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Network Notes - Featured Events from Around the State
February 2016
Regional Featured Events
North
South
East
West
Central
Resources
 
 
Quick Links
 
 
 
 
 
Below are select offerings from each region. For the full listing of events and workshops go to our Searchable Calendar.
"Strategic planning is worthless - unless you have a strategic vision."
~ John Naisbitt 
Hey There...Going My Way?
 
What excites you most about where your organization is going? Can you describe its direction easily? Is it moving forward in programming, client relationships, board composition, or donor engagement? Is there one strategic priority around which everything else aligns and supports? Is it "just maintaining" at all levels to allow recovery from a challenging transition? Is the vision one that inspires, one in which wide numbers can feel deep commitment?

Whether you are a prospective board member, or a staff or volunteer job applicant, or someone already holding one of these important nonprofit roles, it's imperative that you know where the organization is going. Successful boards need to know what's working, what could be improved, where training might make a serious difference, and that the community is confident that the work is making a difference. Board planning time is a great way to re-evaluate, test new ideas, and most importantly, ensure the vision fits the future.

Key questions:
  • Does your board have an annual planning retreat?
  • Are they planning sufficient time to do an environmental scan, have quality discussion?
  • Has staff done important legwork to prepare data, suggest possible changes?
  • Are they open to creative new thinking?
  • Is there a way to test ideas with the community, donors, stakeholders, all ranges of constituents?
  • Are they inspired? Excited for the future?
Once a new direction is set, consider reviewing the current board skill sets and relationships so they can align to support the new vision, too. Finally, take a fresh look at the fundraising strategy and everyone's roles to bring it to life. This month's featured tool (see link, left) will help with your Strategic Fundraising Plan.

Vibrantly visioning,


Lisa Hanger
Statewide Director
Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network 
Map of Indiana with Northern Region HighlightedNorthern Region
 

Fundraising; Beyond the Special Event
 
Often cited as a major reason for board member, volunteer, and development staff burn-out, events are one of the most abused, misused and addictive forms of fundraising. While there is certainly a place for events in a diverse fundraising program, most organizations fail to maximize the opportunities that events offer and simply rely too heavily on events.

Based on the article "Avoiding the Highly Contagious Special Events Bug",  co-authored by Nick Parkevich for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), you will learn strategies for making the most of your events by establishing a process before your event and developing strategies for increasing board engagement in developing donor relationships after your event.

When: Thursday, March 10, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST
Where: United Way of Elkhart County, LaSalle Bristol Building second floor, 601 County Road 17, Elkhart, IN
Presenter: Nick Parkevich, Loring, Sternberg & Associates
Cost: $65, includes lunch and all materials
 

Creating A Powerful Fundraising Plan
 
What would happen at your agency if you didn't have to be concerned each day about your funding?  What if you knew how much you needed to raise, for what purpose you were going to raise funds, who you were going to talk to in order to raise it, and by when you needed the funds? You will receive the tools you need to put a plan in place for your organization.

Staff of nonprofits, board members, and community volunteers are encouraged to attend, as this workshop is designed for those both new to fundraising as well as those who are looking to improve upon their current development plans.
 
By the end of our session, you should have an understanding of:
  • The importance of a diversified funding base
  • Conducting an audit of your current donors and how to prioritize key relationships with larger contributors
  • Integrating your mission into a strong case for support
  • Identifying appropriate funding opportunities for your organization
  • Setting realistic development goals
  • Preparing your development plan and a corresponding calendar

When: Thursday, March 24, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT
Where: United Way of Elkhart County, LaSalle Bristol Building second floor, 601 County Road 17 Elkhart, IN
Presenter: Laura Macknick, Trine University
Cost: $65, includes lunch and all materials

For more information, contact Keith Sarber, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Northern Region.
Southern Region

The Role of an Effective Nonprofit Board of Directors and How to Recruit Members to Your Board

junemiller This workshop reviews the essential responsibilities of every nonprofit board of directors, regardless of mission, size, or location.  You will leave with a better understanding of the duties of a board and the tools needed to perform those duties.  Understand the foundation for a great working relationship between the lead staff person and the board.  We will also discuss the steps in finding and recruiting effective board members.

 
 
When:  Thursday, February 11, 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM EST
Where: Community Foundation of Jackson County, 107 Community Drive, Seymour, IN
Presenter: June Miller, Southern Regional Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network
Sponsors: Jackson County United Way and the Community Foundation of Jackson County
Cost: $15, includes lunch and materials
Information: Tonja Couch, Executive Director, Jackson County United Way, tonja@jacsy.org
 
For more information, contact June Miller, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Southern Region.
State of Indiana with Eastern Region Hightlighted
Eastern Region
   
Empowering Employees to Lead 

  • How do I get my employees to step up and take ownership?
  • How can I align my staff when, sometimes, it feels like we aren't rowing together?
  • How do I inspire, encourage, and empower my employees?
This session will answer these questions and give you the tools you need to begin equipping your team to feel empowered and focus on finding solutions.


When: Tuesday, February 2, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST
Where: Ball State University LA Pittenger Student Center, Room SC 301, 2000 University Avenue, Muncie, IN
Presenters: Marc and Carla Taylor are a dynamic and engaging speaking team. They have entertained audiences all over the world while providing real work value and results to their clients.
Sponsors:  United Way of Delaware County and Ball State University
Cost: $10 per participant
Developing Your Fundraising Plan
 
Nick Parkevich A sound fundraising plan engages your board, staff, volunteers, and those you serve by putting in place strategies top help fund your organization's vision. This hands-on session will provide you with an outline for beginning the process of developing your own fundraising plan that is tailored to the specific needs of your organization.

When: Thursday, February 18, 9:00 AM - Noon EST
Where: Ivy Tech Community College Conference Center, 261 Commerce Drive, Marion, IN
Presenter: Nick Parkevich, CFRE, Loring, Sternberg & Associates
Sponsors: United Way of Grant County, Community Foundation of Grant County, and Ivy Tech Community College
Cost: $10 per participant
 
Hiring Right: Use Your Senses, Your Good Sense, and Your Common Sense - Not Your Gut

 This presentation will cover how you can screen, interview, and hire applicants to get the best workforce possible, including: 
  • Job descriptions and why they are important and what they need to contain
  • How to effectively recruit and retain employees
  • Legal requirements that exist when conducting hiring/best practices for the process
  • Background checks
  • Use of social media
  • Managing and terminating employees

When:  Tuesday, February 23, 9:00 AM - Noon EST
Where:  Ball State University Alumni Center, Meeting Room 2, 2800 West Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN
Presenter:  Marty Lemert, Attorney and Partner, Fort Wayne office of Faegre Baker Daniels Law Firm
Cost: $30
 

For more information, contact Lesley Devine, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Eastern  Region.
State of Indiana with Western Region HighlightedWestern Region
 
Governance Series: 12 Principals that Power Exceptional Boards

Part Susan Deckerof the 2016 Douglas W. Eberle Not-for-Profit Board Governance Series, this workshop will kick off a series of governance focused workshops to help your board members better understand their  roles, responsibilities, and how to use their skills to help support your mission. "Aspirational in nature, these principles offer chief executives a description of an empowered board that is a strategic asset to be leveraged. They provide board members with a vision of what is possible and a way to add lasting value to the organizations they lead." - BoardSource

When: Wednesday, February 3, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Where: The Lafayette Country Club, 1500 S. 9th Street, Lafayette, IN
Presenter: Susan Decker, BoardSource Consultant and St. Mary of the Woods Faculty
Cost: $20.00 includes lunch; save $8.00 per workshop when you register for the series

Fundraising for Nonprofits Part 1:  Essential Elements of a Fundraising Plan and Introduction to Donor Centered Fundraising

Part of the 2016 Nonprofit Learning Series. An effective, written fundraising plan provides a critical road map to increasing philanthropic support of your not-for-profit.  The initial presentation will explore benchmarks and metrics that should be included in a fundraising plan, as well as the roles of staff and board. Then we will focus on understanding the seven faces of philanthropy to help you learn what motivates your donors so that you can ensure you have a donor-centered plan that incorporates one-on-one donor engagement and stewardship. Finally, we'll take time to evaluate your current development plans and work in small groups to incorporate fresh ideas as we learn from our peers.  
 
Bring your current development plan to the workshop. Don't have a plan? We will provide you with a template to begin your work. Consider bringing multiple people from your organization responsible for development so you can work together to build your plan for the future.

When: Tuesday, February 9, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Where: The Inn at DePauw, 2 West Seminary Street, Greencastle, IN
Presenter: Tim Ardillo, Johnson Grossnickle & Associates
Cost: $15.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door (includes lunch)
AFP - Meet the Funders in Tippecanoe County

Join us for a luncheon featuring a panel discussion with funders in Tippecanoe County. Registration will begin at 11:00 am, followed by lunch, panel presentations, and question and answer sessions with the panelists. Panel to include: North Central Health Services (NCHS), Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, SIA Foundation, Old National Bank, Tipmont REMC, and Duke Energy. 

When: Wednesday, February 24, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM EST
Where: The Lafayette Country Club, 1500 S. 9th Street, Lafayette, IN
Presenters: Panel discussion
Cost: $30.00, includes lunch

For more information, contact Jillian Henry, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Western Region.
State of Indiana with Central Region HighlightedCentral Region 
 
Grantwriting for Beginners
Start at the beginning with this workshop. Bring your grant proposal ideas and your questions. Please bring lots of resource information about your organization and business cards. Learn how to:
  • Use SAVI data to build your case
  • Write a case statement
  • Research funding sources
  • Develop a budget  
  • Manage the grant project
  • Include a realistic project management and evaluation component
When: Wednesday, March 9, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST
Where: United Way of Central Indiana, 3901 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN
Presenter:  Toyin Martin, Your Vision Services
Cost: $60, United Way agencies; $70, others
For more information, contact Beth Mussman, Director, Nonprofit Training Center, United Way of Central Indiana.