Alliance for Nonprofit Management › Annual Conference › C05 Conference Schedule › C05 Track: Collaboration

C05 Track: Collaboration

Sponsored by Center for Nonprofit Management - Kellogg School of Management

Collaboration

Association of Consultants to Nonprofits: Collaboration Among Capacity Builders, Funders and Nonprofits

Thursday, July 14, 9:00am - 12:00pm (Pre-Conference Session)

Presenters: Chantell Johnson, TCC Group; Valerie Hogan, Growth Strategies, Inc.; Tina Nolan, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; Heather Parish, Strategies for CED and Finance; Toya Randall, Grand Victoria Foundation; Carol White, Consultant

Moderator: Brigette Rouson, Alliance for Nonprofit Management

Price: $50 Members; $90 Non-members

Collaborative relationships can take many forms and result in the building of capacity for all parties involved. As consultants to nonprofits, we have engaged in collaborations with our nonprofit clients, with funders, and with each other. Through these collaborative relationships we have developed our own capacity while simultaneously developing the capacity of our collaborating counterparts (e.g., nonprofit organizations and funders alike), often our clients. Through this session, we will share some of our learnings about how best to set up a collaborative capacity building relationship (e.g. how to establish clear roles and responsibilities, scope of work, etc.), what we have learned (e.g., how we have improved our consulting skills/practices), what our clients (nonprofit organizations and funders) have learned (e.g., knowledge, skills), and the ultimate value added for structuring the working relationship as a collaborative endeavor (e.g., outcomes for the collaborating entities). This session is for those interested in hearing first-hand how consultants and their clients work effectively in a collaborative manner to build capacity. For this session, we will cite examples of capacity building in the areas of evaluation, organizational development, large-scale collaboration across funders and nonprofits, and nonprofit strategic relationship development.

Multi-Tenant Nonprofit Centers as a Strategy to Build Community Capacity

Saturday, July 16, 2:15pm - 3:45pm

Presenters: China Brotsky, Tides Family of Organizations; Shelley Hamilton, MarinSpace

Across the US, more than 200 Multi-tenant Nonprofit Centers are demonstrating the effectiveness of building sustainable, quality facilities for organizations and communities. From shared office space to integrated client service programs, from incubators to art galleries, Nonprofit Centers provide stable, affordable, mission-enhancing workspace that increases the visibility and effectiveness of their tenant organizations. They strengthen individuals and communities through improving direct program and service delivery, creating new hubs of economic activity, and providing centers for community organizing. In this session, participants will understand the key strategic issues in creating these Centers especially in the areas of vision and planning, financing (both commercial and nonprofit sources), shared services and real estate development.

Collaboration Between State Associations and Management Support Organizations to Build the Field

Saturday, July 16, 4:15pm - 5:30pm

Presenters: Gerald Solomon, PHFE Management Solutions; Florence Green, California Association of Nonprofits

Capacity building must be directed not only to helping nonprofits achieve their fundamental mission, but also to a building capacity that is needed to succeed in the 21st century. Capacity building must also take into consideration all pieces of the puzzle: building skills and abilities, making appropriate tools available and reducing (and sometimes attacking) external barriers over which nonprofits frequently have no control but that often make it difficult for organizations to achieve their mission. Presenters will discuss the concept of collaboration, including mergers, between what could be viewed as competing entities and how PHFE and CAN, in particular, overcame self-interest to develop a strategic approach to assessing potential nonprofit needs and providing capacity-building methods that not only meet specific organizational development needs but also reduce external barriers and result in building a specific field of practice.

Place-Based Capacity Building Mini-Conference: How Funders, Capacity Builders and Nonprofits Connect for Long-Term Community Change

Thursday, July 14, 9:00am - 4:00pm (Pre-Conference Session)

Presenters: Anne Glendon, Glendon Associates; Peter York, TCC Group; Lorri Johnson, Dannemiller Tyson Associates, Alice Hart, Consultant

Price: $100 Members; $175 Non-members

Place-based capacity building offers an approach to developing long-term, sustainable structures based at the local level and rooted in the needs and ambitions of the local community. When funders, capacity builders and nonprofits come together to share resources, knowledge and expertise, they can improve the health of the entire nonprofit community in ways that one project or investment at a time cannot. Place-based capacity building is a holistic, comprehensive and integrated approach that’s in alignment with local realities to achieve lasting community change. This full-day mini-conference will present an overview of the design, implementation, lessons learned and results to date of four geographically-based capacity-building initiatives that originate in distinctly different communities: a highly diverse urban metropolis; a mid-sized industrial city/county facing multiple political and economic challenges; a rapidly growing small city making the transition from farming and tourism to a more diversified economy and culture; and, a New England statewide project.

Regional Associations of Grantmakers and State Associations of Nonprofits: Finding and Sharing Common Ground

Friday, July 15, 9:00am - 10:30am

Presenters: Paula Shoecraft, Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers; Catherine Carabetta, Donors Forum of Chicago; Rob Collier, Council of Michigan Foundations; Lora Pollari-Welbes, National Council of Nonprofit Associations; Sam Singh, Michigan Nonprofit Association

Where do state associations of nonprofits and regional associations of grantmakers come together? Where are they apart? Can they live in harmony? How can they enrich each other and both be strengthened? This interactive session will address key issues of collaboration between these important infrastructure organizations on national and local levels — and how it plays out "on the ground."

The Coalition for New Philanthropy: A Case Study in Sustainable Collaboration

Friday, July 15, 9:00am - 10:30am

Presenters: John Vogelsang, Support Center for Nonprofit Management (NY); Barbara Taveras, Coalition for New Philanthropy

Using an evaluative case study that was recently completed of a coalition of three ethnic foundations, a regional grantmakers association, and an academic institution, this session will explore what contributes to sustainable collaborations, what are successful processes for donor engagement, and how a participatory evaluation process can be used to foster organizational learning among the partners. The purpose of the coalition is to empower African-American, Latino and Asian American donors to increase the effectiveness and impact of their philanthropic resources.

The Independent Consultant — MSO Relationship: A Model for Success

Saturday, July 16, 2:15pm - 3:45pm

Presenters: Patricia St.Onge, Seven Generations Consulting; Leyna Bernstein, Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership

This practical, interactive workshop presents the keys to developing and maintaining a successful business partnership between a management support organization (MSO) and independent consultants. The workshop content is based on the experience of the presenters in working together on the FAITHS Partnership, a joint project of the Marin Community Foundation and Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership. Designed for MSO program staff and independent consultants, the workshop will cover the key elements of a cost-effective, productive, learning-oriented working relationship.