Seed Coalition is the grant sponsor for 15 AmeriCorps VISTA members across Minnesota and Iowa this year. This month, we are highlighting Skyler Ramsey, our Iowa Nonprofit VISTA. Their service is unique as it is shared between their site location at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and Iowa’s recently launched state-wide nonprofit association, the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance!
At UNI, Skyler works towards empowering the next generation of nonprofit leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful. They assist students in earning their Certified Nonprofit Professional credential through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. At a state-wide level, Skyler is helping the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance (INA) develop and expand their membership platform to allow for greater collaborative advocacy and support for Iowa’s nonprofit sector.
In addition to supporting the INA through their first two years of operation, Skyler also had the opportunity to help plan the Iowa Nonprofit Summit, which was formerly run by Volunteer Iowa for 16 years. INA took over hosting this state-wide conference only months after launching; a huge task, but a great success! On November 13th and 14th, over 250 nonprofit leaders, staff, funders, allies, and supporters gathered at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, IA for professional development, networking, and celebration. Attendees interacted with keynote speaker Vu Le from Nonprofit AF, diverse plenary panels, breakout sessions over various nonprofit topics, and over 20 conference exhibitors to connect, collaborate, and consider innovative solutions to Iowa’s nonprofit challenges. Special focus was given to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and advocacy, two challenges many Iowa nonprofits face.
Thank you, Skyler, for your VISTA service! We are so excited to see the ways in which you will continue to support Iowa’s nonprofit sector.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to support Iowa’s nonprofits in such a broad and impactful way! My VISTA service is the perfect fit for my unique educational background and skill set. The best part is the people – I have the privilege of working with so many amazing people, including my phenomenal supervisors and the VISTA team! They provide significant autonomy and opportunities to develop my leadership skills while mentoring and assisting as needed. The work we’re doing and the connections being made gives me so much hope and excitement for the future!” – Skyler Ramsey (they/them)
