Joan Royle standing in front of the Westcott Community Center.

Westcott Community Center

When Joan Royle became executive director of the Westcott Community Center in 2015, the organization did not have a robust database or software system and much of the center itself was in disrepair.

When Joan Royle became executive director of the Westcott Community Center in 2015, the organization did not have a robust database or software system and much of the center itself was in disrepair.

Since then, she has expanded the center’s programming, fast-tracked facility repairs and established comprehensive operating systems. This year, she led the center in publishing its first annual report.

Royle credits her participation in the professional development opportunities available through the Community Foundation for sharpening her leadership and development skills. Two years ago, she joined the very first cohort of the Marsellus Executive Development Program.

The six-month program offers individual coaching and consultant-led peer learning sessions for executive directors of nonprofit organizations within Onondaga and Madison counties. Topics covered include leading in dynamic times and enabling others to act.

Facilitated by The Leading Element, the program is a spin-off of the John F. Marsellus Sabbatical, a 15-year initiative of the Community Foundation that was created in memory of John F. Marsellus to honor his desire to enhance the leadership capacity of local nonprofit organizations.

Royle recalled impactful guest speaker sessions with staff from the Redhouse Arts Center and the Salvation Army.

“We had so many incredible speakers who spoke to topics that were of strong interest to us,” she said. “And when it was a somber topic, it was validating, because you knew some other director or agency was going through the same thing.”

Royle left the development program with lasting friendships and a network of professionals that grows every year with new alumni. She recalls how the experience reshaped her view of her leadership capabilities.

“It made you think about your own strengths and weaknesses and about things you could mold differently to work better for you,” Royle said. “Some of my weaknesses are also my strengths, and I’ve learned to take the best parts and utilize them to do my job.”

Related Stories

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

Stories August 14, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Pathfinder Bank

Pathfinder Bank tells us how a $500,000 deposit at their new Southwest Branch helped serve ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

Stories August 14, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Pathfinder Bank

Pathfinder Bank tells us how a $500,000 deposit at their new Southwest Branch helped serve ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

View More