Startup Tucson is thrilled to announce a partnership with SCORE Southern Arizona and the Center for Healthy Nonprofits, offering community support and resources to entrepreneurs looking to launch nonprofits. We are kicking off this partnership with a peer support group on August 28th for early-stage 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. Gathering regularly, these discussions will be designed to 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. Valerie Pullara, Paula Van Ness, and Megan Finck will join these discussions.
Overall, this new peer group will serve as a supportive community where early-stage 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 Arizona Time on Zoom on August 28th, September 25th, and October 23rd.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Valerie Pullara, SCORE Mentor for the nonprofit sector, has over 45 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has been involved in startups, 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.
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.
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.
Comments