(Top L-R Chris Gruehn, Cobb Community Foundation Board Chair with nonprofit learning series participants, speaker Elizabeth Burdette, event sponsor, Mauldin & Jenkins, partner, Aleisa Howell, and CCF staff)
Every year, Cobb Community Foundation (CCF) hosts a series of events, bringing together 50-100 nonprofit representatives to explore key topics, gain insights from expert speakers, and build valuable connections. Our very first event of 2025, held on January 29, was a resounding success with 57 nonprofit CEOs and board members attending to learn how to maximize board effectiveness.
Are Your Board Members Fully Leveraging Their Strengths?
Have you ever wondered if your board members are fully tapping into their unique strengths to power your nonprofit’s mission? Are their passions, values, and resources truly aligned with your cause?
These were the key questions guiding our January 29 session. Together with Elizabeth Burdette, Philanthropic Advisor at SignatureFD, we explored practical approaches to recruiting the right board members, increasing engagement, and transforming them into effective leaders and fundraisers.
We were honored to have Elizabeth lead Cultivating Effective Advocates, an interactive presentation and workshop with a Q&A. The event was held at the Cobb Chamber Wellstar Community Room and required a $20 registration fee. Nonprofit leaders walked away with refined purpose statements, actionable engagement strategies, and new insights on how to optimize board leadership.
Expert Insights: The Value of a Dual Perspective
Elizabeth’s insights were not only highly valuable but also delivered in an engaging and relatable manner. Attendees and CCF staff alike appreciated her ability to blend deep expertise with humor, making complex topics approachable and inspiring.
What set Elizabeth apart was her unique perspective of having worked on both sides of nonprofit leadership—as a board member for both small and large nonprofits and as a professional supporting nonprofits in their philanthropic efforts. This dual experience allowed her to offer well-rounded, practical strategies that resonated with nonprofit executives and board members alike.
We are deeply grateful for the time and energy Elizabeth dedicated to sharing her knowledge with our nonprofit leaders. In fact, in our post-event survey, Elizabeth’s presentation received an outstanding 99% rating from attendees.
In addition to the materials we shared, Elizabeth also recommended an insightful article that aligns closely with our discussions on cultivating an effective board. We hope you find it valuable: Skilled, Diverse, and Engaged: 2025 Will Require More from Boards.
(L-R Speaker Elizabeth Burdette, Philanthropic Advisor, Signature FD, with Aleisa Howell, Partner at event sponsor, Mauldin & Jenkins)
Who Was in the Room?
The event was attended by 37 nonprofit CEOs and staff members, along with 20 board members, representing a diverse range of causes and organizations:
Organizations Represented:
Acworth Cultural Arts, Adult Disability Medical Center, Advocates for Children, Atlanta Angels, Bullock Hope House, Circles Cobb, Cobb & Douglas Health Dept, Cobb Christmas, Cobb Community Foundation, Congressman Loudermilk’s Office, Connecting Generations-STFCC, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, Family Promise of Cobb County, Food Security for America, FreedOM Youth Yoga, GA Kids Belong, Georgia Metro Dance Theatre, Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb, Kate’s Club, Kidz2Leaders, Lekotek of Georgia, Inc., Loving Arms Cancer Outreach, Marietta Arts Council, Marietta Mentoring for Leadership, Marshall Jones, Matthew 25:40 Car Care Ministry, MUST Ministries, Reflections of Trinity, Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Special Needs Cobb, Tillman House Resource Center, Vision Rehabilitation Services.
Causes Represented:
- Poverty Alleviation
- Healthcare and Mental Wellness
- Education and Child Wellbeing
- Arts and Culture
- Special Needs
- Nonprofit Support
What’s Next? Future Topics Requested
We are already planning future events based on the valuable feedback we received!
As we plan on continuing to offer nonprofit educational opportunities such as this, we solicited participants’ input to identify a new name for these events, originally called the Nonprofit Roundtable Series. Attendees voted, and moving forward, these gatherings will be known as Ignite: CCF’s Nonprofit Learning Series—a name chosen by the people to reflect the energy and inspiration these sessions provide.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
We extend our deepest gratitude to Mauldin & Jenkins, our event sponsor, as well as our Corporate Champions for making it possible to host these invaluable learning and networking opportunities. Your support enables us to equip nonprofit leaders with the tools they need to thrive.
Stay tuned for our upcoming events—we look forward to another year of learning, connecting, and making an impact together!
