Standing Room Only: Community Heart & Soul Resonates with Funders at Leading Locally 2025

Community Heart & Soul® made a lasting impression at the recent Council on Foundations Leading Locally 2025 conference in Minneapolis, MN—so much so that our breakout session was over capacity, with attendees turned away at the door. Hosted June 10–12, the conference convened place-based funders from across the country to share strategies, build partnerships, and reimagine the role of philanthropy in local life. Our session, Cultivating Community Engagement to Ignite Generosity, resonated with attendees eager for tools to deepen resident engagement and strengthen community philanthropy.

Led by Nancy Van Milligen (President & CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque), Shelly O’Quinn (CEO, Innovia Foundation), and Sterling Speirn (Strategic Advisor on Civic Engagement, Philanthropy and Public Policy), the panel highlighted how community foundations are embedding the Community Heart & Soul approach in their organizations to drive measurable, lasting impact in small cities and towns across the country. From restored community pride to increased local giving, the speakers illustrated the tangible benefits and outcomes of putting residents at the center of decision-making.

More than 75 people packed the room—more than double the conference average for breakout sessions. Attendees engaged in an interactive Heart & Soul exercise, shared real-world challenges, and left with actionable tools and inspiration.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• “This was absolutely fantastic! Everyone needs to hear about it.”

• “It’s always helpful to hear stories about real communities. I appreciate learning about the various challenges and opportunities that have been experienced in other states, but are yet so familiar to what we experience in our communities.”

• “I appreciated the mindset of abundance that exists in rural communities. Thanks for sharing stories of people coming together across differences!”

• “Love the focus on rural and actual operation tools for community development. Can’t wait to follow up with Community Heart & Soul.”

The Heart & Soul message even surfaced in the conference’s opening plenary, where Charlie Brown, Executive Director for the Trust for Civic Life, spotlighted the work of our foundation partners—further indicating that the field is hungry for strategies rooted in local stories, shared values, and resident voices.

We’re grateful to our speakers, attendees, and the Council on Foundations for an incredible experience—and we’re already planning for a bigger room next time. To those who couldn’t attend the session: let’s connect! Community Heart & Soul is ready to help you bring residents closer together to help build a brighter, more prosperous future.

Want to learn more?

Reach out to our team to explore how you can bring Community Heart & Soul to your community. Contact us today.