5/22/13 4.30pm - 8.30pm 

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:

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  The roles and responsibilities of being on a board,


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  Legal responsibilities and liabilities of the board,


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  Nonprofit fundraising, and


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  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.

• 
  In the event that you are unable to attend a workshop or course after registering, please call Sherry at 616-331-9023 or email collvers@gvsu.edu in advance to be refunded or credited for another event.


• 
  Participants unable to attend will be credited for use at a later event.

06/04/13 1.30pm-4.30pm

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.

06/13/13 9.00am-1.30pm

What’s the worst thing that could happen to your organization? Allegations of abuse, distributing spoiled food or an unexpected leadership transition are all examples of potential crisis moments for nonprofits organizations. Are you prepared? How would you respond as a leader? How would your staff and board handle the situation? How would you communicate with your constituents and your funders? With the media? 

This highly entertaining and practical three and a half-hour workshop will provide attendees with tips, tools and tactics for strategic communication planning and implementation designed to maximize their understanding, awareness and ability to generate positive media coverage AND maximize their confidence and commitment to responding quickly and positively in less-than-ideal situations (aka crisis communications). 

The following skills will be discussed:

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  Strategic communication basics, including: message and messenger credibility; developing and delivering key messages; recognizing the role of semantics in messaging;


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  Media relations fundamentals and the tools and tactics needed to deliver the message, including: recognizing the value of earned vs. paid media; proactive vs. reactive media and strategies for impacting and influencing both; identifying and understanding the value of – and differences between – media tools; including digital media


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  Crisis communication fundamentals, including: understanding, embracing and utilizing strategies to minimize the long-term impact of crisis situations.

A light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Presenter:

Kelly Rossman-McKinney, A.P.R.

Chief Executive Officer and Principal

Kelly is one of Michigan’s best-known and most-accomplished communications experts, as evidenced by the results of all the MIRS/EPIC-MRA State Capitol Surveys. The poll of hundreds of Capital City insiders consistently ranks Kelly as the most effective public relations professional and Truscott Rossman as the Capitol’s best public affairs firm.

Kelly pioneered issue management in the Capitol and continues to pursue cutting edge work in the field across the state. She’s a certified crisis communicator, a nationally accredited public relations counselor (A.P.R.), and a member of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) distinguished College of Fellows — one of only three in Michigan. She’s also a great motivational speaker who can really rock an audience with her candor, wit and wisdom.

Kelly graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University.

She is deeply committed to community service and currently chairs the Michigan Chamber Foundation and serves on several other boards, including the Michigan Political Leadership Program and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

About Truscott Rossman

Truscott Rossman is Michigan’s premier bipartisan strategic communications firm, representing local, statewide, national and international clients from our main office in Lansing and satellite offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids. They offer a full range of communications services, including community relations, grassroots initiatives, issues management, media relations, new media, crisis communication, litigation communication, government affairs and ballot initiatives. We also publish the “Michigan Legislators Guide to Lobbyists & Reporters,” the highly regarded guide to Capitol policymakers and influencers across the state.

Founders, Kelly Rossman-McKinney and John Truscott, are widely recognized as highly skilled, experienced communicators. They’ve been ranked the No. 1 and No. 2 most effective public relations professionals, respectively, each of the four times MIRS/EPIC-MRA has surveyed state Capitol insiders – in 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Rossman-McKinney founded The Rossman Group in 1988 and Truscott founded The John Truscott Group in 2001. In January of 2011, they combined forces and just six months later the new firm, Truscott Rossman, ranked highest on the MIRS/EPIC-MRA list of most effective PR firms, and Kelly and John remained the state’s two top communication professionals. Their award-winning, 16-member team includes marketing pros, great writers, speakers, strategists and coalition-builders. From strategy experts to accomplished journalists and new media gurus, no organization is better equipped to help you achieve your goals.

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:

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  Identify policies needed prior to winning government funds,


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


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  Learn how to research prior to meetings and proposals,


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  Identify resources to strengthen their approach,


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  How to craft a proposal/approach, and


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  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: 

Advanced Proposal Analysis:

A Critical Examination of Complex Issues

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:

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  Assessing proposals more efficiently,
  
  


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  Spotting financial red flags, 
  
  


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  Finding and closing any gaps in your due diligence process, 
  
  


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  Using specialty grants within your organization's mission,  
  
  


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  Assuring transparent and ethical behavior, 
  
  


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  Grantee relationship management, and 
  
  


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  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.

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: 

Advanced Grant Portfolio Management:

A Framework for Strategic Grantmaking

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:

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  Building and working with a strategic change framework, 
  
  


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


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  Grantmaker techniques and cautions in providing value and ensuring alignment, 


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  The role of strategic communications in ongoing strategy development,


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  The role of evaluation in strategic grantmaking,


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  Capacity building: principles, design, and relevance, and 


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  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. 

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:

Grant Financial Analysis:

An Application of Comprehensive and Practical Approaches

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

Evaluation for Grantmakers

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:

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  History of evaluation, 
  
  


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  Evaluation in strategic grantmaking and different types of grants, 


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


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  Evaluation design and determining purpose and approach, 


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  Building a dynamic evaluation team, and 


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  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.

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.