New Grand Valley philanthropy report focuses on leadership deficit

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Nonprofit leaders share their concerns and possible solutions for a perceived deficit in leadership for the nonprofit sector. In a new report issued by Grand Valley State University's Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, more than 100 nonprofit leaders explore creative next steps to solve this complex issue and engage in the development of innovative solutions.

The report, NP2020: Issues and Answers from the Next Generation, is based on proceedings from the Nonprofit 2020 meeting held at Grand Valley in July 2007. Conversation notes, leadership stories and video recordings were captured and analyzed for this report, including suggestions for more mentoring and diversity within the nonprofit sector.

“The intent is that the conversations that started at NP2020, and the outcomes highlighted in this report will continue to build and grow,” said Kathy Agard, executive director of the Johnson Center. “It can be a resource for individuals and organizations interested in solutions to the nonprofit leadership deficit issue.”

The NP2020: Issues and Answers from the Next Generation report and on-going NP2020 conversations can be accessed at www.np2020.org. 

BACKGROUND:

The NP2020 convening was organized by the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University in collaboration with its AIM Alliance partners: the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation at Arizona State University and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Sponsorship was also provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Lumina Foundation for Education, and the Fremont Area Community Foundation.

The Johnson Center for Philanthropy is a nonprofit academic center whose mission is to improve communities by the application of knowledge, which unleashes the power of nonprofits, foundations and individuals. For more information, visit their Web site at www.johnsoncenter.org .

For more information, contact Krista Rye from Grand Valley’s Johnson Center for Philanthropy at (616) 331-7085.