Fundraising Leadership Academy
How Can I Participate?
Participating nonprofits are selected by the Fundraising Leadership Academy’s Advisory Council, consisting of representatives from funding organizations. To be added to the list of interested organizations for the 2026 cohort, please join the waitlist below.
The Fundraising Leadership Academy (FLA) is a three-month program, from February to May annually, designed by Adrienne to support individuals in vital leadership and fundraising roles at local nonprofit organizations. It is also a space to share best practices, struggles and successes with peers. At the end of the program, participants have a personalized, actionable development toolkit using data and materials from their organization.
This program is designed for a class of 20 development professionals or executive directors who are serious about focusing on fundraising best practices and willing to share openly and learn from peers. The FLA is part of The Columbus Foundation’s Nonprofit Forum. We know that when organizations fundraise effectively, nonprofits thrive and our community is stronger. The consortium of funding companies includes:
The American Electric Power Foundation
Bath & Body Works
Bread Financial
The Cardinal Health Foundation
Columbia Gas of Ohio
The Columbus Foundation
Grange Insurance
Huntington
Installed Building Products
Nationwide
Heartfelt thanks to the Inaugural Fundraising Leadership Academy Advisory Council whose belief and investment in the program in 2018 made it possible: Dr. Amy Acton, Karen Blickley, Janelle Coleman, Patti Eshman, Steven Fields, Dale Heydlauff, Cathy Lyttle, Shannon Morgan, Dianne Radigan, Dan Sharpe, and Bobbie Trittschuh.
2024 Fundraising Leadership Academy Advisory Council Members include: Christina Brown, Paulette Burks, Jessie Cannon, Janelle Coleman, Natalina Fickell, Rhoe Fields, Carrie Maun-Smith, Stephanie Campo Merkle, Kelly Clifford Riehl, Kristen Rost, Dan Sharpe, and Vanessa Yahner.
Self-care components are generously provided by Debbie Penzone’s team at LIT Life + Yoga.
This collaborative group cares about your mission, work and impact on the community. Our vision is for this program to be a gift to nonprofits in our community and the many served by them.
OBJECTIVES
The capacity building work of The Fundraising Leadership Academy is designed to create a stronger community with knowledgeable and empowered fundraising leaders. Demonstrated by the following key results:
Building Community
Active alumni network
Access to community leaders
Increased collaboration
Knowledge
Relevant program content
Ongoing alumni education
Peer sharing
Empowerment
Increased confidence in fundraising ability
Planned fundraising activities
Authentic leadership
Fundraising leadership academy Graduates
2018 Cohort
1. A Kid Again, National - Lena Crider
2. The Childhood League Center - Andrea Grzybowski
3. Columbus Children's Theatre - Kati Serbu
4. Communities in Schools of Central Ohio - Travis Dunlap and Amy Gordon
5. CompDrug - Stephanie Christie
6. Concord Counseling Services - Vickey Shedlock
7. Directions for Youth and Families - Mary Margaritis
8. Furniture Bank - Mary Kay Snyder
9. Girls on the Run of Central Ohio - Jess Sparks
10. Gladden Community House - Valerie Davis
11. Godman Guild Association - Zachary Matthews
12. Homeport - Laverne Price
13. Junior Achievement of Central Ohio - Beth Tyburski
14. Make-A-Wish - Kate Brunner Quinn
15. Maryhaven - Nanon Morrison and Carrie Burson
16. Ohio Hispanic Coalition - Josue Vicente
17. Resurrecting Lives Foundation - Chrisanne Gordon
18. See Kids Dream - Laura Grindle
19. Seeds of Caring - Brandy Jemczura
20. St. Stephen’s Community House - Natalie Atkins
21. United Schools Network - Diana Wakim
2019 Cohort
1. Action for Children - Jessica Brown
2. Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus - Julie Kirk
3. Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center - Katie Palmer
4. Central Community House - Marci Ryan
5. City Year Columbus - Ruth-Marie Lomax
6. Columbus Children’s Theatre - John Faas
7. Columbus Early Learning Centers - Amy Deverson Roberts
8. Columbus Urban League - Dominique Shank
9. Community Development for All People - Mike Premo
10. Dress for Success Columbus - Stephanie Campolo Merkle
11. ETSS (Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services) - Keri Allen-Hogan
12. Family Mentor Foundation - Meegan Jesuele and Kari Vernon
13. Grange Insurance Audubon Center - Kristina Rawson
14. Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center - Sarah Gray
15. Huckleberry House, Inc. - Victoria Alesi and Sonya Thesing
16. Ohio Energy Project - Shauni Nix
17. Ohio Guidestone, Central Ohio - Tiffany Nobles
18. Per Scholas - Toni Cunningham and Sarah Hoenle
19. Short North Alliance - Becca Goodburn
20. SON (Serving Our Neighbors) Ministries - Kim Emch
2020 Cohort
1. ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Ohio - Keely Buckley
2. Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. - Allison Davis
3. Columbus Works, Inc. - Beth Gifford
4. Community Shelter Board - Kacy Wiant
5. COSI (Center of Science and Industry) - Abby Maenle
6. CRIS (Community Refugee & Immigration Services) - Tyler Reeve
7. Freedom a la Cart - Bekah Moran
8. Gateway Film Center - Alexander Davis
9. Hospice of Central Ohio - Stacy Geller
10. I Know I Can - Julie Kriss
11. JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) - Jessica Boyd
12. LifeCare Alliance - Kayla Entsminger
13. Lincoln Theatre Association/CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) - Diana Pagán
14. Local Matters - Adam Fazio
15. Lower Lights Ministries - Sarah Augenstein
16. Momentum - Liane Egle
17. Oyo Dance - Elizabeth Weiss
18. ProMusica - Matthew Kurk
19. ROX (Ruling Our eXperiences), Inc. - Marti Ridley
20. Star House - Ann Bischoff
21. Susan G. Komen Columbus - Alyssa Petrella
22. Teaching and Learning Collaborative - Kelli Shrewsberry
23. Wellity Education (formerly Youth Yoga Project - Julia Handelman
2021 Cohort
1. A Kid Again, National - Cassy Sleeper
2. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio - Ryan Love
3. The Buckeye Ranch - Kathryn Stephens
4. Canine Companions for Independence - Matt Levering
5. Design Outreach - Rhonda Davis-Comoretto
6. Family Promise aka Family Promise Partnerships - Gwyn Stetler
7. Fuguees Family, Inc. - Erica Mason
8. Grange Insurance Audubon Center - Leigh Ann Miller
9. The Heritage Tours Foundation - Tonya McCreary Williams
10. Highland Youth Garden - Shelly Casto
11. Mental Health America of Ohio - Michael Anderson
12. NAICCO (Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio) - Ty Smith
13. NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Columbus - Yvonne Cherell
14. Netcare Access - Jessica Lilly
15. Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence - Rosa Beltré
16. Sisters of Empowerment - Lois Ferguson
17. Star House - Brittany Hillyard
18. The Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council - James Price
19. Thurber House - Kelly Zwink
20. Veteran Companion Animal Services - Heather Lane
21. YMCA Of Central Ohio - Nick Sheriff
22. Zora's House - LC Johnson
2022 Cohort
Charitable Pharmacy of Ohio - R. Taylor Reed
Clarity Ohio - Holly Smith
Creative Living - Theresa Vivona
Eryn PiNK (Image Character Mentors) - Eryn Hathaway
Feed the Kids Columbus - Ashley Kanney
Festa - Erin Arnett
Femergy - Emma Hawkins
Girl Empowerment - Charnetta (Charli) Glenn
Harmony Project - Matthew Schott
House of Hope - Richard (Rick) Mason
Huck House - Jonathan T. Ross II
I Know I Can - Karim Jackson
Jewish Family Services - Diana Schrimpf
Ohio History Connection - Ann Ruege
Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, dba Modcon Living - Amy Flynn
Speak for the Unspoken - Andrea Kochensparger
SproutFive (formerly Southside Early Learning) - Patrick (PJ) Gamble Jr.
TechCorps - Jen Jolliff
Wexner Center for the Arts - Aja Davis
Wexner Heritage Village - Leslie Fulford
2023 Cohort
2nd & 7 Foundation - Stephanie Frey
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio - Addie Natalie
Charitable Healthcare Network - Nora Lyons
Columbus Recreations & Parks Foundation - Keiana Mitchell
Columbus Speech & Hearing - Bridget Tharp
Community Development for All People - Andrea Wood
Franklinton Farms - Emma Gardner
Ohio History Connection - Anthony Gibbs
Ohio Humanities - Scarlett Rebman
Ohio Victim Witness Association - Elyse McConnell
Per Scholas - Jenn Fowler Howard
Sanctuary Night - Heather Mohrman
Second Nature - Courtney Keys
See Kids Dream - Brenda Buchy
St. Stephen's Community House - Madison Massey
St. Vincent Family Services - Catherine Sherman
United Schools Network - Jennifer Olivieri
United Way of Delaware County - Gina Grote
We Amplify Voices - Nicholas (Nick) D'Andrea
YMCA of Central Ohio - Maryn Weimer
Zora's House - Tamaliyapo Mphande
2024 Cohort
A Kid Again, Central Ohio - Jared Buerger
Actions That Matter For Youth - DeAndra Harrison
Besa - Paul O'Connor
Bridgeway Academy and Bridgeway Therapy Center - Janelle Maur
Cancer Support Community Central Ohio - Raquel Chavez
CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) - Emily Kilroy
Children's Hunger Alliance - Anne Marie Wilson
Columbus Gay Men's Chorus - Donovan Jones
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) - Lyndsey Brown
ETSS (Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services) - Amanda Lynne
Form5 Prosthetics Inc. - Aaron Westbrook
Godman Guild Association - Solo Karoulla
Leadership Columbus - Kathy Chipps
Nellie's Champions for Kids (NC4K) - Mandy Powell
New Directions Career Center - Noni Banks
One School - Dionna Carter
Parkinson's Foundation - Alexis Caldwell Reber
The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio (formerly CATCO) - Christy Farnbauch
The Reeb Center - Vanesa Mora
The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity - Keena M. Smith