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The midterm elections are done, and the races largely decided. The dust will take a bit of time to settle, and the analysts will continue to discuss ‘the meaning’ of the Republican takeover of the House, etc. We, on the other hand, turn our attentions to a few of the upcoming seminars and conferences that could be of great benefit to nonprofits as they survey the new political landscape.
We begin (in chronological order) with a one-day seminar sponsored by GrantSpace.org and the Foundation Center (whose wealth of knowledge this blog is often drawing upon). The free seminar is entitled “Finding Foundation Support for Your Education.” It came late to our attention, unfortunately, but if you are in the Big Apple and can get to The Brooklyn Public Library by 4:00pm, you can register at the door. Information can be had at 212.620.4230
Join us for our introductory class on obtaining financial aid for your studies. We’ll dispel some common myths about foundation support and discuss:
What you need to know before approaching foundations
- The different sources of funding
- How to create a personal profile to attract funders
- Print and electronic resources that provide information on scholarships from foundations and other grantmakers
- The application process, including tips on how to make your application successful
Also on Thursday, if you are in the nation’s capital, The Foundation Center is sponsoring its own seminar, “Building a Sustainable Nonprofit Organization,” which will from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Foundation Center’s offices (1627 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor). The cost is $195, which will include take-home materials on the course and the a copy of the book “Wise Decision-Making in Uncertain Times: Using Nonprofit Resources Effectively.”
If travel is not an option, or if you prefer to learn in the comfort of your office, then register for the Nonprofit Technology Network‘s webinar, “Going Mobile: Bringing the Mobile Web into Your Organization.” Registration is $75 for NTEN members, or $150 those who are not. It is a three-part discussion on November 5th, 12th, and 19th. The subjects focus on the explosive use of smartphones and how they can be used to develop networks of support and philanthropy.
The number of mobile phones in the world is predicted to hit 5 billion by the year’s end. By comparison, we just passed the 1 billion mark for PCs. What does our mobile society mean for the nonprofit sector? How can your organization connect with mobile users? What should you measure to determine success?
Managing the mobile hype against the realities of how to begin — and starting with the proper first steps and strategy — can mean the difference between success and failure for your mobile strategy.
Returning to the harsh world of politics and its impact on mission-based foundations, The Council on Foundations is hosting a teleconference discussion with Charlie Cook, Editor and Publisher of The Cook Political Report, and political analyst for National Journal, and Henry J. Aaron – Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Senior Fellow in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution. The conversation is at 1:00pm on 10 November. They will be discussing “The Implications of Election Results for Foundations.” This one is free, but you must be a member of the Council to participate.
Finally, the same Council on Foundations is hosting a roundtable webinar on “Understanding Health Reform Implementation” on the 18th of November. The moderator is Rene Cabral-Daniels, director of the Public Philanthropic Partnership Initiative at the Council on Foundations.
This webinar will help community foundation leaders learn what parts of health reform implementation are likely to be relevant to their communities and the nonprofits they fund. It will also identify available resources to better understand how reform affects community foundations as nonprofit leaders, as community change agents, and as employers.
She will be discussing the issue with Peter Long, the president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation, and Kyle Penney, president and chief executive officer of East Texas Communities Foundation. Again, participation is free and for members of the Council.
We will continue keep our ear to the ground in our effort to spread the word about such seminars and webinars, as we periodically do. Even if these particular topics are not of immediate concern to you and your organization, visit the organizations’ websites and see what resources would be of value. It will be a nice break from the post-election commentary.
