Our Programs

Past workshops

Finding Funding Sources in Colorado

Ever wondered where to look for grants and corporate sponsorships for the great work you are doing? In this introductory course, you'll learn how to use the Colorado Grants Guide, an online searchable database of funding sources for not-for-profit organizations in Colorado. Whether you are a part of a government agency, nonprofit organization, sports club, church, or civic organization, this workshop applies to you. The Colorado Grants Guide is available at a 10% discount to those that attend the course and also can be made available for free at your local library.

We hope you'll join Rural Philanthropy Days regional manager, Summer Laws, for this informative training, refreshments, and pizza on Tuesday July 19th at 5:30pm at the high school.

Northwest Colorado Rural Philanthropy Days and the Community Resource Center are offering this course around the state at a reduced rate to assist nonprofit and government organizations in their fund development work.

Instructor: Summer Laws, Rural Philanthropy Days Regional Manager
Cost: $8 includes pizza and refreshments
Where: North Park High School; Walden, CO
When: Tuesday July 19th, 2011 5:30-7:30pm

Where: Colorado Northwestern Community College - 50 College Dr Craig, CO 81625 
When: Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 10:00-12:00pm

Advanced Development Strategy:  Strengthening Your Individual Donor Base

March 10, 2011 12-4pm

Cost: $75 lunch included ($45 if registered before March 3rd)

Fact: individual donors are the single largest source of contributions made to American nonprofit organizations every year.  Dollars given by just plain folks are more than twice as plentiful as foundation and corporate support combined.  Individual donors tend to make unrestricted gifts that can be used to underwrite organizational capacity and to address critical program needs.  It just makes sense to design your fund development program to attract, retain and grow as many individual donors as you possibly can. 

This workshop will engage you in developing strategies to:

• Identify and prioritize individual donor audiences

• Strengthen and customize your fundraising messages so that they truly resonate with priority audiences

• Increase your confidence in fundraising with individuals, and help you mentor other people in your organization to increase their confidence, too

• Raise more money from your current donor pool, and attract new donors who will support your cause for many years to come.

Individual Fundraising: Making the Ask

March 10, 2011 5-7pm

Cost: $30 for you and two guests or

FREE FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND THE AFTERNOON EVENT AND TWO OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS

Asking for money is single best way to fundraise.  And yet, the prospect of asking for a donation freaks most people right out. We’re afraid we won’t know what to say, or that we don’t know anyone who can give.   Fear not—there is help! 

This brief and highly interactive workshop first introduces you to a natural and comfortable way to engage prospective donors in meaningful conversation about your organization, its accomplishments and the investment opportunity you are presenting to them.  Then we’ll take a look at who’s really giving and, specifically, who you will be engaging in those meaningful conversations.

Presenter:

Martha Vail, PhD

Martha Vail’s service in the independent sector spans three decades and many roles, from volunteer to staff to board member. Her passion is empowering individuals and organizations to effectively and efficiently carry out mission-critical work.  Her professional positions have included Program Officer, The National Faculty; Development Director, the Colorado Chautauqua Association; Training Officer, the Gill Foundation; Interim Executive Director, State of Change; and Director of Organizational and Leadership Development, JVA Consulting, LLC. Dr. Vail received her B.A. in History with Highest Honors from Smith College and her Ph.D. in American History from Yale University. Her most recent publication is Fundraising Basics for Preservation Organizations (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2009). 

Creating and Implementing a Fund Development Plan

Thursday April 14, 2011 in Meeker and Craig!*

This two hour interactive session will define and delineate the core functions necessary for an effective development program and how to apply them in a small organization.  The session focuses on the basics of any development program regardless of size and how to prioritize time to find the best funding for your situation.  You will leave prepared to raise money for your organization with a draft development plan, identified prospects and the knowledge and confidence and to ask the right people to support your work.

 Topics covered include:

• Development Functions
• The Plan
• Donors
• The Ask
• Database
• Stewardship
• Communication
• Events
• Direct Mail
• Annual Gifts
• Major Gifts
• Planned Gifts
• Grants

*Please note that the same workshop is offered in both Meeker and Craig.  You will only need to attend one of these workshops.

CRAIG HAMPTON INN  

8am-10am 

Cost: $35 (includes breakfast) 

Click here to register for the Craig breakfast workshop!


OR


MEEKER MOUNTAIN VALLEY BANK

1pm-3pm

Cost: $30 (bring your own lunch) dessert provided

Note: $15 discounted price for Meeker Chamber members

Click here to register for the Meeker afternoon workshop

Presenter:

Lisa Brown, Development Director and Acting CEO for the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association

Lisa Brown is the Development Director and Acting CEO for the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association. She is responsible for the grant and individual revenue portion of a nearly $8M annual budget. Previously, Lisa was the Program Manager for the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. She managed the grant making program, educated community partners about grant seeking and brought Foundation Center resources to Northwest Colorado.  She also managed and worked with the Community Foundation’s member program, the Passport Club gto generate program revenue.

In addition to her development and program-related responsibilities, Lisa serves on several boards that promote the health and well being of Colorado residents. Lisa was elected to the Steamboat Springs School District RE-2 Board in 2007, was appointed to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Tony Grampsas Youth Services Board, has been a member of the Routt County and City of Steamboat Springs Human Resource Allocation Committee, and is a founding member and participant of Impact100, a Routt County philanthropic group. Lisa is a third generation native of Routt County. 

Growing Your Board of Directors: Cultivating Quantity and Quality

Monday June 6th, 2011 9am-12pm

Where: Bud Werner Memorial Library, Steamboat Springs, CO

Cost: $45

When people talk about “developing the board of directors”, they often are concerned about increasing the membership of the board. Having enough board members to support your organization’s mission is important, no doubt, but having the right board members is even more critical. And, since no-one is born with a board manual in his or her hand, the smart nonprofit invests a little time and effort in on-going efforts to increase the effectiveness of each board member and the board as a whole.

In this very interactive workshop, we’ll help you discover what sorts of board members your organization really needs at this point in its life. Then, we’ll explore ways to bring just those folks onto your board in just the right ways. Finally, we’ll identify how to create time-efficient but high impact professional development activities that grow directors’ skills and increase their engagement in your organization’s work.

Presenter:

Martha Vail, PhD
Martha Vail’s service in the independent sector spans three decades and many roles, from volunteer to staff to board member. Her passion is empowering individuals and organizations to effectively and efficiently carry out mission-critical work. Her professional positions have included Program Officer, The National Faculty; Development Director, the Colorado Chautauqua Association; Training Officer, the Gill Foundation; Interim Executive Director, State of Change; and Director of Organizational and Leadership Development, JVA Consulting, LLC. Dr. Vail received her B.A. in History with Highest Honors from Smith College and her Ph.D. in American History from Yale University. Her most recent publication is Fundraising Basics for Preservation Organizations (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2009).