Elevating Leadership: Board Leader Fund
Foellinger Foundation established the Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund (BBILF) in 2016. This fund provides grants to nonprofit board members to access unique learning opportunities outside of Allen County—from conferences to webinars to workshops—so that they can bring fresh ideas, deeper skills, and broader networks back to their organizations. In doing so, the BBILF helps raise the bar for nonprofit governance, supports adaptive leadership, and encourages exchanges of best practices across nonprofits.
Two recent BBILF grant recipients—Youth for Christ and Stillwater Hospice—exemplify how board members are using the fund to strengthen their organizations and, ultimately, impact the community.
Youth for Christ
In March 2025, Youth for Christ’s board attended the Murdock Board Training to gain concrete, faith-based tools and practical strategies to strengthen the organization’s leadership and governance. “We believe that strong, well-trained board leadership is essential to our mission and future growth,” shared Drew Williams, Youth for Christ’s CEO. “The training equipped our board members to clarify roles and responsibilities, build a strong and healthy board culture, and deepen the critical partnership between the board chair and executive director.”
A Youth for Christ board member who attended the training shared, “The Murdock Training was a good opportunity to evaluate where our board currently stands in terms of governance, strategy, succession planning, culture, and communication patterns. While I’ve served on several boards over the course of my career, this training allowed us to think deeply about this board and to reflect on where we are solid and where there are areas of improvement, especially as we were in a season of transition.”
Stillwater Hospice
Stillwater Hospice applied for the BBILF grant to strengthen its board’s governance and leadership capacity during a period of strategic growth. “We are deeply grateful to Foellinger Foundation for recognizing the importance of leadership development among both the executive leaders and the board,” shared Stillwater Hospice CEO Leslie Friedel. “Opportunities like this not only expand individual knowledge but also elevate entire organizations. The ripple effect of this investment is seen in stronger community impact and greater sustainability for Stillwater Hospice’s mission.”
The nonprofit used the grant to send Board Chair Derick Bailey to the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation Leadership Conference in September 2025 in Washington, DC. There, he connected with national thought leaders and peers in end-of-life care, gaining new insight into strategic oversight. “The conference was a wonderful opportunity to hear from decision-makers on a national level about the status of our hospice landscape and the federal government’s inner workings that will influence our day-to-day operations,” shared Derick. “The opportunity to meet with subject experts, CEOs, and other board chairs provides invaluable insight through communicating the hardships and wins within the industry.”
About the Fund
At Foellinger Foundation, we believe that strong nonprofit boards are essential to vibrant communities. We know that board members aren’t just figureheads—they steer strategy, ensure accountability, and champion the mission. They act as ambassadors and fundraisers for the organizations they serve. Investing in the development of board leaders is investing in the long-term health of Allen County nonprofits.
The fund is named for Barbara Burt, who led Foellinger Foundation as President and CEO from 1995 to 2001 and then served as Board Chair from 2001 to 2008, helping shape our mission, strategy, and local impact. Before her work at the Foundation, she served as Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. For over 30 years, she demonstrated outstanding commitment to and leadership of philanthropic organizations in Allen County.
Thank you, Youth for Christ and Stillwater Hospice, for investing in your board members so they can expand their leadership skills and bring new insights that benefit all Allen County residents.
Are you a nonprofit eager to elevate your board’s governance, leadership, and adaptive thinking? Learn more about the Barbara Burt fund, read the guidelines, and apply for funding.