About RISE

Founded in the spring of 2025 after six months of partnership exploration with Social Current, RISE Northwest Ohio was created in response to the persistent challenges facing the social sector in building sustainable infrastructure for the organizations and programs serving our region with the services they need and depend on. 

RISE Northwest Ohio is sponsored by the Center for Community Impact, launched in partnership with Social Current, and fiscally sponsored by the Do Good Foundation.  Guided by an Advisory Board (link to that page) of regional experts, RISE is piloting a National Social Sector Strengthening Movement – a bold, data-informed effort to test innovative strategies that make social sector-serving organizations stronger, more visible, and more impactful across Northwest Ohio.

Our work is inspired by the groundbreaking documentary UnCharitable, directed and produced by Stephen Gyllenhaal, which challenges the misconceptions that limit the effectiveness of nonprofits and argues for a reimagined approach to philanthropy, investment, and social change. The film and its national movement have become a rallying point for leaders seeking to unlock the full potential of the nonprofit sector.

Building on more than a decade of national thought leadership, RISE Northwest Ohio represents the next step in a growing movement.

RISE delivers education through a formal curriculum, creates space for conversation and collaboration, and is empowering the region’s social sector to lead the way toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.