Stonehill’s Center for Nonprofit Management Awarded $41,500

September 06, 2011

After awarding Stonehill's Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) with a $10,000 outright gift last year, the Bilezikian Family Foundation then issued a challenge: if the Center raised $15,000 from other local grantmakers, the Foundation would make a $15,000 match.

Inspired by that challenge, the Center for Nonprofit Management, which assists nonprofits in southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island, has spent the last year reaching out to local funders for support. With generous responses from six local organizations, the Center has exceeded its goal by raising $16,500.

A recent gift of $10,000 from Rockland Trust topped off the campaign, which was also backed by gifts from the following local grant makers: Easton Women of Today, Inc., The M.F. Fuller Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Patrick Carney Foundation, The Henry Family Foundation, and The Inner Spark Foundation.

"This generous Challenge from the Bilezikian Family Foundation paved the way for local funders to engage with the Center like never before, " said Georgia Antonopoulos, director of the Center for Nonprofit Management. "Grant makers whose grantees frequent the Center were most eager to come forward, experience our programs first-hand, and lend critical support to our efforts. We're thrilled to accept these funds to extend our work in the community."

The $10,000 gift from Rockland Trust represents the first corporate sponsorship for the CNM's signature and popular monthly training program, the BreakFACTS Series. Topics in the series, which is always well-attended by nonprofit executives and volunteers, have included business planning and annual giving, as well as marketing and branding. This coming year's BreakFACTS Series line-up includes trainers from Rockland Trust, Stonehill College, and the local community.

"Rockland Trust is proud to assist an organization that helps position nonprofits for success," said Christopher Oddleifson, president and CEO at Rockland Trust. "Not only are these organizations economic drivers in the communities in which they serve, but they also provide critical assistance and support to a variety of causes which better our society overall. We look forward to playing a role in helping local nonprofits thrive."

Nearly 1,000 local nonprofit organizations have been helped by the Center for Nonprofit Management since its establishment in 2003. With innovative programs, seminars and training sessions, the Center shares expertise that helps nonprofits enhance their capacity and effectiveness.

Through the support and generosity of the Bilezikian Family Foundation, Rockland Trust and other local funders, the CNM will now have the resources needed bring its trainings to the outer reaches of its service areas, such as Cape Cod, where the Bilezikian Family Foundation is based.

"Stonehill's Center for Nonprofit Management is a valuable tool for southeastern Massachusetts. The charitable institutions in the area have a resource to learn and build a community. The comprehensive seminars of learning and the resource room give individuals and institutions an opportunity to keep current with best practices and information. I find the Center a valuable part of our giving," said Jeffrey Bilezikian, managing trustee of The Bilezikian Family Foundation.

About the Bilezikian Family Foundation

The Bilezikian Family Foundation was established by Charles and Doreen Bilezikian of Hyannis, MA. Based in Yartmouth, MA, the foundation assists programs on Cape Cod and other parts of Massachusetts such as the Home for Little Wanderers, and is a major supporter of hospitals and schools in Armenia and Artsakh, primarily through the Armenian Missionary Association of America.

About Rockland Trust

Rockland Trust Company is a full-service community bank headquartered in Massachusetts. The sole bank subsidiary of Independent Bank Corp., Rockland Trust provides a wide range of consumer, business, investment, and insurance products and services to communities in Eastern Massachusetts.

A hallmark of Rockland Trust is its commitment to community service and philanthropy. An employee-based volunteer group, RockCorp (Rockland Trust Community OutReach Program) provides volunteer assistance to non-profit organizations within the Rockland Trust footprint. The Bank's financial contributions to the community are focused on organizations dedicated to education, health and human services, youth programs and community development. A college scholarship program awards $40,000 annually and a variety of community outreach initiatives round out Rockland Trust's extensive community involvement.

Visit here to see a full listing of the 2011-2012 BreakFACTS Training Series.

Contact

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