Empowering Nonprofits, Strengthening Communities

Our Story

TCN was formed in 2006 to provide resources and opportunities for nonprofits to succeed in their mission and contribute to the growth and prosperity of the community. Over the years, we’ve grown into a network that brings together over 120 agencies and individuals to tackle community challenges together.

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Our Vision

TCN will cultivate a network of community changemakers, working hand in hand to create solutions for the pressing needs in our community. We will also provide a real-time learning laboratory for nonprofits and individuals, fostering their growth and development as community-changing forces.

What We Do

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Capacity Building

TCN offers NO-COST capacity building support to strengthen local nonprofits in order to better serve their communities.

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Partnerships

With a deep understanding of the non-profit landscape, we empower partnerships to drive positive change.

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Consulting

We offer affordable consulting from our expert fundraising and program development consultants.

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Committees

Our community committees address pressing needs and drive collective action to create lasting positive change.

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Sponsorship

TCN offers fiscal sponsorship for local grassroots groups seeking to effect positive change as nonprofits.

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Initiatives

We support various community initiatives, including urgent and unexpected needs, through our giving platform.

Our Team

Holly Parker

Executive Director

Ashley Kolpak

Director of M & O

Meredith Sossman

Advisor

Claire E. Goelst

Grant Writer

Holly Parker, BA, MA, M.ED.

Executive Director

For the last 8 years, TCN has been led by an Executive Director that is not only trusted among non-profit organizations but has built strong relationships across many sectors including local and state government, the business community, schools and universities and healthcare. This trust is what makes TCN a respected, sought-after community partner on many community projects and initiatives. With over 25 years as a nonprofit sector leader, Holly’s expertise includes working with community stakeholders including funders, corporate sponsors, boards, committees, volunteers, school districts, and community organizations; developing and implementing innovative programs and services to serve our community; and leading organizations through substantial growth and into stability. Holly serves on the Board of Directors for Pottstown Hospital and is also an adjunct instructor in Nonprofit Management & Grant Writing for Chestnut Hill College. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Chester University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management, as well as a Master of Science in Education both from Colorado State University.

Ashley Kolpak

Director of Mission & Operations

Ashley attended school in the Owen J. Roberts School district and graduated in 2009. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in graphic design and painting, from Alfred University in 2013. In her spare time, she creates paintings, drawings, crafts, sewing, jewelry, and exhibits her work in local galleries. She has resided in the Pottstown area most of her life and involved in various community organizations and initiatives.

Meredith Sossman, Esq.

Development & Strategic Planning Advisor

Meredith Sossman is an accomplished development professional and attorney, who has helped non-profits achieve better results through insight and experience in all aspects of giving and non-profit management. For nearly two decades Meredith has led and advised teams in university, healthcare, arts, food insecurity, and various missions to increase teamwork resulting in better fundraising results and effective relationship building techniques. Meredith is the principal of MM&C Consulting and specializes in building effective and efficient systems and processes that support Board development, database structure and management, financial structure and audits, annual, major and planned giving philanthropy programs and individual executive and skills coaching. She has served as a campaign director, associate executive director, in-house counsel and chief development officer. She successfully led and supported capital campaigns from inception to completion, consistently helping teams to exceed their goals. Meredith also serves as a Senior Consultant with plannedgiving.com, where she is engaged to help non-profits exceed their goals and expectations through inspired philanthropy and best practices in non-profit management. She speaks at national and international conferences on database management, board training and development, fundraising, and nonprofit management.

Claire E. Goelst, MSc

Grant Writer

Claire E. Goelst, MSc, has been working in grant writing for over 10 years. She has written winning proposals for over 100 clients totaling $25 Million USD from government, private foundation, and institutional grant sources such as the CDC-NIH, National Geographic Society, Administration for Community Living, USAID, The Earth Institute, and many more. Claire has worked with organizations across multiple sectors– mental health, conservation, medical technology, animal welfare, arts & culture, education, public health, substance abuse prevention, community development, neuroscience, environmental science, and more. Claire began her career working in biomedical and academic research funding and transitioned to nonprofit funding work in 2017. Claire received her BS from University of Richmond in 2014, her Masters in Science from Columbia University in 2018, and is currently finishing her PhD from University of Cape Town. When not writing proposals and teaching the secrets of grant funding to nonprofits, she can be found on her yoga mat in Brooklyn alongside her cat, Artichoke.