Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Drollinger.
Hi Diane, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my career thinking I would be a professional musician, but soon became enamored with the arts and then eventually, nonprofits. I have had long career in community work, including helping corporate partners and individuals determine the best use of their charitable dollars, leading foundations and nonprofits and owning my own consulting firm. I have loved every aspect of learning about what makes communities stronger. I brought this skillset to Network for Strong Communities in 2013, where we developed programs and services that assist individual nonprofits and community systems. We currently serve about 150 nonprofits a month through our programs, train over 3,000 nonprofit professionals and volunteers annually, and provide customized support though our learning and consulting work. We are a nonprofit, so we understand the assets that nonprofits bring to communities as well as the struggles that face the community sector. We serve Missouri and southwest Illinois, and operate a nonprofit co-locator in South County that provides below market-rate rent and access to community resources for our nonprofit tenants.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We support nonprofits that operate under stressful circumstances in the best of times, and currently many nonprofits are facing funding uncertainty. We help organizations address these challenges as best as we can, but still it’s an uphill battle to stabilize some in our sector. NSC is a reboot. It was slated to close in 2013, but with grit , perseverance and commitment, we expanded our services and continue to serve. As a nonprofit ourselves, we face some of the same challenges as the organizations we serve, but we are committed to the work because it is so important and often transformative for community organizations. We celebrate 30 years of capacity building in 2026.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I lead NSC and consult with nonprofits about strategy, board development, business operations and infrastructure, leadership development, fundraising and community presence. I also work with corporations and foundations concerning their charitable giving practices. I am known for my strategic skills, my commitment to inclusion and leveraging the assets of a community organization. I have a real, practical approach to nonprofit work. I am most proud of the change that we make by helping organizations see new ways to accomplish their mission. I lead an extraordinary team. We have been told that our work is transformative, and that gives me great satisfaction. My longevity in the sector has allowed me to work every angle of it, and that’s what sets me apart from others. I have professional experience in most, if not all, angles of nonprofit work. This helps me be more strategic, engage people where they are, and help people find a path that strengthens communities.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I used to be a lounge singer! I also have conducted a church choir for 27 years. I’ve taught voice and still study singing. It is a big part of who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nscnow.org
