In 2003, Community Development Works began offering free nonprofit management workshops for individuals with the goal of strengthening the effectiveness of leaders and organizations. Each spring and fall, the sessions cover a wide range of issues facing nonprofits, such as a board development, staff development, fundraising, marketing and developing effective programs.

Too often nonprofit organizations place significant emphasis only on their programs and not enough on the management issues that affect the organization, said Joe Rosier, President/CEO of The Rapides Foundation.

“It greatly affects their sustainability because if you don’t look at your infrastructure and you just focus on programs you’re probably not going to have an organization to support that program in the long run,” Rosier said.

CDW provides public training, leadership programs and informational services in support of citizen-led community development efforts that address local issues in our region. CDW assists residents, nonprofit organizations, churches and faith-based groups, governmental entities and businesses in working together to increase the quality of life in the Central Louisiana community. 

The Rapides Foundation invests funds in this effort because of the connection between the strength of nonprofits and the health of the community.

“Our work here makes the community stronger because our trainings make nonprofits stronger and better able to deliver services. So if we can assist a nonprofit to achieve its goal and meet the needs of the community then the community will be stronger and healthier because of that,” Akeshia Singleton, program supervisor for CDW, said. “And that, in the end, is what CDW’s goal is – building stronger communities.”

Nearly seven years after its start, enrollment for nonprofit management trainings totals almost 2,500.