Investing in Leadership: <em>The Board Series™</em> in Action
Strong nonprofits require strong leadership, and that leadership includes engaged, informed, and mission-focused boards.
Recognizing the evolving challenges nonprofit organizations face, Foellinger Foundation partnered with Aly Sterling Philanthropy to bring The Board Series to local nonprofit leaders. The Foundation has hosted two of The Board Series workshops to date. At each session, the Foundation invited one executive director and one board member from various Allen County nonprofit organizations to attend the three-part interactive and highly practical learning series. The workshop event equipped them with the tools and frameworks needed to build sustainable leadership practices.
The first three-part workshop was held in September 2025. The Foundation offered the three-part workshop again in April 2026. We connected with leaders who participated in the inaugural session to find out how they’ve applied what they learned within their organizations. Their reflections offer insight into how intentional board development can strengthen governance, deepen engagement, and support mission-driven impact.
Carmen Cumberland, President & CEO of Community Harvest Food Bank, and Greg O’Daniel, Immediate Past Board President of Community Harvest Food Bank, along with Dan Ross, President & CEO of Arts United, and Dave Haist, Board Chair of Arts United, shared their thoughts and key takeaways from the September 2025 workshop below.
In what ways has the board grown more comfortable or actively engaged in supporting the organization's fundraising and mission?
Carmen Cumberland, President & CEO, Community Harvest Food Bank: After The Board Series, we realized our meetings were heavy on reporting and light on engagement. That became our starting point. By adopting a consent agenda and building in one or two intentional discussion topics, we created space for more meaningful participation. Regular program spotlights have also strengthened understanding of our work, helping board members feel more connected to the mission and more equipped to serve as ambassadors.
Dan Ross, President & CEO, Arts United: Following the successful completion of a $40 million capital campaign, Arts United’s board has re-engaged in supporting annual fundraising efforts. The Development Committee has been actively involved in setting strategic priorities for the fundraising staff, and the full board has engaged in important discussions on fundraising and other revenue-generation strategies.
As you learned at the workshop, successful board member engagement begins with recruitment and selection. Have you noticed a difference in how new members are identified, welcomed, and prepared for their roles on the board?
Greg O’Daniel, Immediate Past Board President, Community Harvest Food Bank: From a board member’s perspective, I feel the meetings are much more engaging, and more members are sharing their expertise and knowledge on specific topics. The board feels more appreciated and more engaged in the food bank's mission. The enthusiasm in the meetings has been more noticeable.
Dave Haist, Board Chair, Arts United: Our Governance Committee has taken a fresh look at board recruitment for 2027 through the lens of evaluating future leadership needs, identifying highly qualified individuals to serve, and developing plans to ensure new board members are welcomed and appropriately prepared for their roles.
Has your board successfully shifted its meeting structure to prioritize the 70/30 Rule (30% of the meeting should be reporting out; 70% should be discussion on strategy and critical issues)? How has that shift created more engaging and successful meetings?
Carmen Cumberland, President & CEO, Community Harvest Food Bank: We have made strong progress toward the 70/30 model, and the difference is noticeable. Meetings are now more focused, conversational, and centered on strategic issues. Preparing board members in advance has led to stronger dialogue and participation. We also use periodic feedback surveys to continue improving the meeting experience.
Dan Ross, President & CEO, Arts United: Arts United has shifted our board meeting structure to spend more time on strategic discussion. The board has engaged in major topical discussions at each meeting this year, leading to greater board engagement and greater alignment on the organization's strategic direction. Arts United has started its next institutional strategic planning process, and this shift in board meeting structure has helped set the right tone for those discussions.
Following the workshop, Community Harvest Food Bank engaged in individual coaching sessions with Aly Sterling Philanthropy. These sessions provided an opportunity to reflect on and discuss how their organization was implementing what they learned.
“Our participation with Aly in the private coaching was great. We took a topic that was only covered briefly in The Board Series and expanded a bit deeper. We involved several other board members and staff from Community Harvest. What we received was a personalized class on fundraising that engaged both staff and board to strengthen our goals for the future,” shared Greg O’Daniel.
Foellinger Foundation remains committed to championing opportunities that strengthen area nonprofits. As organizations continue to implement what they learned from The Board Series workshops, they are building stronger foundations to support their missions and create a vibrant Allen County for all residents.