By Dave Cucchiara
Communications & Program Associate
On Friday, March 13, the F. M. Kirby Foundation and the Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation welcomed nonprofit leaders and practitioners from Morris County to Drew University’s Dorothy Young Center for the Arts for Common Grounds~Common Goals: Executive Board & Leadership Lab — a daylong convening dedicated to equipping nonprofit boards and leadership teams with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive, especially during times of change.
The theme reflected an urgent and ongoing need in the sector: strong governance doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentional recruitment, sound legal and financial oversight, thoughtful succession planning, and board members who understand their role as ambassadors for the mission. This year’s program was designed to meet leaders where they are — and help them go further.
The morning opened with an opening plenary that framed the day’s focus, followed by a panel discussion featuring experienced practitioners who explored the realities of nonprofit leadership and governance head-on. Together, they set a tone of honesty and possibility that carried through the rest of the day.
After the break, attendees — who represented over 90 organizations — chose from four breakout workshops tailored to the day’s theme: Ambassador Excellence, Legal Compliance & Financial Oversight, Succession Planning, and Building the Board: Prospecting, Recruitment, and Onboarding. Each session offered a focused, practical environment for leaders to engage with peers facing similar challenges and walk away with actionable ideas.
Lunch brought the full group back together in a format featuring Table Topics and Ask an Expert stations. Participants could join conversations on subjects including Strategic Planning on a Shoestring Budget, Community Representation, Working with Local Government, Crisis Management, and Small Board, Big Impact — or seek one-on-one guidance on Succession Planning, Compliance and Governance, Effective Advisory Councils, and Building Your Board.
The day closed with a fireside chat between Justin Kiczek, President of the F. M. Kirby Foundation and Hilary Link, President of Drew University, in which both leaders reflected on the day’s themes of adapting change while leading with a vision.
Looking back on the day, Kiczek added: “Morris County is fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented nonprofit community, and days like this are a testament to that. When leaders invest in their own growth and governance, the people and communities they serve are better for it. I left more hopeful than ever about the future of Morris County.”
We are grateful to Drew University for hosting and to every presenter and participant who brought their experience and commitment to the room. We look forward to building on the conversations started that day.
