Brenda Rigdon, center, was recently named the Outstanding Development Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northeast Indiana Chapter. Pictured from left, are:Sally Mahnken, Community Foundation Board Member; Rigdon; and Suzie Light, Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director. (Photo provided)

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Brenda Rigdon, Development Director for the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, was recently named the Outstanding Development Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northeast Indiana Chapter.

Rigdon was nominated by Community Foundation Board member, Sally Mahnken; 1st Source Bank Vice President and Trust Officer, John Elliott; Judge Duane Huffer; and local attorney, Dana Leon Huffer.

The award is presented to a development professional who demonstrates leadership, new program development, creative ideas and effectiveness in the area of fundraising. In addition, the AFP recognized Rigdon for her work on behalf of other community organizations. Rigdon has helped numerous nonprofits fundraise and establish good governance policy. Some of the organizations she has helped and served in committee or board capacity include St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, W.I.S.E., Inc., and the North Webster Community Public Library.

The focus of Rigdon’s work through the Community Foundation is helping donors accomplish their charitable dreams. In that capacity, Rigdon, along with a donor’s professional adviser, help a donor impact an area about which he or she is passionate about. For some donors, that is a fund designated to help their favorite charity, or a fund to focus on an audience they feel strongly about like children, or pets, or the arts. For some donors that is an advised fund, which allows them to recommend grants.

Rigdon has spearheaded numerous initiatives at the Community Foundation including the formation of a Planned Giving Council that brings together other development professionals to review case studies and learn from one another. She designs the twice yearly professional advisor workshops that enable attorneys, financial planners, accountants and insurance agents to earn continuing education credits so that they can keep their licenses current. The topics of these workshops generally focus on an aspect of charitable giving that impact the professional advisors’ clients.

Rigdon also facilitates the Community Foundation’s special outreach to women through the Women in Philanthropy series. This series offers area women the opportunity to learn from other women philanthropists how to leave a charitable legacy.

Rigdon is a certified fundraising executive. She has served as the Community Foundation’s Development Director for the past nine years. Prior to her work for the Community Foundation, Rigdon was the executive director of a Kosciusko County based nonprofit. Rigdon received her undergraduate degree in public administration and mass communications from Indiana University and a certificate of fundraising management from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy.