Community Heroes
Academy
Ready To Grow Your Organization?
We help nonprofits position their organizations for success through coaching and training.
Join the Academy!
Community Heroes Lite
Just browsing- Access to free on-demand webinars
- Monthly Community Heroes Funding Alerts
- Access to $1,000 Heroes Award Application
- 50% off IRS 990N Filings
- Community Cafe - Live Weekly Coaching
- 50% off Private Consultations
- 50% off Master Classes
- Access to 12 month newsletter archives
- Access to Community Pathways
Discovery Plus
The Full Experience!- Access to all on-demand webinars
- Monthly Community Heroes Funding Alerts
- Access to $1,000 Heroes Award Application
- FREE IRS 990N Filings
- Community Cafe - Live Weekly Coaching
- 50% off Private Consultations
- 50% off Master Classes
- Access to 12 month newsletter archives
- Access to Community Pathways
Community Heroes Lite
Just browsing- Access to free on-demand webinars
- Monthly Community Heroes Funding Alerts
- Access to $1,000 Heroes Award Application
- 50% off IRS 990N Filings
- Community Cafe - Live Weekly Coaching
- 50% off Private Consultations
- 50% off Master Classes
- Access to 12 month newsletter archives
- Access to Community Pathways
Discovery
The DIY Experience- Access to all on-demand webinars
- Monthly Community Heroes Funding Alerts
- Access to $1,000 Heroes Award Application
- 50% off IRS 990N Filings
- Community Cafe - Live Weekly Coaching
- 50% off Private Consultations
- 50% off Master Classes
- Access to 12 month newsletter archives
- Access to Community Pathways
Discovery Plus
The Full Experience!- Access to all on-demand webinars
- Monthly Community Heroes Funding Alerts
- Access to $1,000 Heroes Award Application
- FREE IRS 990N Filings
- Community Cafe - Live Weekly Coaching
- 50% off Private Consultations
- 50% off Master Classes
- Access to 12 month newsletter archives
- Access to Community Pathways
Want to learn more?
Meet the CEO! Join Cheryl Smith on the Academy info sessions where she’ll discuss the Community Heroes program and talk about each membership level.
There’s a bonus for staying with her until the end of the session!
What our Members Say
"Did you know there is a Community Heroes Academy for nonprofits? They meet you where you are, i.e. start up and anywhere along the spectrum. They also award grants to nonprofits enrolled in the Academy!"
Margaret Edinburgh
Founder & CEO of Yellow Rose Strong Oak Society, Inc.
Thank you to the Community Heroes Team! I had so many unanswered questions and had no real means of support until I learned about your program. Now, I feel supported and I'm finally getting my organization prepared for funding. You've been a real blessing!
Queala Fitzgerald
Founder and CEO of From Seeds to Harvest
Every so often, a company comes along and shifts an entire industry. That's exactly what Community Heroes is doing for the US Small Nonprofits. The only thing wrong with the membership is that it is priced much too low!
Mercedes Peguero
Founder and CEO of Guardian Angel Social Service Agency, Inc.
We are so proud to be a positive resource for this program! Cheryl Smith is a trusted and very talented grant-writer and coach! This organization is the only one that we trust with grant-writing and funding guidance!
Jeannine Hayden
Executive Director, CASA Paulding
My first grant and many grants after that was because of this company and the work and ethics that Cheryl Smith brings to the nonprofit sector - specially the small nonprofits. Many blessings to this organization and its leadership!
V. Stevenson
Founder and Executive Director for the House of Globalization, Inc.
I was hesitate to join at first. I wasn't sure if I had time. I am so glad that I did it away! I engage when I have time. And, EVERY TIME I have a coaching session or view a webinar, I learn something new! I used their LOI template and also received a grant!
Alecia Washington
Founder and Executive Director for City of Hope Safe Haven, Inc.
Meet Our CEO!
“Supporting the nonprofit community is my purpose. Community Heroes is my path. I plan to spend my life with you, creating a better world.”
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Not at all! We’ve designed Pathways to help you stay focused. Our lessons range from 30 minutes to just under 2 hours, and there’s 12 lessons. So, that’s just 1 lesson per week! Now, if you are an over-achiever, you can literally finish every lesson in 1 to 4 weeks!
IMPORTANT: Community Heroes memberships are not a magic elixir. You (or someone on your team) will have to do the work in order to reap the rewards of funding and sustainability. 🙂
Yes, though we’re not sure why you would! You can cancel your membership at any time by contacting support@dewlyn.com.
IMPORTANT: Because we provide Discovery and Discovery Plus members with upfront benefits, there are no refunds issued for these membership cancellations – regardless of the date of upgrade or cancellation. You’ll have access to benefits until your paid term is scheduled to end.
Sure! Visit our Contact Page to reach more – OR – Join the Info Session to learn all about Community Heroes
Yes! We send monthly grant alerts covering 9 program areas: Animals, Arts and Culture, Community, Education, Environment, Faith-based, Health, Human Services, and Social Justice.
- We do not research grants for a specific organization unless we are engaged in proposal writing.
- Discovery Plus members are coached on how to specifically identify mission-aligned funders.
We include grant-writing tips, training alerts, and grant alerts. Community Heroes Newsletters are emailed monthly. For each grant opportunity, we include the following details (when provided by the funder):
- The Funder’s name
- Opportunity deadline
- Opportunity Amount
- Funder’s mission or priority causes
- Where to learn more and apply
Yes, definitely! When you join the Discovery Plus program, we’ll show you how – step by step! 
Once you are “ready” to apply for funding, you’ll submit applications to mission-aligned funders. Each funder has their own deadlines and schedules for review. While there are funders that will review your grant application within 30 days, most funders only review grant applications 2 to 4 times each year.
Cheryl would love to answer all of your questions! However the Community Heroes network has grown to over 1,000 members! She now meets by appointment only. Reach out to our support team at support@dewlyn.com to schedule your appointment. You can also join the Community Cafe to ask your questions!
Community Café
The Community Café is a virtual gathering where our Discovery Plus members can ask and receive answers to their most pressing nonprofit questions. The Café concept is based on the World Cafe Model.
All Discovery Plus members can join!
The Community Cafe is held on the first three thursdays of each month at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EST
Training
Yes, of course!
- Discovery and Discovery Plus members have 24/7 access to all On-Demand webinars offered on our public pages during the term of their membership.
- Lite members have access to complimentary On-Demand webinars listed on our public pages.
- Discovery Plus members may access Master-Classes at a discounted rate during their membership with us.
What Great Nonprofits Do to Succeed!
- Have you ever wondered why some nonprofits succeed and others do not? There is a science to success – even for nonprofits. Complete this webinar and learn the 5 basic principles that the world’s greatest nonprofit organizations already know (and mastered) in order to achieved long-term success and sustainability.
- Learn which activities you should engage in and complete during your first full year as a nonprofit organization. This webinar provides step by step, quarter by quarter guidance, filling in gaps in your knowledge about the nonprofit sector (with information you didn’t even know you needed to know)!
- During this webinar, you’ll learn: the difference between a mission and a vision statement; the purpose of mission statements; and we’ll show you the best fill-in-blank template to use to develop your mission statement!
Yes, definitely! When you join the Discovery Plus program, we’ll show you how – step by step! Once you are “ready” to apply for funding, you’ll submit applications to mission-aligned funders. Each funder has their own deadlines and schedules for review. While there are funders that will review your grant application within 30 days, most funders only review grant applications 2 to 4 times each year.
Heroes Award
The Heroes Award is a cash sponsorship of up to $1.000 offered to one of our Discovery or Discovery Plus Members for doing amazing charitable work in their community. This award is given in November on Giving Tuesday!
The application is quick and easy! Visit the Heroes Award page to view the application. All Discovery Plus members are eligible to apply.
Private Consultations
Memberships do not include free private consultation. Many times, private consultation involves helping you to identify a plan of action for solving the issue or accomplishing your charitable goal(s).
- Discovery Plus members can join us during our Community Café sessions which are held (3 out of 4) Wednesdays. During these sessions, Cheryl and/or one of our expert partners deliver coaching and answer member questions concerning nonprofit matters.
- For private one-on-one consultation, Discovery members receive a 50% discount off of our current consultation rates.
Reach out to our support team at support@dewlyn.com to schedule your appointment!
Pathways
Community Heroes Pathways are connected e-learning webinars and learning materials that allow Discovery Plus members to build knowledge progressively for a particular goal. Pathways take the guesswork out of which webinars are best for your goal, and in what order you should view them in. Best of all, pathways include weekly live coaching and opportunities to network with others as you develop new skills along the way!
- NEO (New and Emerging Organizations): This Pathway is recommended for anyone considering starting a nonprofit or for newly formed nonprofits that are under a year old.
- P2P (Path to Profit): This Pathway is recommended for nonprofit leaders that are centrally focused on positioning their small to mid-sized organization for funding.
- “BEST” (Business Enhancement through Support and Training). This Pathway combines the best of the NEO and P2P Pathways, with a focus on starting, sustaining, and funding a nonprofit.
Yes! As a Discovery Plus member, you’ll have access to ALL of our On-Demand e-learning webinars and materials. You can access On-Demand webinars anytime, day or night!
The Pathways are just an added benefit that will help you to stay focused on your goal.
*Discovery Members have access to all On-Demand webinars listed on our public website!
Forms and Templates
We have forms and templates in the following categories:
- Starting a Nonprofit
- Grants and Contributions
- Board Planning & Development
- Finance and Budgeting
- IRS Forms and Publications
Of course! Reach out to our team and we can help you get the customization process started.