Trekking 20 miles a day through California, Oregon, and Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail, Elizabeth Atwell rediscovered an identity as a curious individual, an explorer — not just a mission-driven professional. The experience was transformational.

“A lot of my sense of self is tied up with my work,” Atwell says. On the trail, that all fell away. Atwell was completely disconnected from the nonprofit work that had come to define their identity and values. They even assumed a new name — Golden. Rather than asking new acquaintances about their jobs — “a pretty serious faux pas,” Atwell says — they bonded over their favorite hiking equipment and what they planned to eat the next time they resupplied in a town.

It took roughly three months for Atwell to complete the thru-hike. Leaving the trail, they took home a deeper sense of who they were and what they were capable of.

We would like to revisit a Wise Giving Wednesday topic from several years ago that continues to be relevant: the compensation of executives at charitable organizations. Unfortunately, some donors believe that all charities should be run by volunteers. And of those who support paying a staff to run things, they argue the amount should be relatively low. Of course, this is neither fair, practical, or realistic.

Charities need to have paid staff to carry out their operations and to deliver the services and activities for which they are created.

There is a serious misperception that the amount that charities pay in salaries is part of the organization’s “administrative expenses” also known by the lay term “overhead.” The reality is that charity financial statements appropriately allocate salary expenses among three major expense categories: program services, fundraising and management and general expenses.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction is launching the Treatment Atlas online program in partnership with Shatterproof, a national not-for-profit specializing in addiction recovery. Treatment Atlas provides an interactive dashboard to help users search and compare addiction treatment centers based on location, services offered, populations served, and insurance accepted. Learn more

The Villages raised nearly $130,000 during its recent 26th Annual Golf Classic. The proceeds will help the nonprofit fulfill its mission to support the nearly 10,000 foster children it serves each year. See event highlights

Ben’s Ranch Foundation has received a $97,660 Lilly Endowment grant to help establish school-based programs, expand small group programming, and serve more Central Indiana teens struggling with mental health. Read more

The Fishers Nonprofit Committee has approved $250,000 in grants to nonprofits that serve the Fishers community, including $80,000 for Conner Prairie, $50,000 for the Youth Mentoring Initiative, and $15,000 for Prevail. View the complete list

Lilly Endowment Inc. has granted La Casa de Amistad $1 million to help the nonprofit organization strengthen its youth programs in South Bend during a three-year period. Learn more

Central Indiana Exploring has been awarded $10,000 from the Hendricks County Community Foundation. The proceeds will be used for youth workforce development program registration.

Donation: Five cubicle walls and filing cabinets in great condition. Assembly is needed. Must pick up. Contact Kristin

Strategic planning for nonprofits session on Nov. 1 from 2-4 p.m. at Indianapolis Public Library Central, Special Collections Room. Learn how to develop a strategic plan that enables your nonprofit to effectively plan for the future. Presented by The Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register

How to meet the expectations of today’s nonprofit professionals webinar on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Nonprofits are facing the toughest hiring market in a generation. Talented nonprofit professionals demand higher pay, strong work-life balance, and organizational cultures that fit their needs. Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Cost: $69. Register

Asking good questions virtual lunch and learn on Nov. 2 from 11 a.m.-noon. Asking good questions is an essential skill for any leader. In this experiential session, learn how to ask questions that engage people and set the stage for transformation. Presented by Leadership Johnson County. Cost: $20. Register

Gaining perspective from immersive simulation on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.-noon at Founder’s Lodge, 7201 Girl Scout Lane. The simulation creates a community of people living in poverty for one month, comprised of four 15-minute weeks. Presented by United Way of Central Indiana. Cost: $20. Register

Proposal writing boot camp webinar on Nov. 6 from noon-1 p.m. Learn key components in building a competitive grant proposal, how to develop a well-organized budget, and identify a robust prospect list. Presented by Candid. Cost: $800. Register

Adelante Schools, a charter school network in the Garfield Park neighborhood, is seeking board members, particularly those with experience in nonprofit or school finance. Visit Adelante Schools’ website or email to learn more.

Minority Recovery Collective Inc. is seeking 15 volunteers to assist with its inaugural fall fundraising event, GiGi's CosPlaya's Ball. Volunteers are needed from 4-10:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at 1831 Lafayette Road, Indianapolis. Register

Charitable Allies  Free resource for nonprofits working with vulnerable populations.

VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm Alternatives to Giving Tuesday: Innovative fundraising strategies for nonprofits.

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On-line Content and Community Connector - Not-for-profit News/Charitable Advisors