VFN is excited to feature Community Collaborations, Inc. in this edition of the Member Spotlight series! As a Partner Member, Community Collaborations provides fractional executive services and expert guidance during critical moments of change. From interim CEO roles to strategic planning and succession strategies, we help businesses, nonprofits, and family enterprises thrive through transition.
Here’s a little more from Kelly Chopus, Owner and Founder, on the organization and her leadership:
What are you currently reading?
Look Closer by Davis Ellis – A twisty page turner where everything and everyone is lying…I think. A perfect summer escape read!
What leaders have “influenced” your leadership style, views and/or goals?
I love the quiet audacity of activists like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai who as young women remind me to be brave and fearless. Jay Shetty reminds me to be grateful and observant. Their journeys add to my overall leadership mantra that love is the primary reason for the work I do – to leave the world a more positive and equitable place a little each day. It’s rough work especially in these dark times.
Can you share any life or environmental changes that have shaped you and/or your organization and leadership?
I recently engaged a business coach and have enjoyed the deeper work of building my business from the ground up – thinking about my “why” and then my “how” has been clarifying and liberating.
What types of resources do you offer to the philanthropic community?
I provide comprehensive advisory and strategic operational support for purpose-driven giving —tailored to the unique values, goals, and governance structures of family foundations. My services are designed to maximize impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and build a sustainable legacy of giving across generations.
What else would you like others to know (i.e. words of wisdom, etc.)?
I don’t presume to have words of wisdom for anybody- we are all on our own path. Stick to the plan! What has sustained me over the past several years is the trusted counsel of loved ones, engagement in my communities, and a downward dog or two…
In Case You Missed It
Earlier this year, Kelly Chopus shared a timely article in our Bringing You In the Know series: “Emerging Trends: Why an Interim Executive Could Be Right for Your Organization.” In it, she highlights how interim leadership—experienced, mission‑aligned, short‑term executives—can be a smart solution when nonprofits and foundations face planned or unexpected transitions.
Kelly’s insights underscore how thoughtfully engaging interim leadership can transform a vulnerable moment into a moment of intentional growth and readiness.
To refresh your memory or dive deeper, read the full Bringing You In the Know feature here.
Owner and Founder, Kelly Chopus, is a long-time supporter of VFN and a passionate advocate for collaboration, impact, and equity in philanthropy. As a founding board member and funder of the network, her role helped shape VFN to what it is today.