Nonprofit center expands to university

NAPLES — The Community Foundation of Collier County awarded a $150,000 grant to Hodges University to operate the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

“As part of the Nichols School of Professional Studies, the center will be able to provide additional opportunities to better serve the nonprofit community by helping train and educate leaders who can work for the public good across many sectors,” says Hodges University President Terry McMahan, in a statement.

The foundation created the center in 1997 and is moving it to Naples-based Hodges this summer. “The Center for Nonprofit Excellence has provided training for 7,000 participants from local nonprofit organizations over the past 15 years. Under Hodges' management, the center will be able to expand and offer additional services to nonprofits,” says Eileen Connolly-Keesler, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, in the statement.

The Community Foundation was incorporated in 1985. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded $63 million in grants to Collier County nonprofits in the areas of arts, education, environment, human services, affordable housing and health care.