Note: Listen to the full interview with Gleaners’ John Elliott, who talks about strategic planning and his retirement, and provides advice for other nonprofits on planning for the future.

By any definition, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana faced a nightmarish situation during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. While demand for food surged to unprecedented numbers, the organization’s typical sources of donations — particularly those from grocery stores — plunged to zero, recalled President and CEO John Elliott, who recently announced his retirement. At the same time, the food bank’s volunteer force dwindled in the face of lockdown orders and the uncertainty around the deadly disease.

Faced with similar daunting circumstances, many food banks temporarily or permanently closed their doors. In New York City, for instance, 39 percent of food banks were closed during the height of the pandemic.

An ambitious strategic plan that had been developed years prior to the pandemic allowed Gleaners to not only keep its doors open but serve 103 million nutritious meals in 2020 — up from 20 million in 2016, said Elliott, who plans to hand over the leadership reins to his successor in September.

“Strategy is absolutely our roadmap,” Elliott said. “We started our strategic plan in February 2019. At that time, we began a lot of change and growth planning, and set a goal of closing the meal gap and keeping it closed. That meant, after 2019, we would need to do 2 ½ that year’s food distribution, sustain it and do it in the right way.”

Along the way, the team also focused on significantly increasing efficiency.

“We did not expect to get 2 ½ times the donations that people have historically given us so we did dozens of things to improve our efficiency,” Elliott said. “We went from 41 cents a meal when I got here to 12 cents a meal last year. There wasn’t one magic thing that led to that, but dozens of dozens of things across the entire organization.

Passed as part of the CARES Act at the onset of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Program, in very simple terms, is a credit for continuing to pay employees during the pandemic if certain tests are met.

While the name suggests it’s related to tax, it’s an actual cash refund if you qualify. The credit is driven off of headcount and can add up to a significant sum depending on your total headcount and payroll. It can add up quickly, even for small organizations, as the credit could be up to $5,000 per employee in calendar year 2020 and up to $21,000 per employee in calendar year 2021. If your organization experienced either a gross receipts decline or more than a nominal portion of your business was suspended in 2020 or 2021 because of a government order, you may qualify.

The ERTC did not garner the media attention the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) did when the CARES Act first went into effect because, at that time, businesses and organizations were only allowed to pursue one program – and the vast majority chose the PPP route. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) passed in late 2020 reversed course and allowed taxpayers to pursue ERTC even if they took a PPP loan. Overnight, the number of organizations that could qualify exploded and has resulted in significant cash refunds for thousands of organizations.

The ERTC program is in place for wages paid between March 13, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. President Biden signed the Infrastructure Innovation and Jobs Act back in November 2021, sunsetting the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program one quarter early (with some exceptions for recovery startups).

The City of Indianapolis and GANGGANG has selected nine Marion County-based performing artists for its Next Up Fellowship, a new professional development program that partners local artists with experts to enhance their music careers. Under the Next Up program, $100,000 will be invested in career growth opportunities for the artists.

The International Center has recognized Tamika Catchings with its 2022 International Citizen of the Year Award. The award honors individuals whose work has achieved global impact and has elevated Indiana on the world stage. Read

Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Indianapolis has launched a real estate assistance fund for black-owned businesses. The fund, which is supported by Cummins, provides grants of up to $20,000 to businesses seeking to purchase commercial property or retain their commercial property through capital improvements. Read

Applications are now open for 2022 Love Thy Neighborhood Awards, which encourages the transformation of Indianapolis neighborhoods through projects that increase livability and vitality, enhance education opportunities or through other initiatives. Awards can be designated for an organization, individual, initiative or project. Learn more

Ben’s Ranch Foundation is offering part-time “internships” for young people ages 16-19 with anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. The selected youth will work on farms, ranches, stables, and therapeutic riding facilities. For more information, contact Kate

Considering a fundraising campaign: Do you know if you are ready? webinar on Feb. 23 at noon. Learn about the key characteristics of successful campaign planning and identify the elements you need before launching a crucial fundraising effort. Presented by Johnson, Grossnickle & Assoc. Cost: Free. Register

10 digital marketing ideas for nonprofits webinar on March 2 at 11 a.m. Does your organization aim to share its mission with as many people as possible, reach new donors, and increase online giving? Presented by Nonprofit Hub. Cost: Free. Register

How to build a corporate volunteer program: Raise funds, market your nonprofit and increase community involvement cohort on Feb. 28 and March 7 from 1-3 p.m. Learn how to create purposeful partnerships between nonprofits and companies for corporate volunteer programs. Cost: $300 non-members. Presented by Nonprofit Learning Lab. Register

IU McKinney Law is offering a virtual Juris Doctor information session on March 14 at noon for those interested in applying to start law school in the fall of 2022. The one-hour session outlines the steps in the application process. Register

2022 IUPUI Nonprofit Expo is on March 23 from 1-4 p.m., 420 University Boulevard, for nonprofits seeking to hire graduating college seniors. The Expo highlights the impactful work of the community’s public and nonprofit employers who want to recruit new employees, interns, and volunteers. Cost: $150. Register through Handshake.

Showcase your nonprofit group while raising funds through a partnership opportunity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Learn more. Email fundraising@brickyard.com

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy So what exactly is a fellow anyway?

The fellowship exposes aspiring leaders to innovative and promising practices in the field while building on already existing skills and developing new ones.

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