Thursday, September 30

Session 1 (8:35 - 10:05 a.m.)

Thursday - 1A

Powerful People and Effective Programs: We Need Both Working Together to Build Strong Communities

Patrick Horvath, Denver Foundation; Mike Green, Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute

Most of the tremendous capacity in communities is not engaged fully in community problem solving. Service programs can best succeed with a wider involvement of the community. How do you build a strong community partnership of your wider community of residents, associations, congregations, and local business? Agencies can successfully move from providing just services to residents to providing BOTH services and community engagement of residents. This session will offer a proven approach for your agency to make this shift to effective services and resident engagement where you will involve a growing circle of your community working successfully together for a better future.
Take-home:

• Strengthen your organization by enhancing connections with your community.
• Strengthen the community by supporting and investing in the community's assets.
• Strengthen current and future community based projects, activities, and funding proposals.

Thursday - 1B

Common Sense Social Media Policies and Strategies for Your Nonprofit

Alyssa Kopf, Community Shares of Colorado

Learn to answer two important executive questions about social media. Externally: What should we think about when adding social media strategy to our communications plan? Internally: How do we handle the HR issue of employees using social media at work?
Take-home:

• How to use social media to expand the reach of your brand.
• Examples of strategic social media plans for nonprofits.
• Common sense social media policies for your employees while at work.

Thursday - 1C

From Lukewarm to Red Hot: Fired Up Fundraising Boards!

Denise Clark, Denise Clark LLC

The main reason boards don't fundraise is they have NO idea where to begin. Discover how to successfully motivate and inspire your board to raise money. Guaranteed to get even the most resistant board members involved in fundraising!
Take-home:

• Discover practical tips for"firing up" board members to be "hot" fundraisers
• Take home fun and easy strategies that can be implemented immediately
• Learn how to develop a disciplined, systemized board fundraising plan

Thursday - 1D

Understanding the Basics of Reading Financial Statements: Where Are the Red Flags?

Dana Miller, Miller & Associates

Not sure what to make of all the financial data you are given? Just how DOES one read these statements? This will be an informative primer on the basics of nonprofit financials for board members and executives.
Take-home:

• An understanding of what each of the three main components of an NPO financial package are.
• An understanding of how to read the financial statements - and spot areas of possible concern.
• This will be a 'safe zone' for participants: all questions are welcomed and encouraged, and anonymity is accepted for those who might otherwise be tentative about attending.

Thursday - 1E

Making the Most of Special Events

Are you thinking of starting a new special event - or are you looking for better results from events you're already hosting? In this session, we'll talk about ways to maximize the fundraising and friendraising potential of your special events.

Thursday - 1F

The Agony and Ecstasy of Building a Brand: The Can Do MS Case Study

Stacy Lewis, Sector Brands; Chuck Gross, Sector Brands; Kim Sharkey, Can Do MS; Monica Tall, Can Do MS

Join key executives from Can Do MS, formerly The Heuga Center for MS, and their branding agency, Sector Brands, for an informative look at how a "best kept secret" evolved into a "charity of choice."
Take-home:

• How to identify the organizational conditions needed to engage in brand building
• Keys to success and pitfalls to avoid in building and launching a brand
• Strategies for maintaining a high level of engagement among all stakeholders

Thursday - 1G

Legal Compliance: Updates for Nonprofits

Legal and tax requirements for nonprofits are constantly changing. Learn from a team of attorneys about new laws and regulations and how they may affect your nonprofit.

Thursday - 1H

Understanding the Multi-Generational Workplace

Adeeb Khan, YNPN

A panel made up of members representing each of the four generations of the American workforce will discuss the dynamics of leadership and teamwork when dealing with generational differences.
Take-home:

• Greater knowledge of generational differences
• Key strategies on using the strengths of generational diversity

Thursday - 1I

Funder/Nonprofit Dialogue

Colorado Association of Funders

Join foundation executives from the Colorado Association of Funders for discussion and exchange of information. This session provides opportunities to build relationships and gain insights to help your organization be more successful in the grantmaking process.

Session 2 (10:20 - 11:50 a.m.)

Thursday - 2A

Lobbying 101

Edie Busam, Aponte & Busam, Inc.; Jeremy Schupbach, Alliance

Are you eager to become an active voice for your organization and constituents? Are you intimidated by the prospect of lobbying your legislators face-to-face? Are you unsure of the regulations that govern your nonprofit's capacity to engage in public policy and advocacy? This engaging and informative training covers many facets of the public policy process in Colorado. From the basics of how a bill becomes a law, the legislative process, the rules and regulations that govern nonprofits engaged in public policy work to the finer points of direct lobbying. The session features a role-play that will help you feel comfortable speaking about your organization and/or addressing issues with your elected officials. Come ready to work!
Take-home:

• How to navigate the Capitol building
• Confidence to locate, approach, and communicate issues with legislators
• Skills to track and take action on key legislation.

Thursday - 2B

Building Collaboration through Co-location

John Powers, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado; Dace West, Co-Director, Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships; Aaron Miripol, President & CEO, Urban Land Conservancy; Matthew Barry, Research Officer, Piton Foundation

Many nonprofits are exploring how multi-tenant nonprofit centers can help them achieve efficiencies and effectiveness. Gain insights on shared space opportunities, an initiative to support emerging centers, and a case study of an established center.
Take-home:

• How shared buildings can enhance mission and infrastructure
• The benefits of collaboration: examples of success
• Resources for nonprofits and funders interested in shared space opportunities

Thursday - 2C

Creating a Sustainable Organization by Making Volunteerism Smarter

Kristy Judd, Metro Volunteers

Learn how to engage volunteers at the highest level to partner with staff to develop programs, meet increased needs and create a sustainable framework that will withstand financial challenges.
Take-home:

• How Project Leaders can increase your organization's capacity to get the right work done, build awareness of your organization and meet increased demands for your services.
• How Boomer Volunteers can partner with staff to develop and execute high impact projects thus providing staff with the time to strategically manage new initiatives.
• How to recruit, select and engage the right board for your organization.

Thursday - 2D

Budgeting Basics - the What, the How, and the Why

Dana Miller, Miller & Associates

Having a budget is a huge step in helping your organization attain its goals. The process can seem daunting, but doesn’t have to be - and 90% of a budget is not done on a spreadsheet.
Take-home:

• An understanding of the process for developing a budget that meets your organization's goals, mission and vision

Thursday - 2E

Building a Successful Relationship with Grantmakers

Mindy Klowden, Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Grant writing is only one piece of the puzzle. All fundraising, including fundraising through grants, is about relationships. In this session, you'll learn how to foster and sustain relationships with grantmakers (government, foundation and corporate) that result in increased revenues and long term partnerships.
Take-home:

• Forming the relationship
• Growing the relationship
• Sustaining the relationship

Thursday - 2F

You Don't Need Fans in Kansas: Effectively Applying Social Media Locally

Andrea Hill, Worldways Social Marketing

Social media offers the opportunity to reach a broad audience, but how often are we connecting with those outside our local sphere? Learn how location-based services can help ensure we're building a strong local network.
Take-home:

• Define "geolocation"
• Describe different location-based services (Gowalla, Foursquare)
• Learn how location-based services can help nonprofits connect with and forge deeper connections with their local constituents

Thursday - 2G

The Nonprofit Recordkeeping Toolkit

John R. Josephson, KISS Business Solutions, LLC

Nonprofit record-keeping involves transparency and paperwork. Why not develop your filing systems so that they compliment your software, improve your efficiency and provide fingertip access to the documents you need?
Take-home:

• Efficieny, consistency and stronger internal controls
• Organized file systems that work in tandem with your accounting software
• Setting nonprofits up for successful IRS 990, audit and other data management needs.

Thursday - 2H

Building Successful Collaborations

Sally Henry, Centennial Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

The Wilder Research Center has identified factors of successful collaborations, including factors related to the environment, membership characteristics, process, communication, purpose and resources. Join us to learn what makes a collaboration work, and how to assess your organization's readiness for success.
Take-home:

• Decide "When should organizations collaborate?"
• Identify 10 factors influencing the success of collaborations
• Score own program(s) using the Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory

Session 3 (1:35 - 3:05 p.m.)

Thursday - 3A

Networking Advocacy: Online Tools for Powerful Campaigns

Erik Estrada, Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP

Online tools have dramatically changed the way we reach our constituents, educate the public, and mobilize supporters around issues. In this session, we'll learn about online advocacy tools and discuss strategies for using them to develop high-impact campaigns.

Thursday - 3B

What Can Nonprofits Learn from Professional Sports?

Jeff Pryor, Anschutz Family Foundation; Alexandra Mitchell, MPA, President of Pathfinder Solutions, Inc; Adeeb Khan, Mile High Red Cross

Pro sports has long-term talent development processes - and are deliberate in building connection to a game early in life, reinforcing skills and building aspirations of young players to move up through the ranks. Sports are dedicated to high energy recruitment with a focus upon leadership. Nonprofits need to build a robust and diverse talent pool to secure the future. If we believe in the nonprofit sector's critical importance in affecting impact on the state of our communities and the world, our efforts will depend greatly upon both building capacity and cultivating effective leadership. This session will be interactive and will use polling technology to stimulate conversations about these challenges. Come and build the talent for your favorite team!
Take-home:

• Talent and leadership development strategies
• Information on approaches to enhance diversity
• Enhanced planning capabilities

Thursday - 3C

National Service Programs in Colorado

Toya M. Nelson, Governor's Commission on Community Service; Mark Skinner, AmeriCorps *State Program for the Governor's Commission on Community Service; Bruce Cline, Corporation for National and Communtiy Service (CNCS); Diane Stobnicke, Northern Colorado Services Division for Volunteers of America; Barbara Lane, Corporation for National and Community Service

Are you confused about national service? Want to learn more about AmeriCorps, VISTA, Senior Corps, RSVP? This session will explore the family of national service programs in Colorado, the relationship between nonprofit community service programs and national service programs, and the importance of a strong public/private partnership in meeting community needs.
Take-home:

• Overview of national service programs including AmeriCorps, VISTA, Senior Corps RSVP, NCCC.
• Knowledge of national service program grants, eligibility, and funding cycles.
• Background on public/private partnerships and the critically important relationships between the public and private sectors in meeting community needs.

Thursday - 3D

Striving For Cultural Competency: What, Why and How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Inclusiveness Committee

Mindy Klowden, Jefferson Center for Mental Health; Adrienne Mansanares, The Denver Foundation

An effective inclusiveness committee is an essential step toward ensuring sustainable cultural competence development. In this session, participants will explore the mission, business, moral, and demographic rationales for developing a committee as well as best practices to overcome common challenges: recruiting and retaining effective members; setting and reexamining purpose and goals; communicating the work of the committee; and maximizing scarce resources - time and money.
Take-home:

• Why inclusiveness and cultural competency are essential to the future of nonprofit organizations
• What, how and why to develop an inclusiveness committee
• Best practices to address common challenges

Thursday - 3E

Funding Nonprofit Capital Projects: A Fresh Perspective

Cherie Kirschbaum, City Projects; Jason Newcomer, DCS, Inc.; Ray Merenstein, RDM Communications

If you are thinking about expanding, renovating, relocating or building a new facility, we will walk you through a three-step process that will result in effective decision making that will transform your organization.
Take-home:

• Know how to build a core plan for your real estate project
• Learn how to build a strong project team
• Discover how public, private and philanthropic financing fits into your plan

Thursday - 3F

Public Relations: What the Experts Already Know About Cracking the Media Code

Deirdre Maloney, Momentum San Diego

Want to get your cause in front of thousands? The media is the best way to do it, but it takes some know-how. Learn from an insider on how to engage the print and broadcast media, and how to avoid the most common mistakes nonprofits make along the way.

Thursday - 3G

The Hiring Process: Start with a Clean Slate Not a Lawsuit

Lorrie Ray, Mountain States Employers Council

Start off on the right on the right foot: learn what you should and shouldn't do the hiring process.
Take-home:

• What is a clear hiring process
• What is legally acceptable
• What NOT to do

Thursday - 3H

Landing an Interview in a Tight Job Market

Andrew Hudson; Brenda Roush, The Gathering Place

How do you compete against hundreds of other applicants? This session is ideal for anyone trying to move into the nonprofit sector, move up the job ladder or switch professions within the sector.
Take-home:

• Strengthening your cover letter and resume
• Understanding how employers screen applicants
• Avoiding common applicant errors

Session 4 (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)

Thursday - 4A

What Kind of Colorado Do You Want: You Can Decide

Rich Jones, The Bell Policy Center; Carol Hedges, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute; Robin Baker, Colorado Children's Campaign

Coloradans will face three fiscal proposals on the November ballot that potentially could have devasting effects on state and local communities and increase the burdens on nonprofit organizations. This session will engage participants in describing the type of community you want, review the ballot proposals' provisions and examine their effects statewide and in local communities.
Take-home:

• Learn about the three fiscal ballot proposals
• Find out how the ballot proposals will affect the state and local communities
• Learn to discuss these proposals with constituents, board members, colleagues, neighbors and friends

Thursday - 4B

Practical Evaluation Techniques: Using Simple Tools to Inform Decisions

Robert Jakubowski, The Wildlife Experience; Jessy Clark, The Wildlife Experience

Evaluation is a critical part of planning - but when you're planning to evaluate, where do you start? In this session, we'll discuss the basics of program evaluation, beginning with identifying your organization's needs. Learn tips, tricks and strategies for developing evaluations, getting people to respond, analyzing the results, and translating evaluation into action.
Take-home:

• An overview of evaluation and visitor studies techniques
• Practical strategies for dealing with common evaluation pitfalls
• Examples of how evaluation can create change and help build stronger organizations

Thursday - 4C

Information for the Board - a Scorecard approach

Dana Miller, Miller & Associates

Knowledge is power. What information should you be getting at the board level to help you manage your organization? We'll explore the Balanced Scorecard concept and look at ways of designing the report that best fits your organization.
Take-home:

• A definition of the Balanced Scorecard and an understanding of its value and purpose.
• A practical method for developing a scorecard for your organization.

Thursday - 4D

The Practical Planner: Performance Measurement Tools that Yield Results

Kelleen Zubick, Outcome Solutions

Bring your organizational strategy to life through defining and monitoring meaningful success measures. Effective performance measurements can benefit your organization by clearly communicating your program impact, by focusing staff effort on common goals and purposes, and by helping you successfully compete for resources. Participate in a step-by-step approach to developing a performance-driven strategry for nonprofit planning and effectiveness.
Take-home:

• Understand and define what success means to your organization
• Learn how to analyze what to improve
• Get tools for baseline measuring and setting internal benchmarks for success

Thursday - 4E

The Scarcity Myth

Christopher Arlen Smith, Christopher Arlen & Associates

Times are tight for everyone. How many times have you heard that? In this workshop we will explore the myth of scarcity while developing effective fundraising plans that fit your organization's specific needs - by tapping into the innate generosity of individual donors.
Take-home:

• How to develop a fundraising strategy
• Exploring organizational readiness
• Practical fundraising and development tips

Thursday - 4F

Harnessing the Power of Census Data

Pam Spicciati, PKS Demographic Solutions

This insider's guide to Census data will focus on demystifying Census data and discussing how it can be used for marketing, identifying areas of need, grantwriting, and fundraising.
Take-home:

• Ability to identify major Census data sources
• Ability to access basic Census data
• Ability to utilize Census data in grantwriting

Thursday - 4G

The Six Steps of Cost Containment Certification

Allison Hoskins, Pinnacol Assurance

Cost Containment Certification is a solid foundation for a safety program - and it saves money on workers compensation insurance premiums! In this class, you will receive a high level overview of the six steps required implement the program and to acheive Cost Containment Certification.
Take-home:

• Advantage of implementing a safety program
• Learn the six components of Cost Containment
• Time frame for becoming Cost Containment Certified

Thursday - 4H

Early Implementation Best Practices for New Nonprofits

Kara Penn, MBA, MPP, Community Resource Center

If you are in the early stages of implementing your nonprofit start up organization, this session is for you! We will review best practices, including building your board, diversifying your funding base, putting into place basic evaluation strategies, and developing core operational functions. The session will also provide an assessment tool for you to determine the strengths and challenges of your current operations, and provide time for interactive Q & A.
Take-home:

• Best practices for early implementation (board development, operations, funding diversity, evaluation, marketing)
• Assessment of their own organization in relation to best practices
• Lessons learned from others in the start up phase

Friday, October 1

Session 1 (8:35 - 10:05 a.m.)

Friday - 1A

Health Reform and Nonprofits

Elisabeth Arenales, Colorado Center on Law and Policy; Bob Semro, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI)

What does federal health reform mean for Colorado and what opportunities does it present for nonprofits?
Take-home:

• General information about health reform.
• Information about impact on nonprofits.

Friday - 1B

Redefining Your Business Model

Karla Raines, Corona Insights

The word "business model" is no longer taboo! It is time to redefine this concept for nonprofits. This workshop introduces Corona Insights' Synergistic Business Model: A Nonprofit Framework for the 21st Centuryâ„¢. It puts executives at the strategic level while unleashing their organization's full potential.
Take-home:

• Understanding of a business model and its importance
• Ways to assess your current business model
• Innovative approaches to align and optimize your organization's business model

Friday - 1C

How Does Your Board Measure Up?

Martha Vail, The Doctor* Is In

We know that an annual governance assessment is a best practice. Evaluation helps boards and board members identify strengths to build on, and weakness to remediate. In theory. Why, then, are most board assessments so lame? And why don't most boards change as a result? This session presents a new way to approach assessing your board, one that leads to group and individual learning and growth.
Take-home:

• Why to do a governance assessment
• How to do a governance assessment
• How to use the results of the assessment

Friday - 1D

The Spirit of Leadership

Brian C. Krill, Peak Education and Consulting, LLC

Explore the spiritual foundations of leadership. Develop your own personal and professional mission statement. Learn to call upon dormant strengths and strategies for improved energy, focus and the ability to lead with conviction.
Take-home:

• Better understand the spirit of leadership and service.
• Develop your mission statement.
• Develop your philosophy of leadership.

Friday - 1E

Face2Face: Start talking to Your Biggest Donors and Prospects

Ann Goldman, Ann Goldman Consulting, Inc.; Leslie Allen, Leslie Allen Consulting

There is nothing like talking face to face to your donors and prospects at every level. Learn how to establish trusting relationships that will ultimately yield major and planned gifts.
Take-home:

• Prioritize your prospects and donors and figure out how on earth you're going to reach all of them.
• Find creative ways of connecting with donors who make smaller gifts.
• Understand the art of conversation for fundraising purposes.

Friday - 1F

Improve Your Communication: The Minute Message Model

Zach Hochstadt, Mission Minded; Jennie Winton

When discussing their organizations, most nonprofit leaders focus on the wrong information. The Minute Message Model teaches you to focus on the most important things first -- whether you have 1 minute, 5 minutes or 30 minutes.
Take-home:

• Improve your fundraising by talking about benefits instead of features
• Learn better storytelling skills
• Gain confidence in crafting messages that can work for everyone in your organization

Friday - 1G

Best Practices for Thoughtful Stewards

Ben Valore-Caplan, Syntrinsic Investment Counsel, LLC; Brook Kramer, Syntristic Investment Council

This course discusses universal processes for fiduciaries with responsibility for stewarding endowments and long-term and short-term reserves. Attendees learn how to craft policies, clarify objectives, manage risk, delegate responsibility and maintain accountability.
Take-home:

• How to delegate responsibility to board, committees, staff, and advisors.
• How to clarify the investment and spending objectives of a nonprofit's financial resources.
• How to monitor the ongoing appropriateness of strategy, investments, and advisors.

Friday - 1H

Real Estate 101- How Can Your Non Profit Benefit From General Real Estate Knowledge

Michael Baker, Gold Crown Management

Learn to increase your bottom line by following guidelines and rules related to real estate expenses. Hear ideas on saving time and money from real estate brokers, developers, and lenders.
Take-home:

• Gain a better understanding of real estate terms
• Understand how to negotiate real estate leases & contracts
• Learn how to save money through effective lease negotiations

Friday - 1I

Funder/Nonprofit Dialogue

Colorado Association of Funders

Join foundation executives from the Colorado Association of Funders for discussion and exchange of information. This session provides opportunities to build relationships and gain insights to help your organization be more successful in the grantmaking process.

Session 2 (10:20 - 11:50 a.m.)

Friday - 2A

Using Grassroots Advocacy to Elevate Your Organization

Sharon Raggio, Colorado West Regional Mental Health; Bonnie Wasli, Colorado West Regional Mental Health

In 2004, Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center took on a $10 million debt to build a new psychiatric hospital after three other hospitals closed their psychiatric wings, leaving absolutely no psychiatric hospital capacity in the entire western half of the state. The debt on this new facility, however, was consuming all the financial resources of Colorado West, and the entire system was facing foreclosure and bankruptcy. Through a grassroots advocacy effort and partnerships with funders, companies and government, Colorado West met all its financial obligations, while maintaining services in the community. In this session, we'll discuss strategies for meeting challenges through grassroots advocacy.
Take-home:

• How grassroots advocacy can elevate your organization
• Why your organization's story is important
• How to capitalize on all of your partners

Friday - 2B

The Planning and Development Continuum

Mark L. Holdt, Mountain Sage Consulting

This fast-paced, hands-on session will introduce a new planning concept for CEO's, board members and financial development professionals. Discover a planning concept can be implemented with minimal cost and produce outstanding financial results.
Take-home:

• How the planning and development continuum can benefit their organization.
• Learn a planning model that will position you to be a truly visionary leader.
• Financial development professionals: learn about your vital role in the planning process and how to actively engage your key supporters in the process.

Friday - 2C

Havoc in the Boardroom

Denise Clark, Denise Clark, LLC

Disruptive board members present a chronic problem and hinder a board's ability to govern effectively. Learn what to do when a troublesome person has found his or her way onto your board and how to prevent it from happening again.
Take-home:

• Discuss what constitutes a "real" troublemaker on the board
• Discover how to protect your organization against difficult board members
• Learn how to remove destructive board members

Friday - 2D

Critically Important - Tricky to Manage: The Board/ED Partnership

Deirdre Maloney, Momentum San Diego

It's one of the most important relationships in every nonprofit - and it can also be a recipe for tension, power struggles and conflict. Learn strategies to help the board and executive director build an effective, meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership for both the good of the organization, and an improved experience for all involved.

Friday - 2E

Social Enterprise 101: Advancing Your Mission Through Enterprising Business Opportunities

Suzanne Smith, Social Impact Architects

Come learn about the field of social enterprise as a potential alternative to traditional fundraising. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to identify and evaluate strengths and learn how to translate these strengths into social enterprise opportunities.
Take-home:

• Learn about the field of social enterprise through examples from around the country.
• Understand the characteristics of successful social enterprises.
• Discuss both the benefits and possible roadblocks when pursuing social enterprise.

Friday - 2F

The Dynamics of Women Giving - Gender Matters

Janet Doolin, J.D., Doolin Consulting LLC

Women are changing the face of philanthropy. Explore key insights into women's giving. Learn how to help women clarify their values and vision. Is a women's giving program something your organization should consider developing?
Take-home:

• Why gender matters in both marketing and fundraising
• Steps for helping women find their philanthropic voice
• What your board and staff must know before embarking on a women's giving program

Friday - 2G

Tracking Financial Outcomes to Measure Fiscal Health

Kristen Sundin, Colorado State Bank and Trust; Kevin Shaw, Colorado State Bank and Trust

Nonprofit leaders understand the importance of outcomes to measure community impact. Equally important is tracking financial outcomes to measure fiscal health. Learn what metrics you should be tracking to ensure long term sustainability.
Take-home:

• Overview of financial statements: questions to ask
• Determining appropriate metrics for your organization
• Incorporating these metrics into your strategic plan for long term sustainability

Friday - 2H

Computer Crashes & Power Outages - Why Strategic Technology Planning is Essential

Brenda McCoy, Outcome Solutions

We've all experienced a computer crash or a power outage - we immediately panic and call the technician. Hopefully they can fix it. Technology has become so integral and critical to daily operations and delivering services yet we don't usually plan for it as well as we should. Learn simple techniques to create an equipment replacement schedule and plan for technology in your annual budget without having to become a techie.
Take-home:

• Create an equipment replacement schedule.
• Create an annual technology budget.
• Understand why technology is critical to daily operations.

Session 3 (1:35 - 3:05 p.m.)

Friday - 3A

The 2010 Election: Impacts on Nonprofits and Opportunities to Engage Voters in your Mission

Mark Turner, Colorado Nonprofit Association

Several 2010 ballot measures will significantly impact not only the direction of our state but also how nonprofits carry out their missions and operations. Nonprofits are uniquely positioned to help voters participate in the election and mobilize them on issues and causes that serve their missions. This session will give an overview of measures on the 2010 ballot, their impacts on nonprofits, and strategies for engaging voters in the election and in the causes that matter to your organization.
Take-home:

• Guides on 2010 ballot measures and voter engagement topics.
• Strategies and ideas for voter engagement

Friday - 3B

Convergence: The role of nonprofit professionals in a cross-sector world

Caryn Capriccioso, interSector Partners, L3C; Rick Zwetsch, interSector Partners, L3C

Sector lines are blurring and expectations for each sector are rapidly changing. Learn about the convergence of the sectors and discuss what this means to you as you define your career path and decide where you fit into this brave new world.
Take-home:

• Overview of the converging sectors
• Examples of cross-sector efforts and approaches
• Crowd-sourced ideas for how to integrate convergence in a young nonprofit professional career

Friday - 3C

What Board Members Really Want

Deborah Brackney, Mountain States Employers Council

For nonprofit leaders, it's not always easy to work with a board of directors. And the changing emphasis on boards to focus more on fundraising and strategy doesn't make those relationships any easier. In this session, we'll explore: the executive and board member roles; setting clear expectations of board members; and what is the "real" - not academic - role of a board member. Nonprofit staff will learn what board members wish for, and board members will learn what to ask from their nonprofits.
Take-home:

• How to develop good board and executive director relationships
• Best practices of good board engagement
• Stories from the field

Friday - 3D

Succession Planning: Who Needs It?

Carol Nickell, Community Resource Center

Great nonprofits have a succession plan in place. The most effective leaders are thinking about how the organization will continue its good work long after they are gone. Understand the challenges and opportunities nonprofits face during executive transitions.
Take-home:

• How to approach the topic of succession planning
• Essential elements that make up a succession plan
• Identify red flags during transition process

Friday - 3E

Zero to Zenith: Growing a Nonprofit Budget of Any Size Through Acquisitions and Major Gifts

Perry Jowsey, Freedom Service Dogs; Eileen Egan, American Indian College Fund

This session will focus on strategies for augmenting resource development for immediate results (12 months) and on creating a sustainable and self-evolving major gifts system. Focus will be given to small shop nonprofits (under $500K annual revenue) and large scale ($5M plus) with proven strategies in how to grow across the board.
Take-home:

• Identifying your core, medium, and major donors
• Moves Management Matrix
• Timeline for acquiring and soliciting major gifts

Friday - 3F

Strategic Communications

Kristen Grimm, Spitfire Strategies

A critical component of successful communications is the development and implementation of a strategic plan. The wildly popular Spitfire Strategies Smart Chart demystifies the communications planning process by walking through the choices that must be made to put a strong strategy in place. Kristen Grimm, creator of the Smart Chart, will provide an overview of this online tool which is being used by hundreds of nonprofits organizations across the U.S. and in Europe, Asia, Africa and Mexico.

Friday - 3G

Helping Others...While Others Help Themselves

Douglas Cash, MBA, CFE, CFI, CFCI, Eide Bailly LLP; Michelle O'Brien-Rose, CPA, MBA, AMSF, Eide Bailly LLP

America loses over $900 billion annually to fraud and embezzlement. Nonprofit organizations are particularly affected because of the sense of trust that exists within the system. Learn to identify, eliminate and protect against fraud in your organization.
Take-home:

• Develop an understanding of how fraud impacts all areas of the business world.
• Learn what needs to take place when a fraud is suspected in your operation
• Discover how a forensic accountant can assist you in protecting your business.

Friday - 3H

Introduction to Workplace Conflict Management

Pearl Bell, The Conflict Center; Nikki Schmidt; Vickie Samland

This session will provide an overview of conflict management in the workplace. We will begin with an understanding of dramatic roles, miscommunication and the destructive cycle of conflict if not handled appropriately. We will explore our own defense and conflict styles, and begin to form basic strategies for effective conflict managment.
Take-home:

• Understanding the positive outcomes of conflict
• Recognizing your own conflict style
• Basic conflict management strategy

Session 4 (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)

Friday - 4A

Help Shape Nonprofit Legislative Priorities

Renny Fagan, Colorado Nonprofit Association; Mark Turner, Colorado Nonprofit Association; Mary Anne Harvey, The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People; Richard Westfall, Hale Westfall

Join us for an interactive session to help shape the Colorado Nonprofit Association's legislative priorities for the 2011 session. Let us know what state laws affect you the most, share ideas for state laws you'd like to see, and give us your feedback on specific proposals the Association is considering introducing in the 2011 legislative session.

Friday - 4B

Moving Up the Value Chain

Jesse Wolff, The Kempe Foundation

This session discusses a strategic framework, the value chain, that helps define a successful nonprofit model producing meaningful outcomes and social impact. Participants will learn about the five components of the value chain and how to apply the model to their own organizations.
Take-home:

• A defined framework for mission achievement
• A strategy for producing more powerful outcomes to pitch to donors
• An understanding of social return on investment

Friday - 4C

Reengaging Student Volunteers: Using Citizen Professionalism as a New Framework

Matthew Gray, Johnson & Wales University

Sustainably engaging college students for long-term volunteering can be difficult. Based on the work of Harry Boyte at the University of Minnesota, participants will practice new methods for meaningfully involving student volunteers.
Take-home:

• Retaining and enriching the engagement of college student volunteers in your organization.
• Strengthening the civic networks of your surrounding community.
• Preparing young citizens for futures in nonprofits and community work.

Friday - 4D

Are You Truly Ready for Leadership?

Chris Hutchinson, Trebuchet Group

We will explore three kinds of leadership necessary for success: leading yourself, leading others, and leading the organization. This session includes evaluating personal challenges to being a successful leader, exploring next steps for self and staff.
Take-home:

• A simple and comprehensive three-part model explaining leadership
• Actionable activities to improve leadership capability
• Individual self-assessment of leadership abilities in the three areas

Friday - 4E

IMPROV Your Donor Relation Skills

The AFP Improv Troop; Anne Harris, Urban Peak; Tami Lack, Third Way Center; Aleah Horstman, Arapahoe House; Andrew Spinks, St. Francis Center; Linda Ricketson, University of Denver School of Social Work; Kevin Jones, Colonial Life

The Colorado Chapter of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) presents this fun and interactive session that will explore the tools of improvisation, such as "yes, and" where the participants in a skit first reinforce the action of their stage partner (donor) and then build on that. All the activities have been chosen to match the skills we use in best practices with donors and volunteers. Fundraising CAN be fun!
Take-home:

• Donor relations
• Communication
• Creative problem solving

Friday - 4F

How to Produce & Use Online Video to Enhance Your Organization's Next PR Campaign

Amy Smith, Kaiser Permanente; Amy Whited, Kaiser Permanente; Paul Romero, Kaiser Permanente; Martha Lynch, Kaiser Permanente

This presentation covers how to easily integrate online video into PR campaigns. Through an overview of video trends and sharing four case studies, attendees leave with tools to successfully produce online video for their next communications project.
Take-home:

• Learn to think differently about telling your story…and how to do it on a shoestring budget.
• Determine when you can shoot a good story yourself and when you really need to hire a professional videographer
• Discover what stories best lend themselves to video and how to think like a journalist - from Katie Couric's former producer.

Friday - 4G

Orientation/Onboarding --- it's more than the first day

Chris Oldham, Mountain States Employers Council

When does orientation of a new employee begin? Day 1? Before Day 1? When does it end? Day 2? Week 3? Day 365? Join this discussion and get creative ideas on what you can streamline, what you can postpone, and what absolutely must be covered during orientation/onboarding!
Take-home:

• Tools to assess your current orientation process
• Legal and compliance concerns of inconsistent onboarding
• Creative ideas to take back and assess in your organization

Friday - 4H

Generation Y: Taking Space from the Board Room to the Employee

Abby Landmeier, Grand Junction Housing Authority; Jade Thomas, Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children

Generation Y is entering the nonprofit sector in all capacities, but what does this mean? Do they really wear flip-flops all the time and have an uncanny attachment to their phones? This session will include hands-on interaction and discussion in relation to Gen Y in the workplace, boardroom, as volunteers, and as prospective donors.
Take-home:

• Exactly who Generation Y is and why they hold an important stake in the nonprofit sector from all levels.
• What this means for formal roles: volunteer, board member and employee.
• How to cultivate this group as donors in the future.