Group Created for Metro Atlanta Nonprofit Leaders to Collaborate, Celebrate, and Commiserate Over Best Practices, Ideas, and Partnership Opportunities
Duluth, Ga., June 6, 2024 — According to a recent study* of more than 59,000 public charities across the U.S., 62% of nonprofit leaders are women. With this in mind, Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner set about to build a network of local nonprofit leaders aptly named “Sista CEO.” Established in 1991, Conner helms a Metro Atlanta charity with a mission of Bringing Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to Families Experiencing Homelessness. She believed her organization and others could benefit from a forum where members can “collaborate, celebrate, and commiserate” over best practices while sharing ideas and fostering partnerships to ensure success for all.
“It all began organically,” said Conner. “Often, one or two of us would get together, have lunch, and share what’s going on in our respective organizations. We began to see threads between our organizations and the challenges we were experiencing. We believed we could share ideas and find ways to overcome obstacles together. After all, we’re all in the business of trying to help people. Why not support one another in that effort? The idiom ‘It’s lonely at the top’ is particularly true for nonprofit leaders. We may have incredible relationships with our staff, board members, donors, and volunteers – which is very important. But it’s another thing to gather with others who share a deep understanding of your pain points. Sista CEOs can finish each other’s sentences. It’s a wonderful thing to know you’re not alone. As a result, our group has grown from five original members to 20.”
For a prime example, Executive Director Kristina McCalla recently launched her nonprofit, Rooted Interiors. It was created with a mission to turn empty houses into professionally designed and fully furnished homes where residents emerging from homelessness can plant roots and thrive. The grassroots charity was so new that when McCalla first met Conner, Rooted Interiors had not yet received its 501(c)3 designation. Following that meeting, Rooted Interiors designed three apartments for families before they moved onto Rainbow Village’s campus. The nonprofit has also since partnered with other organizations within the Sista CEO network.
“Being a part of Sista CEO has been incredibly rewarding for myself and my organization,” said McCalla. “The unparalleled support, the invaluable resources and mentorship, and the opportunities for collaboration have significantly accelerated my personal and professional growth. It’s an honor to be amongst a group of amazing women whose desire is to make a meaningful change in the world. There is power in numbers, and Sista CEO is making incredible changes.”
Several of the other Sista CEO members had this to say about the collaborative organization:
“I was honored that Melanie asked me to be one of the first to join Sista CEO. I’m one of the younger members, so I get to benefit from the mentorship of women who’ve been in the field a lot longer. These women not only know how to run a successful organization but are also willing to share their knowledge. We’re all involved in an industry that involves a lot of emotions. I’ve learned from one of my mentors that it’s okay to put up barriers and protect my own mental health by taking off weekends to avoid burnout. For my part, I’m able to leverage training from my own national organization and share it with the Sista CEO community. We build trust among the group and get together in a non-competitive way. It’s all about community.” ~ Carol Love, Executive Director | Family Promise of Gwinnett
“This group of impactful women brings together the collective expertise, passion, and resources of various nonprofit organizations, amplifying our efforts and creating a larger, more meaningful impact than any single organization could achieve alone. I have made so many strong, supportive relationships among like-minded women leaders in this group. We brainstorm new ideas and develop creative solutions to complex issues that we all face.” ~ Tami Wilder, CEO | Positive Impact International/Gwinnett County Safe Place
“The Sista CEO group allows me to collaborate with other non-profit C-Suite women on so many levels. We share our struggles and our wins. We figure out ways to work together to meet the needs of our community because together, we are stronger. There’s no competition. We are all in this together with the same goals, and this is what sisterhood is all about.” ~ Robin Mauck, Executive Director | Obria Medical Clinics Gwinnett
As Sista CEO continues to grow in unexpected ways, Conner and her fellow members hope to remain intentional about coming together and making things happen while maintaining the original sense of intimacy. Other nonprofit leaders in Metro Atlanta who’d like to learn about becoming a member of Sista CEO can contact Melanie Conner directly at mconner@rainbowvillage.org or (770) 497-1888.
*Uchida, Kyoko. Candid.org “What to know about U.S. nonprofit sector demographics” https://blog.candid.org/post/diversity-in-nonprofit-sector-candid-demographic-data-report/
About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991, Rainbow Village is a transformative 501(c)3 nonprofit program located in Duluth, GA, that serves families currently experiencing homelessness. Our model provides safe housing, education, and community support systems that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond our village. To learn more about the mission at the heart of Rainbow Village, make a tax-deductible donation or register as a volunteer, visit www.RainbowVillage.org. To stay up-to-date on the latest Rainbow Village news and events, the nonprofit invites you to connect with them on social media, including Facebook @RainbowVillageInc, Instagram @rainbowvillageinc, Twitter @rainbowvillage1, and LinkedIn @rainbow-village-inc.
