Thanks to an anonymous donor, the Evanston Community Foundation has scheduled a series of six free workshops for staff and board members of not-for-profit organizations in Evanston.
The series, titled “For Organizational Success,” covers a number of topics designed to improve the overall performance of a non-profit organization. And because there is no charge to attend, ECF is urging local organizations to bring multiple participants.
“Think of these opportunities as ‘mini-retreats’ for your team, both board and staff,” says ECF program officer Rebecca Cacayuran. “They are terrific chances to learn from experts, network with others in our sector, and leave with action plans to improve your organization.”
The first workshop in the series,“Collaborate: Navigating Successful Partnerships,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, with networking and free supper at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program from 6 to 8 p.m. The speaker, Dr. Kate Cooper, is associate director of Northwestern University’s Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact. Her research focuses on how nonprofits collaborate with others to increase their impact.
The remaining workshop schedule includes: “Successful Board Recruitment” on Jan. 24 at 8 a.m., “Using Shared Narrative to Mobilize Your Fundraising Board” on Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m., “Building Board and Staff Culture with Purpose and Intention” on March 20 at 5:30 p.m., “Datavisualization: Using Your Organization’s Secret Weapons to Boost Fundraising and Impact” on April 17 at 8 a.m., and “Tracking Success: Moving Past Overhead to Measure Impact,” on June 21 at 8 a.m.
Sessions will be held at the ECF offices in One Rotary Center at 1560 Sherman Ave.
ECF’s goal is to eliminate barriers that keep organizations from sending staff and board to learning opportunities. “By eliminating fees, offering workshops in both morning and early evening times, and requiring shorter time commitments, we’re working to make organizational development more accessible to all nonprofits, no matter their size,” said Marybeth Schroeder, the foundation’s Vice President of Programs.
For additional information and to register, participants should visit the Foundation’s website.