History
About our history
The Guilford Nonprofit Consortium was formed in 2003 as an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to join together to creatively meet the challenges of the Guilford County community. As the program celebrates its 20th year in existence, we look back with gratitude at the individuals and organizations that have helped shape this community asset that belongs to everyone.
Here’s a brief overview of some key milestones in our history. You can also learn about key players in the history of the Consortium here.
Our History
- 2003: The Weaver Foundation (led by Skip Moore) and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (led by Walker Sanders) begins exploring the idea of a collaborative of nonprofit organizations to build capacity and support one another. A Leadership Greensboro project team works on a feasibility study that confirms the community need and proposes a structure for moving forward.
- 2004: More than 100 nonprofit organizations form the initial membership of the Consortium, with several local foundations funding the Consortium’s operations to keep costs of membership low. The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro steps up to serve as the fiscal agent for the program. Key founding funders include the Bryan Foundation, the Cemala Foundation, Cone Health Foundation, and the Weaver Foundation. Kevin Gray serves as the Consortium’s director and convener.
- 2005: The Consortium launched the first class of the Executive Director’s Academy (now called Executive Leadership Academy) in partnership with several members of the Center for Creative Leadership staff. Read more about the origins of ELA and the team that made it happen.
- 2007: Feedback from 40 organizations and funders indicates the value of the Consortium to the nonprofit community as a means to connect with, learn from and collaborate with one another, as well as keep abreast of opportunities and best practices. Donna Newton is named the first formal director of the Consortium.
- 2008: Board Development Academy, developed by key volunteers as a labor of love, is launched. The academy continues to be a key program of the Consortium, training hundreds of community members about their responsibilities as board members.
- 2009: Consortium consultant network launches. The network serves as a think tank for the sector, and a bridge to connect local consultants with nonprofit organizations (and individual leaders) who could benefit from both pro bono and paid services.
- 2014: Steve Hayes is hired as director of the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium.
- 2020 – 2021: COVID-19 pandemic causes mass shutdowns across Guilford County testing the resilience of the nonprofit sector. Many organizations continue to deliver essential programs and services, while others temporarily close their doors. The Consortium serves as a touchpoint for nonprofit organizations to stay connected, to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other funding sources, and to continue delivering services.
- 2022: As nonprofit organizations emerge from the pandemic and content with new community challenges and opportunities, the Consortium reassess programming under the guidance of a committed Steering Committee.
- 2023: With 310+ active members, the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium continues to evolve and change to meet the needs of today’s nonprofit organizations.