Community Connections is a program that gives nonprofit organizations a forum for communication, insight, and support. During the hour-long meeting, we will feature speakers or a panel to share information on topics pertaining to nonprofits and their needs. We will also have meetings that have an open discussion for attendees on predetermined topics to find best practices. These events are interactive with time for connecting with other attendees and Q&A with the speakers and panels. Community Connections is hosted by the Chamber for like-minded people who are passionate about nonprofits or for people interested in connecting with a nonprofit.
Our speaker for our 4th quarter Community Connections will be Wendy Knight, VP of Institutional Effectiveness and Advancement at Northeast Iowa Community College. Wendy will be presenting on Fundraising "Vital Signs" and using Microsoft Excel to create your fundraising plan, work it and bring your metrics to life! She will also share top fundraising success metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) that nonprofits should be tracking.
In her current role, Wendy oversees the offices of institutional research, marketing, grants, organizational development, fundraising and coordinates the College’s strategic planning process.
Wendy earned an M.S. in Health Administration in 1999 and M.S. in Business Administration in 2001 from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. She received a B.A. in Health Arts in 1997 fromUniversity of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. She is a 1986 graduate of the NICC Respiratory Care program with professional care experience in the healthcare field prior to returning to her alma mater to serve in a faculty and administrative capacity from 1992-2001 as director of clinical education and program director of the Respiratory Care program.
From 2001-2003, she served as director of the Leadership Education And Development (LEAD) Program at Clarke University and was a vice president of administration at East Dubuque Savings Bank from 2003-2004.
Wendy is active in the community and currently serves for Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA board as president, is a board member for the NationalHistoric Society and Creative Adventure Lab. She served as past president of Dubuque Main Street, the Women’s Leadership Network and the Dubuque Area Youth Leadership Council. The Dubuque Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Development Division, named her as the Volunteer of the Year for 2006-2007, and she received a Rising Star Award in Dubuque honor in 2006.
Wendy Knight and her husband, Russell, live in Dubuque and have six children and seven grandchildren.