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
Top of Page
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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