November 2021
Join Us in Welcoming Our New President and CEO: Jim Ayres

The Foundation is pleased to announce Jim Ayres as its new president and CEO. Jim comes to the Foundation from Strategies for Collaborative Impact and Justice Consulting as its principal consultant and founder. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President of Programs & Strategy for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Interim President/CEO of the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and as the CEO/Executive Director of the United Way of Hampshire County

As President and CEO, Jim will lead the Foundation’s staff and work closely with GWCF’s Board of Directors. The core focus areas for the CEO will include strategic direction, governance, program development, business operations, financial management, personnel management, and community relations. Programmatically, the Foundation is currently working on arts/culture initiatives as well as looking at community issues through the lens of racial disparity.

We are excited to have Jim start on January 3, 2022. Stay tuned for more! 
GWCF Board Thanks Carolyn Stempler for Her Time as Interim CEO 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Corporators, the staff, the volunteers, and all the communities we serve, we want to thank Carolyn Stempler for her exemplary leadership over the past 8 months during this time of leadership transition. Carolyn’s commitment, professionalism, and understanding of the Foundation’s needs during this time were invaluable and we were so lucky to have her. Thank you for everything you’ve done!
Save the Date
Investment Presentation: Managing Our Endowment for Generations to Come 

On Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 AM, join our virtual Investment Presentation for Donors. Learn about the Foundation’s plan and philosophy to expand the Community’s endowment with guest speakers Thomas Bartholomew, Treasurer and Chair of the GWCF Investment Committee and Jeff Croteau, Principal Prime Buchholz & Assoc.

NSC Workshop:
Building The Board of Directors You Need

On December 8, join Gayle L. Gifford of Cause & Effect Inc for a virtual workshop where you’ll explore practical ways to find, vet and recruit the board members you need. You’ll also discover new ways to create a board that is truly welcoming and inclusive, where power is balanced and people are eager to serve. Two organizations will have the opportunity to receive guidance and coaching from Gayle for 3 months post workshop to help build their ideal board. The two organizations will be selected based on their registration responses and will have an exclusive opportunity to work with Gayle at no cost to them.
YCI Class of 2022 Applications Now Open

The Foundation believes that given the right tools and opportunities, young people can lead the way to change in our community. Youth for Community Improvement (YCI), a teen-led philanthropy program, provides you the tools and real dollars to positively impact issues you care about! Over the past 22 years, YCI has engaged over 200 young people from diverse racial and economic backgrounds, and awarded over $325,000 to over 85 nonprofit organizations in Worcester County. If you're eager to make a difference in your community, interested in learning about nonprofits, and looking to work with your peers to effect change, YCI could be right for you!
Donate to the Civic Leadership Fund

GWCF’s Civic Leadership Fund allows us to enhance Worcester County residents’ lives by evaluating and addressing community needs through strategic grant-making, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to causes that matter to them. A gift to the Foundation is an investment in the future of your community – one in which every resident has access to meaningful opportunity. This past year has served only to highlight the work GWCF has done for the last 46 years. The Foundation has always been here looking for ways to ease the burden that our local nonprofits and our fellow neighbors are facing by:
  • Equity trainings and workshops
  • Awarding $680,000 in aid to over 375 local college students
  • Emergency relief to local artists
  • Operating support to those organizations struggling to survive
  • Capacity building funding to those organizations whose demand for services has outpaced their resources

Gifts to the Civic Leadership Fund allow us to be a forward-thinking broker and bring together donors, community leaders, non-profits, government officials, and business leaders to seed new initiatives and share strategies to strengthen our region during one of the most challenging times in our history. We hope that we can count on your support this year.
Stay tuned for what's to come at the Foundation, from upcoming grant opportunities to workshops, and more. Together, we are building a stronger, more equitable Central Massachusetts.
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Greater Worcester Community Foundation