By Jennifer Doyle, President and CEO, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
As we look ahead to 2026, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities remains focused on strengthening our region by supporting the people and organizations that serve our community every day.
In 2025, we took important steps to better understand and respond to local needs. TFEC hosted numerous listening sessions with nonprofit partners, donors and community members to help ensure our programs are aligned with real priorities across the region. We demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness by launching the Emergent Needs grant, which provided timely financial support to nonprofits directly affected by shifts in federal funding. We expanded partnerships with organizations across sectors to better serve our community and increase visibility for local nonprofits doing essential work. Alongside our core work in grants and scholarships, these efforts strengthened our ability to respond to immediate needs while continuing to invest in long-term community growth.
We also made strategic investments to strengthen our foundation for the future. Operational improvements have enhanced efficiency and service, and the purchase and ongoing development of our new building make us more accessible and better positioned to support our community. These efforts reflect our long-term commitment to stewardship and impact.
Looking ahead, our strategic priorities for 2026 will center on capacity building and engagement. Strengthening our team ensures we can lead with consistency, responsiveness and integrity. Supporting nonprofit capacity remains a core focus, as strong organizations are essential to a healthy community. Initiatives like SPARK and Stories That Serve help nonprofits raise visibility, build connections and attract new support while highlighting the important work happening across our region.
Community engagement will continue to guide our work in the year ahead. By listening closely and collaborating with donors, nonprofit partners, businesses and residents, we can better align resources and respond to evolving needs. Engaging the next generation of leaders through the Emerging Philanthropists Program will also remain a priority, helping build long-term investment in our community alongside initiatives such as the Fund for Women and Girls.
The philanthropy landscape continues to evolve. Donors are seeking transparency, timely communication and clear impact. As public funding shifts, individual giving and major gifts play an increasingly important role in sustaining community services. Technology and data are helping organizations connect with new audiences, including younger donors who value authenticity and measurable results.
As we begin 2026, I am grateful for the donors, nonprofit partners, business leaders and community members who make this work possible. Alone we have ideas. Together, we take action.
