About Nonprofit Champion

A personal note from Merle
I am a volunteer! I’ve had my hand raised since about the first grade. So many of the great experiences in my life have been a result of my involvement with nonprofit organizations.

Besides volunteering, I love ideas. Nonprofits are great incubators of ideas. Creative people are drawn to nonprofits because they can imagine another way.

This website is the result of a comment my friend Mary made, "Every Director should have a Merle in her pocket, a Director needs someone to turn to for creative ideas or just someone who understands and is willing to listen." Mary is a Founder and Executive Director - a Nonprofit Champion.

I set out to find a way to do that for other people like Mary. So the website was born. And I'd love for you to feel that you "have a Merle in your pocket."

I'd like to tell you a little of my experience. I have been involved with nonprofit organizations as a service recipient, volunteer, employee and consultant. As a partner in a creative agency, with my husband Joe Landi, I have provided services to corporations and nonprofits. I have written appeals, brochures, annual reports, websites and videos. I have also led strategic planning, managed events, trained speakers and developed and delivered training.

I continue to be inspired by the great work of nonprofits. I am fascinated by the stories of founders, identifying a need and finding a way to fill it. I am awed by the commitment of volunteers, who give so generously and care so much. I admire donors willing to contribute needed funds.

I call this site Nonprofit Champion because I want to celebrate everyone who works with nonprofit organizations. And I want to help you have reasons to celebrate. I champion nonprofits. You are a champion!

Merle Benny

P.S. Now you know about me. Please tell me about you! We will be honoring Nonprofit Champions (like you) on the site.