OES Launches Mission Possible
An OES workshop helps nonprofit organizations across eastern North Carolina build stronger skills, connections and communities.
Eastern North Carolina has never waited for someone else to solve its challenges. Time and again, communities have stepped forward to help their neighbors through the work of nonprofit organizations. Whether addressing food insecurity, supporting families, preserving the arts, or expanding educational opportunities, these organizations help shape the communities we call home.
At East Carolina University, serving the region has always been central to the mission. Drawing on expertise in business, leadership, and community engagement, the Office of Expert Services and the Office of Professional & Continuing Education have partnered to create Mission Possible: Building Smarter, Stronger Nonprofits—a program designed specifically for the organizations serving eastern North Carolina.
The idea behind the program is straightforward: when nonprofit leaders gain practical tools, build meaningful relationships, and learn from one another, entire communities benefit. Rather than focusing solely on lectures, Mission Possible brings participants together in a cohort where conversations are just as valuable as the curriculum. Leaders representing different missions often discover they are facing many of the same challenges, creating opportunities to share ideas, exchange solutions, and build lasting professional connections across the region.
Leading the program are Greg Abeyounis and Tiffany Woodward, two eastern North Carolinians whose commitment to the region extends beyond their professional roles. Their connection to this work is personal, rooted in a shared desire to see the communities they call home thrive.
“This place is home to me and I have roots here,” Woodward said. “So, this program is going to stand out because it was specifically designed for the nonprofit organizations serving eastern North Carolina.”
That regional perspective is one of the program’s greatest strengths. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, Mission Possible recognizes the unique opportunities and challenges nonprofits face across eastern North Carolina and tailors the experience to meet those needs.
Abeyounis brings another important perspective to the classroom. As East Carolina University’s Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Development, he works closely with charitable organizations and understands the realities nonprofit leaders face every day.
“What I’m most excited about, and our biggest goal, is that those who participate in this workshop will get useful tools to take with them in the first session,” Abeyounis said. “Across eastern North Carolina, nonprofits have an economic impact that far exceeds most other regions of the state. Their work is essential.”
Mission Possible is designed so participants leave every session with ideas they can immediately put into practice while continuing to build on those lessons throughout the cohort. Combined with one-on-one coaching and opportunities to connect with fellow nonprofit professionals, the program creates a network that extends well beyond the final session.
The initiative is made possible through a $50,000 grant from Anonymous Trust, helping reduce financial barriers through scholarships so more organizations can participate. The investment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector and supporting the leaders whose work improves lives across eastern North Carolina.