In this episode of "What's Happening QC," we sit down with Daisy Moran, the inaugural director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Daisy shares valuable insights about the large nonprofit sector in the Quad Cities region, which comprises nearly 4,000 nonprofits and employs over 40,000 individuals. She discusses how the Center for Nonprofit Excellence came to fruition as a response to the local nonprofits' growing need for additional resources and support.
During the interview, Daisy sheds light on the Center's advisory committee, consisting of 15 members carefully selected over a period of three months. This committee represents various perspectives within the nonprofit sector and meets bi-monthly to provide guidance on the Center's governance and programming, particularly for the years ahead, specifically focusing on 2024. Daisy reveals that their first meeting, held in January, focused on the development of flagship education and professional development programs.
The conversation then takes an environmental turn, as Daisy shares her involvement with the Clean River Advisory Council. Drawing from her Mexican heritage, Daisy discusses her dedication to improving water quality in the Mississippi River basin and emphasizes how pollution affects communities and ecosystems all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. She highlights that the Council received an impressive $1.3 million in funding requests, of which $250,000 was awarded to projects supporting environmental justice and fostering collaboration between traditional and BIPOC-led organizations. Additionally, the Council secured an extra $150,000 to fully fund three more projects.
As the episode draws to a close, Daisy shifts gears and reflects on her personal interests outside of her role in the nonprofit sector. She expresses her passion for small businesses, such as her mother's cafe in Moline (Coya's Cafe), and shares her love for outdoor recreation in the Quad Cities, including golfing, skiing, and spending quality time with her three beloved dogs. Daisy concludes the episode by expressing her enthusiasm for providing further updates on the progress and impact of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence in the community.
