DANA releases annual report, welcomes new board members

The Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement welcomed two new members to its board of directors during its July 24 annual meeting.

The alliance also released its annual report, Building a Strong Foundation for a Changing World. The report detailed some of the impactful initiatives DANA undertook last year, the challenges the nonprofit sector faces, and how the organization is uniquely positioned to help nonprofits navigate these uncertain times.

“During the past year, DANA has continued its vital mission providing the services and systems to empower Delaware nonprofits to successfully serve their communities and the hundreds of thousands of residents who rely on them every day,” said Sheila Bravo, DANA president and CEO. “In 2024, we strengthened and expanded existing programs such as our Nonprofit Accelerator, launched a revised Board Connections program, and redoubled our efforts to provide counseling, training, workshops and advocacy for the nonprofit sector. We remain committed to the future health and success of Delaware nonprofits.”

New board members elected to serve three-year terms are Dr. Lori Sitler and Brenda Wise.

Sitler is the executive director of CHILD Inc., a children and family services agency in Delaware. She previously served on the faculty at Wilmington University and has worked in the nonprofit sector as a program director and former executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice.

Wise is corporate counsel at CSC, where she serves as global human resources counsel and director of global government affairs. Previously, she served as the director of policy at the Delaware Office of Management and Budget.

Sitler and Wise replace two outgoing, term-limited board members Jennifer Cho and Fayetta Blake. Both had served two three-year terms.

Two current board members, Kathleen Hawkins and Kevin Gilmore, were each re-elected to a second three-year term. Hawkins is a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and serves as board chair of DANA, while Gilmore is CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

“I can’t thank Fay and Jenn enough for their dedication, leadership, and selfless service during these past several years. They helped DANA – and the nonprofit sector as a whole – navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic and the challenges it created, emerging in a strong position to continue leading the nonprofit sector,” said Rob McCreary, DANA board vice chair. “Simultaneously, we are excited to welcome Lori and Brenda to the team, bringing their expertise and experiences to help guide DANA and the nonprofit community through a new set of challenges.”

In 2024, DANA completed a new strategic plan shaped by insights from more than 70 stakeholders across Delaware’s nonprofit community. Through the collaborative process, the DANA board and staff took a fresh look at DANA’s mission, vision, values, guiding principles, strategic outcomes and initiatives.

Last year, DANA launched a revised Board Connections program available to members at no cost. The program allows members the opportunity to submit their open board positions to be matched with board-trained individuals from the corporate world and from the community our nonprofits serve.

The year 2024 also saw DANA continue and expand its Nonprofit Accelerator program, which launched in 2023 with its first cohort and began its second cohort last fall. The three-year program provides participating nonprofits with the organizational support they need to make a broader impact on the historically under-invested communities they serve.