Dekko Foundation

On national #ManufacturingDay, we salute youth-serving organizations in our grantmaking priority areas for supporting teens in building knowledge and skills that can help them be successful in the workplace and as they further their education. We know when they have these kinds of opportunities and experiences, they are more likely to graduate high school with a plan for what they want to do next and the self-knowledge of why that's the right choice for them. (Photos from TROY Center's Career Exploration and Readiness Program.)

Our Annual Report is here! Can you guess what it's about? You can read it and download it at https://lnkd.in/gJk6ntir.

If you're considering sending us a grant proposal, you don't have to wait until your application is "perfect." We're happy to answer any questions you have and help guide you through out grantmaking process.

We're excited to announce a new limited grant opportunity: Little Bit of Luck. We want to support your ideas for serving young people that just need a little bit of funding to get off the ground. You can learn more at https://lnkd.in/g3gwi6MM.

We recently invested more than $638,000 in eight organizations' projects in Indiana, Iowa, Alabama, and Minnesota. The projects ranged from helping high school students in Elkmont, AL, practice critical thinking and problem solving as they learned computer coding, to building a new community pool in Mount Ayr, IA, to students in Twin Valley, MN, experiencing the arts firsthand during a field trip. You can read the full list at https://lnkd.in/g8Va88CA.

Dr. Marcus J. Fila, a speaker, researcher, and consultant on human resources issues such as reducing work stress, employee turnover, and successful workplace diversification, will be the first presenter in the 2024 Nonprofit Leadership Workshop Series hosted by the Community Foundation of Noble County, Crossroads United Way, serving Elkhart, LaGrange & Noble Counties, and the Dekko Foundation. Dr. Fila worked for 10 years in business development and senior executive recruitment positions in the United States and United Kingdom. He is an associate professor of management at Hope College in Holland, MI, and his research has appeared in several publications and books. His workshop, on leadership and time management, will be held virtually from 9-10:30 am EST Thursday, Feb. 22. The cost is $15 per person or $100 for the entire Nonprofit Leadership Workshop Series. Future presentations will focus on preparing for capital projects, marketing and fundraising, and collaborative grant writing. To register for this workshop or the entire series, go to cfnoble.eventbrite.com. For more information about the Nonprofit Leadership Workshop Series, email Jazmin Herrera at jazmin@cfnoble.org or Sarah Larkin at slarkin@dekkofoundation.org.

We don't assign program officers to specific nonprofit organizations. Not because we want to make it confusing for grantseekers. It's because we think it helps our decision-making process if our staff is able to engage with the wide array of nonprofits in our grantmaking areas and see firsthand the communities we serve. #economicfreedom #youthdevelopment #whenadultsstepbackchildrenstepforward

Think you've got problems? You're not alone! During a recent visit to Iowa, our Jenna Ott and Payton Hunley witnessed students in YACC (Youth Answering the Call of the Community) discussing problems they see in their community and the ways they're all connected. #whatproblemareyouworkingtosolve

It's a common question: When are your deadlines to send in a grant proposal? But actually, we don't have them. Instead, we ask grantseekers to send us a proposal 90 days before they need an answer. That way, we hope to keep the project on their timeline, not ours. #economicfreedom #youthdevelopment #whenadultsstepbackchildrenstepforward

Have you ever wondered how to make powder coating stick to metal? Bake it on, of course! This giant oven is a key piece of equipment in Seth Vernon's industrial technology class at Chariton (IA) High School, which our Jenna Ott and Payton Hunley recently visited. Through problem solving, creativity, and sometimes a little baking, students bring their ideas to life!