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PUBLIC POLICY

MINNESOTA BUDGET PROJECT

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

REACH MN NONPROFITS

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ABOUT MCN

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2314 University Ave. #20
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651.642.1904
Fax: 651.642.1517
Greater MN: 1.800.289.1904

Email: info@mncn.org


Upcoming Fundraising 

Trainings and Events


Grantwriting Clinics for Nonprofit Practitioners

Grantwriting endeavors too often drain an organization’s limited resources and end in frustration. Nonprofits that consistently get their grants funded know how to target their solicitations, write a compelling case for their program or organization, make a flawless professional presentation, and build relationships and networks with their current and potential supporters. In this workshop, participants will gain knowledge that will help them to better understand and implement a more strategic grantwriting and development process for their organizations.

In this fast-paced, interactive clinic, participants will:

  • Explore their personal successes and challenges as a grant writer
  • Gain new perspective on the proposal development process
  • Clarify their understanding of the purpose of each section of a grant proposal
  • Have an opportunity to critique actual proposals submitted by clinic participants
  • Develop a better understanding of how to begin building a persuasive case

This workshop is designed for people who are already working in a development capacity in a nonprofit. It is appropriate for those who are new to development and those looking to refresh their skills and perspective. It is not appropriate for those who are looking to work in a nonprofit doing development at some point in their career. Clinic participants will receive a Handbook for Successful Grant Writing* that covers topics ranging from research and planning to a glossary of commonly used terms.

Please note that this workshop is open to MCN Members only. Learn more about MCN membership and join now!

* The Handbook is only available to participants and is not otherwise for sale.

Details:

Location: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; 2314 University Ave. W., Ste. 20; St. Paul
Directions: Directions
Parking: Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the building.
Fees: Fees are $85 for MCN Members Only Learn more about MCN membership
Times for all: 9 a.m. -noon

Dates:

Scholarships are available! Please also read MCN's policies on refunds and substitutions

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Offered again by popular demand...
The Essence of Sponsorship:
Launching a Successful Sponsorship Program Even in a Lean Economy Webinar Learn about MCN's Webinars

In this economy, your organization is thinking about next year's revenue, and whether it's secure. For many organizations, corporate sponsorships can be a way to augment your budget. And, just because the economy's lean doesn't mean that you should hold back on your sponsorship requests. The truth is, companies don't want to lose market share and in many cases keep their marketing budgets in tact.

Participate in this content-rich online Webinar where you will learn about:

  • Sponsorship Defined – Sponsorship means different things to different organizations. Understand the various types of sponsorship programs and which is right for your organization.

  • Selling In A Lean Economy – Companies don’t want to lose market share. Accessing marketing budgets in a down economy is a proven strategy for nonprofit organizations of all sizes.

  • Sponsorship & Ethics – Critical issues to address internally prior to sponsorship sales. Chart a course of excellence and avoid pitfalls that can damage your image.

  • Assessing & Building Marketing Benefits – What benefits do corporations desire most? Define your most valuable assets.
  • Getting Started – Identify your top opportunity, valuing benefits and prepare to sell!

  • Additional Research to Fast-Track Your Knowledge – Find three hours over the following few weeks and dramatically expand your expertise through targeted research.

About the Presenter
Barbara Harrington, founding partner, The Sponsorship Network, has been selling and signing sponsorships across the country for 15 years, from $500 special event programs to multi-million dollar venue naming rights. The Sponsorship Network has a reputation of excellence and the highest ethical standards. Barbara knows the benefits corporations crave and provides services to a variety of clients including: PGA tournaments, national concert tours, festivals, museums, universities and many others.

What Participants Say

  • "Being from a small nonprofit, and given the time and content, I thought this was well worth the investment." --The Essence of Sponsorship attendee, January 2009
  • "Barbara Harrington is the Suzie Orman of Sponsorships! High energy, practical ideas and generous with her expertise." --Monica Strobel, Transportations Solutions of Denver
  • "Her knowledge and energy were terrific. Excellent take home materials!" -- Eric Lazzari, Metro Denver Sports Commission

Details:

Date: Tuesday, July 14
Time: 10 a.m. - noon central time
Location: From any online computer - this event is a Webinar
Fee: $99 for MCN members/$149 for nonmembers
Please note - this fee is paid per phone/computer connection. You only pay one fee if you have several people sitting around one phone/computer. Please note that Webinar access codes cannot be shared or forwarded to others.

Learn more about MCN membership and join now!

Register:

1. Register online

Scholarships are available! Please also read MCN's policies on refunds and substitutions

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The New Picture of Government Funding

The government funding picture has changed. What we thought we knew may no longer hold true. The tide may be turning, after years of policies which shrunk the role of the federal government in supporting nonprofits, particularly in areas of human services, housing and economic development. While the state and county budgets are clearly under stress, they still represent very large parts of the funding for nonprofits.

Attend The New Picture of Government Funding to get an overview of the changes in government funding and implications for nonprofits; an update on the status of federal economic stimulus funding distribution and availability; and practical information about understanding and/or accessing funding in this new era.

Agenda:

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Welcome
Jon Pratt, Executive Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

8:40 – 9:10 a.m. Opening Keynote – The New Picture of Government Funding
Jan Malcolm, Executive Director, Courage Center

Jan Malcolm was commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health 1999 - 2003. As such, she lead a staff of 1,300 and oversaw an annual budget of approximately $400 million. Previously, Jan was vice president for public affairs at Allina Health System and a senior vice president of government programs and public policy at HealthPartners. She currently serves on the boards of the Hennepin County Medical Center and the Bush Foundation, and has served on many other boards in the health and public health sectors during her career. Jan received her B.A. (magna cum laude) from Dartmouth College.

9:10 – 10:15 a.m. Federal Economic Recovery Money and Minnesota's Nonprofits: What We Know So Far
Get an overview of how federal stimulus money will be spent in Minnesota, and what remains to be allocated, as well how to approach applying for federal grants/funding. Also, hear from panelists about their thoughts on the changing role of government and how it impacts nonprofits. Among panel participants will be Tom Hanson, the state coordinator of the implementation of the recovery act and Commissioner of the Department of Minnesota Management and Budget.


Minnesota Management & Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson has over 20 years of experience working as a public servant, of which 14 years have been spent working in Minnesota state government. He was appointed Commissioner of Finance by Governor Tim Pawlenty in December of 2006. As the Commissioner of Minnesota Management & Budget, Commissioner Hanson’s primary responsibilities include serving as the governor's key negotiator on the budget as well as leading the state’s efforts in managing financial, human, information and analytical resources.

Panelists:
Pete Dross, Development Director, Center for Victims of Torture
• Tom Hanson, Commissioner, Minnesota Management and Budget
• Jan Malcolm, Executive Director, Courage Center (moderator)
• Dan McElroy, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner
• Matthew Wohlman, Outreach Director, Office of Congressman Tim Walz

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 – noon Breakout Sessions

Strategies and Advice for Pursuing Government Grants and Resources

If your organization is considering applying for federal or other government funding for the first time, or if you’re interested in revisiting the process, you probably have lots of questions about the application process and what you will need to do to prepare your organization to take this step. This session will provide information and resources to those who are newer to federal grant seeking. Panelists will answer some of your most burning questions, including:

• How do I weed through the thousands of Web sites with funding opportunities?
• How much work is it to put together a successful proposal?
• How are we going to have to change or enhance our organization’s capacity and commitment to evaluation?; and
• What systems will we need to have in place once we get funded?

Presenters: Kristin Batson, Director, Office of Grants Management, State of Minnesota; Fritz Bergmann, Executive Director, tpt National Productions; Leslie Nitabach, Development Manager, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; and Karla Wetherby, Chief Financial Officer, Center for Victims of Torture

Opportunities through the Serve America Act

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act reauthorizes and expands the mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service by increasing opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve, supporting innovation and strengthening the nonprofit sector and strengthening management, cost-effectiveness and accountability of programs. Join this session to learn an overview of opportunities available through the Serve America Act, as well as specifics about particular arenas including AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Volunteer Generation and Vista.

Presenters: Judie Russell, Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators; Jim Scheibel, Interim Executive Director, Campus Compact and Board Member, Vital Aging Network; Sam Schuth, Program Specialist, Corporation for National and Community Service; Steve Struthers, V.P. of Strategy & Results Management, ServeMinnesota; and Audrey Suker, Executive Director, ServeMinnesota

County/Nonprofit Service Delivery: Changing Borders

Nonprofits and local governments have a long history of partnering to create and deliver services to communities. As local governments see their state support shrinking, many are forced to make serious changes in service delivery for basic essential services, some of which are even state-mandated. Many counties have and continue to explore multi-county delivery systems and there has been a push from the Governor’s office toward all-out regionalization of services. This panel will explore existing and proposed scenarios.

Presenters: Mary Fischer, Director, Pipestone County Family Services and Nobles County Family Services; Kelly Harder, Director for Human Services, Steele County; Jane Kretzmann, Senior Program Officer, Minnesota Community Foundation; and Paul Wilson, Olmsted County Commissioner

Time: 8:30 a.m. – noon
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009
Location: Continuing Education and Conference Center, 1890 Buford Ave., St. Paul, 55108
Map and Directions: Visit the CECC Web site for map and directions at http://www.cce.umn.edu/conferencecenter/directions/index.html
Parking: Parking is available for a fee on surface lots and in ramps adjacent to the CECC; visit their Web site for more information at http://www.cce.umn.edu/conferencecenter/directions/index.html
Fee: $49 for MCN members, $69 for nonmembers

Snacks and beverages will be served at this event.

Learn more about MCN membership and join now!

Register for The New Picture of Government Funding:

1. Register online

2. By fax - to register by fax, download and complete the registration form (including credit card information) and fax the form to 651-642-1517
3. By mail - to register by mail, download and complete the registration form, include payment (either a check payable to MCN or credit card information) and mail to: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; 2314 University Ave. West, Suite 20; St. Paul; MN; 55114-1802

Scholarships are available! Please also read MCN's policies on refunds and substitutions

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Fundraising During a Recession: Back to the Basics

No one said development work was going to be easy during a recession, but does it really have to be so hard? Recession or no recession, development work requires planned, sustained activity. This lively and informative session will cover development planning and execution during a recession, communicating with and engaging donors and maintaining and strengthening relationships with funders. The session will focus on practical “basics” including refining your development plan, enhancing current development activities, donor upgrade strategies and cultivation plans. The session will also encourage honest talk about challenges and tactics development professional are facing today.

This is workshop you can’t afford to miss!

About the presenter:

Audrey Kintzi is the director of development for Courage Center, and a member of the faculty at the University of St. Thomas College of Business.

Audrey has been working in the development field for more than 20 years. Previously, she was the chief advancement officer for the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, chief development officer for the American Red Cross of the St. Paul Area and director of development and public awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association – Minnesota Lakes Chapter, among others.

Audrey holds an Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive certification, and received the Outstanding Fundraising Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Minnesota Chapter in 2004.

As an experienced fundraising professional, Audrey knows what it takes to invigorate your fundraising plan and keep donors' attention when the outlook is bleak.

Participant quotes from past workshops with Audrey:

"Information was concise, relevant and presented in a most enjoyable manner. I could have listened to Audrey all day. I look forward to attending any of her future seminars."

"The workshop was excellent and Audrey did an excellent job presenting. Very relevant with hands on tools that can be used immediately."

Participants will take away dozens of tools and tips to help make your development program more effective including:

• Cost-effective donor cultivation strategies
• Affordable annual giving strategies
• Tools and techniques to effectively make the case for support for your organization
• And more!

This session is designed for nonprofit professionals looking for ways to reinvigorate their development efforts. Participants will learn how to strengthen their current development efforts, re-think development strategies, and techniques to cultivate and re-engage donors.

Date: July 29
Time: 8:30 a.m. - noon (registration opens at 8 a.m.)
Location: Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55106
Directions: Directions to the MHC or Google Map
Parking: Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the building.
Fee: $65 for MCN members, $85 for nonmembers.

Snacks and beverages will be served at this event.

Learn more about MCN membership and join now!

Register for Otto Bremer Foundation event:

1. Register online

2. By fax - to register by fax, download and complete the registration form (including credit card information) and fax the form to 651-642-1517
3. By mail - to register by mail, download and complete the registration form, include payment (either a check payable to MCN or credit card information) and mail to: innesota Council of Nonprofits; 2314 University Ave. West, Suite 20; St. Paul; MN; 55114-1802

Scholarships are available! Please also read MCN's policies on refunds and substitutions

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Minneapolis Foundation Community Information Meeting

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is hosting a Community Information Meeting with The Minneapolis Foundation, which has adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2009 – 2015 and revised its Community Grantmaking Guidelines. At the Meeting, taking place on Wednesday, August 5, Minneapolis Foundation leaders will discuss key themes that have emerged from the Strategic Plan, and explain how the new Guidelines fit with the Plan. The Meeting will include a brief presentation, with ample time for questions, answers and discussion.

The Community Information Meeting is one of two ways you can learn about the new Strategic Plan and Guidelines. The Minneapolis Foundation is also hosting a Webinar on Wednesday, July 29. To learn more and register for the Webinar, go directly to The Minneapolis Foundation Web site at http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/grants/webinar.html. We recommend you attend the Webinar, and attend the Community Information Meeting only if you have additional questions as the content will be similar.

Community Information Meeting Details:

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (registration opens at 9 a.m.)
Lutheran Social Services – The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

This event is free but online pre-registration is required. Due to space limitations, please register only one person from your organization.

To register online you must login to MCN's online registration system and select the menu item "RSVP for Free Events, Briefings and Convenings." Register online here.

Limited parking is available on the west side of the building in the adjacent lot or across the street in the 24th Street and Oakland/Portland surface lot. There is also a ramp located at the northwest corner of 24th Street and Park Avenue (there is a fee to park in this ramp). Street parking is available on Park Avenue, Oakland Avenue, and on 24th Street. Plan to arrive early for ample time to find parking!

If you have questions or need additional information please contact Stephanie Haddad, Program Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (651-757-3071; stephanie@mncn.org) or Valerie Lee, Community Philanthropy Officer, The Minneapolis Foundation (612-672-3849; vlee@mplsfoundation.org).


Fundraising Network Lunches
presented with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Minnesota Chapter

If you are currently working as a development staff person in a nonprofit, you are invited to join these informal discussions and information sharing groups.

Each month a topic is identified around which the majority of the discussion will revolve. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to the topic of the day. In addition to the featured topic, each session will include time to network and discuss off-topic items. Such as to share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask your “burning questions” (whether they are related to the topic or not). This network is free and no RSVP is necessary. You are invited to bring your lunch, business cards, questions and ideas. If you have any questions about the series, please contact Leslie Nitabach at 651-757-3073 or leslie@mncn.org.

Time and Location:
Times for all are noon - 1 p.m.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Conference Room
2314 University Avenue, Suite 20, St. Paul 55114
Directions and Parking

2009 Dates and Topics (2nd Wednesday of each month):

January 14 – Strategies for fundraising during the economic downturn
February 11 – Social media and fundraising :

How do we enhance our organization’s network? Does my organization need a facebook page? Should we have blog?

March 11– Capacity building resources
April 8 – Special events – why do them and timelines for success with Kittie Fahey,
donor consultant, major gifts, Greater Twin Cities United Way
May 13 – Donor databases with Alexcia Nicole Adams, CFRE, director of development and operations, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
June 10 – Communicating with donors from different generations with Susan Fink
July 8 – Involving everyone in the organization in fundraising with Lisa Stordahl, director of community giving at Treehouse
August 12 – Corporate sponsorships – how to start
September 9 – Donor appeal letters – bring samples
October 14 – Donor retention strategies
November 11 – Planned giving – how to start
December 9 – Development planning

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2314 University Ave W. #20
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651.642.1904
Fax: 651.642.1517
Greater MN: 1.800.289.1904

Email: info@mncn.org

Other Fundraising Resources

Minnesota Grants Directory
More about the Grants Directory

Info Central: Charitable Fundraising
This section of this Web site gives basic information about fundraising in Minnesota, FAQs, tips and samples, and more.

Info Central: Charitable Fundraising



MCN/MCF Joint Annual Conference, Nov. 5-6
Thousands of nonprofit and foundation staff and leaders will converge for this joint conference. There will be something for everyone at this event.
Visit the conference Web site and register today!
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