Biloxi Area Nonprofits to Better Serve Community With Help From New Training Program – Knight Foundation
Community Impact

Biloxi Area Nonprofits to Better Serve Community With Help From New Training Program

A new program will strengthen Biloxi and the Gulf Coast’s nonprofit sector by training and certifying staff and board members in their field, thanks to a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Residents interested in – but not yet serving – on nonprofit  boards will also be able to take advantage of the classes administered by the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits.

“Everyday, Biloxi and Gulf Coast nonprofits do the hard work that helps transform the region. This program will help ensure that these organizations reach their full potential in serving the people of Mississippi,” said Adele Lyons, Biloxi and Gulfport, Miss. program director for Knight Foundation, which is providing $388,615 for the effort.

The Excellence in Action training is so important that many local funders have required that nonprofits schedule or complete the program in order to receive future financial support.

“In today’s nonprofit world, a knowledgeable board and well-run organization are critical to the very fabric of serving communities,” said Mark R. McCrary, executive director, Mississippi Center for Nonprofits. “Excellence in Action provides the skill development, knowledge bases, and coaching that will support nonprofit excellence along the Gulf Coast.”

The classes, which will start this spring, will address board governance, financial management, information and technology, leadership development, ethics, planning and evaluation and impact.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote community engagement and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

Contact: Marc Fest, Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677; [email protected]