BEST Project Events

All Weather Fundraising 2/8/2012

Facilitator: Kim Klein, Klein & Roth Consulting

Level: All

All Weather Fundraising: How to Survive and Thrive in the “New Normal”

Individuals account for almost 85% of all money given to nonprofits from non-government sources. Clearly, building a broad base of individual donors is the best way to insure stability, allow growth, and guarantee independence. And the best way to raise money from people who give it away is to ask for it.

Yet many nonprofit staff, boards, and volunteers find the process of fundraising extremely difficult and frustrating. Asking is scary, deciding which strategies to use, how to implement them, and how to evaluate their success is anxiety provoking, keeping track of donor data is tedious, so what is a nonprofit to do?

This workshop is based on Kim’s latest book, Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times, and is a chance to really explore what a successful fundraising program can look like in your organization.

Kim knows that fundraising is time consuming and can be wearisome, but not having money is even more so. She also knows that when organizations build fundraising into the rest of their work, they will experience the joy of having donors who love them, of having reliable income streams, and of being able, with the same amount of work year after year, to raise more money. If board members and staff attend together, your results will increase exponentially.

Participants will leave this session:

Having at least three new or more developed ideas of how they can raise money in their communities.
The beginning of a plan for involving more volunteers, including board members, in fundraising.
A clear understanding of why building an individual donor base is important, and feel confident in their own ability to do that.
Feel more comfortable and knowledgeable about how to identify prospects and ask for large amounts of money in person.

See what others had to say about attending a Kim Klein workshop:

“We attended a training that Kim Klein taught here in Springfield, MO. The invaluable information we received came at a time our community could use it the most. The workshop fun and interactive, informative and educational. Thank you!” Dena Simmons, Safe At Home: Helping Seniors Stay Safe in Their Homes

“Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. Your advice over the last 12 years has been invaluable. We always say to each other, “What would Kim Klein say?” Development staff, Santa Cruz Montessori School, Santa Cruz, CA

“You delivered comedy, technical training, motivation, and a whole lot more. Thank you for the important time you spent with us. Our community will reap the benefits.” Sheila Bagdonowitz, Rose Community Foundation, Denver, CO

“We have never received such positive feedback from our grantees as we did with your presentation. Your sense of humor made it easy to wash all the information down—like milk with cookies. Elana Satut, Hispanics in Philanthropy, San Francisco

“Thank you so much for sharing your enlightened, humorous, straightforward approach to fundraising. I am energized for my fundraising future!” Joelle Graves, Planned Parenthood, Medford, OR

Developing a Case Statement for Effective Fundraising 2/15/2012

Facilitator: Julie Hordyk, Mind Over Marketing, LLC

Level: Beginner

In this workshop, you will learn about the case for support: what it is, what it isn’t, and how to go about writing it. We will spend the first half of the workshop talking about the structure and purpose of a case statement, and then you will spend the second half starting the outline for your organization’s case.

You will learn:

what goes into a good case for support
how to gather input so that your case reflects broad stakeholder perspectives
how to differentiate between accomplishments and impact
how to paint word pictures that describe your organization’s impact
how you can use your case once you have completed it
how to solicit feedback and input on your case statement from organization members, including the board

When you complete the workshop, you will have a structure for a case for support, and the outline for the finished product, along with a process you can use to finish writing it.

Effective Public Relations: Gain Attention for Your Organization 2/22/2012

Facilitator: Vanessa Ferguson, VCF Consulting

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

We all know that it is important to promote our organization, but do we do it correctly? Often we have plans that include making promotional materials (brochures, newsletters, and website content) along with outreach to the media, but the implementation of these plans is not always effective.

Learn how to create effective communication materials that will:

Attract donors
Gain media coverage
Effectively communicate your message to the community

The session will help key members of nonprofits learn how to target their message by developing talking points which can be shared at events, organizational meetings, and even to the press can portray a unified message to the rest of the community.

In addition, learning the skills needed to promote fundraisers and other events to the media will be discussed. Participants will learn how to create a template for press releases that can be used for future distribution to the press. Most people believe they can create a press release and then the media will automatically want to cover their event. However, this workshop will help everyone learn the right ways to seek publicity and how to coincide this outreach using social media tools.

Finally, a review of the creation of key marketing tools to promote an organization will be covered. Many people have a list of things they want to make for their organization, but knowing what to include and how to create effective materials is vital. The participants will learn what things should be included in brochures, newsletters, and even on their website to help engage potential donors and volunteers.

The focus will be on how to select the most important components of an organization’s mission and goal in their marketing materials. Often organizations waste time, money, and other resources on materials that do not properly promote an organization, so understanding the basic components of targeting materials towards specific audiences and utilizing the most cost effective tools will also be covered.

Please bring current brochures and press releases.

Serving on a Nonprofit Board 2/29/2012

This three and 1/2 hour training addresses the roles and responsibilities of a board member, including board operations, strategic planning, resource development, oversight and ambassadorship.You'll also learn about BEST's follow-up services and boardnetUSA, a national online database that connects candidates and nonprofits.

Delivering Great Customer Service 3/1/2012

Facilitator: Jim Murdock

Level: All

This interactive workshop is designed to assist participants to develop strategies and solutions to deal with the emotional labor of providing high quality service. Participants will review the service techniques which are expected in successful organizations and identify ways to manage their emotions at work. Scenarios and situations will be discussed and with strategies, scripts and support techniques identified and shared to more effectively work with “internal and external” clients and customers. Participants will be able to take ideas back to the “real world” which enable them to continue providing high quality service while also taking care of themselves in the process

Writing a Fund Development Plan 3/7/2012

Facilitator: Carole Pence, Pence Consulting

Level: All

Planning the fundraising campaign is essential for organizations wanting to be successful at fundraising. The written plan allows the staff, board, and volunteers to see the strategies the organization has developed and shows them a roadmap to successful fundraising. Without a plan it is difficult to get volunteers to agree to assist with persona solicitation.

What You Will Learn:

Planning sequence for fundraising
Writing the Plan
Review the mission statement
How to conduct a SWOT analysis
Review the case of support for the campaign
What is the fundraising goal
How to create the gift range chart
Review of budget and revenue stream
Fundraising strategies (what are the options)
Organizational infrastructure (how to get this written)
Communication strategies (implementing the campaign)
Evaluation of the plan (after the campaign)
A sample of a written plan

You Will Receive:

A handout of material presented
Step by step worksheet on components of the fund development plan
Handout of creating the gift range chart
How to complete this plan in 8 hours
What are your next steps

(Attendees of the Grantsmanship Training in December 2011 will receive a reduced rate of $20.)

Navigating the Program Officer Relationship 3/13/2012

Facilitator: Patrick Naswell

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Navigating the Program Officer Relationship addresses the importance of developing strong relationships with program staff of foundations and teaches how to make the case for support. Using La Piana’s Due Diligence Tool as source material, this training will strengthen your understanding of what will be reviewed by your program officer and the types of questions they may raise. The workshop is intended to outline a conventional approach to working with the funding community and to build an understanding of their needs and objectives when meeting with you. The workshop, which is developed for organizations with intermediate levels of experience working with funders, will include role playing exercises intended to apply the lessons learned from La Piana’s Due Diligence Tool more directly to the projects and proposals that you bring to the session.

For this session, please bring a copy of a project proposal or concept that you have developed and are willing to share.

Attendees of the Grantsmanship Training in December 2011 will receive a reduced rate of $20.

Solicitation Strategies 3/15/2012

Facilitator: Carol Pence, Pence Consulting

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Solicitation strategies is a workshop to provide basic information on beginning a personal solicitation appeal and provides participants with ways to consider implementing this approach to the fundraising campaigns. This workshop is designed for people who what to increase their current skills in personal solicitation.

What You Will Learn

Basic fundraising components
Community competition (what does that mean for you)
Why personal solicitation
Why boards need to be involved in personal solicitation
What are the qualities of the prospects you are looking for
Review the gift range chart and how it applies to personal solicitation
Developing your lists
Making the appointments
The solicitation process and key elements in each step
Evaluation of success

What You Will Receive

A handout of material presented
Knowledge of what is the best approach for your organization
Step by step implementation strategies
Interactive exercises to role play solicitation E
Evaluation benchmarks
Take home learning tools using the model - What did you learn? So what that you learned it? Now what will you do with it?

Project-based Leadership Development- THREE PART SERIES 3/20/2012

Facilitators: Maria J. Coolican, Ph.D. and Jeannette L. Jackson, MBA

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This is a 3-session workshop; this registration will register you for all 3 sessions (see below). Space is limited. Registration ends March 18, 2012.

Learning Objectives:

· theory of change on both an organizational and individual level

· positive organizational psychology and scholarship

· what makes an effective team

· prioritizing and scoping an effective project

· peer feedback

· data gathering to inform decision making

· managing difficult conversations

Session Level:

This is an intermediate to advanced level of leadership development in critical organizational data driven analysis. It really helps if the participants involved are not brand new to their position and have a solid understanding of how the different pieces of their organization works; operations, human resources, organizational processes around their expertise (mental health, homelessness, etc.), finances and marketing/fund raising. You don’t need to be experts but a process like this is best suited for those leaders who are at least somewhat settled into their role and working on the continuous process of leading change in their organizations.

March 20, 2012

Workshop 1: GAP Analysis and Project/Problem Identification

· Identify ideal vision for organization

· Analyze current reality

· Identify gaps

· Prioritize gaps

· Select project

· Peer feedback and coaching

In between Workshop 1 & 2: Gather input from organization and/or community to inform the selected project. TFC available for trouble-shooting and guidance

April 24, 2012

Workshop 2: Data Analysis and Action Plan

· Analyze implications of data collected

· Create action plan

· Peer feedback and coaching

In between Workshop 2 & 3: Engage the organization in the selected project.

June 5, 2010

Workshop 3: Report and Analyze Results, Develop Personal Leadership Action Plan

· Analyze and Report results of project work thus far

· Peer feedback and coaching

· Identify next steps

· Identify personal leadership action plan using this process in the organization

Follow up technical assistance may be available.

Building Your Board 3/27/2012

Facilitator: Jenni Dones, Program Associate, BEST Project

This practical three and 1/2 hour session provides nonprofits with tools for board member recruitment and education. It also initiates their use of boardnetUSA, a national online database that connects candidates and nonprofits, including access to a growing pool of skilled applicants trained through a companion workshop, Serving on a Nonprofit Board.