CNE Blog

Each year, millions of Americans donate to and volunteer with the charitable nonprofits making a difference in their communities. Many turn to online fundraising platforms to give—but many of these platforms operate without nonprofit consent and in other ways counter to the needs of nonprofit organizations.

To guide this work moving forward, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) network urges that the following principles serve as the foundation for any relationship between online fundraising platforms, donors, and nonprofits:

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is proud to announce the appointment of four distinguished new members to its Board of Directors. These accomplished leaders bring a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, community development, financial services, architecture, and civic engagement — strengthening CNE’s capacity to serve the nonprofit sector across Virginia.

Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed House Bill 353, sponsored by Delegate Katrina Callsen, into law, expanding access to affordable health benefit options for nonprofit employees across the Commonwealth.

CNE is featured in Cville Weekly, with an article highlighting how nonprofits are getting it done in Virginia.

House Bill 353 (HB 353), legislation that would expand access to health benefit plans for Virginia’s nonprofit workforce, passed the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 with a unanimous vote (9–0) on Tuesday, January 27th, marking a significant early step in the 2026 General Assembly session.

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) and the University of Virginia School of Data Science are proud to announce the release of the 2026 Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Sector Report, a comprehensive, data-driven examination of the essential role nonprofits play in the economic health and daily life of communities across Virginia.

House Bill 353 (HB 353), legislation that would expand access to health benefit plans for Virginia’s nonprofit workforce, passed the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 with a unanimous vote (9–0) on Tuesday, January 27th, marking a significant early step in the 2026 General Assembly session.

Legislators need to hear directly from nonprofit leaders, staff, and advocates about why HB 353 matters. Personal stories and on-the-ground perspectives are critical in demonstrating the real-world impact this bill could have on nonprofit workers’ access to affordable health benefits across Virginia.

CNE believes that when it comes to improving outcomes for Virginians, nonprofits are getting it done. United Way of South West Virginia is doing just that. Each day, the organization fights for the health, education, financial stability, and resilience of community members across 21 localities from Southwest Virginia through the New River Valley.

CNE believes that when it comes to improving outcomes for Virginians, nonprofits are getting it done. Blue Ridge Discovery Center is no exception. In their work to connect community members with nature, the organization is inspiring curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge.

The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) and a coalition of other nonprofits, associations, unions, and local government filed a lawsuit today challenging the Administration’s final rule to overhaul the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program by unlawfully limiting which charitable nonprofits qualify as “eligible employers.”

CNE is writing to make you aware of a critical issue impacting nonprofits in our state and around the country. Recently, GoFundMe – the crowdfunding platform – created on its website donation pages for 1.4 million nonprofit organizations without their knowledge or consent.

As a nonprofit executive, academic, and pastor, Dr. Nathan Walton has devoted his career to equipping and mobilizing organizations for social transformation. That career has included serving as Executive Director of a community development nonprofit that specialized in youth development, as well as over a decade of pastoral ministry. Walton currently serves as Co-Lead Pastor of East End Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia.

Marta Keane has spent her career helping others thrive, first as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist and later as a nonprofit leader. She began at the Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center, where she supported patients from toddlers to seniors—teaching sign language to a preschooler who had survived a stroke, and helping a young man with a brain injury communicate through Morse code.

Erika Viccellio, who joined as Executive Director early in the Fund’s journey, brought a passion for turning equity from a value into a structure, not just what the Fund did, but how it did it.

“We’ve been asking ourselves,” she said, “what am I willing to give up so that others have opportunity?”

From rethinking traditional top-down leadership to prioritizing lived experience in every facet of the organization, the Fountain Fund didn’t just aim to help formerly incarcerated individuals; they invited them to lead.

Following is the latest update on the impending government shutdown from the National Council of Nonprofits.

En el corazón de Charlottesville, Creciendo Juntos (CJ) ha sido una parte vital de la comunidad Latinx durante casi dos décadas. Lo que comenzó a mediados de los años 2000 como una pequeña iniciativa enfocada en ayudar a los proveedores de servicios a interactuar mejor con la población Latinx se ha convertido en una organización sin fines de lucro resiliente, ahora completamente enfocada en construir el poder de la juventud Latinx.

As Program Director of the Carver Food Enterprise Center (CFEC), Gretchen Ledmor is steering bold, intentional growth. That work is deeply rooted in strong public-private collaboration, with essential support from both Culpeper County and Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). GWCARC’s mission is to strengthen and sustain the region’s agriculture and environment, and since joining the team, Gretchen has become a driving force behind that vision.

Tucked away in Fauquier County, Virginia, the Fauquier Educational Farm is far more than a patch of cultivated land—it’s a living, growing classroom, a food justice engine, and a community cornerstone. Every year, Executive Director Jim Hankins oversees the production of ten acres of vegetables—not for sale, but to give away.

In the heart of Charlottesville, Creciendo Juntos (CJ) has been a vital part of the Latinx community for nearly two decades. What began in the mid-2000s as a small initiative focused on helping service providers better engage with the Latinx population has grown into a resilient nonprofit, now entirely focused on building Latinx youth power.

Since 1991, Fauquier Community Child Care (FCCC) has been a steady hand in Fauquier County, offering safe, reliable, and enriching care for children ages five to thirteen. From before and after school programs to full-day summer camps, the organization operates from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, five days a week, across ten local elementary schools.

In a world where the foundation of a safe, stable life often begins with the literal foundation of a home or a school, Building Goodness Foundation is quietly transforming lives—brick by brick, beam by beam. They are builders, yes—but more importantly, they are collaborators.

With over 30 years of experience as a local government manager across five Virginia jurisdictions, Doug Walker has had the privilege of working alongside dedicated public servants—both elected officials and appointed staff. Over the course of his career, he has led organizational performance efforts, aligning them with the vision of governing bodies and fostering strong, thriving communities.

John brings over 30 years of experience as a planner and County Administrator, along with 35 years in nonprofit governance. He has held leadership roles in organizations, including a local Mental Health Association, a nonprofit Pre-K program, the public library, and has chaired the local health system, community foundation, and the PATH Foundation.