As 2021 Comes to a Close

Ann Coffey • December 14, 2019

Disasters like the epic tornado that ravaged Western Kentucky this weekend tend to snap us back to reality. We realize anew the untamable power of nature, the fragility of life, and the importance of community. We thank and honor those nonprofit organizations, National Guard troop and governmental agencies, and volunteers already active in providing relief in Western Kentucky. Our friends at WFPL and their affiliated Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting have compiled a helpful, extensive list of ways you can help – whether you want to donate money, donate (urgently needed) blood, donate tangible things, volunteer, or support animals in need. We urge you to get involved at whatever level you can. Be generous.

New cohort of Nonprofit Leaders Advancing Racial Equity
CNPE’s first cohort of nonprofit leaders participating in our Nonprofit Leaders Advancing Racial Equity (NLARE) program met for the first six months of 2021. Participants reported that they found it very valuable in seeing the world differently and leaning into racial equity both personally and with their organizations.

CNPE has just named the second cohort of NLARE participants, who will begin their own six-month journey next month:

Brett Bachmann, CEO, Heuser Hearing Institute
Steve Cunanan, CEO, American Red Cross, Louisville Area Chapter
Tim Densler, CEO, Impact V
Kathy Dobbins, CEO, Wellspring
Gary Friedman, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Natalie Harris, Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless
Andrew Hawes, President and CEO, The Housing Partnership, Inc.
Jody Heazlitt, President, New Hope Services
Sara Klein Wagner, President and CEO, the Jewish Community of Louisville
Kasey Maier, President and CEO, Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Dan Maloney, Executive Director, Louisville Zoo
Melissa Marvel, CEO, Zoom Group
Raphaela Platow, Executive Director, Speed Art Museum
Lynn Rippy, President and CEO, YouthBuild Louisville
Leslea Townsend Cronin, Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless, Southern Indiana
Elizabeth Wessels-Martin, President and CEO, Center for Women & Families

Our NLARE program has the potential to change how many nonprofits approach and embrace racial equity. This program is possible only through the generous support of these corporate sponsors:

Abramson Leadership Exchange Program on Saturday, January 8
Spalding University’s Doctor of Education program, in partnership with Ignite Louisville and the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL), invite the public to join them from 9 to 11 AM on Saturday, January 8, for a virtual session of the Abramson Leadership Exchange – a series of executive panel discussions moderated by former Mayor Jerry Abramson, who serves as Spalding’s Executive in Residence.The topic will be LEADERSHIP ENSURING EDUCATION AND TRAINING MEET WORKFORCE DEMANDS, with presentations from K-12 and post-secondary education leaders and successful, innovative business leaders. They will discuss the rapid changes in workforce demands along with the need to modify existing curricula and add new programs to better adapt to evolving work environments. This is a free, public event, but attendees must register here.

Vote for Louisville’s Roots 101 African-American Museum as a top new attraction
One of Louisville’s newest museums, Roots 101 African-American Museum, is in the running to be named by USA TODAY as one of “America’s Best New Attractions” as part of its 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. This award honors new tourist attractions around the United States that have made a significant impact in their first year of operation. (Roots 101 opened last June at 124 N 1st Street in downtown Louisville.)

Currently, Roots 101 is ranked #11 out of 20 and is aiming to re-enter the top 10! You can vote HERE each day this week to help the museum climb in the rankings. Please vote at least once to give this new nonprofit a boost in visibility.

Throughout the year, our community has depended on the essential work done by people like you in the nonprofit sector. Thank you. However you celebrate this season, I hope you can take time to refresh yourself. The coming year promises to be as full of challenges and opportunities as this one. CNPE can help you with planning, fundraising, board engagement, governance, and your efforts to advance racial equity. We’re here to help you achieve your mission effectively.

As always,

Ann L. Coffey, CEO

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Advice for Handling Financial Uncertainity

By CNPE Staff • February 21, 2025

Dear Friends, With continued changes in government funding, the financial outlook for nonprofits feels more stressful than ever. But there are steps we can take right now to help insulate our organizations from the severity of what may come. In the spirit of "preparing for a rainy day" now is the time to take practical steps to identify and manage financial vulnerabilities in our organizations. From business and banking perspectives, here are a few items and actions to consider: Information is power. Now is a good time to assess your business model for more efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. Scrutinize your budget – trim non-essential costs and consider delaying investment in discretionary items. Cash is king - know your cash position and how long can you operate if funding stops. Manage payables carefully and take advantage of the full time your organization has to pay expenses. Talk with your banker – discuss ways to improve cash flow and ask about a potential line of credit for that rainy day. Have your bank provide a wellness checkup – how do they view your organization’s financial health? In general, don't be afraid to ask for help in times of financial strain. Your accounting firm, associations, and peers are helpful resources too - you are not alone. Plan for possible cuts. Nobody wants to think about this, but the reality of the moment calls for it. Staffing is typically the largest category of expense, so the hard question to wrestle with is how would we trim staffing expenses if needed without impacting our mission. Running a non-profit organization is stressful work. Throw in the uncertainty of our current environment and the task becomes even harder. Call upon trusted partners to help you see through the haze of uncertainty and take actions now that will extend your financial runway. There are additional considerations related to grants, contracts, funders, and social capital. The following resources can help you strategize and manage the financial needs of your organization during these times of uncertainty: 12 Urgent Financial Action Steps for Nonprofits: A 2025 Checklist How do Nonprofits Manage Cash Deficits? The Essentials of Cash Management for Nonprofits Small Business Resource Center | Pinnacle Financial Partners CNPE is partnering with Pinnacle Bank for our next Power Hour that will focus on bringing nonprofits more helpful advice about banking solutions and managing financial uncertainty. The event will provide opportunities for Q&A and networking with peers to help find answers you may be looking for. The date and time in March for Power Hour will be announced soon. We are available to connect with you to help where we can. With gratitude and admiration for everything you do to serve our community,