Up to three people from the same organization may participate in either the full series or any individual program. Each participant will receive their own login information. All webinars will be archived so they can be purchased, and viewed anytime through 4/15/13.

November 14, 2012

12-1 p.m. (CST)

Making the Ask: The Basics of Major Gift Solicitations

Mary Morten, President, Morten Group

This webinar will provide participants with an overview of how to make a successful major gift solicitation, including structuring the meeting (who should attend, what’s on the agenda, flow, etc.); building rapport; turning the conversation around (how to overcome objections); and making the ask.

December 12, 2012

12-1 p.m. (CST)

Employment Law 101

Kathryn M. Vanden Berk, Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Kathryn M. Vanden Berk, P.C.

While employees are a critical asset for our organizations, they also pose a potential risk. In fact, employment related claims comprise over 85 percent of all nonprofit insurance claims filed under Directors and Officers’ Liability policies. This session will present the “need-to-knows” when it comes to nonprofit employment law. A few of the questions that will be answered include:

• ·         How do you legally hire and fire employees?
• ·         Can we convert employees into contracted workers?
• ·         Is “comp time” illegal?
• ·         What Federal and State employment laws apply to nonprofit organizations?
• ·         What are the policies and procedures we need to have in place to protect our organization?

Participants are encouraged to send their questions to the instructor ahead of time so that specific issues can be addressed.

January 16, 2013

12-1 p.m. (CST)

Using Dashboards to Simplify Your Board Reports

Deb Stonikas, MBA, CEO, Northpointe Consulting, LLC

Do you find yourself and staff scrambling to assemble the monthly board report? Are your reports inconsistent in their message, or lack continuity? Do ideas and projects get lost after a couple of months? This webinar will show you how other nonprofits are utilizing dashboards as the core of their monthly board report. These nonprofits are saving time, providing consistent performance messages, focusing on key issues, and tracking projects through to completion. This webinar is appropriate for both directors and board members looking to simplify and strengthen oversight, transparency, and governance.

February 13, 2013

12-1 p.m. (CST)

Build a Better Board Meeting

Robert B. Acton, J.D., Executive Director, Taproot Foundation (NYC)

Has your board meeting become boring and routine? Do directors spend more time checking their smart phone than engaging on issues under discussion? Are you underutilizing the talents, skills and energy of your governing body? One key to developing a highly-engaged, energetic board of directors is to remake the way your agency “does” board meetings. This webinar will provide practical, easy to implement tools to reshape your board meetings. It’s time to bring an end to what author Nancy R. Axelrod calls “mind numbing show-and-tell [board] meetings with predetermined outcomes.” Breathe life into your board by breathing life into their work. This session is created for executive and development directors, as well as board members.

March 13, 2013

12-1 p.m. (CST)

Budgeting Basics

Tim J. O’Brien, Ph.D., Principal, Mutuality Associates, LLC

Budgets are a great tool for evaluating choices and setting direction for your nonprofit organization. But many times this useful planning tool can become a frustrating guessing game. Providing specific examples of budget formats that are useful for nonprofits with multiple funding sources, multiple programs, and challenging grant application requirements, this webinar will teach the key steps to a successful budgeting process. This session is geared toward program managers, grant writers, or directors who want to develop basic budgeting skills.