Startup Tucson, SCORE, and the Center for Healthy Nonprofits are kicking off a peer support group on August 28th for startup nonprofits consisting of individuals and organizations at a similar stage of development, aiming to support each other in navigating the challenges of establishing and growing their organizations.
Participants will be encouraged to share insights, resources, lessons learned, and best practices related to fundraising, program development, governance, and community engagement. Regularly gathering, these discussions could facilitate networking, collaboration, and learning opportunities among peers.
Additionally, mentors/advisors with experience in nonprofit leadership and management will help facilitate the exchange of ideas and problem-solving discussions also providing guidance, resources, and support to group members. Megan Finck, Valerie Pullara, and Paula Van Ness will join you for these discussions.
Overall, this new peer group will serve as a supportive community where startup nonprofits can learn from each other and build connections to accelerate their impact. Whether your nonprofit is several years old or brand new, we believe you can build a supportive community that will help you feel less alone in your quest to grow your organization.
If this sounds like something you would like to join, please plan on participating on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM MST on Zoom on August 28th, September 25th, and October 23rd.
Register for the first session on August 28th here.
About Our Speakers
Paula Van Ness, Director of the Center for Healthy Nonprofits
Paula Van Ness, MS is a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 40 years in CEO/Executive Director positions locally and nationally. Previously, she served in the chief executive position for Family Planning Centers of Greater LA, AIDS Project Los Angeles, National AIDS Fund, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Make-A-Wish America, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and Connecticut Community Foundation.
She has served in leadership roles for several national and local nonprofit boards including Independent Sector where she was the treasurer, Gift of Adoption Fund which she chaired, and SafeParking LA which she chaired. She currently serves on the board of the Pima Community College Foundation board, where she chairs the audit committee, and her church council, where she chairs the finance committee.
She possesses a master’s degree in organizational development from the University of San Francisco, a BS from the University of Arizona, and currently directs the Center for Healthy Nonprofits at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.
Valerie Pullara, SCORE Mentor
Valerie Pullara, SCORE Mentor for the nonprofit sector, has over 45 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has been involved in start-ups, growth, and strategic planning for all types of nonprofits. Her professional positions have included, city management, executive director, development director, and HR director. She also has over 40 years in the animal welfare area and currently serves as the Executive Director of a nonprofit, AGR Foundation. She frequently helps people determine if starting a nonprofit is right for their vision and business journey.
Megan Finck, Senior Program Manager at Startup Tucson
Megan Finck is the Senior Program Manager at Startup Tucson. Through educational programs, mentorship, and member resources, Startup Tucson helps entrepreneurs in Southern Arizona navigate their journey to business success. With a background in education program management, Megan has been part of the team for more than two years and plays various roles, including teaching workshops, offering individual coaching, and providing mentor pairings and resources for our members.