Strategic Restructuring for Nonprofit Organizations - January 15th

What is strategic restructuring? In this time of economic hardship and uncertainty, nonprofits increasingly are looking to their fellow organizations for collaborations, alliances and even mergers.  What is the range of partnerships available to nonprofits, and what are organizations around the country doing to counter the weak economy?  In this workshop, Heather Gowdy of LaPiana Associates, will explain: the different partnership options for nonprofits – such as administrative consolidations, joint ventures and mergers; the motivations that typically lead nonprofits to look at these options; how to assess each organization’s readiness for strategic restructuring; the “key success factors” in mergers and other alliances; the typical roadblocks and challenges.

Heather Gowdy, Senior Associate of LaPiana  Associates, has worked with nonprofits as a volunteer, staff member, consultant, trainer, and board member.  As a consultant, her work has focused on organizational analysis and structure, business plan development, strategic planning, and strategic restructuring.  Heather played a lead role in designing and implementing the Strategic Solutions Project, a foundation-funded initiative aimed at increasing the awareness of the nonprofit sector of the potential value of strategic restructuring activities, such as mergers, joint ventures, and administrative consolidations.  She co-authored The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook, Part II: Unifying the Organization after a Merger (2004).  

For more information and to register, please download the following form: Strategic_restructuring_workshop.pdf

Planning a Real Fund-Raising Event - February 5th

Too often nonprofit organizations are uncomfortable about raising money at fund-raising events.  They call them “friend-raising” events, or “cultivation events” or “awareness building” events.  Sharon Danosky, of Danosky Associates, will show your organization how to turn your “friend-raiser” into a “fund-raiser” by applying sound fund-raising principles, building a strong volunteer committee, focusing on your mission and the people you serve, and asking unabashedly for the funds you need.  The workshop will focus on three key areas: pre-event fund-raising- soliciting sponsors, leveraging your committee, attracting participants and lining up your lead gift(s); logistics – all the details that make an event successful and how to accomplish them; the program – how to build a compelling program that spotlights your cause and attracts caring donors.

Sharon Danosky, founder and president of Danosky & Associates, has dedicated her career to working with nonprofit organizations.  As both a consultant and a senior executive for numerous charitable organizations, she has transformed organizations into highly effectively charities of choice in their communities.  Through a well-honed skill set that includes strategic planning, fund-raising and tactical marketing, coupled with her passion and vision, she has guided nonprofits in their quest for achieving that “next level”, thereby fulfilling their mission and their promise to the community. 

For more information and to register, please download the following form: Event_planning_workshop.pdf 

Nonprofit Websites: The Latest and Greatest of Nonprofit Web Development - March 19th

 This three hour workshop will cover how websites can help inform, move, change and engage your constituents. We will discuss the best practices of web design, layout and marketing to your audience.  In addition, you will leave the workshop with a basic understanding of content management systems, Web 2.0, social networking and other new technologies. We will wrap-up with recommendations and the top ten things you need to consider when embarking on a new web project.  

Ann-Marie Harrington, President and Founder of Embolden,  launched Embolden in 1998 and has developed it into a leading and award-winning web development and consulting firm. Today, the firm services over a hundred national clients in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Ann-Marie launched Embolden following a successful career in advocacy, public policy, research and clinical social services. She and her team of 17 have grown the company by providing unmatched expertise in new and emerging Internet technology, highly personalized service, and a sound business development strategy.