06/20/13 9.00am-4.00pm

The nonprofit sector is integral to the delivery of public services but funds to support these services do not simply flow to the sector from the government. We have to ask for them. 

This raises a lot of questions. How do you prepare and position your ask? Which kinds of government funds are good matches for your organization? What are the best government prospects? How do you support your ask during review? How do you manage your government contract reward?

Workshop participants, along with Marilyn Hoyt and a panel of local experts, will map a process for the best approach to identifying and raising government funding at the city, county, state and federal levels. Types of funding discussed will include government grants, contracts and discretionary funding.

Participants will:

• 
  Identify policies needed prior to winning government funds,


• 
  Identify which of their assets are of interest to government funders,


• 
  Learn how to research prior to meetings and proposals,


• 
  Identify resources to strengthen their approach,


• 
  How to craft a proposal/approach, and


• 
  Learn about keys to the award/post-award period.

A light breakfast and lunch will be served. 

Presenter:

The day’s event will be led by internationally renowned expert, consultant and trainer, Marilyn Hoyt. Participants will also engage with panel of local experts on key elements of their own work and trends they are seeing in government fundraising.

Speaker bio

Marilyn Hoyt is active nationally in teaching, consulting, and advisory work. She speaks frequently at conferences and fund raisers, and serves as a member of the Young Audiences Program Certification Team and a reviewer for two foundations.

Her past work includes 12 years as a grantmaker for the Westchester Arts Council in New York and the Washington State Arts Commission; fundraising consulting with various nonprofits for J.C. Geever, Inc.; and 20 years at the New York Hall of Science first as head of advancement and government affairs, ultimately as President and CEO. There she raised nearly $200 million including a successful $92 million expansion campaign including $64 million in government funding doubling the Hall's budget and attendance.

Marilyn is one of the authors of the Foundation Center book, After the Grant. She also authored the fundraising chapter for the Handbook for Small Science Centers, and an article on outsourcing during tough economic times for the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Her e-newsletter is circulated to a dedicated list and reproduced on New York's Oram Matters.

Marilyn is an advisory board member of Columbia University's Masters in Fund Raising program, and an advisor to New York's Latimer House and Chicago's Public Housing Museum. She is deeply interested in nonprofits led by and serving minority communities. Her recognitions include the 2007 Latin American Women's Council Fanny Calderon de la Barca Award.

Panelists:

Nicole Dennis

Nicole Dennis is the manager of grant management at the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), where she has been tasked with creating a centralized grant section.  Prior to joining DHS, Nicole worked for over five years with the federal government as a grant program specialist for the U.S. Department of Justice, where she was responsible for developing policy and programs, training, providing technical assistance on grant administration, and managing and monitoring over $20 million in federal grants made to states, tribes and non-profits. Her specialty areas included grants to address the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), tribal affairs, children exposed to violence, police and law enforcement training, procedural justice, juvenile justice, and public and private partnership development.  She also worked as a policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Interior, where she provided budget recommendations, guidance and advice to key authorizing officials for federally funded programs.  Nicole’s expertise includes grant application and budget development, post-award monitoring and fiscal review, and training and curricula development.  Prior to her work with the federal government, Nicole earned a Master of Arts in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver.

Miles Wilson

Miles Wilson is the director of Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich. He is responsible for the Johnson Center's national work to provide training and support to foundation professionals and their organizations, and its regional work providing training, technical assistance, and management support to Michigan based nonprofit organizations.

Wilson joined the Johnson Center in 2009 as director of The Grantmaking School and then led the merger of nonprofit programming with an expanded line of grantmaker products to form the Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services unit. Previously Wilson served as vice president of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, program director of the Omidyar Foundation/Network, and senior program officer at the Corporation for National and Community Service. He has also held roles in higher education; community based nonprofits and has led or participated in the launch of several local and national nonprofit organizations.

Wilson serves on the Council on Foundations/Forum of Regional Association of Grantmakers, Learn Philanthropy committee, the allocation and evaluation committees at the Heart of West Michigan United Way, and is a board member of the Nokomis Foundation for Women and Girls, among other local and national volunteer roles. Wilson holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from Ohio State University.

Wilson speaks regularly at regional and national conferences and other convenings on the issues of grantmaker and nonprofit impact. Currently he is working with a colleague to help foundations and nonprofits prepare for the potential impacts of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on communities nationwide.

             John Bracey

John Bracey became Executive Director of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs in June of 2006, after having served as Director of Programs from 1998. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors… the Founding Board, of the Cultural Data Project, recently spun-off from the Pew Charitable Trusts as a private 501(c)3 and elected by the Board to serve as the new organization’s “Compliance Officer”.

John is currently serving his second three-year term as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and was elected by the NASAA Board to serve as the Secretary of the Board. He is also serving the second year of a three-year term to the Board of Directors for Arts Midwest.

John has served on a programmatic task force for the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and as a grant reviewer for the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, Kentucky and Arkansas as well as the Kresge Foundation. He is also currently a lecturer at the University of Michigan in Flint for the Rackham Graduate School in Arts Administration.

Prior to his tenure at MCACA, Mr. Bracey headed up the Communications and Educational programs for the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission. In that capacity he worked on statewide as well as national campaigns, including the Detroit Challenge with the California based Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving and the Education Committee of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. He also served as legislative contact for the agency and was appointed Ombudsman for the Commission during the privatization of its warehousing operations.

07/22/13 7.00am-3.00pm 

Join us for a four-person golf scramble! 

The Johnson Center for Philanthropy is excited to partner with three local nonprofits this year for our golf scramble. We hope this outing will build new and strengthen existing partnerships between the participating organizations.

The Johnson Center is partnering with Metro Health's Germs Away! program, Senior Neighbors, and Waterfront Film Festival. 

Date: July 22, 2013

Location: Watermark Country Club

Schedule of Events :

Registration, driving range, and continental breakfast - 7 a.m.

Shotgun start - 8 a.m. 

Lunch and Prizes - 1:30 p.m. 

Cost: 

$100 per golfer (includes continental breakfast and lunch)

$375 per foursome

$25 - lunch only

Registration deadline is Thursday, July 18, 2013. Registration is available individually or as a foursome. 

For more information about the course click here. 

Sponsorship Opportunities: 

We invite you to the 4^th Annual Collegiate Network Summer Summit: Impacting Communities through Effective College Student Volunteerism, hosted at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI on July 23, 2013.

The Collegiate Network is a gathering of college/university Service Directors in the Greater Grand Rapids Area invested in providing a clear understanding of the ways to engage with college students in order to provide a positive and meaningful volunteer experience, while better understanding the needs and challenges of local nonprofit organizations.

This Summit will consist of presentations and networking sessions that will provide educational resources from the Collegiate Network for nonprofits to engage effectively with student volunteers. The Summer Summit establishes an opportunity for networking and building partnerships between non-profit and higher education sectors.

We welcome all who work within the nonprofit and higher education sectors, and anyone else who wants to take advantage of this networking experience. Please share this opportunity with your colleagues and friends for further outreach.

Here is a schedule overview of what to expect:

8:15 - 9:00 a.m. – Registration

9:00 - 9:10 a.m. – Welcome and Introduction

9:10 - 9:50 a.m. – Opening Session

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. – Breakout Session 1

11:05 - 11:30 a.m. – Q and A Session

11:35 - 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

12:00 - 12:35 p.m. – Panel Discussion

12:45 - 1:45 p.m. – Breakout Session 2

1:50 - 2:35 p.m. – Action Planning/Brainstorming

2:40 - 3:00 p.m. – Wrap-up and Final Reflections

Session Topics will address the following:

Engaging with Millenials

Foundations of Effective Service Projects

Volunteer Solutions

Special Track for Executive Directors: 

Executive Directors are encouraged to attend the morning presentations for a special breakout session that will take place during the first round of sessions. This event is FREE for Exexcutive Directors(please contact Justine Easter at eastejus@gvsu.edu for registration instructions). This session will be facilitated by Matthew Downey, M.P.A., Nonprofit Services Program Director for the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, and Ruth Stegeman, M.A., Director for Community Engagement in the College of Community and Public Service. 

This special breakout session will give Executive Directors a strategic framework for why you want to engage the university. This session will provide examples and success stories of how nonprofits have benefited from a relationship with universities/colleges that will go well beyond the involvement of students in their organizations. 

For more details or inquiries, please contact our Event Coordinator, Justine Easter, at eastejus@gvsu.edu.  We look forward to your participation and attendance in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Collegiate Network  

Davenport University, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Grand Valley State University.

In Partnership with:

Grand Valley State University's Johnson Center for Philanthropy

July 29-30, 2013 | 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. ET

All grantmakers were trained to do something else before entering the field of philanthropy. There are no degrees, pre-requisite training, or certifications that demonstrate competence and skill at carrying out this important role. Even experienced grantmakers continue to be plagued by the uneven results of learning by trial and error.

Prepared or not, the grantmaker role is complex and presents a distinctive set of constantly changing variables and issues. Grantmakers also have the daunting responsibility to guide precious charitable dollars into the hands of capable nonprofit organizations.

The Grantmaking School recognizes that for most grantmakers, working with applicants and proposals is the bread-and-butter of their career. In response, Advanced Proposal Analysis intentionally focuses on the essential skills of proposal review, recommendations, project management, and other core competency areas. We strongly believe that mastering this work is the key to excellence in grantmaking.

Key concepts include:

• 
  
  
  Assessing proposals more efficiently,
  
  


• 
  
  
  Spotting financial red flags, 
  
  


• 
  
  
  Finding and closing any gaps in your due diligence process, 
  
  


• 
  
  
  Using specialty grants within your organization's mission,  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Assuring transparent and ethical behavior, 
  
  


• 
  
  
  Grantee relationship management, and 
  
  


• 
  
  
  Capturing the knowledge from grantmaking.
  
  

Tuition for Advanced Proposal Analysis is $1,295, exclusive of travel and lodging. Alumni of The Grantmaking School and Council of Michigan Foundations members receive a $250 discount.

Scholarships are available for qualifying organizations. Members of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and Friends of the Family members of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) are eligible for a discount. Only one discount or scholarship will be honored per person, per course.

Course registration deadline is July 8, 2013. 

Course Location and Lodging:

Location: Johnson Center for Philanthropy, 201 Front Ave. SW Ste 200, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Lodging: Holiday Inn Grand Rapids, 310 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504

Phone: 616-235-7611

A special rate of $103/night has been arranged for participants of The Grantmaking School, valid July 28-30, 2013. Guests can use the link above to make a reservation and use the group code “JCP” or contact the Reservations Department directly (616-235-7611) to make a reservation. Please be sure to reference “The Johnson Center for Philanthropy July group ” in order to receive the special rate. Reservations must be made by July 2, 2013. 

Course Instructors: 

Caroline Altman Smith, M.A.        Robert F. Long, Ph. D.           

   The Kresge Foundation            Murray State University          

                                                                                                                 

Co-sponsored by: 

August 20-21, 2013 | 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. CT

Advanced Grant Portfolio Management is an intensive two-day learning experience designed to help individual grantmakers and their foundations develop or refine a strategic lens to grantmaking and leverage improved program results for deeper impact. Beginning with mapping the elements of a theory of change framework, you will use this as a guiding template to build and inform your grantmaking strategy. From there, you and your colleagues will move through a series of individual and group activities, allowing for both interactive and personal reflection throughout the session.

Key concepts include:

• 
  
  
  Building and working with a strategic change framework, 
  
  


• 
  The many ways foundation professionals can and should add value to their grantmaking,


• 
  Grantmaker techniques and cautions in providing value and ensuring alignment, 


• 
  The role of strategic communications in ongoing strategy development,


• 
  The role of evaluation in strategic grantmaking,


• 
  Capacity building: principles, design, and relevance, and 


• 
  
  
  Leadership core competencies needed for effective grantmaking.
  
  
  
   
  
  

Advanced Grant Portfolio Management is designed for foundation program staff or other grantmaking professionals with three to five years of experience. Classroom size is limited to 30 participants, allowing for deeper engagement and discussion with both colleagues and instructors.

Our instructors represent some of the most experienced program officers and foundation executives in the field of philanthropy. Their organization experience and knowledge crosses private, community and family foundation models.

Tuition and Scholarships:

Tuition for Advanced Grant Portfolio Management is $1,295, exclusive of travel and lodging. Alumni of The Grantmaking School receive a $250 discount.

Scholarships are available for qualifying organizations. Members of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP)  and Friends of the Family members of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) are eligible for a discount. Only one discount or scholarship will be honored per person, per course.

Course registration deadline is July 31, 2013.

Course Location and Lodging:

Location: Greater New Orleans Foundation 1055 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130; Phone: (504) 598-4663

Lodging: New Orleans Marriott 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Phone: (504) 581-1000

A special rate of $109/night has been arranged for participants of the Grantmaking School, valid Aug. 19-20, 2013. Guests can use the link above to make a reservation. Guests can use the group code "gragraa" or contact the Reservations Department directly (504-581-1000) to make a reservation. Please be sure to reference "The Grantmaking School/SECF" in order to receive the special rate. Reservations must be made by Friday, July 19, 2013.

Course Instructors:

                       

Robert E. Eckardt, Ph.D.                    Rick Moyers, M.A.

The Cleveland Foundation          Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation

Co-sponsored by:

In partnership with:

Nonprofit Board Certification Program

Do you want to know how you might become a more effective board member - or even to know the questions to ask an organization before joining its board?

Would you like your board commitment to be a better use of your time?

The Nonprofit Board Certification Program offers guidance and guidelines for those serving or planning to serve on nonprofit boards. This program defines the roles and responsibilities involved in serving on a board of directors and discusses the challenges of becoming an effective board member. Organized into four one-hour sessions participants will learn about:

• 
  The roles and responsibilities of being on a board,


• 
  Legal responsibilities and liabilities of the board,


• 
  Nonprofit fundraising, and


• 
  Nonprofit financial management and board structures.

Participants who complete all four hours of the seminar will receive a "Certificate in Nonprofit Board Leadership" granted by the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.

The cost for the Nonprofit Board Certification Program is $140. This includes a handbook with helpful materials and a light meal.

Presenter: 

This workshop will be facilitated by Matthew Downey. Matthew has worked with nonprofits as a consultant, program manager and development officer for over 20 years. He is the nonprofit services program director for Johnson Center for Philanthropy where he oversees technical assistance and capacity building services.  In this capacity, he is a frequent speaker and instructor on a wide array of nonprofit issues. 

Previously, Matthew worked with numerous organizations including Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo), St. Mary's Hospital for Children (Bayside, N.Y.); and Child Care Action Campaign (New York, N.Y.). Matthew is president of Wellspring Dancers (Kalamazoo). He holds a B.S. in nonprofit arts administration from Butler University and an M.P.A. from Grand Valley State University.

In 2010 and 2012, Matthew was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan’s 40 business leaders under 40, and in 2011 was named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. 

The Future of Foundation Giving

Has your foundation funder recently told you that you shouldn’t count on future multi-year funding? 

Are you experiencing an increased number of denied grant proposals from foundations?

Arguably, the past few years have represented the most tumultuous period in the American philanthropic and nonprofit sectors in the last three decades. While the impact of the recession and economic crisis are the clearest changes to the landscape, moves toward more focused and strategic giving, sensitivities about organizational capacity, and the role of new forms of giving promise to impact foundation giving now and well into the future. 

The Future of Foundation Giving, a facilitated discussion lead by two seasoned foundation grantmaking professionals will begin by outlining emerging changes to foundation giving and then engage participants in a group strategy design session to uncover appropriate responses both opportunities and challenges within the changing landscape. 

Presenters:

This workshop will be facilitated by Miles Wilson and Allison Lugo Knapp.

Miles Wilson is the director of Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. Before joining the Johnson Center, Miles served as director of the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and Nonprofit Development at Northern Kentucky University. As a program director of the Omidyar Foundation in Redwood City, Calif., Miles worked with a small team of professionals to assist the founder and chairman of Ebay with his charitable endeavors. Prior to this, he served from 1998 through 2003 as vice president for grants and programs with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Miles holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in higher education policy and leadership from Ohio State University.

Allison Lugo Knapp is the program director of Philanthropic Services at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. Prior to her role at the Johnson Center, she was a program officer at the Battle Creek Community Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich., where her work focused on arts and culture, youth, and neighborhood grantmaking. She is a former member of the national board of advisors of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and is a founding member of the EPIP Michigan chapter. She currently serves on the Ethics and Practices committee and Next Generation Task Force of the Council on Foundations, and on the board of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) in Grand Rapids. She holds a bachelor of arts in international relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University and masters of public administration in urban and regional planning from Grand Valley State University.

September 26-27, 2013 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET

Planned Giving: Getting the Proper Start

Have you heard about "planned giving" and are unsure if it is something that your organization should pursue?

Are you hesitant to pursue planned giving because you do not know where to begin?

Did you know that planned gifts are as financially beneficial to your organization as they are to your donors?

The Johnson Center is offering this workshop on the basics of planned giving. Participants will learn how to determine if their organizations are ready for a planned giving program and better understand the financial benefits that donors realize through making planned gifts. Additionally, participants will gain a basic awareness of different types of planned gifts, such as appreciated property, wills and bequests, and other planned giving vehicles, as well as how to match your organization's needs with your donors' needs. 

Presenter: 

This workshop will be led by one of the Johnson Center's nonprofit technical assistance providers, Terry Horton. Horton has a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. and was previously a consultant for The Foraker Group, a management support organization serving nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Alaska.

Structuring a Capital Campaign 

This workshop serves as an introduction to capital campaigns. Participants will learn how to determine when the time is right for a capital campaign, what types of organizational needs are better suited for a campaign, how to structure the campaign, and how to manage it with other fundraising activities.

Bring your colleagues and board members, as making the decision on whether or not to pursue a capital campaign is a team effort!  Participants will go through a step-by-step process of determining if and how a capital campaign can be effectively run.

Presenter:

This workshop will be facilitated by Matthew Downey. Matthew has worked with nonprofits as a consultant, program manager and development officer for over 20 years. He is the nonprofit services program director for Johnson Center for Philanthropy where he oversees technical assistance and capacity building services.  In this capacity, he is a frequent speaker and instructor on a wide array of nonprofit issues. 

Previously, Matthew worked with numerous organizations including Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo), St. Mary's Hospital for Children (Bayside, N.Y.); and Child Care Action Campaign (New York, N.Y.). Matthew is president of Wellspring Dancers (Kalamazoo). He holds a B.S. in nonprofit arts administration from Butler University and an M.P.A. from Grand Valley State University.

In 2010 and 2012, Matthew was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan’s 40 business leaders under 40, and in 2011 was named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. 

November 4-5, 2013 | 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. CT

Whether formally or informally, evaluation has been an integral part of foundation work since the early twentieth century. Comprehensive programmatic evaluation helps foundations determine whether funding practices produce intended results, disseminates learning for broader impact, and provides measured context for future work.

Evaluation itself is a relatively simple process; however, depending on an organization’s culture, philosophies, and capacity, it can escalate in complexity. The Grantmaking School’s Evaluation for Grantmakers does not simply provide a step-by-step guide to the best practices of evaluation; rather, it deeply examines the history, strategy, design, and theory behind the process and responds to the diverse nature of evaluation in foundations.

Participants will find a balance among learning how to conduct evaluations, managing third-party evaluations, and understanding the importance of evaluation to various foundation and community stakeholders. Furthermore, participants will learn to think critically about applying appropriate levels of evaluation to grantmaking activities, ensuring that it provides what is needed and useful for assessing impact and continuous improvement.

Using case studies, small group discussion, and interactive activities, Evaluation for Grantmakers gives grantmakers a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and facilitated discussions led by The Grantmaking School’s expert evaluation instruction team.

Key concepts include:

• 
  
  
  History of evaluation, 
  
  


• 
  Evaluation in strategic grantmaking and different types of grants, 


• 
  Articulating program logic with logic models and theory of change frameworks, 


• 
  Evaluation design and determining purpose and approach, 


• 
  Building a dynamic evaluation team, and 


• 
  
  
  Managing external evaluation.
  
  

Our instructors represent some of the most experienced program officers and foundation executives in the field of philanthropy. Their organization experience and knowledge crosses private, community, and family foundation models.

Tuition and Scholarships:

Tuition for Evaluation for Grantmakers is $1,295, exclusive of travel and lodging. Alumni of The Grantmaking School receive a $250 discount.

Scholarships are available for qualifying organizations. Members of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP)  and Friends of the Family members of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) are eligible for a discount. Only one discount or scholarship will be honored per person, per course.

Course registration deadline is Oct. 13, 2013.

Course Location and Lodging:

Location: Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership 610 South Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60605

Lodging: Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel 636 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL. 60605

Direct Line: (312) 447-0955; Reservation Line: 1 (800) 468-3571

A special rate of $150/night has been arranged for participants of The Grantmaking School, valid November 3-4, 2013. Guests can use the link above to make a reservation. The group code is already inserted in the above link. Please be sure to mention “The Grantmaking School” in order to receive the special rate. Reservations must be made by Friday, October 4, 2013.

Course Instructors:

  Teresa R. Behrens, Ph.D.                                                  Lance Potter

Johnson Center for Philanthropy                                    New Profit's Inc.

Succession Planning

You’ve heard that you need a succession plan for your executive director, right? How do you go about creating one?

This presentation will describe the two types of succession plans needed for the CEO/executive director position and who should be involved in creating those plans.

We will also review the importance of planning for the succession of board leadership, how nonprofit lifecycles impact succession planning, and options for the executive transitions process. If you haven’t known how to broach the subject of the importance of succession planning, here’s your chance to get some information to take back to your board. You’ll feel more confident once you’ve had this thorough review of the basics of succession planning. 

Presenter: 

Terry Horton is the senior program advisor to Philanthropic and Nonprofit Services at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at GVSU.

Terry is experienced in strategic planning, nonprofit management, program design and implementation, board development and training, and annual and planned giving. 

 Working with Your Board

Effectively working with your board is more art than science. Understanding governance structures is only one piece of the puzzle. Perhaps more important is how executive directors manage relationships with board members. This workshop is intended to help executive directors and leadership staff members develop strategies for tackling these issues head on. 

Topics that will be discussed include:

• 
  Challenges and opportunities of managing a board,


• 
  Governance structures,


• 
  Effective board member engagement, and


• 
  Board member involvement in fundraising.

While all nonprofit staff members will find value in this workshop, it will be particularly helpful to the executive directors of small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations.

Presenter: 

This workshop will be facilitated by Matthew Downey. Matthew has worked with nonprofits as a consultant, program manager and development officer for over 20 years. He is the nonprofit services program director for Johnson Center for Philanthropy where he oversees technical assistance and capacity building services.  In this capacity, he is a frequent speaker and instructor on a wide array of nonprofit issues. 

Previously, Matthew worked with numerous organizations including Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo), St. Mary's Hospital for Children (Bayside, N.Y.); and Child Care Action Campaign (New York, N.Y.). Matthew is president of Wellspring Dancers (Kalamazoo). He holds a B.S. in nonprofit arts administration from Butler University and an M.P.A. from Grand Valley State University.

In 2010 and 2012, Matthew was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan’s 40 business leaders under 40, and in 2011 was named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. 

Nonprofit Board Certification Program

Do you want to know how you might become a more effective board member - or even to know the questions to ask an organization before joining its board?

Would you like your board commitment to be a better use of your time?

The Nonprofit Board Certification Program offers guidance and guidelines for those serving or planning to serve on nonprofit boards. This program defines the roles and responsibilities involved in serving on a board of directors and discusses the challenges of becoming an effective board member. Organized into four one-hour sessions participants will learn about:

• 
  The roles and responsibilities of being on a board,


• 
  Legal responsibilities and liabilities of the board,


• 
  Nonprofit fundraising, and


• 
  Nonprofit financial management and board structures.

Participants who complete all four hours of the seminar will receive a "Certificate in Nonprofit Board Leadership" granted by the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.

The cost for the Nonprofit Board Certification Program is $140. This includes a handbook with helpful materials and a light meal.

Presenter: 

This workshop will be facilitated by Matthew Downey. Matthew has worked with nonprofits as a consultant, program manager and development officer for over 20 years. He is the nonprofit services program director for Johnson Center for Philanthropy where he oversees technical assistance and capacity building services.  In this capacity, he is a frequent speaker and instructor on a wide array of nonprofit issues. 

Previously, Matthew worked with numerous organizations including Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo), St. Mary's Hospital for Children (Bayside, N.Y.); and Child Care Action Campaign (New York, N.Y.). Matthew is president of Wellspring Dancers (Kalamazoo). He holds a B.S. in nonprofit arts administration from Butler University and an M.P.A. from Grand Valley State University.

In 2010 and 2012, Matthew was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan’s 40 business leaders under 40, and in 2011 was named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. 

Managing Your Annual Fund: Letters, Relationships, and Board Involvement

Is your Annual Fund program adequately meeting your organization's fiscal needs?

Do you have a systematic plan in place to identify prospects, request for support, involve your board, and increase gifts from one year to the next?

Veteran fundraiser Matthew Downey, the Johnson Center's nonprofit services program director, will walk participants through a step by step process to managing a more effective Annual Fund program.

Presenter: 

This workshop will be facilitated by Matthew Downey. Matthew has worked with nonprofits as a consultant, program manager and development officer for over 20 years. He is the nonprofit services program director for Johnson Center for Philanthropy where he oversees technical assistance and capacity building services.  In this capacity, he is a frequent speaker and instructor on a wide array of nonprofit issues. 

Previously, Matthew worked with numerous organizations including Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo), St. Mary's Hospital for Children (Bayside, N.Y.); and Child Care Action Campaign (New York, N.Y.). Matthew is president of Wellspring Dancers (Kalamazoo). He holds a B.S. in nonprofit arts administration from Butler University and an M.P.A. from Grand Valley State University.

In 2010 and 2012, Matthew was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan’s 40 business leaders under 40, and in 2011 was named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids.