World travelers, successful business owners and champions of philanthropy, Hunt and Diane Harris have contributed to the sustainability of many local nonprofit organizations. The Hunt and Diane Harris Family Foundation has provided many years of vital grant support to charitable organizations serving the Quad-City community.

Hunt and Diane have spent most of their adult lives volunteering and serving on local boards of directors. They say that governance training has been done, and done well in the community but on a sporadic basis. They recognized the need for ongoing board training and understood that not all nonprofits could afford this activity. Hunt and Diane recently gave more than $100,000 to United Way for the purpose of establishing the Harris Family Fund for Board Excellence at the Community Foundation. The earnings will be used to underwrite training, which is organized and sponsored by United Way. This permanent fund will provide annual training sessions and workshops for nonprofit board members now and for years to come.

“Most boards don’t fully understand their governing responsibilities,” said Hunt. “Even the best boards need improvement.”

Hunt and Diane have sponsored two training workshops by Board Source, and they were well received by the nonprofit community. These sessions addressed specific topics pertinent to board members’ roles and responsibilities, and offered insight as to how board members can be not only donors who support their organization’s programs, but also leaders who help build capacity.

“Our hope is that other people will decide to contribute to this effort,” said Hunt. “The more money we have, the more training opportunities we can provide to the community.”

Designated Funds

A Designated Fund provides an ongoing source of support for a specific charitable organization or cause. With an endowed Designated Fund, you can be confident that your gift will provide a lasting legacy to sustain your favorite nonprofit and fulfill your charitable goals.