As we are faced with increasingly complex problems, external partnership and collaboration is needed more than ever before. We are proud to provide insight on an annual funding opportunity through sponsor, Mutual of America, as they recognize nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated leadership in facilitating partnerships and collaborations for community impact.
Why you should attend?
This will be a wonderful opportunity for your organization to learn more about the Community Partnership Award (CPA) application process and address any questions you may have. Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America.
Background:
Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.
Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.
- The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
- The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
- Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.
Register below to hear more about this opportunity for Nonprofit Connect members in a special presentation hosted by Sara Wiencken, VP of Philanthropic Relations, and Adam Johnson, Vice President. Additionally, you will hear from previous winner, Peter F. Najera, President and CEO of United Way of the Plains, headquartered in Wichita, KS. We hope you will join us!
Facilitators:
Sara Wiencken joined Mutual of America Financial Group in November of 2011 and was named Vice President of Philanthropic Relations of Mutual of America Financial Group on January 1, 2024.
She is responsible for the operations of the Mutual of America Foundation. This includes overseeing the Community Partnership Award, an annual national competition that recognizes six programs from nonprofit organizations that demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues. Wiencken has been working in the financial services sector for almost 20 years.
Wiencken earned a BA in Marketing and International Business from Ohio University and an MBA in Marketing and Management from Loyola University. A Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Retirement Planning Specialist (CRPS), she also holds FINRA Series 7, Series 63 and Series 26 licenses, and is licensed in Life and Health Insurance.
Pete Nájera brings a wealth of leadership and management experience in leading all aspects of the United Way of the Plains as it's current President and CEO. As a successful entrepreneur, business executive, former Army officer, and a student of servant leadership, he collaborates with other leaders and organizations in the region to help drive a collective impact strategy that achieves better health, education, and financial stability for all citizens in south central Kansas.
Prior to assuming his current role, Pete was the President at the Rudd Foundation where he was best known for launching and managing the Rudd Scholarship program throughout Kansas. Before moving to Kansas, Pete served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia-based Sterling Foundation Management where he helped manage dozens of charitable entities and provided consulting in governance, grant making, and philanthropic impact with over $1.5 billion assets under management.
Previous to his nonprofit work, Pete was an entrepreneur that built a renewable energy start-up into a $300 million international operation, served in the Pentagon as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense, and worked in the Executive Office of the President of the United States as a White House Fellow.
Pete participates in many civic activities in Wichita where he sits on the board of the Kansas Leadership Center, the Greater Wichita Partnership, and Downtown Wichita. Pete received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and earned a master’s degree from Harvard University.
Cancellation/Program Policies:
No refunds, if applicable, will be processed within 3 business days of the program date. No-shows will be billed, if applicable. Nonprofit Connect may take photographs, screenshots, or video recordings at public and virtual events, so we ask that you read our Privacy Policy for more information. Each registration is for one individual.
Any questions or comments? Contact us at info@npconnect.org.