Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

December 2025

Dec 22

Charitable Advisors’ Quarter-Century of Service

By Feature

As Central Indiana’s nonprofit sector reflects on the close of a memorable 2025, Charitable Advisors is marking a milestone of its own: 25 years of supporting, informing and strengthening the region’s nonprofit community. The anniversary not only celebrates progress but underscores the ongoing need for reliable information, shared resources, and strong sector infrastructure.

Founded in 2000, Charitable Advisors has focused on building nonprofit capacity across Central Indiana. This year’s initiatives — spanning workforce development, leadership transitions and community storytelling — highlight the organization’s commitment to helping nonprofits navigate evolving challenges. Read more about the history of Charitable Advisors.

Strengthening the Workforce

June of 2025 brought the release of the eighth Central Indiana Nonprofit Salary & Benefits Survey Report. With participation from more than 300 nonprofit organizations, the report provides detailed compensation data for 26 common roles, giving leaders essential insight for hiring and retention. Free access is made possible through sponsors: Barnes Dennig CPA and Advisors, the National Bank of Indianapolis, NFP, Charitable Allies, and Charitable Advisors.

Charitable Advisors also expanded recruitment tools for advertisers on the job board. The “Social Media Boost and Featured Job” option increases visibility for open positions, while the free applicant tracking system, available to all job advertisers, helps streamline candidate management.

The statewide “Work for a Nonprofit. Make a Difference.” campaign ran twice in 2025, featuring more than 50 nonprofits. Video profiles highlighted career pathways and the sector’s community impact. A November partnership with Dean Dorton expanded the campaign’s reach and funded three $500 awards. See the October 2025 participant videos here.

Why This Matters: Indiana’s Nonprofit Landscape

Nonprofits remain a vital force in Indiana’s economy and civic life. According to the Indiana Nonprofits Project, organizations in the sector employ roughly 10% of the state’s paid workforce. Tens of thousands of nonprofits statewide — including public charities, foundations and civic groups — underscore the need for communications, connection, accessible data, recruitment tools and leadership resources. Rising costs, shifting funding and changing community needs continue to place pressure on organizations large and small.

CEO Searches and a New Consultant Professional Network

As we wrap up 2025, Charitable Advisors is stepping into our 121st and 122nd executive searches for ED/CEO roles, helping small and midsize nonprofits access cost-effective succession preparation and search services. More than one-third of these searches support retiring executives, a trend that continues across the region.

The Indiana Nonprofit Consultant Community has taken shape this year, growing from a small, local peer group into a statewide network of about 290 consultants. Its active ListServ connects nonprofits to advisors and circulates both formal and informal RFPs, broadening access to specialized expertise. Consultants can be added to the list by contacting Bryan@CharitableAdvisors.com.

Sharing Nonprofit Needs and Successes

Charitable Advisors continued amplifying organizational needs and stories through its monthly Wants & Wins e-publication, curated by Director of Community and Content Chelsea Ohlemiller. This resource shares donations, success stories and surplus-matching opportunities, offering a practical tool for collaboration and shared problem-solving.

Our team also welcomed Morgan Riley, who now supports our publications, nonprofit outreach and administrative responsibilities. Riley’s role follows the transition of longtime team member Julie Struble to a new career opportunity.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Charitable Advisors’ 25th anniversary serves as both a celebration and a recommitment. The weekly Not-for-profit News will continue every Tuesday at noon, delivering timely updates and resources to nonprofit leaders. The “Work for a Nonprofit. Make a Difference.” campaign will return in May, and new virtual and in-person opportunities are planned to help professionals form connections, share ideas and strengthen networks.

Dec 01

United Way’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative leads to industry credentials, jobs, better wages

By Sponsor Insight

Five local nonprofits are offering the initiative in its second year

Submitted By United Way of Central Indiana

Careers that require credentials – a commercial driver’s license or health care certification, for example – can earn people livable wages that help their families thrive.

But barriers stand in the way.

First, there’s the price tag. Earning a commercial driver’s license can cost at least $5,000. Certified medical administrative assistant: $4,900.

Then, there’s the time commitment: often months of training.

On top of that, families must find – and pay for – child care. They may need a laptop or equipment for training that they can’t afford. They may have an unreliable car or lack transportation to get to and from training.

Now in its second year, United Way of Central Indiana’s Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative is designed to be an “on ramp” for people seeking industry-recognized credentials. The initiative eliminates barriers and helps participants earn certifications and land jobs that pay livable wages – on a quick timeline.

Beginning in July 2024, Dress for Success Indianapolis and Indianapolis Urban League piloted the initiative in its first year. United Way funding covered the cost of participants’ training and certification testing, helped eliminate barriers and allowed the nonprofits to hire a coach to guide them through training and employment – and beyond.

In that first year, the initiative served more people than United Way and its partners anticipated: 76 enrolled – and 41 earned credentials.

In July 2025, United Way expanded this work: Fathers and Families Center, Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry (PACE) and Indiana Plan joined Dress for Success Indianapolis and Indianapolis Urban League in offering the initiative.

What is the impact? In the first year, Dress for Success Indianapolis helped women earn Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credentials, in a field where jobs are essential and in-demand.

Karrise was one of the program’s graduates. After a stroke in 2016, Karrise could no longer work the physically demanding jobs she one held. Now with her CMAA, Karrise can see herself in a health care job that is meaningful, where she can stay for the long term and work up the career ladder.

“Our work doesn’t stop. There is a huge need for this type of programming,” said Bernadette Monk, United Way’s economic mobility director. “Residents and neighbors are interested in short-term credentials, because it gives them hope. In that quick amount of time, they’re able to see their income increase.”

Read – and watch – more about Karrise’s journey and the Workforce Pathways Accelerator Initiative’s first year on United Way’s website: https://www.uwci.org/blog/2025-dress-for-success-workforce-pathways-initiative