Deepening Community Impact Through Humility and Creativity: Insights from Non-Profit Visionaries

Deepening Community Impact Through Humility and Creativity: Insights from Non-Profit Visionaries

Written by Andrea Bruneau

The Maximize Positive Impact Conference brought together a diverse group of small business owners, cultural change leaders, and non-profit visionaries to share their stories. Central to the discussion was how these leaders are deepening their relationships with customers and employees, fostering inclusivity, and maximize the positive impact they have on the communities they serve. 

Our non-profit panelists, Nicole Reimer, Chief Engagement Officer for Granite United Way, and Sal Prizio, Executive Director for the Capitol Center for the Arts, shared how they are fostering authentic relationships to drive meaningful change. By redefining their roles and embracing innovative approaches, these organizations are connecting with their communities in deeper, more impactful ways. Through shifting perspectives, addressing systemic barriers, simplifying processes, and creatively leveraging resources, they have transformed their ability to serve.

Shifting Identity to Expand Impact

For the Capital Center for the Arts, the transformation began with a simple yet profound shift in self-definition: from “We are a performing arts center” to “We are a community service organization with a focus on the arts.”

This new identity moved them beyond being just a venue, opening doors to initiatives that served a broader audience. It also challenged them to take an honest look at legacy habits, biases, and gaps in their programming and partnerships. With the arrival of a new director, fresh eyes brought clarity to long-standing issues, such as the lack of diversity among patrons and a need for strategies to connect with new audiences.

Learning From the Community

Both leaders emphasized the importance of humility and active listening when engaging with underserved communities. The Capital Center for the Arts, for example, sought input from minority and underserved communities in their area and discovered they have unique and unmet needs that become access barriers:

  • Transportation Challenges: Many potential patrons simply couldn’t get to the theater. To address this, productions were brought to them. 

  • Lack of Diverse Programming: Their existing lineup catered to a narrow demographic, leaving other audiences unrepresented. Re-envisioning programming was prioritized.

Granite United Way had similar revelations. They found that their grant-making approach was overly transactional, and community organizations wanted genuine relationships instead of just funding. One request stuck with them:

“Please just show up.”

Removing Barriers to Inclusion

To make meaningful change, both organizations began addressing structural roadblocks:

  • Simplify Processes: Legacy systems like cumbersome grant applications discouraged partnerships and limited access to critical services. Simplifying these processes became a priority.

  • Reimagine Resources: The performing arts center creatively used its fully functioning kitchen to support local entrepreneurs. One woman started by making food in the space, eventually earning enough to launch her food truck business.

These efforts demonstrate how rethinking existing resources could unlock new ways to support the community.

Meaningful Representation

The panelists stressed that relationship-building is a must in order to bring underserved community members into leadership roles. Establishing trust, meeting people where they are, and ensuring their voices are heard create a strong foundation for meaningful representation.

Key Takeaways for Non-Profits

  1. Redefine Your Role: A shift in identity can lead to transformative initiatives and new ways to serve.

  2. Engage with Humility: Be willing to learn from the community and adapt based on their needs.

  3. Challenge Your Status Quo: Simplify processes and rethink legacy practices that hinder inclusion.

  4. Leverage Resources Creatively: Existing assets can create unexpected opportunities for community impact.

By going beyond transactions and positioning themselves as allies, these organizations showed how non-profits can foster deeper, more authentic relationships with the communities they serve—leading to lasting, positive change.


The DMC Community Transformation Team brings over 25 years of combined experience, collaborating with nonprofits, cities and towns, grant makers, and other nonprofits to make a positive impact. DMC has successfully created programs and campaigns that bridge diverse communities, addressing root causes of problems and facilitating sustainable solutions.