Encore Louisville 2025: Strategic Partnerships for Nonprofit Success

The 2025 Encore Louisville class demonstrated the transformative power that emerges when experienced professionals channel their expertise toward community good. Acting as true strategic partners, these leaders worked alongside local nonprofits to tackle pressing challenges, sharpen organizational approaches, and expand their reach.

Through Community Acceleration Teams, Encore participants delivered practical, sustainable solutions that strengthened organizations throughout Kentuckiana.

2025 Encore Louisville Nonprofit Partners

This year’s cohort supported organizations tackling critical community needs across education, health, youth development, justice, and human services.

• Americana Community Center
• Girls on the Run Kentuckiana
• Adelante Hispanic Achievers
• Young Authors Greenhouse
• Teach Kentucky
• 300for300
• Peace Education Program
• Muhammad Ali Center
• For Lady’s Sake
• Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Morton Center
• Lighthouse Promise, Inc.
• Kentuckiana Health Collaborative
• GRRAND

Encore Louisville in Action – Class of 2025

Encore Louisville teams worked alongside nonprofits navigating everything from growth transitions to unexpected crises. While each engagement was unique, every partnership shared a common goal: strengthening organizations so they can continue delivering impact when it matters most.

Each Encore Louisville engagement is different, but every partnership shares the same goal: helping nonprofits strengthen their leadership, operations, and long-term sustainability. Here’s a look at how 2025 Encore teams supported community organizations:

Building a Stronger Board and Sustainable Revenue Model

Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

The Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers sought support to strengthen its board structure, increase volunteer engagement, diversify revenue streams, and clarify leadership roles and responsibilities. Encore provided guidance on board development, organizational roles, and strategies to enhance member value while creating more stable, diversified funding pathways.

Impact: Clearer governance structures and actionable strategies to support long-term sustainability and member engagement.

Operational Improvements That Unlock Capacity

For Lady’s Sake

For Lady’s Sake provides essential sanitary products to nonprofits serving unhoused and low-income individuals. The organization sought help redesigning its distribution process and strengthening board governance. The Encore team documented and analyzed existing distribution workflows and proposed a Central Storage & Distribution Site model that reduced volunteer time, eliminated storage costs, and streamlined logistics. Preliminary governance resources were also provided, with additional support requested in a future Encore cycle.

Impact: Lower operational costs, improved efficiency, and greater capacity to focus on advocacy and mission-driven work.

Strengthening Governance, Revenue, and Marketing

GRRAND – Golden Retriever Rescue & Adoption of Needy Dogs

GRRAND requested support to redevelop its fundraising model to create stronger, foundational revenue for rescue and care efforts. The Encore team delivered actionable recommendations across three core areas: sustainable revenue development, governance structure enhancement, and strategic marketing and advertising.

Impact: A stronger organizational foundation to support lifesaving rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption efforts.

Membership Growth and Governance Transition

Kentuckiana Health Collaborative

Encore supported Kentuckiana Health Collaborative in refining its membership structure and enhancing its sponsorship model. The team also provided recommendations to help the organization transition from an advisory board to a working board and offered strategies to grow both memberships and sponsorships.

Impact: Clearer revenue pathways and governance structures to support future growth.

Laying the Foundation for Strategic Growth

Lighthouse Academy

Encore teams supported Lighthouse Academy across four focus areas: strategic planning preparation, board governance, fund development, and documenting operations and policies. The team provided a framework for revising bylaws, outlined a cohesive fund development structure, and created an outline for an operations and policy manual. The partnership will continue into a future cycle to build on this foundational work.

Impact: Stronger organizational systems and governance structures to support sustainable growth.

Strengthening Board Leadership and Structure

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run sought support with board governance, growth, and recruitment and retention of board members. Encore conducted board interviews, identified common themes, researched governance resources, and provided recommendations on board development and committee structure. Findings and suggested next steps were shared with the full board.

Impact: A more aligned and informed board positioned to lead future growth and development.

Encore Louisville Class of 2025

Dr. Tom James • Edie Nixon • Ginger Wallace • Stephanie Bateman • Tom Monahan • Beth Dlutowski • Steve Rungwerth • Angela Thompson Howard • Bette McCullum • Dr. Debra Clary • Harold C Butler • John Fleming • Kathy Zandona • Libby Mills • Maria Hughes • Linda Winlock • Dr. Gloria Murray • Jim Gravitt • Dr. J-R Curtin • Michael Shaikun • Pam Greenwell • Steve Ellis • Jan Walther • Karl Schmitt Jr. • Alfonso Cornish • Cynthia Adelberg • Barbara Michael • George Demaree • Steve Barger • Alan Rosenberg • Denise Mitchell • Melanie Claypool • Matt Bowdy • Lori Sturm • Peggy Kilgore • Betty Beck • Donna Murray-Brown • Dr. Betty Edwards • Donna Hoying • Mary McKinley

Be Part of the Change

For more than 20 years, Community Acceleration Teams have helped Louisville-area nonprofits tackle meaningful, mission-critical work, without adding strain to already-stretched budgets. These teams pair your organization with experienced, committed leaders from Leadership Louisville Center programs who are ready to apply their skills in service of the community.

Whether you’re facing a strategic challenge or need help moving a key initiative forward, Community Acceleration Teams are designed to add capacity, clarity, and momentum, so you’re not carrying it alone.

Community Acceleration Teams are Presented by: