Health is excited to announce Adam Belcher as Vice President of Training & Development. 

Your Store of the Queen City is thrilled to welcome Dr. Mark Mussman as Executive Director. 

HealthSource of Ohio proudly announces that Emily Nickolas has joined the organization as Sr. Director of Philanthropy.

Cincinnati | Hamilton County Community Action Agency welcomes Matt Fitzsimmons from Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati to the board of directors.

The University of Cincinnati Foundation is pleased to announce that Kendra Smith is its new chief financial officer (CFO).

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio is pleased to welcome David M. Giles, Chief Legal Officer at The E.W. Scripps Company, to its Board of Directors.

Meghan Cummings, a visionary executive with more than 20 years of experience in the philanthropic sector, has been appointed the next president & CEO of Philanthropy Ohio.

Frankies Furry Friends would like to thank the Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation for their generous $5,000 grant to support vet bills for canines in their care. On behalf of everyone at this all-volunteer rescue, we are incredibly grateful.

Joseph House, a holistic treatment center in Camp Washington dedicated to supporting veterans battling addiction and homelessness, has received a $100,000 grant from the Hamilton County and city of Cincinnati OneOhio Local Government Funding Allocation to enhance its veteran recovery services.

The meals program at the Victorian at Riverside, an assisted-living community in Covington, Kentucky, is made possible through the generous support of the SC Ministry Foundation, which promotes the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is grateful to American Council of the Blind of Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Chapter for a $2000 grant to provide adaptive equipment and instruction for people who are blind or visually impaired.

You are invited to The Christian Store, June 21, 11:00am-2:00pm to hear the story of DCCH Center for Children and Families' mascot Buddy the Bulldog. The story mirrors that of the children we serve, and her journey offers hope and resilience to all who read it. Buddy will be present for photo opportunities, and we will be partnering with the Kenton County Animal Shelter for an adoption event. 

Visit Save the Animals Foundation Sunday, June 22, 2:00pm-5:00pm for the Summer Open House, 4011 Red Bank Rd. The community is invited to tour the shelter and meet our dog and cat residents.

Cincinnati Animal CARE, Hamilton County’s animal shelter, has officially declared a CODE RED status as the organization faces one of the highest population surges experienced in its history. With 738 animals currently in care — between dogs and cats housed at the shelter and in foster homes — the shelter is full and urgently needs the community’s support. For more information, to view adoptable animals, or to get involved, visit here.

Green Umbrella's 12th annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit June 5 at the Sharonville Convention Center will feature a live podcast recording, a performance showcase, and an art exhibition with local artists. You can learn more and register here. 

The K.A.S.S.I.E. Project received a $1000 grant from Magnified Giving thanks to Withrow HS Girls to Women. Thank you to Magnified Giving for continuously supporting the efforts of non-profits in our communities.

Social Venture Partners Cincinnati announced that A Force for Good, a program of the Leadership Council for Nonprofits has been selected as its long-term Investee following the completion of the LIFT Phase of its Project XLR8 Program. A Force for Good will receive up to $20,000 in funding annually for the next three years.

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio/home52 is pleased to announce $50,000 from Millstone Fund for home52 transportation. The funding will provide free rides for low and moderate-income older adults and adults with disabilities in Hamilton and Clermont counties.

The Victorian at Riverside is grateful for support from Women100 Cincinnati to expand the Opening Minds through Art program, a collaboration with NaviGo College and Career Prep Services. The program will enable older women to experience joy through creative explorations while engaging with high school students to create visual art.

FIESTA NKY is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a $25,000 Boots on the Ground grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation. This funding helps expand FIESTA's outreach, education, and culturally relevant services for Hispanic families in Northern Kentucky.

Building Value, a social enterprise of Easterseals Redwood dedicated to accelerating careers in construction for residents facing economic and employment challenges, is excited to welcome customers, neighbors, and supporters to a community Open House, Saturday, June 7, 9:00am-2:00pm. celebrating recent updates to its Northside retail location (4040 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45223).



CABVI invites our community to join us for Fun Fest 2025, June 7, 11:00am-3:00pm, Washington Park, a free and accessible event that benefits our mission of empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek independence. This family friendly event is free to attend and will feature a DJ, food trucks, games, and prizes for kids and adults and much more.



COVERD Greater Cincinnati has a new home in Walnut Hills, and we are making affordable warehouse space and services available to the Cincinnati nonprofit community. Do you have to turn down product donations or deals because you don't have a loading dock or the space to receive and store it? We can receive deliveries, store your inventory, and provide space for you to process, make kits, etc. if needed. Email Nick@coverdgc.org to arrange a visit. 

Women100 Cincy's mission is to empower, connect, and support Greater Cincinnati charitable organizations through a range of avenues, including donations, grants, and services. We are honored to open our first grant application process: Community Connections Grants. Email info@women100cincy.com Attn: Community Connections Grant to apply. Our grant committee will email you an application form. The W100 Advisory Board will be in contact with you regarding your status. Our goal is to empower, inspire, and support local nonprofits in their current and future initiatives. 

Green Umbrella is accepting applications for their Climate Action Fellowship program for governments in Greater Cincinnati communities. The fellowship pairs undergraduate and graduate students, and individuals who want to pivot careers into the sustainability space, with Green Umbrella government members to develop practical plans and solutions for a changing climate.

As part of his commitment to ensuring all Ohio children have the opportunity to build strong foundations for success, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara B. Wente announced the availability of $5 million in grant funding to support training for teachers at early care and education programs on how to harness the Science of Reading to enrich their young students’ literacy skills from an early age. To learn more about DCY and its priorities, visit here. 

Aviatra Accelerators announces the launch of its Capital-Ready Women (CRW) program, the only fundability assessment and guided program in the U.S. that is not government-affiliated or associated with a financial institution. This program is specifically designed to help women in non-tech industries prepare to successfully access capital through loans or investments. Look here for more information about Aviatra's Capital-Ready Women program or to apply.



Join IFF’s Capital Solutions and Real Estate Solutions teams for a free webinar, Planning Nonprofit Facility Projects for Success, June 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET designed to help you prepare financially and plan your project with confidence. You’ll learn how to assess your organization’s financial health, explore flexible loan options, and use tools like the Facility Feasibility Analysis (FFA) to determine the right space, estimate costs, and plan for program or staffing changes. You’ll also hear from Danella Hicks, founder of All THAT – Teens Hopeful About Tomorrow, who brought her vision for a youth center to life with IFF’s support. Register here.

Join the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) for the upcoming Eggs 'N Issues: State of Manufacturing in NKY, Tuesday, June 17, 7:30am to 9:00am at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center – South. Moderated by Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber President and CEO, this Eggs 'N Issues explores the current landscape and outlook of the manufacturing industry. Panelists will discuss workforce challenges, talent development, impact of tariffs, and integration of advanced technologies – all trends that are shaping the manufacturing sector regionally.



COVERD is an all-hands-on-deck organization. We rely on the help of numerous local volunteers to get our diapers and period supplies out the door every month. If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area and are passionate about helping those in need, consider joining our team of dedicated volunteers. Check out all the options here. 

Hard conversations are a form of kindness We all have things we’re afraid to address. I call these “sweaty-palmed conversations.” They usually involve tough feedback, uncomfortable truths, boundaries to be set, disappointments we need to voice, conflicts we’re avoiding, elephants in the room to acknowledge, and more. And yet… so many of us put these discussions off.

The scarcity of money from nonprofit major donors Many nonprofit boards and executive directors want fundraisers to find shortcuts to getting major gifts. With the uncertainty in the economy now focused on the nonprofit sector, finding new major donors has become a top priority for organizations. And, of course, since artificial intelligence (AI) is a big deal, nonprofits are also debating if an investment in AI tools to uncover prospects is worthwhile.

Our sponsor and partner marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn more about a sponsor's nonprofit services, click on their ad. Contact Kelli Tarantino, editor, at kelli@gcnonprofitnews.com to discover how your business or organization can become a sponsor/advertiser of the Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News.

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Human Resources Director, Kenton County Public Library (Posted 5/29/2025) Learn more...

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