On September 30th, Pathway Group gathered with nonprofit leaders and their teams at Indie Square for our first in-person Conversations That Matter event discussing: Community Building for Nonprofit Sustainability. Katie Wright from Utah Donor Collaborative and Amberlie Phillips from Pathway Group led a dynamic conversation on why authentic community is at the heart of every nonprofit’s mission and long-term sustainability.

Why Community Matters

Nonprofits exist to deliver public good. But as Katie and Amberlie reminded us, that good cannot happen in isolation. In a time often marked by what many call a “loneliness epidemic” and deep social division, building an authentic community is more than a strategy: it is a responsibility.

“Nonprofits exist not to make money, but to bring people together to do good,” Amberlie said. Remembering those origins helps organizations stay grounded in mission, not just in fundraising goals.

The Building Blocks of Community

Community takes many forms. It can be movement-building on a broad scale or one-on-one connection that grows trust and loyalty. Katie shared how, at the Park City Community Foundation, recruiting a strong finance committee not only ensured credibility with donors but also built a tight-knit community of professionals who supported one another through the 2008 financial crisis.

Amberlie pointed to the Utah Food Bank as another powerful model. For decades, they have engaged people where they are: schools, workplaces, churches therefore creating a “machine” of grassroots participation. By doing a few things consistently, they built relationships that sustain their mission.

Beyond Transactions

Both leaders stressed that emails and social media, while important, aren’t enough. Real engagement happens through conversations, invitations, and consistent touchpoints.

“Emails and social media are not enough,” Katie said. “A critical piece of community building is one-on-one engagement. You can’t do it with everyone, but you also can’t avoid it.”

Learning From Missteps

Not every effort works as planned. Katie described how efforts to diversify a giving committee backfired when the environment wasn’t inclusive. The result was painful, but also an opportunity to own the mistake, adjust policies, and share the story openly.

Amberlie recalled her time with the YWCA, when she pushed volunteers toward certain tasks without listening to their desire to serve as community ambassadors. “If you’re trying to build community, there needs to be input,” she reflected. “We can’t assume we know what people want.”

These stories underscore a key theme: mistakes don’t mean failure. They are stepping stones to stronger, more authentic engagement.

Donors in Context

The conversation also touched on two topics that often feel at odds: donor-centric vs. community-centric philanthropy.

Katie shared how she once recruited a high-net-worth individual to her board by being transparent: his presence would help bring credibility with other funders. While it felt uncomfortable, it also opened the door for an honest relationship built on respect rather than pretense.

“If you’re afraid to have a hard conversation with a donor, that says more about the strength of your relationship than about the funder,” Amberlie said.

Both speakers agreed: nonprofits must balance fundraising needs with mission integrity. All healthy relationships require transparency, regular communication, and alignment with values, not just financial transactions. 

Everyone’s Responsibility

So who is responsible to build community? Everyone. 

Katie and Amberlie agreed that boards, staff, volunteers, and leaders all play a role. Specific to board members, the most successful organizations provide clear expectations and tools for their board members to engage authentically, not just to raise funds, but to widen networks and build trust.

Audience Insights

Audience members raised thoughtful questions about broadening reach, avoiding duplication of effort, and balancing capacity.

Katie and Amberlie advised starting with natural supporters, experimenting with low-risk engagement opportunities, and investing in systems that help track interactions. Above all, they emphasized empowering staff and volunteers to represent the mission, rather than keeping relationship-building tightly controlled at the top.

Final Takeaways

The session closed with a powerful reminder: community building is not a side project: it is part of the foundation of nonprofit sustainability. It takes intentionality, courage, and consistency. But when done well, it pays dividends in trust, resilience, and long-term impact.