Registration

The 2013 Community Works conference was a huge success.  Thanks to all that participated.  Look for us in the spring – when we begin our plans for the 2014 Community Works conference.

Choose from 21 workshops designed to enable boards, staff and volunteers in the non-profit community to work together more effectively by networking, developing skills and raising community awareness. Participants may attend two of the twenty one workshops. A box dinner will be provided. Space is limited, and workshops will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Early registration is recommended.

A	Workshop A:  Top 10 Things People Want From Your Website Boost your website’s performance with some simple steps that can improve your website’s results including: Organized content; User-friendly navigation; The importance of fresh content; Importance of YouTube videos; Working top social channels to propel awareness and engagement including Twitter and Pinterest Pattie Simone, Founder and President, WomenCentric Pattie Simone is a serial entrepreneur, new-media activist, speaker, vlogger, and founder of WomenCentric, a socially conscious business networking and opportunity hub for ambitious women worldwide. WomenCentric’s mission: to amplify women’s voices, tap the power of collaboration, close the gender gap and achieve pay parity for women in all walks of life, especially for our kindred sisters in disadvantaged communities, both locally and abroad. Pattie is a credentialed journalist and vlogger with 850+ bylines for print and online publications. Pattie has been featured on various radio and television programs and in MORE Magazine. She is one of 72 co-authors of Jersey Women Mean Business! Big, Bold Business Advice from New Jersey Business Women: Practical Pointers, Solutions and Strategies for Small Business Success. She has produced hundreds of videos, interviewing experts including Gloria Steinem; Rachel Ray; Billie Jean King; Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking; and Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. Her diverse experiences have shaped her vision, helping organizations with branding, communications, promotion, strategy development, efficiency, and new media, including video production, scripting, and media training. For more information about Pattie, Google her. Follow her on Twitter @PattieSimone and on WomenCentric’s YouTube Channel.
B	Workshop B:  Social Media Toolkit This workshop will focus on the basics of social media, as it relates to promoting your organization: The power of social media and how you can build a brand presence using these channels; How to determine which platforms are the most suitable for reaching your target audience; How to break  through the clutter and have your voice heard by those you wish to reach. Steve will share his experiences with past media ventures, various digital marketing strategies, and tips for finding the right platforms to fit your mission. Stephen Streicher, Director Marketing & Communications, New York Cares, Inc.  Steve Streicher is director of Marketing & Communications at New York Cares, where he provides communications strategy, content development and management, public relations planning, and online expertise for the organization. Steve has extensive experience in new media, social networks, mobile, community-building, cause branding, and more. Steve works with nonprofit organizations and social start-ups on developing communications strategy and turning it into action through the design of internal systems and operations to transform even the smallest organizations into big communicators. Steve is also on the board of directors at Anchor House, Inc., in Trenton. Read more about Steve at www.stevestreicher.com.
C	Workshop C:  Overview of Technologies to Benefit Your Non-Profit Technology can be a tremendous asset to non-profits if deployed wisely and in alignment with strategic goals.  Understanding your needs and the technology gaps you have will go a long way to helping to enhance your mission fulfillment by applying appropriate technology solutions.  This session will cover: A brief assessment of technology needs and how to structure a more in depth assessment; A review of 4 types of technology needs (systems, hardware, software and capacity); and A review of current solutions for program management, fundraising management, relationship/contact management, and event management (each of which will be considered at in terms of high-end and low-end options). Andrew Marshall (Drew), CEO/Principal, Primed Associates, LLC  Andrew C. Marshall (Drew) is the Principal of Primed Associates, LLC, an innovation consultancy. He lives in central New Jersey and works with clients across the USA and around the world. Prior to founding Primed Associates, Drew spent ten years with Princeton-based management consulting firm Kepner-Tregoe where he rose to become a partner and the chief innovation officer. He is a co-host of the weekly innovation-focused Twitter chat, #innochat, the founder, host and producer of Ignite Princeton and a contributor to the Innovation Excellence and Collaborative Innovation blogs. He is also providing support for the implementation of the Design Thinking for Scholars model with the Network of Leadership Scholars, an interest group within the Academy of Management.
D	Workshop D:  Networking: Connecting and Building Relationships for Yourself and for Your Organization

The #1 reason to network is to build relationships. The art of building these relationships is fascinating, rewarding and fun. The workshop covers: 5 Tips to Outshine the Crowd at Networking; Who Do You Know? Who Do They Know?; 3 Keys to Relationships that Profit Your Organization; The seasoned networker is not after a donation…not at first.

Lorette Pruden, PhD, of Team Nimbus NJ

Working at the intersection of business and people processes, Lorette Pruden, PhD, of Team Nimbus NJ, is a Princeton chemical engineer-turned-entrepreneur. Her clients say she directly impacts their bottom line, in time, energy and money. Lorette has helped hundreds of small business owners, sales professionals and community leaders since 2000 grow their businesses and manage that growth. How? Through strategies that work, teams that deliver, focus and accountability. She has built a broad network of specialists in business development, marketing, organizational development and innovation. Active in her community, she has run the Montgomery Friends of Open Space Farmers Market for ten years, and is a founding member of the Montgomery Business Association. She was president of the National Speakers Association, NJ, 2010-11, and has served on the boards of the Institute for Management Consultants NJ, the NJ Youth Symphony, and the NJ Council for Farmers and Communities. Lorette speaks, consults and writes on the transition from working for others to building a successful business. After nearly 30 years with Mobil, Lorette entered the world of the Formerly Corporate™. 

Workshop E:  The ABC’s of an Effective PR Campaign

Branding: Getting Noticed; WIFM (What’s In It For Me); What to do Now

Michelle Banks, Founder of The Darin C. Banks Foundation

Michelle D. Banks, MBA, is the widow of Darin C. Banks. She established The Darin C. Banks Foundation (DCBF) in an effort to commemorate him and to preserve his legacy of service to others. She is a graduate of nationally recognized and award winning Renaissance High School, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the University of Detroit-Mercy. In addition to a longstanding career in in marketing and procurement in the automotive and healthcare industries, Michelle has also volunteered with and served on a number of boards for organizations aimed at promoting youth higher education, breast cancer research, and stamping out domestic violence. As a beauty, fashion and lifestyle expert, Michelle is a regular contributor to beauty and fashion blogs, publications, radio and television programming. Michelle is an active mentor and philanthropist who believes that people everywhere deserve the opportunity to fulfill their destiny. To that end, DCBF awards college scholarships and coordinates mentoring programs designed to encourage students to explore potential career paths, build character, and promote volunteer service.

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Workshop F:  Elements of Strong Financial Oversight

This workshop includes Best Practices for strong financial oversight by boards, audit committees and management. It also provides highlights of the latest Form 990 including “good” governance policies and practices; compensation disclosures; other key areas IRS is focused on.

Jack H. Fein, CPA, CGFM, PSA Managing Director. The Mercadien Group & Lisa M. Thouin, CPA, Managing Director, The Mercadien Group 

Jack Fein, CPA, as a principal of Mercadien, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, works with more than 85 nonprofit organizations. Through his involvement with the state charity registration section, he was involved in proposing and drafting revisions to the Charity Registration Act that governs all nonprofit organizations in the state. Jack was one of the first Certified Government Financial Managers in the nation and is also a licensed Public School Accountant. A graduate of Temple University, his articles on management and accounting have appeared in numerous national publications and professional journals. He is publisher and editor-in-chief of the Nonprofit Examiner, distributed to more than 15,000 professionals throughout North America. He has been a frequent lecturer on current accounting issues and has taught courses at local colleges for other professionals. Jack was also one of the lead curriculum designers for the highly acclaimed Nonprofit Management Program co-sponsored with The College of New Jersey. Jack currently serves five organizations in the capacity of treasurer, assistant treasurer, or advisory board member, including the advisory board of Rutgers MACCY Program in Governmental Accounting. Jack is a founding member and served on the board of Shir Ami Bucks County Jewish Congregation for over ten years.

Lisa Thouin, CPA, is a managing director of The Mercadien Group and a principal of The Mercadien, P.C. She has more than twenty years’ experience in the field of public accounting and works extensively with nonprofit organizations in the performance of a range of audit services and tax planning, preparation and reporting. Co-chair of the firm’s Nonprofit Services Group, she is a frequent speaker on such topics as Form 990, board governance and budgeting. She writes for the firm’s electronic newsletter, the Nonprofit Examiner, and other publications. Lisa currently is president of the board of trustees of Millhill Child and Family Development Corporation and a member of its executive and finance committees, and also serves on the board of trustees of Dress for Success Mercer County. Lisa has held many roles and positions in the Mercer Chapter of the New Jersey Society of CPAs and is currently on the scholarship committee. Lisa has also served on various state level committees, including the Financial Literacy Committee. She is a former adjunct instructor at The Center for Continuing Studies at Mercer County Community College. A graduate of Rider University, Lisa is a lifelong resident of Hamilton, NJ, where she resides with her son.

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Workshop G:  Budget Basics for the Non-Accountant

Understanding how to start the budget; Review of Budget templates; Cash Flow Management.

Dennis Kilfeather, MBA, ABA, ATP, RTRP, Supervisor at Lear & Pannepacker 

Dennis comes to us with six years of accounting experience in working as a public accountant with Lear & Pannepacker, LLP, in Princeton, NJ. He works closely with two dozen non-profit organizations in the area where he serves many as independent auditor and others as consultant assisting with cash flow management, strategic planning and other related financial matters. In addition to serving non-profits in his professional life, he has direct involvement with The Historical Society of Princeton where he serves the board as treasurer, as well as volunteers as a Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County’s Hispanic Initiative. Dennis has an undergraduate degree in accounting and a masters degree in Business Administration from Holy Family University.

HWorkshop H:  Program Accountability: Measuring & Evaluating Outcomes

Outcome measurement is a valuable tool to demonstrate how your organization has contributed to discernible changes for your clients. This workshop describes what outcome measurement is and what it is not, as well as providing an overview of benefits. Participants will: Learn how to use a structured logic model as a framework for identifying and measuring the outcomes of your programs and services; Learn how to differentiate and see the relationship between outcomes and activities; Learn how to develop meaningful and appreciate measures for your outcomes.

Dr. John E. Brothers, Principal, Quidoo Consulting LLC 

John Brothers is the Principal of Quidoo Consulting, a social enterprise servicing nonprofit, philanthropic and government efforts throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is a recognized leader in the nonprofit and philanthropic arena with over twenty years’ experience and is a national expert in the field of capacity building, executive leadership, nonprofit effectiveness, sustainability and assisting organizations in both organizational growth and decline. Dr. Brothers has a doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University, an MPA in Nonprofit Management from New York University and an MBA in Public Policy from American Public University from which he started at Columbia University. He is an adjunct professor in social welfare policy at Rutgers and in nonprofit and philanthropic studies at New York University. He also served as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University. Dr. Brothers is a Senior Fellow with the Support Center for Nonprofit Management and the Editor of the Journal for Nonprofit Management. He is a popular writer with the Stanford Social Innovation Review and the Huffington Post. Additionally, he is the author of Building Nonprofit Capacity (Jossey-Bass) and a collaborator on the handbook Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations (SAGE Publishing).

Workshop I:  How to be an Effective Board Member

The Roles & Responsibilities of the Board include: What the collective Board must do; What is expected of individual trustees; How to find the right individuals to fit into the Board as a whole to achieve your mission.

Carol McKinney, Executive Director, Volunteer Management Centers, Inc. 

Carol A. McKinney is the executive director of VMC, Volunteer Management Centers, Inc., based in northwest New Jersey but providing services throughout the state. Carol was also the founder of Mission Accomplished, a strategic planning firm for not-for-profit boards of trustees. Ms. McKinney has more than 30 years of administrative, fund raising, public relations and training experience in the not-for-profit sector and has served as foundation president, corporate vice-president, agency director and board member/officer. She has conducted board training programs for more than 200 not-for-profit organizations and is co-founder of the Board Leadership Institute at Seton Hall University’s Non-Profit Resource Institute. Ms. McKinney has also been appointed by governors of both parties to New Jersey’s Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism and Community Service and serves on its executive board. She previously held the chair positions of the Association of New Jersey Volunteer Centers and the State Council of New Jersey Junior Leagues. Carol presently serves as vice president of the Zonta Club of the Morristown Area and as a trustee and past president of the Board of Heath Alliance for Care. Additionally, she serves as vice chair of Hackettstown’s Historic Preservation Commission.

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Workshop J:  Moving an Established Board to a Higher Level of Engagement

Maximize board members’ talents; Strengthen communication with the board; Explore executive succession planning.

Mary Jean Weston,Assistant Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter (NASW-NJ)

Mary Jean Weston, LCSW, is the assistant executive director of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). In this capacity, she works with the executive director and board of directors to manage the fifth largest chapter of NASW, which is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. Prior to joining NASW-NJ, Mary Jean served as the executive director of Jewish Family Service in Houston, Texas, and was on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work. She also worked with Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County (JFCS) in preparation for a successful site visit by the Council on Accreditation (COA), and has conducted both Board and Staff retreats for this organization. In addition, Mary Jean has taught Management Practice and Theory at Rutgers University School of Social Work. Mary Jean received her master’s degree in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work, and her bachelor’s degree from Duke University.

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Workshop K:  What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You – A General Primer of Legal Issues

“Knowledge is power” – Frances Bacon. Please join Veena for legal basics to help empower you in leading your nonprofit. Questions explored include: Steps to take before collaborating with another non-profit; Are there risks involved in using social media; Are there certain documents you should have on hand?  Participants will be able to submit questions as well.  The goal is to have an interactive discussion and, maybe, a bit of fun.

Veena Seelochan. Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Partnership 

Veena Seelochan, Esq., is a staff attorney in the Pro Bono Partnership’s New Jersey office. Veena provides transactional legal services and education to non-profit organizations. She also partners non-profit organizations with volunteer attorneys at corporations and at law firms. Previously, Veena worked as a staff attorney at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services, where, among other things, she provided legal services to non-profit organizations. She was also director of public interest and public service at Seton Hall University School of Law and a judicial clerk to The Honorable Edwin H. Stern, presiding judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division (ret.). Veena is a member of the African-American Project Directors’ Association, consisting of leaders of civil legal service organizations nationwide. Veena has also participated in fundraising, program development, partnership building and community legal education. She is admitted to the bar in New York and New Jersey and is a graduate of Douglass College, Rutgers University, and Seton Hall University School of Law.

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Workshop L:  Secrets of Motivation: How to Get and Keep Volunteers and Staff

Learning how to motivate people to stay involved and work together to accomplish goals is a challenge. This workshop will enable you to meet this challenge by focusing on:  5 secrets of motivation, factors that influence motivation, and simple techniques that you can use to recognize and impact the motivation of Board, staff, and/or volunteers.

Marge Smith, Chair, Community Works, Non-Profit Consultant 

Marge Smith brings great expertise in working with non-profits. Having served in multiple roles, Executive Director, Board President, nonprofit consultant, and volunteer, she has had numerous opportunities to develop ways to motivate individuals and groups. She currently teaches Nonprofit Management and Emotional Intelligence at Mercer County Community College (MCCC), runs Board Retreats and/or workshops for volunteers and staff, and is the Founder and Chair of Community Works. She is a member of the CASA Board of Burlington/Mercer County, the Princeton Rotary Club, and the Princeton YWCA Friends. She is totally committed to enabling individuals and groups to gain the skills necessary to accomplish their goals and thus enhance our communities

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Workshop M:  The Keys to Team Building

Look at the 5 five key fundamentals of effective teams: trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results. Participants will come away with a better understanding of: The difference between a group and a team; The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Model;Steps to take to make your teams more high functioning.

Marya Grier, Principal & Coach, Performance Connect 

Marya holds a BS and Public Health Certificate in Nursing and an MS in Health Care Management. She worked for Merck & Co., Inc., for 15 years and held training and Human Resources positions in three divisions: Corporate, Worldwide Human Health Marketing, and Manufacturing. Her passion for business and interpersonal skill development has earned her 13 professional training certifications from world-renowned training organizations. She has traveled worldwide delivering programs to corporate executives, managers, supervisors and employees. She is a distributor and facilitator for the DiSC® line of assessments, products and programs, as well as the Attribute Index, DiSC and Values Index, ADVanced Insights and D.I.A.L.O.G. Assessments. Her professional memberships include: ASTD, American Management Association (AMA), ISPI (International Society for Performance Improvement), DDI Facilitator Network, the ICF (International Coaching Federation), and the NJ Association of Women Business Owners where she was State President (2009-2010).

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Workshop N:  Effective Leadership: Communicate, Delegate, Motivate!

Leadership Begins with you: What does it mean to be a Leader today? In your industry?; What are effective characteristics: Building your chain; Traits and Behaviors: How to demonstrate them all the time; Getting followers to follow: Motivate and Delegate are your tools. How to use them, strategies that work.

Kathleen Cashman, Chief Executive & President, Cashman Consulting, LLC 

Kathleen B. Cashman is a successful business owner and a recognized senior leader with proven strategies in all aspects of business leadership. Kathleen and Cashman Consulting LLC help organizations of all sizes to strategize and develop growth plans for the business and for the leaders within the business. Kathleen is also an executive coach and works with key executives and business owners to develop skills and competencies to help them build a stronger future. A celebrated and sought after keynote speaker and facilitator, Cashman speaks on various topics under the “leadership” umbrella, including networking, business development, relationship strategies, communications and negotiating. Kathleen earned a BS degree from Seton Hall University in Marketing and an MBA in Management from Farleigh Dickinson University. She holds leadership positions within the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) and other associations, and is active in her local community. Kathleen is also an adjunct professor in the field of management at Rutgers University.

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Workshop O:  Strategies for Conflict Resolution

Help participants to understand conflict better; Provide techniques for improving conflict resolution and communication skills; Help participants resolve conflicts and build a climate of internal cooperation within their organizations.

Kimmee Carlos, Author and Motivational Speaker

A strong advocate for addiction- and brain disorder-awareness and recovery, Kimme Carlos is a speaker, facilitator, and author of the book The Window of Grace: Living in Recovery through Christian Faith. She has given numerous talks on brain disorders with a specific focus on addiction, anxiety disorders, and depression. Kimme is a board member with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mercer County, NJ, where she is also a certified facilitator for NAMI’s nationally known Family-to-Family Education program. Kimme is also board treasurer with The Center for Family, Community, and Social Justice in Princeton. She was honored in 2009 as New Jersey’s Woman of the Year by the Garden State Woman Education Foundation for her dedicated volunteer work. She is a graduate of Regent University with a bachelor of arts degree in Religious Studies and Psychology, and is an Evangelist at Galilee Baptist Church in Trenton. Kimme Carlos has two children and five grandchildren. She lives in New Jersey and is currently writing her second book.

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Workshop P:  The Art of the Ask ($)

This workshop will focus on the art of the solicitation with demonstrations of real solicitations. Attendees may ask ahead of time to have one of their real life situations role-played. The workshop will also talk about the pre-work necessary for a great solicitation as well as the follow-up.

Anne Seltzer,Principal Consultant, Seltzer, LLC. & Kathy Schulte, Director of Advancement, Princeton Day School

After fifteen years on the academic side at Peddie School where she served as acting head of school, chair of English department and dean of faculty, Anne became director of development in the early 90’s in time to receive the transforming $100 million gift from Ambassador Annenberg. Under Anne’s guidance, the school successfully completed the largest capital campaign in its history. Anne retired from Peddie in 2003 and is thoroughly enjoying consulting with a wide array of schools and non-profits on fundraising and strategic planning. Anne is a frequent speaker and presenter for CASE and NAIS on all aspects of development. Anne and her family live in Princeton, where she serves on the board of Peddie as well as various arts organizations including People and Stories. She is a recipient of CASE’s Steuben Apple award. Two years ago she and Andy Hamlin founded ACIS, Advancement Collaborative for independent Schools, held annually on the campus of Princeton University in June.

A graduate of Bucknell University, Kathy spent seven years at Teach For America in various teaching and administrative capacities in Louisiana, Houston and New York.In 1998, Kathy was appointed development director at New Jersey SEEDS, a privately funded, statewide, non-profit organization which, in cooperation with competitive, independent secondary schools, provides opportunities for highly motivated, academically able students who lack the financial resources to attend such schools. Kathy oversaw all aspects of development: she solicited more than 125 corporations and foundations, communicated with a funding base of more than 2,500 constituents, worked with a board of 27, met each annual fund goal and managed a $6.25 million capital campaign, the organization’s first.In 2003, Kathy became the Princeton Day School’s director of Major Gifts. Over the next five years, Kathy was instrumental in the school’s successful completion of the Investing in Excellence Campaign, which generated more than $53 million in capital and annual support. At the campaign’s close, Kathy was named associate director of Advancement, overseeing the school’s annual fund, select capital giving projects, and stewardship of major donors. In 2010, she was appointed the director of Advancement and oversees all fundraising efforts and alumni programs for Princeton Day School.

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Workshop Q:  How to Raise Money in the Current Economic Environment

In this workshop, we will define the current economic environment as it affects our own NPOs. Further, we will consider how fundraising has become increasingly sophisticated through new trends and how and whether we are taking advantage of these opportunities. Topic include: Increased professionalism & Salaries; Collaboration; Transparency; Sophisticated use of donor databases; Attention to ROI and Technology. This workshop will be of particular interest to board members and professionals who are striving to work as a team to bring their fundraising to the next level.

Ruthellen Rubin, Assistant Professor of Philanthropy, New York University, Director of Development, Louis August Jones Foundation

Ruthellen has more than twenty five years of experience in all aspects of fundraising as a member of several nonprofit and institutional boards and also professionally as a fundraiser, marketing specialist and philanthropic advisor. She is a frequent workshop facilitator for the Support Center for Nonprofit Management. A professor at the George H. Heyman Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University, Ruthellen teaches courses in technology for fundraising, board effectiveness and the annual appeal. Ruthellen is currently the director of development at Louis August Jonas Foundation – www.lajf.org. She has a masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. www.ruthellenrubin.com Twitter: @RuthellenR

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Workshop R:  10 Steps to Creating a Successful Event – From Volunteer Recognition to Major Fundraising Events

Planning an event can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Whether you are new to event planning or need a refresher, this workshop will help you learn to create the memorable occasion everyone is anticipating WITHOUT driving yourself and your volunteers crazy in the process.  We’ll cover:  Thinking Strategically – Determining which event is best for you and your organization; Using your goals and objectives to guide your decision-making; Setting up a committee structure that will work; Logistics you need to consider; After event debriefing and planning.  You will go away with the confidence and skills you need to lead to lead your event team to success!

Adrienne Rubin, Executive Director, Princeton Education Foundation

Adrienne Rubin has over twenty years of experience in fundraising and volunteer management. As the executive director of the Princeton Education Foundation, she is responsible for encouraging charitable contributions to support excellence in public education. Previously, as executive director of VolunteerConnect, she provided volunteer management training, professional development and support to nonprofits, and as associate director for Class Affairs at Princeton University, she managed Princeton Reunions and supported Princeton’s class volunteers and alumni civic engagement programs. Ms. Rubin has consulted with nonprofit colleagues and led workshops and webinars on volunteer management and board training both locally and nationally—with Princeton Community Works, the Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism, the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, Mercer County Community College and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Ms. Rubin holds an A.B. in Music Theory and Composition from Princeton University and is a former Associate of the Society of Actuaries. Her volunteer experience includes service for universities, public schools, professional associations and community groups. She currently serves as president of Women in Development of Mercer County, and volunteers with Princeton Boy Scout Troop 43 and her Princeton alumni class. She resides in Princeton with her husband and son.

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Workshop S:  How to Build & Maintain Relationships with Donors

You’ve heard it everywhere: “fundraising is about relationships” and “people give to people.” But, how exactly, do you find the right donors?  What does it take to spark a meaningful donor relationship? How do you optimize those relationships to create the major donors of tomorrow? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to: Reach out to a prospective donor; Remain top-of-mind year after year; and Grow strong supporters into major and capital donors.

Elizabeth Wagner, VP Development, Princeton Area Community Foundation 

Elizabeth B. Wagner joined the Princeton Area Community Foundation as vice president for development, in 2010. She oversees major gifts, planned giving, and the annual fund, and enjoys working on fundraising for the Community Foundation’s special programs, notably the Fund for Women and Girls. Prior to her appointment here, she worked for the development consulting firm J. C. Geever, Inc., in New York City, with a practice encompassing dozens of nonprofit organizations in education, social and youth service, arts, health care and other disciplines. Her experience includes substantial work in major gifts, foundation and corporate outreach, strategic and development planning, membership, operational and governance issues.

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Workshop T:  A Grant Writer’s Toolbox: Tips and Tricks

This interactive workshop will engage participants in strategies and techniques for preparing winning grant proposals.  Participants will leave with:
-practical strategies for improving grant requests
-understanding of funding community
-tools to use for success

Michael J. Baker, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)

Michael J. Baker, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), is a founder and partner of m3 Development, a full-service consulting firm for non-profits and foundations. Previously, he worked with the American Cancer Society, most recently helping the national organization launch its Major Gift and Campaign Fundraising Program resulting in over $85,000,000 in two years. He has over 20 years of experience, having also been director of development for the National Hemophilia Foundation and in executive level development and management positions for the Boy Scouts of America. Michael speaks widely on philanthropy and non-profits. He has also written, produced fundraising training videos, and served on the editorial board of the award-winning Triumph Magazine. In 2009 he became a member of the AFP Omega Circle by making a planned gift. He received the AFP Partnership in Philanthropy 2010 Award for Consulting Excellence and in 2011 graduated from the AFP Faculty Training Academy as a Master Trainer. He is a director for the Marlboro Educational Foundation, board president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – New Jersey Chapter, and served as chair of the inaugural AFP TechKnow Conference in June 2012. Michael, an Eagle Scout, holds a BA from the State University of New York-Albany.

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Workshop U:  The Nut & Bolts of Successful Strategic Planning

This “hands-on” workshop will prepare each participant to engage her/his organization in the development of a forward-leaning collaboratively designed strategic plan. This planning process will build from the identification and examination of challenges and beliefs, through the creation of a meaningful mission/purpose statement, to specific goals and action plans. Monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the plan and making timely adjustments will be addressed.

Art Firestone, Consultant, President and Primary Consultant Arthur Firestone Associates 

Arthur Firestone is a former teacher and school administrator who, since retiring from public education in 1995, has worked as an educational and organizational consultant, trainer, and coach, working through the Coalition of Essential Schools at Rutgers University, the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association, the NJ Department of Education, and Arthur Firestone Associates. He has also presented at many state and national conferences for a variety of professional organizations. Over the years Art has worked with more than 125 school districts and organizations on a wide variety of topics including organizational development and restructuring, strategic planning, leadership practices, team building, supervision, assessment, and instructional practices. He is the author of THE ASSESSMENT OF TEACHING COMPETENCE: Rethinking the Observation and Evaluation of Classroom Teachers and, in collaboration with Sharon McCarthy, the e-book, EMERGENCE, CONVERGENCE, AND DISCOVERY: A Pathway to Collaborative Leadership in Schools. Art lives in Pennington with his wife, Barbara Kirsh, who is an executive director in the legal office of ETS and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Mercer County Alliance to End Homelessness. Their daughter, Julia, is the Director of Operations for Impact Network which builds e-learning schools in rural Zambia (www.impactnetwork.org).