Foellinger Foundation announced an investment of $1,350,000 in leadership initiatives at their 60th Anniversary Character of Leadership celebration on October 23.

The Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund received an award of $250,000 for four-year project support. The Fund provides current Allen County nonprofit board members financial assistance to attend unique educational opportunities about best practices in nonprofit board leadership. (The Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund is a donor-advised fund managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.)

The Leadership Lab, which includes the Executive Leader Lab and Rising Leader Lab, is the Foundation’s commitment to provide ongoing educational opportunities for executives and rising leaders of Allen County’s nonprofit organizations. Based on evaluations, Foellinger Foundation approved $900,000 in continuing support of the Leadership Lab for an additional four years.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors also approved three-year support in the amount of $90,000 to the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI) to develop and implement new leadership projects. YLNI’s mission is to grow and support future leaders for communities in northeast Indiana.

Finally, The Alliance for Human Services (AHS) received a grant for $112,500 for three-year support of its leadership projects. AHS is an association of human service organizations whose purpose is to engage northeast Indiana nonprofit organizations in uniting their voices through idea-sharing, collaboration and peer-to-peer networking. (Brightpoint serves as the fiscal sponsor for AHS.)

“As we look to the future, we will continue Helene and Esther Foellinger’s commitments - to Allen County residents, to supporting nonprofit board and staff members, to instilling the principles of leadership in those called to lead, and to lifting up the organizations that help our community thrive,” said Cheryl Taylor, the Foundation’s President.