A Bigger We

Ann Coffey • January 6, 2022

A bigger ‘we’ – what’s in a pronoun?

Who is your “we”?


Depending on the context, you can use the pronoun “we” when referring to just you and a friend – or to all the humans on Earth. But most of the time, even when using the term broadly, we may not be as inclusive as we think we are. Even those of us who are trained nonprofit professionals! People who choose our words carefully!


For example, I might say, “We all want a vibrant and safe downtown,” but am I really thinking about what would make a homeless family feel safe downtown?


Or I could say: “We all want life to get back to normal after COVID.” But am I thinking about those families who were struggling even before the pandemic? Is “back to normal” really the goal? And what about families who lost someone to COVID? What would ever feel normal for them?


Who is the “we” that Louisville nonprofits represent?

“Building a Bigger We” means thinking more intentionally about who you see as the “we” you identify with – and broadening it. It means intentionally working to ensure that you are including people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, abilities, and ages in your vision of “we.”


In Louisville, nonprofit organizations are champions of helping build a better community for everyone. At least we think we are – but too often, our staffs, our boards, our volunteers, and our donors are not as diverse and inclusive as they should be.


The Center for Nonprofit Excellence borrowed the phrase “a bigger we” from John A. Powell (who prefers to use lowercase letters) of the Othering and Belonging Institute in Berkeley, CA. Our board – the most diverse board we’ve ever had – and staff have devoted countless hours over the past 20 months to expand our “we” through understanding how to build a more just and equitable organization. CNPE’s goal is to help other nonprofits expand the way they see “we” in their daily lives.


Who “we” are at The Center for Nonprofit Excellence

CNPE’s board had already begun working on a new strategic plan when Louisville faced two important challenges – a global pandemic and unprecedented reckoning on racial equity after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police. We represent nonprofits that were marching with protestors, nonprofits who were trying to figure out how to help families access online school without internet service, nonprofits that were reinventing food pantry distribution, and nonprofits that partner with city government.


Challenged by the things happening in our city, and informed by the work of powell and others, CNPE realized the moment called for an expanded mission and a bold set of values.


Historically, our work has always been around helping nonprofit organizations in the Louisville area and Southern Indiana – our primary “we” – function at peak capacity. We provide professional development opportunities, including running the School for Fundraising and Engagement and hosting the Community Activation Network (CAN). We provide a “BoardMatch” service – an online platform that helps nonprofits find board members. We provide strategic planning facilitation, consulting, and advice on best practices for organizations that are doing good throughout our community.


But we recognized that this is a moment that calls for more – it calls for an organization like ours to be actively anti-racist, to think intentionally every day about the ways we can broaden our “we.”


Our new values are simple and clear: Love, Equity, Learning, and Courage.


Our vision: a just and equitable community that supports and emboldens nonprofits to ensure everyone has the resources and opportunities to thrive.


Our mission: accelerating the success of nonprofits through capacity building, connections, and community support to amplify the good work of the sector.


Reflections on building a better community with nonprofits

In the coming months, you will experience how CNPE’s new values, vision, and mission will elevate nonprofits and strengthen our connection to one another. One of those places will be in this blog, where we will talk about what a “bigger we” can look like here in Louisville.


Sometimes we will be sharing reflections from our staff or board. Sometimes we will be sharing success stories from CNPE members and partners. But the goal is to get you thinking about who you mean when you say “we” – and how you can broaden that definition.


That’s something “we” can all do!



Saying Goodbye After 25 Years of Service

November 20, 2025
Dear Friends, For 25 years, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE) has stood at the heart of our region’s nonprofit community, helping organizations grow stronger, lead better, and serve more effectively. Since our founding, we have been guided by a single belief: that when nonprofits thrive, our entire community benefits in immeasurable ways. Now, we are sharing a difficult decision. CNPE will be closing its operations at the end of December 2025. This decision was not made lightly. Like so many of the organizations we have supported over the years, CNPE has felt the effects of the profound challenges facing the nonprofit sector. Supporting the work we do has required continuous investment to ensure our programming and services remain relevant, affordable and accessible for all. And today there are many resources available for nonprofit leaders to learn and connect. Our business has always required a heavy lift from philanthropy, and today our philanthropic community faces immense new pressures to rightly focus their resources to direct services to meet our community’s most urgent needs—from food insecurity and housing to education and health. These priorities are essential and the continued shifting landscape around us has made it untenable to sustain the capacity-building work that CNPE provides. We remain deeply committed to our mission and to the vision that inspired our founding. The need for education, collaboration, and connection has not gone away – it is, in fact, greater than ever. Over the coming weeks, our dedicated team and board will be focused on stewarding as much of the essential roles CNPE has played as possible into our community. We are confident that the spirit of learning and collaboration that has defined CNPE will continue in new and innovative ways. To our members, donors, sponsors, faculty, vendors, and the many partners who have stood beside us over the years—thank you. Your belief in CNPE and in the power of the nonprofit sector has made an immeasurable difference. To our remarkable staff and board, whose passion, expertise, and commitment have shaped CNPE’s legacy of service for a quarter-century, we extend our deepest gratitude. It has been our honor to serve the thousands of organizations and nonprofit leaders we’ve come to know throughout the past 25 years. More details about what comes next for our members, vendors and partners will be shared in the coming days. Though CNPE’s chapter is coming to a close, the pursuit of nonprofit excellence in our community continues—and we are proud to have been part of it. With heartfelt thanks, Das Rooprai CEO, Center for Nonprofit Excellence

Managing a Nonprofit Staff in Uncertain Times

By CNPE Staff • April 22, 2025
A Joint Letter from CNPE CEO, Das Rooprai, and HR Affiliates President, Jennifer Wheatley

Advice for Handling Financial Uncertainity

By CNPE Staff • February 21, 2025
Dear Friends, With continued changes in government funding, the financial outlook for nonprofits feels more stressful than ever. But there are steps we can take right now to help insulate our organizations from the severity of what may come. In the spirit of "preparing for a rainy day" now is the time to take practical steps to identify and manage financial vulnerabilities in our organizations. From business and banking perspectives, here are a few items and actions to consider: Information is power. Now is a good time to assess your business model for more efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. Scrutinize your budget – trim non-essential costs and consider delaying investment in discretionary items. Cash is king - know your cash position and how long can you operate if funding stops. Manage payables carefully and take advantage of the full time your organization has to pay expenses. Talk with your banker – discuss ways to improve cash flow and ask about a potential line of credit for that rainy day. Have your bank provide a wellness checkup – how do they view your organization’s financial health? In general, don't be afraid to ask for help in times of financial strain. Your accounting firm, associations, and peers are helpful resources too - you are not alone. Plan for possible cuts. Nobody wants to think about this, but the reality of the moment calls for it. Staffing is typically the largest category of expense, so the hard question to wrestle with is how would we trim staffing expenses if needed without impacting our mission. Running a non-profit organization is stressful work. Throw in the uncertainty of our current environment and the task becomes even harder. Call upon trusted partners to help you see through the haze of uncertainty and take actions now that will extend your financial runway. There are additional considerations related to grants, contracts, funders, and social capital. The following resources can help you strategize and manage the financial needs of your organization during these times of uncertainty: 12 Urgent Financial Action Steps for Nonprofits: A 2025 Checklist How do Nonprofits Manage Cash Deficits? The Essentials of Cash Management for Nonprofits Small Business Resource Center | Pinnacle Financial Partners CNPE is partnering with Pinnacle Bank for our next Power Hour that will focus on bringing nonprofits more helpful advice about banking solutions and managing financial uncertainty. The event will provide opportunities for Q&A and networking with peers to help find answers you may be looking for. The date and time in March for Power Hour will be announced soon. We are available to connect with you to help where we can. With gratitude and admiration for everything you do to serve our community,