Each fall we celebrate the vibrant nonprofit community and the transformational power of philanthropy in Central Virginia. This year we were thrilled to welcome Vu Le, the Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps, to share his insights on the role each of us play as members of what he calls, “the Unicorn Family Tree.”
After a welcome activity that saw over 400 attendees mingling with neighbors they didn’t already know and sharing how they make our community stronger, Vu took the stage. He deftly worked through the obstacle of our venue losing electricity to deliver remarks that used humor to shine a light on the nonprofit sector. Vu shared his own story of immigrating to the United States with his family as a point to underscore the incredible power of community. He continued by focusing on ways that grantmakers, funders, and nonprofit organizations can collaborate effectively to have a lasting impact. Vu explained the value of:
- Multi-year awards that allow staff members to focus on programming
- Collaboration between nonprofits, including introductions to donors to open doors for everyone
- Building trust between funders and organizations
Attendees each left with a list of action items designed to strengthen our nonprofit communities and a unicorn pen to remind us each that we are unique agents of change.
If you would like to read more of Vu’s suggestions for enhancing the nonprofit sector, be sure to follow his weekly blog. For access to an audio recording of Vu’s talk, please contact Sarah Gaines. You can also check out CNE’s Facebook page to see more photos from the event.
Special thanks to our Philanthropy Day Host Committee and sponsors.