MANSFIELD, Ohio — The Richland County Foundation held an orientation Wednesday for staff members from 16 nonprofit organizations to kick off its second year of the Osborne Meese Academy.
The program is designed to build and support nonprofit organizations and to act as a catalyst to encourage stronger collaboration in the community.
The Osborne Meese Academy encompasses three components: education, professional support and grant writing assistance. The initiative was named the Osborne Meese Academy to honor the Foundation’s founding father.
“This is a perfect way to recognize the work done by Osborne Meese at the beginning of the Foundation,” Foundation President Bradford Groves said. “He believed in and was passionate about this community.
“It is not just about what can be done today, it’s about helping agencies fulfill their mission and to improve over time to positively impact people.”
Half-day educational workshops will be held through November at the Foundation, 181 S. Main St. Topics such as developing a marketing and fundraising plan, engaging in collaborations and building an effective board and identifying outcomes and measures will be explored.
The nonprofit organizations were selected by an application process to participate based on the following criteria: willingness to collaborate to address community issues, willingness to embrace organizational change and growth, current strength of an organization with regards to programming, governance, staff leadership, financing, administrative, staffing and marketing.
The organizations participating are: Discovery School, Linden Road Presbyterian Church, Mansfield Memorial Homes, Mankind Murals Inc., North Central State College Foundation, North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Ohio Genealogical Society, Parent Aide Program, Pediatric Development Center, Richland Carrousel Park, Richland County Historical Society, Richland Public Health, Shelby YMCA Community Center, Starfish Project of Richland County and Three C Counseling.
