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Network Notes - Featured Events from Around the State
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March 2016
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Below are select offerings from each region. For the full listing of events and workshops go to our Searchable Calendar.
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"Let go of the fighting mind and develop the dancing spirit."
~ Thomas F. Crum
A Case for a Different Performance Appraisal
Raise your hand if you look forward to the annual performance appraisal ritual...No? That's not surprising.
Take heart. Typically, the evaluator isn't fond of the process either. Often board chairs feel the least comfortable. Some processes are based in the "fighting mind." Questions and ratings can feel judgmental.
Imagine a performance appraisal based on a dancing spirit. Learn from an advertising agency's creative appraisal form with pictures of jugglers and acrobats on its cover. Set up an expectation to be nimble, lift spirits, and elevate new perceptions.
Maximize the performance appraisal by being reflective, aligning performance to organizational goals, and making improvements to move the entire organization forward. Let go of some of the ratings and tick marks. For example, invite employees and volunteers to self-evaluate, first. Then use the meeting to check up on goals, refine them and/or re-evaluate for the future. Here are some questions to get you started:
- List primary job roles and responsibilities.
- What major tasks/goals were assigned and accomplished over the review period?
- How did you measure success?
- Were any goals missed? Explain.
- In what ways does your work most support the mission?
- What elements of your work do you enjoy most and why?
- What would you change if you could and why?
- Describe any professional development requests.
State new goals for the next 12 months and success measures.
This month, download our top 5 most popular resources, see links, left: Volunteer Job Description-Office Assistant, Organizational Volunteering Policy, Stand for Mission: Board Advocacy, Accountability Chart Sample, Helpful Links for Nonprofits.
Lifting spirits,
Bea Northcott
Training Associate
Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network
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 Northern 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
Strategic Decisions for Sustainability The Sustainability Mindset
 Nonprofit sustainability lies at the intersection of exceptional impact and financial viability. In today's rapid pace of change, nonprofit business models are quickly evolving and strategic decisions need to be made if organizations are going to be sustainable. This interactive and practical training offers staff and board leaders an opportunity to define sustainability for their organizations, to identify challenges and opportunities facing their business models, and to prepare for immediate or upcoming decisions that will strengthen their organizations. Based on Steve Zimmerman's new book The Sustainability Mindset, this session introduces participants to the matrix map, a tool that transforms an organization's business model into a single, compelling image integrating mission impact and financial profitability. At the conclusion, participants will leave with a tool they can use to engage staff and the board in the pursuit of sustainability.
When: Thursday, April 7, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Where: Peabody Public Library, 1160 IN-205 Columbia City, IN
Presenter: Steve Zimmerman, Spectrum Nonprofit Services
Cost: $65, includes lunch and all materials
For more information, contact Keith Sarber, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Northern Region.
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Southern Region
Learn more about the funding process in our communities as our panelists representing our largest funders: Alcoa, Bussing-Koch Foundation, Old National Bank, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Vanderburgh Community Foundation, United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Vectren and Welborn Baptist Foundation discuss their grant making and answer your questions.
When: Thursday, April 7, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT
Where: Central Library Browning Room, Evansvlle, IN
Presenters: Representatives from eight funding organizations
Sponsors: United Way of Southwestern Indiana and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network Southern Region
Cost: $20, includes lunch
The Boards Role in Fundraising
 Getting members of a nonprofit board of directors to actively participate in fundraising can be one of the biggest challenges faced by a nonprofit. The first step is to understand the nature and facts about charitable giving. Secondly, it is important to understand that there are dozens of ways in which board members can fundraise. Participants in this workshop will understand these two concepts and they will believe that fundraising is not begging, it is a values exchange.
When: Thursday, April 14, 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM EDT
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
Registration: Tonja Couch, Executive Director, Jackson County United Way - tonja@jacsy.org
For more information, contact June Miller, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Southern Region. |
 Eastern Region
Donor Communications That Engage and Retain Donors
What is donor retention? And why is it important? This workshop will focus on what can be done about retaining donors and building donor loyalty based on the principles of Dr. Adrian Sargeant and Tom Ahern, two of the foremost authorities on donor communications. We will show examples of their principles in action via various kinds of written and digital communications. The results of improved donor communications can be astounding when put into daily use. After all, it's not about you. It's about the donor.
When: Wednesday, March 16, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Where: Ball State University Alumni Center, Assembly Hall, 2800 West Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN
Presenter: Steven Shattuck, VP of Marketing, Bloomerang, Indianapolis,
Sponsor: United Way of Delaware County
Cost: $30 per participant
For more information, contact Lesley Devine, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Eastern Region.
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 Western Region
Fundraising for Nonprofits Part 2: Cultivating the Donor and Non-Cash Giving
Past donors are gems hiding in plain sight, waiting for a little cultivation to become future champions of your mission. This interactive session will focus on developing strategies and employing best practices in donor cultivation to increase major and planned gifts to your organization. We'll review the role of non-cash gifts in your development program and their appeal for donors and nonprofits alike, as well as addressing myths and challenges of planned gifts and resources for assistance accepting them at your organization.
Finally, we'll discuss having a conversation about giving and the protocol for a structured discussion with donors to assess their philanthropic interests and the intersection of these interests with your institution. We will also have time for role play and practicing the conversation.
When: Tuesday, March 8, 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 Poverty Simulation - Tippecanoe County 46.2 million Americans live in poverty every day. It is difficult for those of us who have enough to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day, the decisions they have to make and the fears and frustrations they feel. That is why we are inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in a Poverty Simulation which provides participants the opportunity to assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. As one participant commented, "This simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive from day to day." Open to anyone who would like to better understand the realities of poverty.
When: Wednesday, March 30, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT Where: Plumbers and Steamfitter's Union Hall, 2555 S. 30th Street, Lafayette, IN Presenters: Panel discussion Cost: Free, Registration required Register: Earl Cox, 765-742-9077, ext 231
Strategic Decisions for Sustainability
Part of the 2016 Douglas W. Eberle Not-for-Profit Board Governance Series, this workshop will introduce nonprofits to a mindset of how to approach sustainability and provide tools of how to do so. "Sustainability is an orientation, not a destination," author and founder, Steve Zimmerman says in his book, The Sustainability Mindset. Steve will provide an overview of sustainability and discuss the double bottom line of mission and profitability that nonprofits balance.
The Matrix Map will also be discussed as a tool that maps both the mission impact and the financial viability of an organization's activities, providing a visual image of the organization's business model in a manner that will foster discussion, provide strategic options for the decision-makers to consider, plus ensure they hold to both aspects of sustainability as they make decisions.
When: Wednesday, April 6, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Where: Lafayette Country Club, 1500 S. 9th Street, Lafayette, IN
Presenter: Steve Zimmerman, Spectrum Nonprofit Services
Cost: $20, includes lunch
For more information, contact Jillian Henry, Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network, Western Region. |
 Central 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.
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