Five questions with the new director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence

Daisy Moran joined the Quad Cities Community Foundation in September 2023 as the first director of the new Center for Nonprofit Excellence, which was established in the fall of 2023 to strengthen the nonprofit sector as a connector, capacity builder, and champion for regional nonprofits and philanthropy. She hit the ground running and has a big vision for supporting the region’s nonprofit sector in 2024 and beyond.

Daisy, how have your first few months on the job been?

Every day, I feel grateful to be in this space and working alongside a community of transformational and passionate leaders and donors. What excites me is seeing the energy and enthusiasm our region has for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. On my very first day, I got calls from people congratulating us and wanting to be involved. I feel supported. I could not ask for more.

These 15 local leaders serve the Center for Nonprofit Excellence Advisory Committee:

  • Alvaro Macias, vice president of business development at Ascentra Credit Union, City of Moline elected official 

  • Ashley Velez, executive director at Humility Homes & Services, Inc.

  • Avery Pearl, assistant director at Together Making a Better Community (TMBC) at the Lincoln Community Center

  • Brian Ritter, executive director at Nahant Marsh

  • Cecilia Bailey, executive director at Quad Cities Open Network 

  • Chase Norris, executive director at Clock, Inc.

  • Jenny Colvin, chief development officer at River Bend Food Bank

  • Kevin Maynard, executive director at Quad City Arts, Inc.

  • Lee Gaston, finance director at Center for Active Seniors (CASI)

  • Michael Glanz, executive director at Arc of the Quad Cities Area

  • Malavika Shrikhande, commissioner and trustee at Davenport Public Library

  • Nicole Carkner, executive director at Quad Cities Health Initiative

  • Nicole Cisne Durbin, chief executive officer at Family Resources, Rock Island-Milan Board of Education elected member 

  • Telly Papanikolaou, chief executive officer at Alternatives

  • Tom King, executive director at Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities

The Center has been recruiting an advisory committee.

Yes! We just finalized the 15-person committee, which represents a wide range of nonprofit organizations and perspectives. We had over 80 interested individuals, all of whom we will engage in our work. That alone speaks to the dedication and passion of our nonprofit sector. This committee will be key advisors for the center—they will have a hand in governance and programming, and we will rely on their expertise and connections to grow the center going forward.

The Center is designed to be “for nonprofits, by nonprofits.” What does that mean?

We will learn from nonprofits and support their mission. We are not here to impose our ideas. This is a space and a platform for collaboration where nonprofits can grow together and leverage the expertise of the entire sector. Ultimately, it means nonprofits are spearheading the initiatives as we centralize tools and resources for nonprofits to strengthen the missions they serve.

What does the Center mean for Community Foundation donors?

Community Foundation donors believe in the transformative power of the nonprofit sector, and they want their gifts to have the largest impact possible. One way we make sure that happens is by helping nonprofits grow and sustain. Nonprofits that are better trained, better equipped, and better funded are going to do so much more for their community—that is what the center will support. Donors can also contribute directly to support the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. It is a gift that will reach the entire nonprofit sector.

What are you looking forward to in 2024?

Our final DevelopmentLink meeting of 2023 was attended by more than 50 local fundraising professionals. There was amazing energy, and it was standing room only. There is a huge demand for resources, knowledge, and collaboration in our nonprofit sector. This year, we will be rolling out flagship programs, expanding our workshops, and enhancing our peer learning groups. We will be making our services open to a broader audience. I see 2024 filled with possibilities and abundance for our local nonprofits.

The Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence was established with initial financial support from the Regional Development Authority and Diane Harris and the late Hunt Harris. Community members who wish to learn more and support the center’s success with a gift can call us at (563) 326-2840.

Will Van CampCenter for Nonprofit Excellence