Date: April 19, 2018
Contact: Kristin Palm
Phone: (313) 483-1326
Email: kpalm@wayne.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Allandra Bulger named executive director of “Center for Nonprofit Support”
Center is a partnership between Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, TechTown and MNA
Allandra Bulger has been named the inaugural executive director of the “Center for Nonprofit Support,” a hub for Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit and philanthropic community to connect with one another and across sectors while accessing the knowledge, skills and resources needed to collaborate, innovate and amplify impact. The Center is a partnership between the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, TechTown Detroit and the Michigan Nonprofit Association.
Bulger’s appointment is the result of a highly competitive national search. Her selection was made by a committee comprised of the Center’s core partners and numerous external stakeholders, including several who work in nonprofit capacity-building and innovation. She starts with the Center on May 21.
“Allandra is a highly respected community leader who has helped lead and guide multiple organizations through periods of intense change and growth,” said Ned Staebler, president and CEO of TechTown. “Her commitment to and vision for strengthening Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit network in a way that is equitable and inclusive, and will have impact for generations, made her a stand-out candidate to lead the Center’s work.”
Bulger currently serves as Deputy Director for Detroit Future City. She has been with the organization since its inception, joining as a Detroit Revitalization Fellow in 2013. Prior to joining DFC, she worked as a consultant at DEXDesign Associates, where she specialized in developing and delivering capacity building technical assistance to community based nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Previously, she managed the Title IV-E Funding Program of the Wayne County Juvenile Assessment Center. She holds a master’s degree in public administration specializing in nonprofit organization and management from Oakland University, where she is also an adjunct faculty member, teaching courses on nonprofit management.
“My new role leading the Center for Nonprofit Support is a natural extension of my community work,” said Bulger. “The nonprofit sector plays such a vast, diverse and significant role in the life and economy of our region and city. I look forward to working with partners across Southeast Michigan to develop the Center as an intentional resource for nonprofits, connecting them to tools to support equitable and sustainable impact, while amplifying the great work that’s been happening across the Detroit region for decades.”
The Center will be located in a storefront space at the corner of Woodward and East Grand Boulevard. TechTown will lead the overall management and day-to-day operations of the Center, supported by a three-year grant for $4.75 million from the Foundation. Through a grant of $315,000, the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) will work as a key partner focused on the Center’s capacity building services, including nonprofit assessments, resource referrals informed by their current network of expert providers and case management.
McIntosh Poris Architects, based in Birmingham, MI, has been selected to design the 6,500-square-foot space. EarlyWorks, a Detroit-based, woman-owned strategic consultancy, has been selected to lead the naming and brand identity process.
The Center is expected to begin limited operations and services in late 2018. The Center has begun community engagement efforts, which will inform its programming, and Michigan Community Resources is convening a group of partner organizations to design an effective referral system and tool to help guide nonprofits in needs identification and to connect to resources to support those needs. In its early operations, the Center will refine its service model with current and potential grantees of the Foundation while supporting capacity-building efforts in the region. More details will be shared closer to the Center’s launch.
###
About TechTown Detroit:
TechTown is Detroit’s entrepreneurship hub, with a full suite of programs for both tech and neighborhood small businesses. TechTown works with businesses at all stages, helping startup, emerging and established companies develop, launch and grow. For more information, visit techtowndetroit.org.
About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. The Foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit rcwjrf.org.
About Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA):
Incorporated in 1990, MNA is a statewide membership organization dedicated to serving the diverse nonprofit sector through advocacy, training, and resources. MNA manages multiple programs and affiliates and is a sponsoring organization for AmeriCorps VISTA. Visit us at mnaonline.org.