NAM Board Member Spotlight: Victoria Grasso

I am President of the Cooper Foundation, a private grantmaking institution founded in Lincoln in 1934. I started with the foundation in 1994 and served in a number of positions before being named President in 2019. We fund nonprofits in Lincoln and throughout Nebraska in a number of areas, including education, arts and culture, human services, civic engagement and the environment.

Cooper Foundation became a NAM member in 2015 after a meeting with Anne Hindery. I had known about NAM for a while and attended the annual conference, but Anne really explained Guideline and Principles and the important services and trainings that NAM provides for the nonprofit sector across Nebraska. Nonprofit management and governance capacity is a priority for the Cooper Foundation, and we partnered with them to bring some of their in-person trainings to Lincoln. I think that helped NAM as they grew their reach statewide.

I had the opportunity to join the board in 2020, and to serve as Vice President and then President of the board. During that time I really got to see the importance of advocacy for the sector and the role NAM plays in convening nonprofits and providing consistent, high-quality information, especially in times of upheaval and urgent need. Through our advocacy and our work with strong partners I have seen the collective voice of the sector elevated, and that has made a real impact in legislation.

As a board member I learned so much, and have met so many incredible leaders across the state. It has truly been an honor to serve with this dedicated board and exceptional staff!

If you would like to learn more about the Cooper Foundation, please visit their website.