Workshop Overview
Inspire. Educate. Connect.
When it comes to nonprofit organizations, nothing is typical. Staff, missions, audiences, funding and programs all vary significantly. Some aspects however, bind us all together: the desire to serve, to create change, to make a real impact. Through The Axelson Center’s workshop series, we seek to provide the inspiration, the education and the resource connections crucial to your success in the nonprofit sector. You are unique, but you are not alone.
We’ve created the Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Management with you in mind. We offer more than 20 opportunities for learning in a variety of subjects such as fundraising, marketing, human resources, governance, technology and others. You can focus your attention in one specific area, or you can take a broader approach. We have workshops for a variety of skill and experience levels to meet you where you are in your career. You choose the path that fits you best, and we’ll help you reach your goals.
Ongoing Workshops
October 7, 2009 through March 5, 2010
Aspiring CEO Webinar Series
So you’ve decided that you want to lead a nonprofit organization. Regardless of your past experiences, this will be a job unlike any other. This web-based seminar series offered by the Axelson Center, in partnership with Achieve, will help you avoid the common pitfalls that have troubled hundreds of nonprofit CEOs before you.
Upcoming Workshops
David L. Bea, Attorney at Law, David L. Bea & Associates
Come learn about the legal issues involved for churches when it comes to publishing, including blogging, streaming sermons online and publishing sermons.
Kathy Schaeffer, President, Kathy Schaeffer and Associates, Inc.
We’ll cover how to identify prospective organizations and individuals for collaboration, initiate and nurture relationships, and build lasting, high-value connections. You will learn how to map your organization’s relationship tree and engage your leadership in the process.
Avis LaVelle, President, A. LaVelle Consulting, LLC
Come reflect on the lessons learned and opportunities that exist in the current economic downturn and focus on how to create more agile organizations. We’ll discuss how to employ the three components of public affairs—community relations, public relations, and government relations—to amplify the nonprofit’s voice and increase the base of support.
Nancy Kim Phillips, M.B.A., President, NKP Consulting
What can you do to ensure that your strategic planning process was worth the effort, and the goals you developed come to fruition? This workshop will cover developing an implementation plan, including key performance indicators; accountability for the plan and structural implications; and change management.
Ann Pinkney, Marketing Communications Director, Metropolitan Family Services
Setting your organization apart from the others are vital to your success. In an age where communications channels grow at breakneck speed—spanning the web, TV, radio, print, outdoor and more—developing and using a communications plan is essential to establishing a strong brand identity among audiences, from donors to the general public.
Jimmie R. Alford, LL.D., LH.D., Founder and Chair, The Alford Group
Come explore the full range of elements necessary to create and grow a successful consulting business, regardless of the industry. Designed for those consultants who desire to grow their business as well as those contemplating starting a business, this full-day workshop will give participants the information necessary to be successful.
Nurys Harrigan, PHR, CSP, President, Careers In Nonprofits
If you are in a place of transition in your career, the next steps you take can make all the difference.
Robert B. Acton, J.D., Executive Director, Cabrini Green Legal Aid
A life well-lived is predicated on a life lived in balance, yet nonprofit professionals are infamously guilty of taking care of others and neglecting themselves. This interactive session will help you develop strategies for operating at peak performance while minding the relationships that matter most to you.
Kelly Kleiman, Principal, NFP Consulting
Gain a fresh perspective on the potential for volunteer contributions, as well as concrete ideas about how to attract, train, and retain the very best help.
The Axelson Center will offer a new workshop series in spring 2010 that focuses on board leadership and development. The Excellence in Governance series will feature a variety of programs targeting nonprofit board members beginning with a basic orientation for new board members on April 29, 2010. The series, facilitated by instructors with extensive board experience, will cover topics such as governance best practices; the roles and relationships of governance and management; lifecycles of nonprofit organizations; development of board members; and building a strong board chair/CEO team.
William Braden, CEO (retired), American Red Cross of Greater Chicago
After providing a brief history of the sector, this workshop will explore the framework of legal and ethical issues facing boards in today’s operating environment, as well as an overview of the roles and responsibilities of boards and their members. A must for all nonprofit board members and CEOs, any two people from the same organization may attend this training for a special
Recent Workshops
Your Case for Support: Translating your Strategic Plan into Donor Values
Doug Diefenbach, Vice President of Campaign Strategy and Communications, Advocate Charitable Foundation
Discover and practice the rational, stepwise process for dissecting your organization and breaking down its programs to the underlying values they represent—values your donors will recognize readily and support generously.
The Development Officer as Leader
Tekla A. Syers, Owner and Principal Consultant, Ideation First
Guest Speaker: Amina Dickerson, Senior Director (retired), Corporate Community Involvement, Kraft Foods, Inc.
This highly strategic workshop is designed for the seasoned development professional (five plus years experience) to explore strategies and tactics to inspire confidence and make the most of your leadership role in the community. Participants will leave armed with a personalized 90-day action plan, and many trade secrets from our industry’s best.
Learning to Lead and Leading to Learn
Peter York, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, TCC Group
Chantell Johnson, M.A., Director of Evaluation, TCC Group
Join TCC Group senior staff for an interactive discussion about evaluation use, and how to turn dry data into powerful messages that bring mission to life. We’ll also examine the crucial role that group learning plays in program effectiveness; organizational and operational effectiveness; and community engagement.
Miracle Major Gifts
Jimmie R. Alford, LL.D., LH.D., Founder and Chair, The Alford Group
Designed for development officers, senior staff, and board volunteers, this all day seminar will explore the key elements necessary to achieve transformational gifts from individual donors. In this seminar you will also learn to formulate philanthropic value propositions and develop skills to prepare you for asking for major gifts.
Succession Planning
Amy Wishnick, Principal, Wishnick and Associates, LLC
Address many questions related to succession planning throughout all levels of the organization, including successful recruiting and hiring practices, competing in the marketplace for good candidates, and the board's role in planning.
How can I get my board excited about fundraising?
Mary F. Morten, President, Morten Group
Demystify the fundraising process and receive practical tips on how to build a culture of fundraising throughout your organization.
Writing for the Web-A Free Session!
Caleb Gardner, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, North Park University
This workshop will cover the basic tenants of writing strategic online content. We will cover the important dos and don’ts that will make both your website and your social media initiatives more compelling and effective.
Foundation Fundraising and Program Development
Lisa Moultrie, M.A., Founder and Principal, Ace Strategies, Inc.
Learn how to describe your programs effectively, develop outcomes measures, and collect data for reports in order to cultivate the most receptive foundation funders.
Strategic Management: Critical Choices in an Uncertain Environment
Jimmie R. Alford, LL.D., LH.D., Founder and Chair, The Alford Group
Explore the latest planning techniques, emerging issues and the process of arriving at critical decisions in a highly uncertain environment. Addresses the most effective leadership styles and processes to maximize success in the environment of change.
Financial Management for Churches
Examine the sometimes difficult area of professionally managing the finances of the local church. We will discuss the theological, scriptural, and practical applications of stewardship.
The Financial Health of Chicago's Human Service Agencies
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management invites you to participate in a dynamic discussion at North Park University about the financial health of human service organizations in the Chicago area.
Financial Modeling: A Roadmap to Fiscal Health
Tim O’Brien, Ph.D., School of Business and Nonprofit Management, North Park University
Exploring how financial modeling can be used to improve organizational effectiveness.
Online Communications 101: What You Need to Know About Social Media 2.0
Christine Cupaiuolo, Founder and Editor, PopPolitics.com
Blogs. Facebook. Twitter. Del.icio.us. What are these tools, and why do they matter to nonprofits?
Social Entrepreneurship
Cren McMath, MBA, School of Business and Nonprofit Management, North Park University
Presenting the basics of social entrepreneurship, demonstrating its utility as a means for expanding opportunities and generating revenue streams.
Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry
Joy Skjegstad, Faith Communities Project
Learn how to find potential corporate and foundation funders, gain an understanding of how funders think, and begin to build a case statement for ministry.
Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church
Joy Skjegstad, Faith Communities Project
Assess the advantages and risks of establishing church-based nonprofits, review possible board-governance models, and briefly review the legal process.
Advanced Prospect Research
Christina Pulawski, Christina Pulawski Consulting
Create and maintain rating systems for segmentation and prioritization; prospect identification ideas to ensure that your pipeline is well-stocked with potential donors.