The ELM Foundation - Huntsville AL

Shared Holiday Giving by: Missy Hanks, Executive Director It is the time of year to prepare for the upcoming holiday season! Without preparation, the season can be hurried, chaotic, and overwhelming. We invite everyone to begin preparing now so the holiday season can be filled with joy, gratitude, and remembering the birth of the One. Many nonprofits and social service organizations are already preparing how they will best serve those they assist this season. We invite all to join these collaborative efforts and learn about our community's various holiday giving programs at The ELM Foundation's October 10th Community Connections Meeting. We know individuals and families benefit most when they can select resources and gifts that address their particular needs. We all have gifts and ts to share. Please help spread joy by giving thoughtfully this holiday season! This meeting is for all community members, church outreach groups, social clubs, etc. (in addition to our regular attendees) who wish to learn about the wonderful giving opportunities available in our community this season!

Mark your Calendar—The October 10th Community Connections Meeting will be extra special as we come together to make a positive impact in our community this holiday season!

Hooray, fall is finally here! What's your favorite thing about the season?

Have you attended one or more of the monthly Community Connections Meetings? If so, we need your feedback! As we begin planning our 2025 meetings, please take a moment to complete this survey. Your input is valuable- Thank You! https://lnkd.in/ewqqaefz

Who walked away from Community Connections this morning learning more about Social Media for Nonprofits? Effective communication is essential, and social media can significantly improve our reach as we spread the good news about our organizations! Thank you to Danielle H. with @Flourish and Bethany Green with @GiveSocial, who shared valuable social media tips and trends that we can utilize every day and in our fundraising efforts. Social Media Keys to Success: -Know your audience -Interact and engage -Build relationships -Be authentic Friends! Your likes, comments, and shares help boost our reach. Join the conversation!

Leadership Social Services  by: Missy Hanks, Executive Director   What are the true social service needs of our growing Huntsville/Madison County community? Are you interested in gaining firsthand knowledge of current community needs through exploring social service topics and on-site visits to local agencies?  If so, we have a valuable program for you! LEADERSHIP Social Services is a 10-month community leadership development program sponsored and facilitated by The ELM Foundation. Class members represent a variety of social service agencies and professional backgrounds including agency staff, board members, volunteers, and interested community members. The program goals are to:  +Deepen understanding of community needs +Build relationships across different agencies +Foster cross-agency collaboration +Enhance leadership skills Through various experiences, participants learn to connect, communicate, and collaborate effectively in preparation to take on a more active and impactful leadership role in addressing community needs through their organizations. Join us in 2025!  Email missy@elmhsv.org for an application today. Application Deadline, October 15, 2024.

We are grateful for the value of work and the contribution of every individual’s effort in creating a thriving community!

Celebrating August Anniversaries! Happy August Anniversary to Traci, celebrating 3 years at ELM, and Cathy, celebrating 1 year! Traci Harris, Case Manager, serves the foundation by providing excellent case management to our ELM program participants. She stresses accountability and effort while providing support and encouragement as each accomplishment and goal is reached. Traci also coordinates the monthly Community Connections Meetings topics and speakers so social service professionals have the opportunity to form trusting relationships and leverage our collective resources. There are too many tasks to mention that Traci tackles each month (like our website and this lovely newsletter) and we are grateful for her talents and desire to serve others. Cathy Larsen, Program Director, serves the foundation by administering the local CharityTracker Network. She provides excellent training and technical service on the software across Madison County as well as tailoring it to each agency to fit their needs. Cathy also is the Madison County True Charity Ambassador. She provides training on the True Charity model and is always looking for ways to assist agencies in providing accurate and effective charity. Cathy also serves us with her outstanding computer and technical skills. She produces all of our reels, videos, flyers, and graphics. Cathy is eager to serve and constantly meets any challenge head-on. We are grateful for her desire to serve and her ever-evolving talents!

OPEN APPLICATION begins today! The ELM Foundation’s LEADERSHIP Social Services is a community leadership development program designed to identify leaders within nonprofit agencies, churches and other helping groups who can guide and inspire within their organization and in the community. Class members will participate in leadership development experiences designed to build networks and create opportunities for cross-agency collaboration as they connect, communicate, and collaborate. Class members will gain expanded knowledge of our community and its resources, develop relationships, and identify issues to assume a more active and effective leadership role in addressing community needs. For more information and an application, please email Missy Hanks at missy@elmhsv.org.