Charitable Advisors

By Evelyn Rivas, Senior Strategy Development Consultant, Schunk Moreland Strategies Nonprofits and higher education institutions put a great deal into developing a strategic plan. They dedicate staff time and invite people across their organizations and communities to help shape the direction. Months of conversation and careful decisions lead to a plan that people are ready to support. Getting to that point is an accomplishment. Then Monday arrives.

By The National Bank of Indianapolis and Barnes Dennig Central Indiana is fortunate to have a nonprofit community that is innovative and deeply committed to serving others. Thousands of nonprofit organizations address our community’s most pressing challenges, from education and housing to healthcare, workforce development, arts, culture, youth development, and social services.

Artificial intelligence is already transforming how nonprofits write grants, communicate with donors, manage operations, and improve productivity. But as AI adoption grows, so do the risks—from sophisticated phishing attacks to accidental data exposure. At Dean Dorton, we encourage nonprofits to embrace AI with the right safeguards in place. A few key best practices can significantly reduce risk while allowing your organization to benefit from AI’s efficiencies: Protect sensitive information.

By Fred Payne, President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana Across Central Indiana, many families are doing exactly what we hope and expect: showing up for work, caring for their children, and doing their best to build a stable life. Yet for too many, even full-time work — and sometimes more than one job — is not enough to keep housing secure; bills current, and family life steady.

By Chelsea Ohlemiller, Director of Community & Content, Charitable Advisors A job can be more than a paycheck. It can be a purpose. It can be a way to strengthen communities, create meaningful change and become part of something bigger than yourself. That belief is at the heart of Charitable Advisors’ “Work for a Nonprofit, Make a Difference” campaign — an initiative created to highlight the purpose, impact and opportunity found in nonprofit careers across Indiana.

Monica Hingst, Senior Consultant, Schunk Moreland Strategies Most organizations have a vision and mission statement. Far fewer have a north star. A vision describes the future that an organization hopes to create. A mission declares why an organization exists, including what you do, who you serve, and how you serve. A north star answers a different question: What are we ultimately trying to achieve together? For mission-driven organizations, this distinction matters.

By Amandula Anderson, First Vice President & Manager of Nonprofit Services, The National Bank of Indianapolis Nonprofits manage frequent and varied types of transactions, from donations to payroll, which means that you need easy access to funds. In this area, you want to look for a combination of convenience from modern digital banking tools and a local team that knows your organization and is accessible in the moments that matter most. Everyone knows I love sweet treats.

By Morgan Riley, Charitable Advisors Fundraising right now feels a bit like learning a new map while the landscape keeps shifting. Fortunately, to find their footing, organizations don’t necessarily need the biggest budgets. Resilient fundraisers are building a funding ecosystem and weaving together multiple sources of support instead of relying on a single lifeline.

By Lauren Kreutzinger Nonprofit organizations are navigating a period of significant uncertainty. Changes in federal funding priorities, economic pressures, workforce challenges, and increased demand for services are forcing many organizations to make difficult decisions about staffing and resource allocation. While these challenges are not new, today’s environment requires nonprofit leaders to think differently about financial stewardship.

We are excited to share that Charitable Advisors has joined Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), bringing together two organizations deeply committed to strengthening the nonprofit sector in Central Indiana.