Welcome Letter

A message from DANA Board Chair Fayetta Blake and President & CEO Sheila Bravo

Entering 2022, DANA and our member organizations continued to navigate the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. The great resignation led to exhausted executive directors and more turnover across the sector. Beyond our consulting and training, DANA provided guidance to boards and leaders on succession planning, recommended search consultants and HR professionals, and guided those who needed new strategies and approaches.

By the close of 2022, we had emerged from these challenges stronger than ever — with record member engagement, new programs, expanded staff, and the return of in-person networking and workshops. In addition to our regular programs, we added online and on-demand learning through a partnership with MindEdge — making it easy to access our professional development content anytime, anywhere. Nonprofits taking part in our programs gained skills in areas such as succession planning, generative governance, how to create a sustainable organization, board assessment strategies, DEI subjects like trauma awareness, implicit bias, and so much more.

During 2022 DANA’s Board Connections, in partnership with Board Lead, we connected 27 people on Delaware nonprofit boards. We partnered with United Way to hold six learning sessions with more than 50 board leaders from our membership, led by other DANA board members. Our Communities of Practice grew and provided enhanced opportunities for peer networking – giving nonprofit executives and staff outlets to build relationships and share best practices.

Throughout 2022, DANA continued to actively advocate for Delaware nonprofits, creating an advocacy intern fellowship to help nonprofit develop public policy plans and build legislative connections. Efforts to increase government funding for nonprofits saw modest success with $100 million set aside by Gov. John Carney and a slight grant-in-aid increase. As we move into 2023, meetings with lawmakers to lower healthcare costs for Delaware’s nonprofits look promising.

The remarkable progress we achieved in 2022 has been a direct result of the unwavering dedication of our member agencies, financial supporters and staff. Our nonprofit member organizations, businesses and alliance partners play an indispensable role for us to carry out our mission. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors, which has consistently upheld our core values of fostering connections, empowering the nonprofit sector, and envisioning a more promising future.

DANA’s Alliance Partners

DANA Staff