Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference 2008

Home Welcome Accommodations Directions & Parking Evening Event Exhibitors Features Keynotes Planning Committee Pre-conference Presenters Registration Schedule Sponsors Staff Contact Questions? Workshops Back to MNA

Workshops

Workshop Descriptions (by track)
as of April 17, 2008
*workshops are subject to change*

W1 - Tuesday, 10:45 - 12:00
W2 - Tuesday, 2:00 - 3:15
W3 - Tuesday, 3:45 - 5:00
W4 - Wednesday, 10:45 - 12:00
W5 - Wednesday, 2:00 - 3:15
W6 - Wednesday, 3:45 - 5:00

Fund Development

Effective Sponsorship Proposals and Presentations for Marketing Decision-Makers
Many nonprofits are unsure of how to access sponsorship dollars from the marketing department at corporations, both locally and nationally. Learn what benefits market-decision makers are most interested in from nonprofits and how to package them correctly in a marketing-focused sponsorship proposal. Learn the most common pitfalls nonprofits make when preparing proposals for marketing executives. (It shouldn’t look like a grant!) You’ll also learn the keys to excellent face-to-face presentations and the critical steps to “YES!”
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 202
Learning Level: All
Presenters: Barbara Harrington and Randy Murray, The Sponsorship Network

From Apples to Apple Trees: Endowment Building through a Capital Campaign
This unique presentation will demonstrate that, through current and planned gift strategies, organizations can learn to preserve the dollars for a capital project while generating additional cash flow from planned gifts – all through the capital needs of a campaign.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 5:00 (seminar - break will be provided)
Room: 201
Learning Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Presenters: Mick Koster, Strategic Partners, Inc. and Greg Schupra, Comerica Bank’s Charitable Services Group

Fundamentals of Grant Writing
Writing grants is not easy. It takes a great deal of thought and preparation. Knowing the fundamentals of grant writing is essential. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the fundamentals and give you a chance to practice them. Come prepared to ask questions and explore what grant writing is all about.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 205
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Thomas Jones, Consultant

How to Ask for Money and Get It
This session will explore strategies and techniques for building your capacity to secure funding. Five key strategies will be explored: 1. Preparation for asking; 2. Concentrate on the Prospect (not on yourself); 3. Behavioral Styles are Critical to Success; 4. Asking is a Process; and 5. Chose as You Go (answering objections). Walk away with increased skills, more confidence and tools you can use TODAY.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 201
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: John Fike, Philanthropy Solutions, LLC

Using Marketing Principles to Win Government Funding
Competition for government funding through Requests For Proposals (RFPs) is increasingly intense every year. This hands-on session will work through actual sample RFP sections and demonstrate how to apply proven marketing principles that will make your organization’s RFP responses stand out from the competition.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 202
Learning Level: All
Presenters: William Martin, Jericho Resources, Inc.

Marketing, Messaging & Communications

Achieving Success Online: Real World Examples from Nonprofits
Join Jay Wilkinson as he walks through real-world success stories on how nonprofits are harnessing the power of the internet. Discover how you can become the next success story by learning the marketing and web strategies these successful nonprofits have put into place and the difference it has made in their organizations. In this engaging, interactive session, Jay will share years of research to help participants discover how to effectively leverage their web sites to achieve positive results. Key takeaways include crucial elements necessary for an effective web site, how you can use the web to increase communications with constituents and how to use your web site to promote your mission and market your organization. Participants will be provided with an interactive workbook, enabling participants to put the strategies to work immediately.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 203
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Jay Wilkinson and Lori Kadavy, Firespring

Communicating For Growth
This session will teach The Personal Ambassador Approach to attracting members, volunteers and supporters. If you have committed your time and energy to an organization, you can effectively communicate to others why they should do so as well. Learn strategies for developing your own personal message and “elevator speech,” and practice using them with fellow participants.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 103
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Patricia Donath and Linda DePoorter, League of Women Voters of MI

Lean Marketing Principles for the Nonprofit: Doing More with Less
The nonprofit marketing challenge: how to meet mission goals with a limited staff while minimizing the cost required to raise each dollar? This hands-on introductory workshop applies best practices, with tips and tricks to assess your communications and measure effectiveness. It will help nonprofits streamline their marketing to maximize results while using less effort and fewer resources.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 203
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Gretchen Johnson, WordPlay Marketing Communications

Nonprofit Advocacy and Public Interest Journalism: Changing Strategies for a Changing Environment
What do current trends toward fewer reporters in the newsroom mean for nonprofit advocates? Or, shrinking numbers of print media subscribers? Join this discussion of how nonprofit advocates can keep their cause and their stories in the public eye.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 104
Learning Level: All
Presenters: TBD

Social Networking for Nonprofits: Using MySpace, Facebook, and Blogging
Wondering exactly what a blog is or what a blog might do for your organization? Join us to learn the steps you;ll need to take to leverage your web presence to better serve your mission. We'll cover many of the powerful, low cost social networking tools such as del.ico.us, Flickr, MS (text messaging), Facebook and MySpace. (Aimed at non-technical users needing to manage a web site design or re-design process; also helpful for marketing/communications directors wanting to engage constituents on the Internet.)
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 104
Learning Level: All
Presenters: Andy Wolber, NPower Michigan

National Service Programs

Catch the Spirit of Service!
Come learn how National Service can help meet critical needs and assist you in realizing your organization’s mission. Join representatives from Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, VISTA and Senior Corps in an interactive dialogue to discover strategies that will help build organizational capacity and meet your community’s most pressing issues.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 205
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Jeanine Yard, Michigan Community Service Commission and panel - Angelia Salas, Michigan Community Service Commission, Evan Albert, Corporation for National and Community Service – MI, Janet Clark, RSVP of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Co.

Cheering FOR Volunteers! – Gain Internal Support for the Volunteer Program
Does everyone in the organization share your passion for volunteering and volunteers? Could you benefit from learning “use it now” techniques and easily accessible resources to strengthen internal support for the volunteer program? Learn these and more from experienced leaders of volunteers in a highly interactive learning environment.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 101
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Debbie Macon, Metropolitan Detroit Volunteer Administration Network

Developing an Outreach Program to Fully Embrace the Talent and Diversity that People With Disabilities Can Bring to Your Organization
People with disabilities bring unique life experiences and perspectives, which positively impact the diversity and quality of services provided by nonprofit organizations. Using a partnership with Michigan’s AmeriCorps as an example, this workshop will provide information about the benefits of inclusion, outreach strategies and how to assure successful integration of people with disabilities in the organization.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 205
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced
Presenters: Cathy McAdams, Disability Advocate, DiverseAbility LLC

Dump and Run: A Free Recycling Event
Ferris State University, with Community partners, recycled over $10,000 worth of student items that were donated during finals, Spring of 2007. We will discuss how your agency, the nearest college or University, and community partners can do the same thing while helping the environment and community agencies. How? Come see!
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 101
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Diane Griffin, Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer and Dr. Richard Griffin, Ferris State University

Effective Volunteer Supervision
Structured supervision is a critical component of volunteer management. Learn how to strengthen your program through increased volunteer retention, commitment and satisfaction. This session will help you understand the need for volunteer supervision and explore ways to provide the support and feedback that your volunteers need.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 104
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Lisa Bottomley, MSU Extension and Molly Frendo, 4H Mentor Michigan Initiative, Michigan State University Extension

Nonprofit Governance & Leadership

Can Accountability Strengthen the Nonprofit Sector - Donor Relationship?
Trust is a precious resource, and when trust breaks down, all nonprofits begin to look suspicious. Participants will have an interactive discussion on the precarious situation that the charitable sector finds itself, as well as, explore various approaches to right itself with ways to get the regulators, pundits and watchdogs to recognize the hard-earned reputation of the voluntary sector.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 102
Learning Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Presenters: Gary Snyder, Nonprofit Imperative

Finding Your Creative Side
In today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing world, it is critical for us to be innovative and creative. This workshop will teach participants how to overcome a reliance on logic and open up their creative sides to unlock their potential. Participants will also explore four hats of creativity and learn techniques for generating ideas in this highly interactive workshop.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 101
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Mary Dolan, Dolan and Associates

Nonprofit Mergers: The Power of Successful Partnerships
Mergers between and within non-profits are increasingly becoming an organizational option. All npo mergers should be based on strategic planning that supports the organization’s mission, donor stewardship, and elimination of duplication. This workshop raises and answers questions that should be considered before, during and after any merger.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 101
Learning Level: Intermediate
Presenters: Rich Howard, The McCormick Group and Ruth Hohl Borger, Girl Scouts of Michigan Capital Council

Partnershift: Creating Strategic Partnerships
How can your organization creatively address complex community issues, share community resources, and avoid duplication of services? Learn to work effectively with other organizations by developing strategic partnerships. Understand the steps in creating a successful strategic partnership and making it work for both the community and the partners.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 101
Learning Level: All
Presenters: Cynthia Chilcote, Cornerstone Consulting Associates, LLC

Strategic Planning: Putting Your Plan Into Action
A well-developed strategy provides direction and guides an organization like a ship’s rudder in a stormy sea. This workshop will show the different approaches to strategic planning and provide a workshop environment for developing and implementing a strategic plan.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 203
Learning Level: Intermediate
Presenters: Elizabeth DeLage, Arlington Business Solutions

The Power of Agreement between the Board and CEO
A pivotal relationship for a nonprofit is between the Chief Executive and the Board. That relationship changes every 1-3 years with rotating board presidents. The Chief Executive can create the power of agreement with each new president and board. It is a partnership that should thrive for all involved.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 203
Learning Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Presenters: Sue Waechter, Cornerstone Consulting Associates, LLC

Transforming Boards: Transforming Organizations
Leave this session energized to move your organization to the next level, or to finally achieve some goals that have been just out of reach! This dynamic and fast-paced workshop will focus on how to transform your board so you can transform the organization. Leave with clear directions and tools for success.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 203
Learning Level: All
Presenters: Diana Kern, NEW

Nonprofit Management

FOCUS ORGANIZATION and PRODUCTIVITY: 21st Century Success Skills
All of the professional development in the world is for naught if people go back to their desk overwhelmed with a paper avalanche, information overload and data smog. Each day starts out in a catatonic state and productivity goes downhill from there. This 21st century is different - everyone is expected to do more with less and the new ROI is Return on Information. Learn practical, productive methods to manage information and become a 21st century focused, organized, productive thinker and doer!
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. (seminar - break will be provided)
Room: 204
Learning Level: Intermediate
Presenters: Kathleen Alessandro, Energized Solutions LLC

From “Best Practices” to Next Practices: An Innovative Approach to Building Your Nonprofit’s Infrastructure
What if you could lead your organization to a higher level of performance on every measure? You can… if you are ready to rethink your challenges, your collaborative strategies and redesign how work gets done in your organization. This approach requires the work of originality, creativity and experimentation. Creativity is often defined as the making of the new and the rearranging of the old. This approach does just that and is highly replicable.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 5:00 (seminar - break will be provided)
Room: 201
Learning Level: Advanced
Presenters: Elaine Williams, Elaine K. Williams & Associates and Kathleen Dennis, Civil Society Consulting

Leadership Transitions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Leadership transitions impact all stakeholders: the board, staff, volunteers, service receivers, donors and community. Successful transitions occur when planning and execution begins before the incumbent leader departs and continues long after the orientation period. This session engages participants in learning how to implement a successful transition through case studies.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 201
Learning Level: Advanced
Presenters: Ruth Hohl Borger, Girl Scouts of Michigan Capital Council and Rich Howard, The McCormick Group

Principles & Practices: Well, Why Didn't You Tell Me That in the FIRST Place?
When leading a nonprofit organization, it can be tricky to navigate the swamp of shoulds, shouldn'ts and the "recommended practices." If you're like most small and mid-size organizations, researching trends in the sector is not at the top of your To Do LIst. We've tried to make your life easier with Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Michigan. This handy set of references (that is linked to other handy references) can take a lot of the guess work out of your management and leadership planning and help move your organization forward. The materials are FREE and ONLINE SOON! Come and explore this one-stop shop!
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 203
Learning Level: All
Presenter: Robin Lynn Grinnell, Michigan Nonprofit Association

The Starfish and the Spider: Nonprofit Strength Through Decentralization
Though a starfish and a spider have similar shapes, their internal structure is dramatically different - a decapitated spider inevitably dies, while a starfish can regenerate itself from a single amputated leg. Nonprofits, through this session, can learn how to become better, longer-lasting and more adaptable through the concepts of decentralization.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 202
Learning Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Presenters: Ryan Fewins, Michigan Campus Compact

Trust-Building: Starting With Yourself
Building trust within onself, between individuals, and "out in the world" is critical to any successful work. Michelle Napier-Dunnings, co-author of Trust-Building: An Experiential Approach, will share theories, exercises and stories intended to help you create trust-building practicies in your daily life.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 103
Learning Level: All
Presenter: Michelle Napier-Dunnings

Public Policy & Advocacy

Capitol Update
This year has proven to be another interesting policy year both here in Michigan and in D.C. Join us for a discussion regarding the latest news on changes to regulation of the sector, advocacy rights, the budget and more.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 202
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Erin Skene, Michigan Nonprofit Association; Rob Collier, Council of Michigan Foundations; and Evie Zois, Dykema

Election Year 2008: The Do’s and Don’ts for Nonprofits
This session covers the federal rules regarding electoral activities for 501(c)(3)s, including voter registration drives, candidate questionnaires, candidate forums, legislative scorecards and lobbying on ballot initiatives.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 103
Learning Level: General
Presenters: April Carson, Alliance for Justice

Energizing Your Organizing Efforts and Coalitions
How many coalitions has your organization worked with? Have you been part of a group that came together to address an emerging issue? Nonprofit coalitions are powerful ways to self-organize on a temporary, or long-term, basis to create plans and action to effect social change. Uniting around common issues or goals and forming a coalition, is a very effective way to raise the visibility of organizations and to increase the voice of nonprofit advocacy. In this interactive workshop, you will examine strategies for success when working in coalition with other organizations and learn tactics for creating a worthwhile, effective and positive force to be reckoned with!
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 202
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Shannon Garrett, The White House Project

Game Plan: How to Get Started
This workshop helps organizations strategize how best to employ the advocacy tools at their disposal. The session begins with a discussion of advocacy fundamentals – helping participants define their goals and objectives, appropriate targets and effective advocacy tools. Through an interactive session, participants design and implement an advocacy campaign which requires them to consider strategies to build coalitions, influence public perception, persuade policymakers and run a media campaign.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 103
Learning Level: General
Presenters: April Carson, Alliance for Justice

The New IRS Form 990: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
The IRS has revamped the Form 990 which means numerous changes in reporting requirements resulting in necessary adjustments to your record keeping systems and more. This session will outline the changes to the Form 990 and begin to prepare your organization for completing your 2008 filing.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 202
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Lynne Huismann, Plante and Moran, PLLC

Research & Evaluation

Evaluation and Learning at the Skillman Foundation
Learn how one grantmaker approaches making comprehensive change in schools and neighborhoods and how evaluation is used to drive planning and decision-making at the Skillman Foundation in Detroit.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: Governor's
Learning Level: Intermediate
Presenters: Marie Colombo, The Skillman Foundation

Finding the Gaps without Losing Your Mind: Practical Needs Assessment for Nonprofits
Your nonprofit is dedicated to meeting the critical needs in your community - and periodic needs assessments are a key to staying on track! This workshop provides busy nonprofit staff with practical tools to design, organize, and conduct effective needs assessments for their own organizations and within community coalitions.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 104
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Shelby Chartkoff, Community Research Institute, Johnson Center for Philanthropy at GVSU

Maps that Matter: Putting GIS to Work for Planning and Programming
This panel discussion will walk participants through the process of identifying commonly important indicators. Volunteer Center directors will share their efforts to collect data and utilize the results to communicate with various audiences. Sample communication formats will also be shared.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 102
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Gustavo Rotondaro and Jeremy Pyne

Tracking Outcomes for Impact
Tired of scrambling to measure and report on your impact to funders? Uncertain which of your efforts are making the greatest impact? Come learn how your organization can measure and report performance comprehensively and efficiently. Explore the most useful types of information to collect, as well as how to prepare an organization and staff to implement a data collection and reporting system as part of daily operations. Join Steve Butz, president and founder of Social Solutions (and former couselor, teacher and case manager), for a session that may change how you think about data gathering and reporting. (Especially appropriate for executive directors, program managers, and staff involved with evaluation efforts.)
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 102
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Steve Butz, Social Solutions

Use of Evaluation for Program Improvement
This presentation will focus on how impact and process data can be used to improve program implementation. This will include what level of detail is needed for various individuals in the decision-making process. Also as part of this discussion, there will be examples provided of "outputs versus outcomes"
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room:Governor's Room
Learning Level: Advanced
Presenters: Jack P. Moore, Moore & Associates, Inc.

Using Evaluation Results to Tell Your Story
This panel discussion will walk participants through the process of identifying commonly important indicators. Volunteer Center directors will share their efforts to collect data and utilize the results to communicate with various audiences. Sample communication formats will also be shared.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 102
Learning Level: Intermediate
Presenters: Robert Kahle, Kahle Research Solutions Inc. and panel - Doris Higgins, Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, Kristina Beamish, United Way Volunteer Center of Chippewa County, Judy Huth, Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo

Technology for Mission Achievement

An Introduction to Salesforce.com for Nonprofits
Deploying a datavase used to mean buying a server, installing software, and setting up back-up systems. No longer! Increasingly, software is moving online and accessed as needed, from anywhere, using only a web browser. Salesforce.com is a great solution for small (up to 10 licenses) nonprofit organizations that need to track constituent information. Join Pat McQueen of Salesforce.com to learn more about how other nonprofits are benefiting and explore whether Salesforce.com is right for your organization. (Intended for nonprofit staff concerned with data management, including executive directors, fundraisers, membership managers and technology staff.)
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 102
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Pat McQueen, Salesforce.com

Get More Done: Tech Tools and Tips to Save Time and Money
How long does it take you to find a meeting date and time for a group of your board members? How many web sites do you visit frequently? How much of your day do you spend weeding through spam? Come to this workshop to learn simple practices, tools and techniques you can use to more efficiently navigate your way through the flood of information. We'll look at specific tools (such as www.43folders.com and www.lifehacker.com) with hundreds of time-saving tips and resources. (Especially appropriate for multi-tasking staff dealing with information and project management challenges.)
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 104
Learning Level: General
Presenters: Andy Wolber, NPower Michigan

Life as an Accidental Techie: The Ten Things You Need to Know
Do you find yourself in the position of being resident computer guru and you have no idea why?? Or are you flying by the seat of your pants and trying your best to keep your own computer system up to date? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you are dubbed an Accidental Techie, and this session is for YOU! Learn ten essential tricks of the trade for keeping your organization's computers running smoothly. (Best for organizations without professional technology support.)
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 102
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Andy Wolber , NPower Michigan

Working Together Online
Remember when working together on a document required e-mailing an attachment back and forth? No longer! There are faster, better ways of working together online. Join Gavin Clabaugh, of the C.S. Mott Foundation, and Andy Wolber, of NPower Michigan, to learn how new tools can make your life simple. You’ll learn how SharePoint can serve as a central, web-accessible place for your documents and project resources. You’ll also learn about online tools that let you share calendars, documents, as well as simplify meeting scheduling, and more! (Intended for non-technical staff involved in projects that require working with people at a variety of locations.)
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 104
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Gavin Clabaugh, C.S. Mott Foundation and Andy Wolber, NPower Michigan

Volunteer Management

Cost Benefit of Volunteers
In this workshop, volunteer managers will benefit from measuring their program’s volunteer investment and overall worth of volunteers to the program. You will review the indirect and direct costs and benefits to the host and volunteer in the program, revealing ways to trim costs for both allow them to operate more effectively.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 103
Learning Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Presenters: Jennifer Weichel and Gilda Schott, 4-H Youth Development

Does Your Volunteer Program Measure Up?
Volunteers can be a great asset to your organization. Are you making the most of them? Make the commitment to audit your volunteer program - learn what is going well and what could be improved. With a completed audit, you can create specific actions for continuous improvement to the delight of your volunteers and your organization.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 101
Learning Level: All
Presenters: Cynthia Chilcote, Cornerstone Consulting Associates, LLC

Working With Your Shoestring Budget: Creative Solutions
Are you having a hard time finding new solutions to old problems? This session will ask you to jump outside the box and get your creative juices flowing. We will work with your real-life examples and come up with innovative solutions through brainstorming, mind-stretching activities and group work.
Session: Tuesday, 5/13, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 103
Learning Level: Introductory
Presenters: Alisa Dean, AmeriCorps*VISTA - Alma College

Specialized track: Forces for Good

Advocate and Serve
Some nonprofits are known for excellence in service; others are known for their ability to advocate. What happens when you combine those activities? Lasting change. But how do you do both and still tend to all the details of running your organization day-to-day? It's all about strategy, which will be the discussion of this session.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 204
Learning Level: General
Presenter: N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion

Make Markets Work
When it comes to business engagement, many nonprofits have experienced varying degrees of success, but appealing to the altruistic and/or philanthropic side of a for-profit entity may not always be the best approach. What if we turn the conversation to self-interest and the laws of economics? Perhaps we can achieve the Greening of Walmart...
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 10:45 - 12:00
Room: 205
Learning Level: General
Presenter: N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion

Inspire Evangelists
What are evangelists and how can you get one? Or several? When the going gets tough, nothing has more impact than a whole lot of people sending impassioned messages about the value of your work, and then telling their friends to do the same. (Viral marketing, anyone?) Inspiring evangelists takes more than an annual Volunteer Recognition Lunch - you need to create an emotional experience that the community will not soon forget.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 204
Learning Level: General
Presenter:N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion

Nurture Nonprofit Networks
Collaboration sounds good, but in a highly competitive marketplace it's not always easy to convince the masses to get on board, or to convince leadership that your peers' success is equally important as your own. There is power in numbers: fundraising, volunteer recruitment, service delivery and - yes - even evaluation can be more meaningful when it's about "all of us."
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 2:00 - 3:15
Room: 205
Learning Level: General
Presenter: N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion

Master the Art of Adaptation
So, you've got a plan. You've got a strategy. Everybody loves it. And then, the world changes... What now? Your mission remains the same, but your tactics need to change. Is your organization nimble enough to manage change? Are your mission, vision and values sound enough to keep you focused? Do you have a core of leaders who can advise, guide and implement the new direction?
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 204
Learning Level: General
Presenter: N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion

Share Leadership
Nonprofits that succeed in sharing leadership understand and embrace the concept of shared leadership with vigor. In order to continue the momentum of social change and community impact, you need a wide array of people empowered and enthused about taking a stand in relation to your issue. Cultivating a breadth of staff and volunteer leadership is critical, as is the development of meaningful external networks.
Session: Wednesday, 5/14, 3:45 - 5:00
Room: 205
Learning Level: General
Presenter: N/A - facilitators will lead a group discussion