Nonprofit leaders from across North Carolina gathered in New Hanover County last week for Building Resilient Futures: Leading, Funding, Innovating for Impact, a statewide learning series hosted by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits in partnership with Duke Energy Foundation. The event brought together nonprofit professionals, funders, and community partners around a shared goal: strengthening communities through collaboration, learning, and innovation.
In 2025, The Endowment awarded the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits a $40,000 grant to support nonprofit capacity building in New Hanover County. The funding enabled local organizations to join a membership network that provides shared learning opportunities, peer support, and resources to strengthen operations and expand impact. Through this support, eligible organizations can build stronger connections, access valuable resources, and enhance their ability to serve residents across the county.
Last week, this investment came to life locally through a New Hanover County convening that was part of a broader statewide series, with additional stops in Asheville, Charlotte, and Greensboro. The event featured sessions designed to help nonprofit leaders navigate an increasingly complex landscape through practical strategies for resilience, leadership development, fundraising, and operational innovation.
A highlight of the event was the panel discussion, Inside Philanthropy: How Foundations Are Making Decisions Right Now. Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment, joined fellow philanthropic leaders Kasey Ginsberg, Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Golden LEAF Foundation, and Debbie Aiken, Executive Director of Anonymous Trust, to discuss how funders are approaching strategy, partnerships, and community impact in the current environment.
The panel discussion focused on helping nonprofit leaders gain:
- A better understanding of how foundation strategy is developed
- Insight into internal decision-making processes
- Greater clarity on how to position their work in an evolving landscape
During the panel’s rapid-fire closing segment, the moderator invited the panelists to dispel a myth of their choosing about philanthropy or foundations., Dagenais addressed one specific myth she hoped to dispel:
“What I want to address right now is the idea that The Endowment is quietly declining nonprofits unless there is city or county involvement,” Dagenais said. “That is simply not true. Call us, talk with us, visit our website, and review our grants.”
Events like Building Resilient Futures strengthen the nonprofit sector by fostering conversations, shared learning, and meaningful connections. Through these efforts, the series helps build a more informed, collaborative, and resilient network of organizations better equipped to advance opportunity and well-being across New Hanover County and beyond.