Center for Nonprofit Excellence Annual Report

https://thecne.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CNE-Impact-Report-2025.pdf As Program Director of the Carver Food Enterprise Center (CFEC)—the flagship initiative of the George Washington Carver Agriculture Research Center (GWCARC) in Virginia’s Northern Piedmont—Gretchen Ledmor is steering bold, intentional growth. That work is deeply rooted in strong public-private collaboration, with essential support from both Culpeper County and Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). GWCARC’s mission is to strengthen and sustain the region’s agriculture and environment, and since joining the team, Gretchen has become a driving force behind that vision. Before Gretchen’s arrival, CFEC’s financial systems were held together by goodwill, managed largely by volunteers. While grant funds were properly administered, overall financial transparency and infrastructure lagged behind the organization’s growing impact.

Recognizing this gap, Gretchen prioritized building strong, sustainable financial systems from day one. She spearheaded the organization’s transition to QuickBooks Online, providing broader access and improved tracking. To deepen her own expertise, she completed the QuickBooks for Nonprofits course.

Today, CFEC conducts regular budget-to-actual reviews, monitors key financial indicators, and is actively developing reserves and diversifying revenue, balancing grants with earned income strategies. But the work goes deeper than systems.

“We’re being honest about the financial realities nonprofits like ours face,” Gretchen explains. “We’re advocating for full-cost funding and long-term investment. It’s about creating a financial model that truly supports our mission, staff, and community.” Leadership development has become central to CFEC’s growth strategy under Gretchen’s guidance. The organization is walking the talk—modeling inclusive leadership by ensuring its board reflects the community it serves and investing in staff through programs like CNE’s Emerging Leaders, Nonprofit Lifecycles, and Board Essentials.

CFEC is formalizing its leadership pipeline, embedding succession planning into its operations, and prioritizing fair compensation. Their newest role—a kitchen manager position—starts at $40,000, requires no formal education, and includes benefits such as:

• A 36-hour flexible workweek

• Paid holidays and additional time off

• A health insurance match

• Professional development opportunities

“We want our staff to thrive—not just survive,” says Gretchen. The organization is actively fundraising to ensure this role remains competitive and sustainable, while also engaging board members in strategic growth conversations to deepen their investment in the mission.

Gretchen feels that her evolution as a nonprofit leader has been shaped by her partnership with CNE. She shares that “CNE has been an incredible resource since I began. Coming from a for-profit background, I had gaps in nonprofit knowledge. CNE’s guidance has been invaluable—I deeply appreciate their insight and support.”

She credits CNE’s tools and programming with helping her grow into her role and lay a stronger foundation for CFEC’s future. “It’s not just about learning,” she says. “It’s about transformation—of systems, of culture, and of impact.”