May 11, 2004

VCU Nonprofit Enterprise Institute receives $76,500 grant from Alcoa

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By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Alcoa Flexible Packaging, on behalf of Alcoa Foundation, has presented a $76,500 grant to Virginia Commonwealth University's Nonprofit Enterprise Institute to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of four nonprofit organizations in Richmond.

From left, VCU Office of Community Programs Director Catherine W. Howard, Ph.D.; VCU Vice President for University Advancement Peter L. Wyeth; Alcoa Flexible Packaging President Elizabeth A. Fessenden; VCU Nonprofit Enterprise Institute Executive Director Russell A. Cargo; Alcoa Flexible Packagin Director of Human Resources Jeff Swoyer; Alcoa Flexible Packaging Marketing Communications and Community Relations Manager Vicki Welch. Photo by Vicki Welch/Alcoa Flexible Packaging
From left, VCU Office of Community Programs Director Catherine W. Howard, Ph.D.; VCU Vice President for University Advancement Peter L. Wyeth; Alcoa Flexible Packaging President Elizabeth A. Fessenden; VCU Nonprofit Enterprise Institute Executive Director Russell A. Cargo; Alcoa Flexible Packagin Director of Human Resources Jeff Swoyer; Alcoa Flexible Packaging Marketing Communications and Community Relations Manager Vicki Welch. Photo by Vicki Welch/Alcoa Flexible Packaging

Under the Institute's guidance, the organizations will receive professional consulting services from representatives of the National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise, VCU's School of Business and School of Government and Public Affairs, and volunteers from Alcoa Flexible Packaging. The purpose is to surround the organizations with the expertise and planning they will need to develop successful income-generating ventures to support their charitable missions.

"The grant from the Alcoa Foundation puts into place a unique and exciting partnership between nonprofit organizations, VCU and Alcoa Flexible Packaging," said Russell A. Cargo, Ph.D., the Institute's executive director. "The Nonprofit Enterprise Institute's role, as an urban university institute, is to help match the most current research with actual nonprofit programs making the Richmond area a better place to live by strengthening nonprofit organizations."

The Institute was selected by the Foundation as the official grant recipient responsible for developing or furthering the plans for financial sustainability of the organizations: Boaz and Ruth, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, James River Association, and Memorial Child Guidance Clinic.

"As members of the greater Richmond community, we are greatly pleased to provide this grant to VCU and the Nonprofit Enterprise Institute," said Elizabeth A. Fessenden, president, Alcoa Flexible Packaging. "The efforts of all involved will make great strides in improving the viability of these deserving nonprofits that have such an impact in our area."