There is a growing collaborative of nonprofit leaders who are strengthening connections across our community. Members of the Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable for Coastal Georgia are highlighting their collective positive impact in our region, providing professional development and education opportunities for leaders, and working together to find cross-organizational efficiencies and cultivate local philanthropy.
The idea for the Roundtable began in 2023 when Emily Ellison of the St. Simons Land Trust invited nonprofit CEOs and Executive Directors of local nonprofit organizations to a breakfast gathering that welcomed Keeva Kase as the newly minted President & CEO of the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation. Here, leaders had the opportunity to share insights, discuss challenges, and explore the meaningful impact their organizations have on the community. It also exposed the lack of forums like this for our region’s nonprofit leaders.
And so, what began as an informal meeting evolved into a structured professional dues-paying membership association, now with 40 regional nonprofit leaders, representing diverse missions that include children and families, economic development, environmental stewardship, and other vital community services. By working together, Roundtable members aim to elevate awareness, strengthen collaboration, and provide a clearer picture of how nonprofits contribute to the overall health and growth of the region. The Roundtable also benefits from the leadership of an Executive Committee comprised of well-regarded community nonprofit leaders.
“Coastal Georgia’s nonprofit leaders are driven by a passion to strengthen our communities through their missions. That work can be isolating and often leads to burnout for the leaders and a duplication of efforts due to the siloed nature of the sector."
"The Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable for Coastal Georgia provides a value to our members that focuses on developing them as community leaders, supporting them with cross-sectoral collaboration, and amplifying a collective voice that proclaims who we are and what we have to offer our region,” explained founding chair Keeva Kase. “With the closure of the United Way in our community, our region needed a way for the leaders of our area’s nonprofit organizations to regroup and recommit to our collective passion for strengthening our communities while supporting one another.”
Throughout the year, the Roundtable will convene its members and focus on three chief priorities: Professional Development and Education, Collaboration, and Visibility. On December 17th, they will host their third annual Nonprofit Showcase, which will provide opportunities for donors and philanthropists to engage with these leaders and learn more about how they can connect with the diverse causes that matter and mission leaders who serve our communities of Coastal Georgia. For more information about the Nonprofit Leadership Roundtable for Coastal Georgia or membership opportunities, please contact Keeva Kase at KKase@coastalgeorgiafoundation.org.
