NPO CONNECT SEPTEMBER MEETING: Developing a High Performance Board of Directors
2020-09-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | VA
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Please join us for our virtual NPO CONNECT September meeting. We will hear from Nonprofit Capacity-Building Expert, Dr. John Curtis. This extremely relevant and timely session on developing a high performance Board of Directors will cover new ground and provide specific strategies to leverage during this era of social isolation.

Workshop Objectives:

Understanding the Board’s role in ongoing capacity-building to enhance your credibility
Defining the three elements of a high performance Board and how to apply them
Learning how proper planning can ensure that the Board can raise the revenue to advance your mission
Identifying how the Board can elevate the visibility of your nonprofit to ensure ongoing relevancy and sustainability

Meet the Speaker:

John Curtis, Ph.D. founded IOD, Inc. in 1986 and he has 30+ years of experience providing capacity building and fundraising services to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. He also teaches fundraising, strategic planning, board development, and change management for the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy at Rollins College in Florida and the Duke Nonprofit Management Program in North Carolina and Virginia.

NPO CONNECT October Meeting: Brand Distillers Marketing Webinar
2020-10-27 09:00 - 10:00 | VA
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NPO CONNECT October Meeting: Brand Distillers Marketing Webinar

Let’s Talk About: Nonprofit Marketing Strategy
Please join us for our October NPO CONNECT meeting! In this webinar, Andy Beedle will focus on current marketing trends and how they apply to nonprofits. The session will touch on branding, social media and other marketing avenues. We hope to see you there!
Andrew Beedle and his team from the Roanoke-based Brand Distillers consulting firm will provide a hands-on nonprofit workshop on how to create a comprehensive nonprofit marketing strategy for your organization. Andrew will focus on the secret of successful marketing- determining your product’s product’s product. Once you understand the answer to that the needs, goals, and desires of your target market and how to message that market will become more clear.
Nonprofit staff and board members are welcome! Space is limited.
Speaker:

Andy Beedle, Founder and CEO of Brand Distillers
Andrew founded Brand Distillers in 1998 to provide strategy, support, and results to clients who were just embarking on marketing in the digital world. In the nearly 20 years that have followed, their company has kept clients at the forefront of every major (and effective) trend in digital marketing. In 2016 alone, their campaigns resulted in directly attributable new revenue for clients in excess of $40,000,000. Most recently they won awards (national Addy’s) and their client work has been featured in US News and the Wall Street Journal.

NPO CONNECT November Meeting: Maximizing Year-End Giving with Donor-Centric Strategies - You Still Have Time!
2020-11-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Webinar
NPO CONNECT November Meeting
Maximizing Year-End Giving with Donor-Centric Strategies You Still Have Time!
Please join us for our virtual NPO CONNECT November meeting. We will hear from Nonprofit Capacity-Building Expert, Dr. John Curtis and digital strategist, Brittany Altman. This extremely relevant and timely session on year-end giving will provide specific strategies to leverage during this era of social isolation.
Learning Objectives:

Successful Donor-Centric Campaign Planning: How to integrate your year-end appeal with your overall donor-centric campaign
Leveraging Multiple Channels & Multiple Messages: How to use various communication channels for maximum impact that result in new dollars from new donors
Building Buzz for a Strong Year-End Push: How to use the holiday season to bring in more money than any other time of the year

Meet the Speakers:

John Curtis, Ph.D. founded IOD, Inc. in 1986 and he has 30+ years of experience providing capacity building and fundraising services to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. He also teaches fundraising, strategic planning, board development, and change management for the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy at Rollins College in Florida and the Duke Nonprofit Management Program in North Carolina and Virginia.

Brittany Altmann is a results-oriented digital strategist specializing in identifying the key digital issues in an organization and helping them grow through deeply personalized strategies, website design, and digital marketing. She is expert in the critical role that analytics, SEO, and research play in successful web marketing. Her greatest strength is in creating holistic campaigns that stand out in today’s digital landscape.

NPO CONNECT January Meeting: Thoughts on the Planned Giving Environment in 2021 and Beyond!
2021-01-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Webinar
NPO CONNECT January Meeting: Thoughts on the Planned Giving Environment in 2021 and Beyond!

In this webinar, David will discuss relevant provisions of recent federal legislation and how they might affect nonprofits and donors in 2021 and beyond. He will also discuss which giving vehicles may be more attractive to donors in the current legislative and interest rate environment as well as provide some thoughts on how fundraisers can get themselves and their organizations ready for approaching planned giving donors.
Meet the Speaker:

David Torre, J.D., AEP®, CFP®
David Torre serves as a wealth strategist and family wealth specialist with GenSpring | SunTrust Private Wealth. David offers clients many years of diverse experience in estate planning and philanthropy. He works with ultra-high-net-worth families to facilitate family meetings on topics such as family communication, values, philanthropy and educating the next generation. David also delivers action-oriented advice to advance multi-generational family goals and objectives.
Previously, David practiced law with a boutique firm focused exclusively in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, and charitable gift planning. David also previously served as director of gift planning at Rollins College. While at Rollins, he was responsible for working with donors to develop philanthropic strategies with complex tax, financial and legal implications including gifts of fine artwork and endowments.
In addition to being a member of the Florida Bar, David holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Accredited Estate Planner® designations and has completed training in civil mediation and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). David earned his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Rollins College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. He serves on the board of the Central Florida Foundation.

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NPO CONNECT FEBRUARY MEETING: Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention
2021-02-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Webinar
NPO CONNECT FEBRUARY MEETING:
Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention
February 9, 2021 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Please join us for our February NPO CONNECT meeting. This webinar will focus on fraud prevention and best practices for internal controls. Melissa Stanley and Jim Fries with Brown Edwards will lead this presentation and hold a Q&A session at the end of the training.
*This event is free and will also include 2 CPE credits in Auditing.*
Topics:
Fraud Prevention:
Learn best practices to protect the assets, volunteers, employees, board members, and reputation of your nonprofit organization. Cybersecurity issues keep a lot of us up at night. What worries you most at your organization? Join us for a discussion on the latest risks in cybersecurity and practical solutions that small organizations can implement to minimize risk.
Internal Controls:
Basic Human Resources Issues – What should a nonprofit organization keep in personnel files? How and when is a performance improvement plan implemented? What should we do if we don’t have dedicated Human Resources employees?
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Nonprofit staff and board members are welcome!
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of the nonprofit environment
Advance preparation: None
Level of presentation: Basic
Meet The Speakers:
Melissa C. Stanley, CPA
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Melissa is an assurance partner in the Roanoke office and has over 25 years of accounting experience. Prior to joining Brown Edwards, Melissa was a partner in one of the top 20 firms in the nation where her practice concentrations were in not-for-profit organizations, employee benefit plan audits, and a variety of closely held businesses, including manufacturers, real estate holding companies, distributors and service organizations.
Melissa’s expertise includes assistance in applying accounting standards kamagra oral jelly prezzo in a multitude of situations – from everyday transactions to complex, multi-faceted arrangements. This includes assistance in evaluating and complying with new accounting pronouncements, with particular attention to the organizations’ circumstances and industry. In addition, Melissa is routinely called upon to consult on internal control related matters and is well known for her responsible, team-oriented approach.
James R. Fries, CPA, MSA
Jim is an assurance partner based in the Harrisonburg office. He specializes in working with employee benefit plans and not-for-profit organizations, including foundations, healthcare entities, community action agencies, and other social service organizations. Jim also has experience in a wide range of other industries, including manufacturers, utilities, cooperatives, construction contractors, and physician practices. He is a member of the firm’s peer review services team, providing quality reviews to regional public accounting firms around the country.
A 1999 magna cum laude graduate of Virginia Tech, Jim has a B.S. Modaf Expert Degree in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree. Jim is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC). He holds board and committee positions on his local chapter of the IMA, Redeemer Classical School and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society. He also serves on the finance committee of his local church and has board positions on several other not-for-profit organizations.

NPO CONNECT April Meeting - High Impact Organizational Communication
2021-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
LET’S TALK ABOUT: High Impact Organizational Communication
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Effective communication is the single most important predictor of success for interpersonal relationships on the job. Often, chronic conflict, reduced teamwork, job stress and an overall impaired work culture in any nonprofit can be attributed to poor communication styles among individuals and between groups and departments.
Yet communication is frequently taken for granted, as an activity that is learned early in life, and very little of our educational or nonprofit professional training experience is devoted to the crucial process of communicating. This webinar is a short-shot, fast-paced, high impact webinar that teaches the characteristics of effective communication… talking so others will listen and listening so others will talk!
Key Learning Objectives: Participants will…
Gain a better understanding of effective and ineffective communication styles
Learn four listening styles that will increase the quality and quantity of communication in any relationship
Learn new, productive communication styles that are immediately applicable in any work setting
Meet the Speaker:

John Curtis, Ph.D. founded IOD, Inc. in 1986 and he has 30+ years of experience providing capacity building and fundraising services to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. He also teaches fundraising, strategic planning, board development, and change management for the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy at Rollins College in Florida and the Duke Nonprofit Management Program in North Carolina and Virginia.

NPO CONNECT May Meeting: Developing a Case for Support for Successful Grant Writing
2021-05-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
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NPO CONNECT May Meeting
Developing a Case for Support for Successful Grant Writing

Please join Melanie Lambert to learn how to develop and use a concise and engaging case for support to improve the quality of your grant requests and build strong relationships with grantmakers.
Do you often feel as though your nonprofit is constantly shifting funding priorities? Does everyone respond to the “What do you need money for?” question with a different answer or no real answer at all? There is a solution to get your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy organized and an absolute must before launching a grant writing campaign. The single most important document your nonprofit needs before writing grant requests is a case for support. With a well-written, organized, and compelling case for support, your nonprofit can be confident that you are prepared to answer any question from a potential funder with responses that inspire long-term support and impactful contributions.
In this webinar, we’ll cover:

Why cases for support are critical to a nonprofit’s fundraising success, particularly grant writing
Best practices for drafting a high-quality case for support with grant writing in mind
How to manage your time and tasks to develop a case for support in three months or less
Using the content from your case for support in grant proposals
Ways to engage foundations in your overall campaign beyond their grant support
What donors and grant-makers expect from your case for support

Meet the Speaker:

Melanie Lambert is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. After a successful career in nonprofit fundraising for over a decade, she launched TurnKey Writing Solutions, a virtual grant writing company, in May 2017. As Managing Director, Melanie works with nonprofit organizations to build a grant fundraising strategy in a unique way that is both affordable and flexible. The company’s goal is to help nonprofits save time, spend less, and raise more.
Melanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree from Reinhardt University. She and her husband, Kris live in Cartersville, Georgia with their five-year-old son, two-year-old son, and are expecting a third baby boy in July.

NPO CONNECT June Meeting - Advanced Social Media Tactics - The Spark Mill
2021-06-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT June Meeting
Advanced Social Media Tactics

Please join Sarah Milston, founder of The Spark Mill, for this exciting training opportunity. The Spark Mill believes that all nonprofits regardless of size can have high functioning and high return social media programs. In this webinar, you will learn how to use the most popular tools, (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) increase engagement and develop a deeper understanding of social media.
Also covered:

Emerging Trends and Tools
Strategy – creating great content and timing it for the greatest impact
Measurement techniques

Meet the Speaker:

Sarah Milston, MPA
Sarah is the Founder and CEO of The Spark Mill, which is headquartered in Richmond, VA. The Spark Mill speciallizes in strategic planning, employee engagement, faith based consulting, nonprofit sustainability and brand strategy. They provide these services to businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, higher education, and churches. Sarah loves a challenge and is known for making connections between people and ideas and data. She believes change is a necessary and exciting part of life and works hard to raise two girls with hopes they will be good and kind humans.

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NPO CONNECT July Meeting: Managing Staff Performance through Values-Based Coaching & Counseling
2021-07-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT July Meeting
Managing Staff Performance through Values-Based Coaching & Counseling
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Motivating employees to perform well is an especially difficult challenge because every individual is different… there is no surefire formula that applies in every situation. However, nonprofit leaders can learn to shape the performance of staff by using a proven, performance management system based on an organization’s existing mission or values.
This professional, fast-paced, and highly relevant webinar will teach practical skills to apply the “art and science” of Coaching (reinforcing desirable behavior) and Counseling (redirecting unacceptable behavior without de-motivating the employee).
Learning Objectives: Participants will…
1. Learn to apply a simple, three-step Coaching method to reinforce desirable behavior
2. Identify how to differentiate between a compliment and a Coaching statement
3. Develop skills to determine the cause of ineffective or inappropriate employee behavior
4. Learn a six-step Counseling method to redirect unacceptable behavior without de-motivating the employee.
Meet the Speaker:

John Curtis, Ph.D. founded IOD, Inc. in 1986 and he has 30+ years of experience providing capacity building and fundraising services to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. He also teaches fundraising, strategic planning, board development, and change management for the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy at Rollins College in Florida and the Duke Nonprofit Management Program in North Carolina and Virginia.

NPO CONNECT September Meeting: Delegation: Developing Others to Advance Your Organization and Career
2021-09-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT September Meeting
Deligation: Developing Others to Advance Your Organization and Career
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Delegation is a key skill for job success. However, it is less than universally practiced. In fact, many people sabotage their careers, and those of their subordinates, by their inability or failure to delegate. Delegation frees you to tackle more important jobs… to plan, to set goals, or to track the progress of your team. Delegation multiplies your productivity.
People who are growing are more productive. People who are learning gladly accept increased responsibility. When you have subordinates who are capable to taking over all of your work, you are available for promotion to a higher level with no threat to the organization’s continued smooth operation. This webinar will challenge your roadblocks to delegation and provide a step-by-step process to empower others to perform tasks you once fulfilled so that you and your organization can progress to the next level of performance.
Meet the Speaker:

John Curtis, Ph.D. founded IOD, Inc. in 1986 and he has 30+ years of experience providing capacity building and fundraising services to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes. He also teaches fundraising, strategic planning, board development, and change management for the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy at Rollins College in Florida and the Duke Nonprofit Management Program in North Carolina and Virginia.

NPO CONNECT October Meeting: Purpose Driven Board Leadership
2021-10-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT October Meeting
Purpose Driven Board Leadership
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT October Meeting. In this webinar, BoardSource Certified Consultants Rachel and Hollie will teach us about Purpose Driven Board Leadership.
Is it time to reframe how we think about nonprofit governance? BoardSource’s Purpose Driven Leadership centers around four key principles that address the unique challenges of nonprofit governance today while creating deeply connected organizations to create positive social change.
Meet the Speakers:

Rachel del Campo Gatewood rachel@riverdistrictconsulting.com
Gatewood leads River District Consulting from a foundation firmly rooted in successful resource development and marketing campaigns and business ownership. With an Accounting degree and an MBA from Averett College (now University), she approaches problems analytically, looking first at the infrastructure of an organization for strategic opportunities.
Her nearly 30 years of experience includes every aspect of campaign management. Gatewood’s work involved leading advancement teams at Averett University, Chatham Hall, and the Danville Science Center, and managing comprehensive campaigns of $12-35M. Additionally, she was the majority owner in a Chatham, VA, hardware store where she did everything from customer interaction to producing the monthly Profit and Loss Statement. Gatewood excels at drilling down and visioning up with clients, expertise derived from many years of building systems that make ambitious aspirations possible.
Hollie Adams hollie@riverdistrictconsulting.com
Adams brings extensive training and experience in research and analysis, with more than 10 years of paralegal experience. During her years at Woods Rogers PLC she worked on major economic development deals, multi-million-dollar commercial real estate transactions, corporate governance, and employment issues, and immigration cases. She has a paralegal certificate from George Mason University, in addition to coursework at Roanoke College.
Her experience translates into her ability to assist her clients by testing, proving, and adapting in a competitive industry. With strength in creativity and marketing mechanics, she assists clients in creating the best foundation from which to launch their dreams.

NPO CONNECT November Meeting: Micro Marketing Campaigns
2021-11-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT November Meeting
Micro Marketing Campaigns
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT November Meeting. Are you looking for new ways to Market your nonprofit? If yes, then this workshop is for you. In this workshop, Beth Deatherage, Marketing Specialist, will teach us about Micro Marketing Campaigns and why we should do them.
What you will learn:
What is a Micro Campaign?
How to start a Micro Campaign.
How to create campaign messages that are tailored to your target audience.
Meet the Speaker:

Beth Deatherage, Marketing Specialist, has twenty years of experience in sales and marketing and most recently worked as the COO of a small boutique marketing firm. Her expertise is in high-level concept development tailored around messaging, branding, continuity, and customer experience.
Beth previously served as a lead business coach for SmartStart, an entrepreneurial training program offered by the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. Beth occasionally works as an adjunct faculty member at Patrick Henry Community College and a guest lecturer. She covers a range of topics related to business plan development, branding, strength marketing, messaging, and online marketing.
Beth received a Bachelor of Art in Political Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). She earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Averett University.
Beth is the current Treasurer for the New College Foundation, an active member of the Go Virginia Region 3 Marketing Committee, and a member of the Martinsville City Public Schools Endowment Board.

NPO CONNECT December Meeting : Individual Donor Development
2021-12-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT December Meeting
Individual Donor Development
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT December Meeting. In this webinar, Melissa Le Roy will teach us about Individual Donor Development.
Understanding how to raise money from individual donors is paramount to nonprofit organizations. Finding and cultivating individual donors is a work-intensive, long-term investment for any nonprofit. Learn how to master effective techniques for successful individual giving efforts related to prospect research, cultivating individual support, making “the ask” and stewardship. Also where to start your prospect research, tips on best research sites, and how to utilize the information found to cultivate and solicit potential donors.
Meet the Speaker:

Melissa Metcalf Le Roy, a graduate in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Business Law of Western Carolina University and a graduate in Nonprofit Management of Duke University, teaches non-profit management classes throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia for Duke University and Western Carolina University. She is a past board member of the North Carolina Center for Non-Profits. For four years, she contributed a regular “Non-Profit Leadership” column for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. She currently offers her services as a consultant through her firm, OnFire Nonprofit Consulting. You can also view her TEDx talk “A Love Affair, the Art of Not Asking” on Nonprofit Fundraising. Melissa is a Western North Carolina native. She lives in Forest City, North Carolina, with her husband Chris, Chief of Police with the Forest City Police Department, and their two dogs Chandra & Cali.

NPO CONNECT January Meeting : The Competency Wheel
2022-01-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT January Meeting
The Competency Wheel
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT January Meeting. In this workshop, Executive Coach Kathy Baske Young will teach us about how to use the Competency Wheel.
Sometimes the simplest tools can be the most effective in sending a message. You’ll learn how to create and use a simple wheel to define expectations; give feedback; and have productive, transformational performance conversations with your employees. It’s also a tool you can use to define culture in a way that is tangible and actionable.

You’ll learn how to develop a competency wheel to have developmental two-way conversations with employees
You’ll learn how to use the wheel with employees to ensure they both understand expectations, as well as take responsibility for rating their own level of progression in each area and you’ll see how the tool can be used for succession planning and coaching
You’ll learn how to transform this same tool into a leadership wheel to focus on other dimensions critical to authentic and inspired leadership.

Meet the Speaker:

Kathy has been an ICF-certified coach for the past 20 years, following a career in sales management in television. As a coach, Kathy works with each person to recharge, reflect and become more self-aware. She helps them become a more effective leader in a way that aligns with their values, strengths and style. She works with leaders and teams to help them have productive conversations and align around goals and how they want to work together.
Kathy currently serves on the board of Saint Francis Service Dogs, and is a past chair of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has also served on the board of the United Way of Roanoke Valley.
She is mom to Chowder, a sweet, affectionate 4 year old yellow lab who seems to consider training classes merely a suggestion rather than a new behavior to aspire to! She is hoping that someday they can develop as a therapy dog team.

February NPO Connect Meeting - Insider Secrets to the Writing of a Compelling Grant Proposal
2022-02-24 12:00 - 13:00 | VA
NPO CONNECT February Meeting
Insider Secrets to the Writing of a Compelling Grant Proposal – Some Things I Have Learned Along the Way
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT February Meeting.
In this workshop, Jenny Bradley, Grants Consultant, will be discussing the many questions that arise when writing a grant and some answers she has come up with to help non-profit professionals create the very best proposals.
Much has been written and said about writing grant proposals. There is standard wisdom about what to include, how to tell the story and how to convince funders that they should fund. And every proposal writer has his or her own way of presenting pertinent material. But let’s reflect a bit: Have you ever thought about the most common words that we all use over and over in writing proposals? What do these words actually mean? Do we all have the same understanding? And what about the common components of a grant proposal? How important is research, really? Is “Need” always defined the same way? How about proposed solutions? Is it more important that they be logical or creative? These are some of the questions that Jenny Bradley has developed over the past 34 years of her career. Let’s discuss the answers!
Meet the Speaker:

Jenny Bradley has been involved in the grants business for more than 30 years. She created the Academic Grants office at Roanoke College and served as the College’s Director of Foundation Relations. Following her time at the College, she was hired by Carilion Clinic to negotiate contracts with research sponsors and to assist physician researchers in securing grant funding.
Over a decade ago, Jenny left Carilion and established a consulting business. Since that time, she has helped numerous nonprofit organizations to fund their operations and projects. In this role, she researches and identifies funding sources, writes grant proposals and concept papers, and conducts strategic planning sessions and needs assessments. Her client list includes both small and large nonprofits focusing on education, healthcare, social services and the arts.
Jenny is a graduate of Roanoke College and holds a Master’s degree from Hollins University. She presents workshops and training sessions on a variety of grant-related topics—funding opportunities, proposal writing and grants management. She currently serves on the Board of Roanoke Women’s Foundation.

NPO Connect: Storytelling Done Right
2022-05-05 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
NPO CONNECT May Meeting
Storytelling Done Right
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT May Meeting.
In this workshop our presenter, Melissa Le Roy, will be sharing insight into how to make your storytelling a truly effective tool in raising awareness and gaining support for your organization’s mission!
Facts and figures can be mind-numbing, but a story opens ears, eyes, minds and hearts. Attend this session to learn the tools to build stories that will not only spearhead your fundraising and advocacy efforts, but also strengthen your organization’s culture and reinforce its values.
Meet the Speaker:

Melissa Metcalf Le Roy, a graduate in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Business Law of Western Carolina University and a graduate in Nonprofit Management of Duke University, teaches non-profit management classes throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia for Duke University and Western Carolina University. She is a past board member of the North Carolina Center for Non-Profits. For four years, she contributed a regular “Non-Profit Leadership” column for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. She currently offers her services as a consultant through her firm, OnFire Nonprofit Consulting. You can also view her TEDx talk “A Love Affair, the Art of Not Asking” on Nonprofit Fundraising.
Melissa is a Western North Carolina native. She lives in Forest City, North Carolina, with her husband Chris, Chief of Police with the Forest City Police Department, and their two dogs Chandra & Cali.

NPO Connect: Crisis Communications in the Age of Covid-19, Mass Shootings, and Social Justice
2022-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Crisis Communications in the Age of Covid-19, Mass Shootings, and Social Justice
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Please join us for the June NPO Connect Meeting. Our presenter, Rachel Spencer, VP Strategic Communications at Access Advertising & PR, will be sharing her insight regarding best practices for crisis communication in response to organizational events as well as response to events in the world around us!
Meet Our Presenter:

Rachel became interested in behavioral influences as a sociology major in college. This background makes her ideally suited to her role as Vice President, Strategic Communications for Access Advertising & PR. While others blindly push organizations forward with little regard for understanding, Rachel helps clients take a step back and consider the why, not just the what. Detailed research and a strategic approach to data-driven marketing campaigns help clients make sense of behavior, reach target audiences at a human level, and ultimately be heard above the noise of an ever-expanding marketing landscape. Specializing in qualitative research, Rachel’s tailored approach explores what you don’t know and finds answers to the questions you’ve never asked.

NPO CONNECT: Strategic Planning
2022-09-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar
REGISTER HERE

LET’S TALK ABOUT: Strategic Planning
In this workshop, Sarah Milston, Founder and CEO of The Spark Mill will be sharing her expertise on Strategic Planning and the role it plays in a nonprofit organization and why it is essential to your future.
Sarah will review some best practices about the role of board, staff, and your stakeholders and how best to engage them.
Participants will review the trifecta of strategic planning magic – the gathering of data, group processing and dreaming and landing a plan with solid implementation tools.
REGISTRATION FEE: Free
MEET THE SPEAKER:

Sarah is the Founder and CEO of The Spark Mill, which is headquartered in Richmond, VA. The Spark Mill speciallizes in strategic planning, employee engagement, faith based consulting, nonprofit sustainability and brand strategy. They provide these services to businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, higher education, and churches. Sarah loves a challenge and is known for making connections between people and ideas and data. She believes change is a necessary and exciting part of life and works hard to raise two girls with hopes they will be good and kind humans.

NPO Connect: How to make an EPIC fundraising ask
2022-11-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
NPO CONNECT November Meeting
How to make an EPIC fundraising ask: The story principles of successful major gift requests
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT November Meeting.
In this workshop, Professor Russell James will be sharing insight into how to make an EPIC fundraising ask!
Want to make an EPIC fundraising ask? Start with an EPIC story for your prospective donor hero. This presentation looks at the science and the story principles behind powerful major gift requests. We’ll look at fun examples from the hero’s journey archetypal “guiding sage” characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Morpheus, and Gandalf the Grey. But beyond the fun stories, this presentation dives into the phrases and strategies that work in the real world to make a compelling fundraising ask.
Meet the Speaker:

Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a chaired professor in the Department of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He also holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on charitable giving.
Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment.
Dr. James has published research in more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific journal and law review articles. He has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources including The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and the Chronicle of Philanthropy and his financial neuroimaging research was profiled in The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine. He is author of several books including The Storytelling Fundraiser, The Epic Fundraiser, The Primal Fundraiser, The Socratic Fundraiser, Inside the Mind of the Bequest Donor, and Visual Planned Giving.

NPO Connect: Emotional Agility
2023-01-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
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Please join us for our NPO CONNECT January Meeting.
In this workshop, Neely Conner will be sharing her expertise on how practicing emotional agility can help you cultivate a happier, healthier, and more productive work life in the new year.
Navigating life’s twists and turns has become more and more challenging. The concept of Emotional Agility provides a framework through which our navigation can become nimble and adept. The four steps of Emotional Agility will promote greater energy and reduce burnout. Participants will give receive practical examples, and questions to consider for each step of Emotional Agility.
Meet the Speaker:

Neely R. Conner is a consultant, counselor, coach, and Director of Carilion Employee Assistance Program. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, Certified Employee Assistance Professional and Professional Certified Coach. Neely has spent the past 18 years partnering with leaders in business and industry to successfully work with their most valuable asset, their workforce. She resides in Roanoke with her family including her husband, Jeff, her daughter, Evie, four legged children Ellie, Velvet and Finn.

Grants Seminar
2023-02-23 09:00 - 11:00 | Fitzpatrick Hall, Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Roanoke, VA, 24016, United States
Grants Seminar

Join us for a Grants Seminar hosted by Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia! Bring your thinking caps because in addition to learning more about the Community Foundation’s grants, we will be hosting discussions on non-profit needs in our community!
9:00am – 10:00am – Presentation on Community Foundation Grant Opportunities and Processes
10:00am – 11:00am – Non-Profit Think Tank Activity
This seminar is only open to 501(c)(3) organizations. RSVP is required and light refreshments will be available. Deadline to register is Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Grants Seminar
2023-03-16 09:00 - 11:00 | The TAD Space
Martinsville Area Grants Seminar

Join us for a Grants Seminar hosted by Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia! Bring your thinking caps because in addition to learning more about the Community Foundation’s grants, we will be hosting discussions on non-profit needs in our community!
9:00am – 10:00am – Presentation on Community Foundation Grant Opportunities and Processes
10:00am – 11:00am – Non-Profit Think Tank Activity
This seminar is only open to 501(c)(3) organizations. RSVP is required and light refreshments will be available. Deadline to register is Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Nonprofit Trivia Night
2023-04-30 16:00 - 18:00 | VA
Bring your thinking cap and most savvy teammates!

We are happy to have Flamingo Brothers Trivia hosting two games for our Non-Profit Trivia Night. There will be general knowledge rounds as well as two special rounds with non-profit and Community Foundation specific trivia!
All you need is a smart phone to join the trivia games!
Click here to get a head start on trivia instructions.

Have a drink with us!

Each non-profit professional AND their plus one will receive one free drink ticket! There will also be a spread of light refreshments available, and the Twisted Track kitchen will be open for anyone wanting to get dinner during the Trivia games.

Women In Philanthropy Grant Cycle Closes Today!
2023-07-14 16:00 | VA
Women In Philanthropy is an initiative of Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia that was established in 2009 to encourage, increase, and recognize women’s participation in philanthropy. It makes significant impact grants in the local community through a member-driven, pooled grant-making process.
Application Closes: July 14, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Geographic Focus: Organizations located in and serving the City of Martinsville as well as Henry and Patrick Counties.
Funding Focus: A wide variety of programs and projects are accepted for consideration.
CLICK HERE to learn more or to apply.

FY24 Letter of Intent Process Now Open
2023-07-25 | VA
The Community Foundation’s Letter of Intent Process is now open for the 2023-2024 fiscal year! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but an organization can only submit one application per fiscal year.
Non-profits located in and serving the cities of Martinsville, Roanoke and Salem, and the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Roanoke are encouraged to apply.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY.

Summer Grants Cycle Closes Today!
2023-08-18 16:00 | VA
The Community Foundation’s Summer Grant Cycle will be closing today at 4:00 p.m.!
The Summer Grant Cycle consists of six Funds:

Larry Woodrow Vest Fund
Thomas P. and Lewise S. Parsley Fund
Earl D. and Carrie Leigh Doran Fund
The Cancer Center Fund
The Hospice Fund
Special Interest Funds

Please pay close attention to the geographical restrictions and funding priorities of each Fund before applying!

For questions or if you are in need of support, please reach out to Mary Hodges, Grants Officer, at 540-985-0204 or via email at mary@cfwesternva.org.

NPO Connect: 6 Steps of the Fundraising Cycle
2023-10-05 09:30 - 11:30 | Roanoke Higher Education Center – Room TBD, 108 N Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA, 24016, United States
This event has already been held.
LET’S TALK ABOUT : 6 Steps of the Fundraising Cycle
Successful fundraising is built on a solid foundation of relationship-building. Stewarding those relationships through a well-thought-out annual cycle that is part of a repeatable process helps ensure there is enough engagement and support to accomplish your goals. This workshop will explore each step of the fundraising cycle, from crafting a compelling case for support to effective donor stewardship, and will include resources to identify and support the practical steps needed to operationalize fundraising strategies.
REGISTRATION FEE: FREE
You do not want to miss this opportunity! Space is limited, so register today!

PRESENTER:
Warren Buford is an educational and social impact sector leader with demonstrated success advancing strategic initiatives and growing programs nationally and globally. As an advancement leader, he is an enthusiastic community builder who forges positive relationships with a diverse array of institutional and external stakeholders to align aspirations and resources. As a teacher-facilitator-consultant-coach, he has a passion for helping others fulfill their goals and bring high-impact ideas to life. He currently serves as the executive director of development at the University of Virginia School of Engineering. He previously served as associate head of school for advancement for St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville and has also worked for the University of Virginia (VA), Davidson College (NC), and the Children’s Defense Fund (DC). Warren holds a B.A. in political science with a concentration in ethnic studies from Davidson College and an M.Phil. in political studies with focus in transitional justice from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he served as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Fellow and research fellow with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. He is also an alumnus of the International School of Kenya. He has taught or guest lectured on leadership and social entrepreneurship and has extensive experience consulting on philanthropy here in the U.S. and internationally. Board service includes the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Albemarle Housing Improvement Program, Olivet Presbyterian Church, Virginia Discovery Museum, and Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Africa Advisory.

Winter Grant Cycle Open Today!
2023-11-01 | VA
The Community Foundation’s Winter Grant Cycle opens today and consists of the following grant opportunities:

The Roanoke Valley Children’s Fund
Elderly Funds
The Phalia M. and Guy M. Kinder Fund
Community Impact Funds

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY.
Please pay close attention to the geographical restrictions and funding priorities of each Fund before applying! Application deadlines are November 16, 2023 no later than 4:00pm.
Please note that if your organization was a recipient of one of these funds in the previous year, the funds from that grant must be spent and final report submitted before being eligible for this year’s grant cycle.

For questions or if you are in need of support, please reach out to Michelle Eberly, Director of Grants and Donor Engagement, at 540-985-0204 or via email at michelle@cfwesternva.org.

NPO CONNECT: Building a Board Pipeline
2023-11-16 09:30 - 11:30 | Roanoke Higher Education Center – Room TBD, 108 N Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA, 24016, United States
REGISTER HERE
LET’S TALK ABOUT : Building a Board Pipeline
One of the most important responsibilities of a nonprofit board is to ensure qualified new members are added to its membership and those members remain engaged in the work. Board building shouldn’t happen when it’s time to fill a vacancy; it should be an ongoing process with year-round activities. This workshop guides participants through a process that focuses on the steps needed to build an effective board. Understanding these steps can help boards avoid the common ups and downs of building and maintaining an enthusiastic board.
REGISTRATION FEE: FREE
You do not want to miss this opportunity! Space is limited, so register today!

PRESENTER:
Cindy Colson is Deputy Director of Partnerships, Consulting, & Impact. Cindy is responsible for the development and administration of CNE’s diverse array of programs and services throughout Central Virginia. She brings over 18 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her executive leadership and board governance training and consulting with nonprofits. She supports nonprofits to implement sound, ethical, and legal governance practices to fulfill CNE’s vision of equitable, thriving, and just communities powered by healthy nonprofits. Cindy earned her Bachelor’s in Interdisplinary Studies with a concentration in Education from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington.

Winter Grant Cycle Closes Today!
2023-11-16 16:00 | VA
The Community Foundation’s Winter Grant Cycle closed today at 4:00 p.m.!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY.
The Winter Grant Cycle consists of the following grant opportunities:

The Roanoke Valley Children’s Fund
Elderly Funds
The Phalia M. and Guy M. Kinder Fund
Community Impact Funds

Please pay close attention to the geographical restrictions and funding priorities of each Fund before applying!
Please note that if your organization was a recipient of one of these funds in the previous year, the funds from that grant must be spent and final report submitted before being eligible for this year’s grant cycle.

For questions or if you are in need of support, please reach out to Michelle Eberly, Director of Grants and Donor Engagement at 540-985-0204 or via email at michelle@cfwesternva.org.
