2025 Signature Program Community Impact Project Outcomes
A key aspect of each Leadership Toledo Signature Program is the opportunity for participants to both expand their knowledge of local organizations and hone leadership skills through participation in a small group Community Impact Project. Class members self-select their projects from those submitted through this unique process offered to nonprofit and civic organizations.
Selected organizations benefit from the energy and talents of a small group of outstanding volunteers motivated to make an impact while helping Leadership Toledo encourage the further development of community awareness, critical thinking skills, and group dynamics.
THIS YEAR, PARTICIPANTS COLLECTIVELY VOLUNTEERED 826 HOURS, TOTALING AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $171,746
Organizations served:
1. Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio
2. Toledo Design Collective
3. Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT)
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo
5. Area Office on Aging
6. Adopt America Network
7. Cherry Street Mission
8. Bittersweet Farms
HIGHLIGHTS
· An awareness campaign was created for Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio about clothing and household donation bins that are noncompliant with local regulations and the ways in which they divert resources from Goodwill. Presented a proposal to Toledo City Council’s Mobility, Sustainability, and Beautification Committee to more strongly enforce city codes and collect fines, resulting in increased revenue that can be put toward necessary projects.
· A storytelling roadmap, comprehensive marketing campaign, and promotional video were developed for Toledo Design Collective to help refine their approach to marketing and engaging with the community.
· Created a strategic plan to assist with Center for Innovative Food Technology’s (CIFT) efforts to revitalize the Erie Street Market, including brand development, identifying key community partnerships, and developing an investment pitch presentation.
· Organized and archived thousands of historical artifacts housed at Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo. Created a digital archive to preserve photos and documents to protect them from further deterioration over time.
· Guided the design and creation of a program framework for Area Office on Aging that includes a full curriculum, application and community partnership survey, providing a strong foundation for building a community engagement cohort specifically for retirees.
· Streamlined data collection for Adopt America Network by leveraging tools to consolidate program and HR data, automate processes, and create dynamic reports for leadership. This enabled a centralized system, staff training plan, and tools to improve reporting and investor communications.
· Collaborated to plan and execute the Second Chance Job Fair at Cherry Street Mission, an opportunity that connected job-seekers with employment gaps or a criminal history with inclusive employers offering supportive work environments. Collected 380 pounds of donated clothing to furnish a professional wardrobe closet, provided 50 free hair cuts for job seekers, and welcomed more than 150 individuals to the event.
· Partnered with Bittersweet Farms to strengthen board development by delivering a Community Engagement Almanac for strategic outreach and a Strategic Connections Directory to support board recruitment and donor engagement. These tools equip the organization to expand its network, increase visibility, and deepen its impact in the community.
