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Local Female Leader Receives National Fundraising Award

September 22, 2021

September 14, 2021 — INDIANAPOLIS – OneCause, a leader in online and event fundraising, recognized fundraising innovation and excellence at its annual Raise Awards ceremony during the Raise 2021 Conference. More than 700 nonprofit fundraising professionals gathered online September 13-14, sharing lessons learned and exploring future strategies to reenergize fundraising.


“An important part of the Raise Conference is celebrating the continued innovation and resilience of our nonprofit community with the annual Raise Awards,” said Steve Johns, chief executive officer for OneCause. “Over the past 4 years we’ve received stories from hundreds of organizations and professionals who are truly changing the future of fundraising. This year’s winners represent nonprofit trailblazers who turned the challenges of the pandemic into opportunities for their causes, finding new ways to engage donors and grow impact.”


Watch the highlights from the Raise Awards Ceremony: https://www.onecause.com/raise/awards/..


In its fourth year, the Raise Awards expanded its list of honorees to recognize two winners in each of the organizational categories based on nonprofit size and three individuals in the Fundraiser of the Year category. This year’s winners include:


Fundraisers of the Year


The Fundraiser of the Year Award recognizes three nonprofit professionals whose leadership, passion, and success stands out among their peers. Katie Koglman, the CEO of United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties in Wooster, OH was the only female recipient of this year’s award. Katie was selected out of a nationwide pool of candidates. She received the award because she brought a new energy to an organization that hadn’t hit its fundraising goal in over 10 years, she leads with a drive and passion that is unmatched in this arena. She has led the organization to hitting their fundraising goals each year as CEO. Koglman had this to say about her award, “I am so excited to be named the 2021 Fundraiser of the Year. In a year where the common theme was complain and cancel, we embarked on a journey of conquer and claim victory. Our community was depending on us to do just that! Thank you RAISE for this incredible honor.”

The two other winners were: William Miller, Chief Executive Officer for Kean University Foundation- Union, New Jersey, Nathan Smith, Vice President of Philanthropy for RAIN, Inc.- Charlotte, North Carolina


The Innovative Nonprofit of the Year Award recognizes two organizations that uniquely push themselves, inspire others, and consistently reach for new heights by implementing new ideas.


  • Food Outreach, Inc. St. Louis Missouri
  • JDRF Storyteller of the Year- New York, New York


The Storyteller of the Year Award recognizes two organizations for excellence in communicating their purpose through branding, narrative, and promotion that informs the mind and moves the heart.


  • Stray Rescue of St. Louis- St. Louis, Missouri
  • Canine Companions- Santa Rosa, California


Winners were selected by a committee of fundraising experts, OneCause customer advisory board members, and a panel of past Raise Award winners. In addition to the award recognition, winners receive a cash donation to their mission on behalf of OneCause.

To find out more about the Raise Awards, please visit: https://www.onecause.com/raise/awards/.


About OneCause®
OneCause creates user-friendly fundraising software that helps nonprofits engage donors, raise more money and save valuable time and resources. Our full suite of cloud-based fundraising solutions has powered 6,000 organizations, well over 38,000 fundraising events, and helped nonprofits raise more than $3 billion. OneCause has been recognized by Inc. Best in Business, is a TechPoint MIRA award winner for Pandemic Pivot of the Year, Mobile Technology Excellence & Innovation, and a Stevie® Award winner for excellence and innovation in Customer Service.

Math-a-ma-joy!

By Katie Koglman • March 3, 2025
In honor of Dr. Suess, we celebrate Lisa Nyhart, our Director of Finance and Operations.

Just Love: My United Way Wayne & Holmes Journey (Year One)

By Megan Wilson • February 3, 2025
Just Love: My United Way Wayne & Holmes Journey (Year One) By: Megan Wilson It's hard to believe a year has flown by since I took the plunge and joined the United Way Wayne & Holmes Counties team. This leap into the non-profit world has been more than just a job change; it's been a deeply personal journey of discovery and immense reward. I'm constantly struck by the incredible network of individuals, organizations, and businesses right here in our community, all working tirelessly to uplift the lives of our neighbors. The sheer dedication I see every day is truly inspiring. Before joining the team, I found myself searching for a way to make a real, tangible difference. I explored different paths, but the pull towards a career focused on helping others was undeniable. I yearned for work that resonated with my core values, something that allowed me to contribute to something bigger than myself. That search led me to United Way Wayne & Holmes Counties, an organization whose mission – mobilizing community resources to help people measurably improve their lives and partnering to identify and address pressing needs for long-term, sustainable solutions – spoke directly to my heart. Stepping into this role was, admittedly, a little daunting. My previous fundraising experience peaked with the Parent-Teacher Organization at my kids' elementary school! The scope of the work, coupled with the ambitious goals, made me wonder if I could truly make a difference. But I quickly found myself embraced by an amazing work environment – positive, fun, energetic, and truly uplifting. Our CEO, Katie Koglman, has cultivated a culture of empowerment, and her belief in what we can achieve is contagious. My colleagues have shown me the true meaning of teamwork, proving that together, we're capable of anything. That feeling of empowerment is invaluable. I'm incredibly passionate about the work we do at United Way Wayne & Holmes Counties, especially when it comes to supporting literacy. Programs like Reading Under the Lights and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which we both run and fund, are close to my heart. Providing free books to kids is such a powerful way to ignite a love of reading and set them up for future success. But our commitment to the community goes far beyond just books. Every dollar we raise stays right here in Holmes and Wayne Counties, directly impacting our neighbors and strengthening our community from within. We're not just behind-the-scenes fundraisers; we're actively involved in our communities, working alongside our partners to make a real difference in the lives of those around us.  This past year has been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and connection. I've gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our community, but even more importantly, I've witnessed the incredible resilience and generosity of its people. Our work wouldn't be possible without the support of our donors and partners. I'm so grateful to be part of this organization, working alongside such passionate and dedicated individuals. People often ask what we do. We're more than just fundraisers; we're connectors, unifiers, and problem-solvers, supporting vital services that strengthen our community. I'm excited to see what the next year brings and the continued positive impact we'll make together in Wayne and Holmes Counties. I absolutely Just, Love everything about my last year!

From Setbacks to Success

By Katie Koglman • January 31, 2025
From Setbacks to Success: My Goal Setting Journey, Part 1. Author: Katie Koglman It’s 2025, and I am coming off a year that fell short of my fundraising goals. Personally, this is very disappointing – because I like to win. Professionally, it ignites a fire in me to be better next year. There were many factors that contributed to the decline in fundraising revenue; death, economic uncertainty, and some high dollar “not this year” answers from otherwise faithful corporate donors. As I reflect on my own involvement, I question my role in the defeat. Did I ask enough? Did I stay focused? Can I say, I did everything in my power? The honest answer is no. I did A LOT, but I did not do everything in my power. Early in 2024, I set goals, and I stayed focused and on track until about May …then I got lazy in tracking and measuring my goals. I will not let that happen in 2025, and I will be accountable to you. I will update you on my goal progress in June 2025 and December 2025! I use a goal framework based partly on the book The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran. Not exactly how he does it, but a hybrid for sure. I start with a list of 30 things that I want in the coming year. This list of 30 is a combination of a brain dump and visioning exercises that I do annually. I write them all down and revisit them daily. This helps me clarify – turning dreams into reality with action items. The list is a combination of personal and professional items, like: 1. I want to hit 100% of our fundraising goal. 2. I want to gross $12,000 on the Wacky, Quacky Duck Derby. 3. I want to build a great bond with my granddaughter. 4. I want to retire in 10 years. 5. I want to continue to grow relationships in Holmes County and the four corners of Wayne County. And 25 more things that I want. This helps you turn what you want into actionable SMART goals. A SMART goal is: Specific: Your goals should be clear and well-defined. Avoid vague or general statements. Instead of saying “I want to continue to grow relationships in Holmes County” say “I want to meet at least 12 new contacts in Holmes County” or “I want to attend an event weekly in Holmes County” Measurable : How will you track your progress? Set quantifiable targets that allow you to monitor your achievements. Achievable: Set challenging but realistic goals. Avoid setting yourself up for failure by aiming too high. Break down large goals into smaller, more manageable steps. Relevant: Ensure your goals align with personal or organizational mission Time-bound: Set deadlines for your goals. Now this is where I use items from the 12-week year: I look at my list of 30 and decide which 3-5 to focus on for the next 12 weeks and set up my actionable plan. I will use the Wacky, Quacky Duck Derby goal as an example and show you what my plan looks like. By increasing the amount of money we raise on the duck derby, this also grows our overall market share of donors.
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