Seeing Through the AI Hype: Useful Ways to Use AILearn how AI can have a practical impact on your work through real-world examples of how nonprofits are leveraging AI's ability to bring structure to unstructured information, enabling new automation, streamlining workflows, and ultimately saving precious time and resources. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Operations and Technology |
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Inclusive Leadership: Actionable PracticesInclusive Leadership means that anyone impacted by results of decisions has their voice heard and respected. In this session, attendees will learn tangible tools to ensure staff, volunteer and program stakeholder voices are lifted up to inform major strategic decisions. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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AI Strategies for Powerful Personas and Impactful ContentYour audience is out there—but are you really connecting with them? Understanding your audience is the key to meaningful connections—and we're here to help you unlock it. Using cutting-edge AI strategies and proven techniques, you'll learn how to: Pinpoint EXACTLY who your ideal audience is and where you can find them (no more guessing). Build detailed personas that feel like you're speaking directly to their hearts. Create content so tailored it grabs attention and inspires action. This isn't theory—it's a blueprint you can put to work immediately. Whether you're growing your nonprofit, boosting engagement, or driving donations, this session will give you the tools to make it happen. Join us to learn how to connect with your audience on a deeper level and build relationships that last. We're excited to share these strategies with you! In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Fundraising/Development |
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The Non-technical Side of Cybersecurity: Creating a Cyber Aware CultureSmall organizations are increasingly facing cyberattacks—but why? While they may lack the robust IT security departments of banks or large health systems, small organizations still hold sensitive data that’s highly valuable on the dark web. While attacks are becoming more sophisticated, one of the keys to avoiding costly cyberattacks is to become a difficult target. In this workshop, we’ll focus on tips for smaller organizations to prepare and educate staff about the various scams and cyberthreats they may see. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Elevating Careers Through Personalized ExperiencesUnlock your potential and take charge of your career in our workshop, "Elevating Careers Through Personalized Experiences." Tailored specifically for small nonprofits, this session highlights the unique opportunities for personalized career development and meaningful employee experiences that larger corporations simply can't provide. We'll explore how smaller, mission-driven organizations can foster growth through individualized career plans, stronger employee engagement, and empathetic leadership—empowering you to make an impact while advancing your professional journey. If you're ready to thrive in a workplace where your voice matters and your growth is a priority, this workshop is for you! In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Show Me the Money: Keys to Successful Grant Budget DevelopmentYou've designed the program and identified possible funding streams – now you must develop a compelling budget that fully funds your proposed activities. A well-structured budget details how funding is allocated and is essential for demonstrating to funders the thorough preparation and viability of your project. This session will share approaches to developing a budget, including projecting revenue, identifying start-up costs, calculating overhead to support administrative costs, and identifying capital expenses, as well as special considerations for philanthropic versus government funding and common mistakes to avoid. Participants will leave with tools to create their own comprehensive foundation and government grant budgets. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Financial Management |
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Audits, Assurance & More: A Roadmap to Navigating Accounting ServicesUnderstanding accounting services can act as a roadmap for your nonprofit, determining where, when, and how the organization manages resources. Join us as we navigate nonprofit accounting with a deeper dive into audits, reviews, compilations, preparations, and agreed-upon procedures - answering your questions about each service. What is the purpose? Why do you need it? When do you need it? How does it work? Amplify your organization's mission by understanding how these services can support your goals and help strengthen the financial health of your organization. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Financial Management |
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Tech Tapas: Super Helpful Tips To Make Life EasierSo often in the nonprofit world you are expected to know how to use technology without getting any training. With the speed of new apps and tech updates, there's ALWAYS an easier way to do what you're doing, yet most of us waste hours of time because we don't know the shortcuts or the new functionality, and absolutely don't have time to research it. "Because that's the way we've always done it" is a dangerous and demoralizing phrase. Presented by a tech expert and a nonprofit professional who's been there, give yourself a gift and take home some timesaving and jaw-dropping tech tips. Because every minute counts; don't waste them living in 2006 technology. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Fundraising/Development |
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Fostering a Supportive and Caring Workplace: Mental Health in the WorkplaceAs awareness of mental health in the workplace grows, fostering a supportive culture is more important than ever. This workshop will help participants better understand the experiences of those facing mental health challenges and explore the impact of inclusive language. Through small group discussions, attendees will learn practical strategies to encourage open communication and create a workplace where employees feel comfortable seeking help. Gain the tools to recognize signs of struggle, support colleagues, and promote workplace wellness. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Leveling the Playing Field: Retaining Professionals with DisabilitiesThe workshop educates leadership and HR professionals about disabilities, legal accommodation requirements (like those in the ADA), and respectful interaction with individuals with disabilities. The training aims to foster an inclusive workplace and typically includes: 1. Definition of Disability: Understanding what constitutes a disability and its various types, including physical, sensory, cognitive, and developmental impairments. 2. Communication Skills: Learning respectful language and adapting communication styles to diverse needs. 3. Reasonable Accommodations: Identifying and providing necessary adjustments to tasks, schedules, or environments for employees with disabilities. 4. Interactive Process: Engaging in collaborative discussions between employers and employees to determine appropriate accommodations. 5. Unconscious Bias: Addressing and overcoming biases about individuals with disabilities. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Connecting to DAF Holders and Access 250Bil in Charitable DonationsEver find yourself navigating unfamiliar waters with Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)? Curious about insider strategies for engaging DAF holders and tapping into the over $228 billion housed within these accounts? This session is designed to demystify DAFs, outlining their purpose and function. We'll delve into the pivotal roles of philanthropic advisors and financial intermediaries in this realm, reshaping your approach to connect with DAF holders creatively. Join Alyssa Wright from Wright Collective to explore innovative strategies including #HalfMyDaf and other movements, and discover how to optimize your database to effectively incorporate DAF holder and advisor data. This session aims to equip you with actionable insights to navigate and leverage the substantial opportunities within the DAF landscape. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Fundraising/Development |
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Seven Great Questions for Coaching LeadersRemember that person/people who helped form your values and responsibilities? Chances are they not only told you good information, but they also asked you good questions. When we are asked questions we have to think, process and evaluate, rather than just take in information. When we are asked good questions about our values and leadership, we think, process and evaluate, and become better, more resonant leaders. Coaching is about helping others see more deeply into their own actions, patterns and influence, connecting with their real values and learning how to live and lead with them intentionally. In this engaging and interactive presentation you'll learn seven great questions you can ask to help develop leaders, and yourself, as well as tips, insights and a few stories. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Executive Leadership |
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Addressing Today's Labor Market ChallengesNew England's workforce crisis is at a tipping point, presenting challenges with recruiting, retention and overall employee satisfaction. This workshop will explore how Ascentria's PeopleFirst Pathways program is addressing these challenges by better understanding the issues facing employers and measuring the impact of targeted solutions/approaches. The focus of PeopleFirst Pathways is a dedication to the well-being and success of our own employees. This pioneering initiative aims to provide pathways to employment, professional growth, and personal fulfillment. By understanding our employees' aspirations along with the obstacles they face, we offer 1:1 confidential coaching and we are crafting a set of wraparound services to support our employees. By removing stress-inducing obstacles, we enable our employees to be more engaged, productive, and healthier, benefiting both their professional and personal lives. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Step Into the Light: The Powerful Impact of Partnership ModelsMany small to mid-size non profit organizations have committed to an operating model that leaves them struggling to remain sustainable and impactful. For small non profits under $1M, the struggle to sustain best practices and attract the talent needed to ensure governance, fundraising, program development, finance, HR, strategic and legal requirements are adequately managed is real and trim consuming, pulling the organization away from its vital mission. This workshop will help leaders explore alternative operational models - collaborations, partnerships, mergers, and more - that can help broaden impact, energize donors, develop new advocates, and strengthen financial stability. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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From Financial Freakout to Prosperous NonprofitThis session provides nonprofit leaders with a comprehensive guide to mastering essential financial tools and strategies. You'll learn which financial statements are crucial to review regularly and how to interpret them effectively. Gain the skills to calculate key metrics that reveal your organization's financial health and use them to tell a compelling financial story to stakeholders. The session also delves into building a practical, accurate budget that aligns with your strategic goals and equips you with techniques to incorporate forecasting into your monthly financial routine. These insights will help you proactively navigate financial challenges, make informed decisions, and create a sustainable plan for growth and impact. Whether you're new to financial management or looking to refine your existing practices, this session offers actionable steps to enhance your organization's financial clarity and confidence. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Financial Management |
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Live Donor Journey Assessment: Scorecard & Improvement PlanWhat's preventing people from becoming your avid fans? When it comes to digital marketing and fundraising, most nonprofits struggle to identify what's working, what's falling flat, and what's stopping people from becoming loyal supporters. When you're deep in the work every day, it's nearly impossible to catch the messaging and technical snags that are deterring people. And there may be great-fit digital channels for your organization that you're not tapping into yet. In this interactive workshop, we'll do a holistic review of your organization's digital presence, complete a donor journey scorecard, and create mini donor journey improvement plans. You will leave with a roadmap to upgrade your online donor experience at every stage, from awareness to email sign-ups, making a gift, and beyond. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Marketing and Communications |
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Managing Conflict and Having Difficult ConversationsConflict is an inevitable part of any workplace, but effectively managing it can lead to stronger relationships, improved collaboration, and a more positive work environment. "Managing Conflict and Having Difficult Conversations" is a comprehensive training designed to equip professionals with the skills and strategies needed to handle conflicts and engage in challenging discussions with confidence and competence. This training will help you turn potentially negative situations into opportunities for growth and understanding. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Management/Supervision |
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Getting Unstuck: Overcome Roadblocks to Success in 3 StepsFeeling stuck? When complex challenges are mounting, where do you even begin? Whether it's personal or organizational, big or (seemingly) small, wicked issues sap your energy. Take it from someone who's been there, and helped dozens of leaders get unstuck! Learn a helpful framework and practical tools you and your team can use, and reuse, to get clear on what matters and chart a path to success. So you can reclaim your energy – and get back to focusing on your mission. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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Build Your Confidence in Securing and Attending a Donor MeetingIn this interactive session with Sarah Andrews, “Build your confidence in securing and attending a donor meeting,” we will discuss how to go about reaching out to your existing and potential supporters to secure a meeting. We will review how to prepare for your meeting, steps to take before the meeting, and what to bring with you. Next we will talk about what to do at your meeting, ten questions to spark mission-rich conversation and how to end it as a success. Along the way we will pause for mini-brainstorming sessions to craft your organization's unique impact talking points and invitation to support the future vision. Join us to learn how you can take a step up from appeals and email asks to building relationships with your donors by taking the time to meet with them! In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Fundraising/Development |
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Secrets to a Successful Nonprofit Leadership TransitionIn 1998, Duncan McDougall founded the Children's Literacy Foundation (CliF), an award-winning nonprofit that inspires thousands of under-resourced young readers and writers throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. As he approached his 25th year as Executive Director, he knew it was time pass the torch to a new leader. To be as prepared as possible, Duncan spent a year interviewing Executive Directors and Board Chairs from 17 nonprofits that had recently gone through a leadership transition to learn what worked, what didn't, and what steps to avoid at all costs. These lessons helped CLiF make a very smooth and successful leadership transition in 2023. Duncan looks forward to sharing his findings and personal experiences with other nonprofit leaders. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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From Zoomers to Boomers: Engaging Donors of All AgesHave you ever wondered how your organization's fundraising efforts relate to your constituents from different generations? Chances are your Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors are learning about and engaging with your nonprofit differently. Your organization's outreach should be optimized through a generational lens to ensure the right audience is reached with the right message. In this session, you'll learn how to lead your development team to unlock hidden potential with your donors based on generational giving trends. In Bloomerang's 2024 Generational Giving Report, over 1,000 donors of all ages were asked to tell us how they discover nonprofits to support, how they stay connected to those nonprofits, their fundraising event habits, donor retention preferences, and more! Join us for a deep dive into some of the report's findings, including tactics to inspire your team as they engage with donors across generations. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Fundraising/Development |
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Direct Mail: Still Wildly Effective After All These YearsWhile digital advertising continues to be the 8oo-pound gorilla of direct response marketing, direct mail is an underutilized channel that has been around for 100+ years and continues to offer unique benefits that can complement and enhance a company's overall fundraising and communications strategy to achieve more effective engagement. It plays an important role in engaging donors, potential donors, volunteers, and program recipients. Topics to be covered: 1. Benefits of direct mail 2. Where direct mail fits in to the overall engagement strategy 3. Direct mail use cases 4. Direct mail performance 5. Keys to successful direct mail campaigns 6. The importance of using the right data 7. Designing effective direct mail packages 8. Getting started: the basics. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Marketing and Communications |
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Voices that Matter: Engaging People with Lived ExpertiseThe individuals and families that our organizations serve are the experts on what they need and what services are most impactful for them. Nonprofits can benefit greatly from this expertise and have a responsibility to engage the populations they serve thoughtfully and ethically. While there are many ways to learn from the communities we serve, meaningful engagement requires intentional planning, leadership, and a willingness to share power. This workshop will explore the importance of engaging people with lived experience (PWLE), share best practices for doing so ethically and equitably, and offer guidance on implementing these approaches in your organization. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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Public Speaking with Confidence and Even a Little FunDoes the thought of public speaking have you quaking in your boots? Do you freeze up like a dear in the headlights when you have to make a presentation? Do you wish you could command more attention when you speak—whether its in front of a crowd or in a small group setting? Then this workshop is for you! This session covers all the basics from being sure of and preparing your content to walking into the room, from how to support your breath and release tension from your body to how to work with microphones, and from how to connect with an audience to vocal projection and enunciation. In this low stress workshop, participants can have fun learning to be a more effective speaker through hands-on participation or by cheering on others. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Marketing and Communications |
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How to Build an Endowment Fund in the New WorldThe endowment is a crucial financial resource for many nonprofits, especially post COVID. Many nonprofits realize that endowments can add an important financial cushion and also diversify their revenues. Many executive directors, development directors, and trustees are not closely engaged with the endowment process. Yet, many are being asked to support campaigns that seek to both start and expand the endowment, and donors and stakeholders often ask probing questions about the endowment to the nonprofit leadership team. This session will help enhance the knowledge of endowment concepts and practices. We will also discuss the concept of the strategic endowment plan. We will have a local nonprofit panel that can share their endowment experiences. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Financial Management |
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Building a Culture of Diversity Equity & InclusionMy vision is to partner with your organization to help co-create a "beloved community," a thriving ecosystem where people of all backgrounds can come together, celebrate their unique gifts and perspectives, and build a culture of mutual understanding, respect, and empowerment. By making DEI a core organizational and community value and practice, we can break down the barriers that divide us, promote diversity in our systems, and create a thriving society. Diversity, equity, and inclusion should be the foundation of any nonprofit's work structure and culture. Creating a culture of DEI is moral and strategic for any mission-driven organization that aspires to create meaningful, equitable, and lasting change. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: HR/Organizational Culture |
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Leading with Laughter: Practical Lessons from the Frontlines of LeadershipThis is a dynamic workshop designed to bring out the best in leaders by embracing the power of humor. In this engaging session, you'll discover how humor can be a valuable tool to navigate challenges, foster connection, and build resilient, motivated teams. Through real-life stories, interactive exercises, and evidence-based strategies, you'll learn how to use laughter to defuse tense situations, inspire creativity, and enhance team morale. Whether you're handling high-stakes projects or everyday hurdles, this workshop equips you with practical skills to lead confidently, bring joy to your workplace, and empower others. Join us to uncover the lighter side of leadership and walk away with a toolkit to make your impact lasting, uplifting, and fun. In this workshop, participants will:
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Category: Organizational Leadership |
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