Who is Osborne Meese?

Osborne Meese is considered the founding father of the Richland County Foundation. Along with six other businessmen in 1945 he established the Richland County Foundation after handling the payments to indigent individuals in Richland County through the Scattergood Fund for years. Osborne Meese had an admirable business ethic, strong community ties, excellent leadership ability, and foresight for Richland County. The other founders include Robert B. Black, Scott F. Coffin, John H. Finefrock, George W. Stephens, Paul R. Tappan, and Norman L. Wolfe.

What is the Osborne Meese Academy?

The Osborne Meese Academy (OMA) was established out of a need within the community to build capacity, serve as an informational resource, and act as a catalyst to encourage stronger collaboration among nonprofit organizations.

What are the expected outcomes of the program?
The goals of The Osborne Meese Academy are:
~Develop sustainable organizations to be ready to meet community needs
~Strengthen executive leaders and governing bodies
~Increase knowledge about and implementation of nonprofit governance and organizational effectiveness

For more information, call 419-525-3020 or email Community Investment Officer, Bobby Rhea, brhea@rcfoundation.org.

Osborne Meese Academy 2026

Charitable University

OMA/ Charitable University Registration

OMA is partnering with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to offer FREE in-person sessions of Charitable University.

What is Charitable University?

Charitable University is a program from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office that provides training in board governance, governmental filings and record keeping, financial activities, and fundraising.

The Charitable University curriculum program will be presented in person at The Ohio State University – Mansfield, Eisenhower Marketplace, to local nonprofit board members and leaders who will receive completion credit for the program.

The presenter will be Beth Short, Director of Charitable Outreach and Education for the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section. She has spent her career working for and with nonprofit organizations. Her work in the Charitable Law Section focuses on the development of strategies aimed at strengthening the nonprofit sector.

July 16
4pm-7pm
Dinner & Refreshments Provided

September 17
4pm-7pm
Dinner & Refreshments Provided

November 5
9am – 12pm
Light Breakfast & Refreshments Provided

Board members unable to participate at an in-person session, may also complete the online courses to count towards 75% completion. Those organizations with confirmed 75% completion (either in-person or online) will be eligible:

To apply for a 2-hour coaching session with a nonprofit consultant (see below) to provide specialized board governance training and development.

For a chance to win a $1,000 grant prize during Richland Gives, if they also participate in Richland Gives.

For more information, call 419-525-3020 or email Community Investment Officer,
Bobby Rhea, brhea@rcfoundation.org

Nonprofit Consultant Coaching Opportunity

Richland County Foundation has partnered with Williams Nonprofit Consulting to offer discounted coaching sessions with Jennifer Williams. Jennifer is a veteran nonprofit leader and advocate with over 25 years of experience helping nonprofits influence public policy. She launched the state’s first comprehensive nonprofit advocacy initiative, represented tens of thousands of organizations, and trained nonprofit leaders to integrate advocacy into strategy. As a former executive director and consultant, she specializes in building nonprofit capacity, developing advocacy strategies, and helping organizations drive systemic change. Jennifer will help your organization identify key priorities in capacity building for your organization and lay the groundwork to put your knowledge into action.

Topics covered in each coaching session will include:

Nonprofit Compliance Checklist
Recommended Nonprofit Policies & Procedures
Ethics & Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector