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Regional Meetings

2005 New England Regional Meeting

May 18, 2005 in Cambridge, MA

8:45am - 5:00pm

On the Frontiers of Knowledge: New Approaches to Cultural Competency

Alliance for Nonprofit Management will host a New England Regional Meeting, May 18, 2005 in Cambridge, MA in conjunction with the Third Sector New England Nonprofit Workout Conference.

The theme of the conference On the Frontiers of Knowledge: New Approaches to Cultural Competency will encompass broad new thinking on what it means to be a culturally competent capacity builder with nonprofits, and how to foster culturally competent organizations.

The Regional Meeting will offer an opportunity for Capacity Builders from New England to learn about leading-edge strategies in improving nonprofit effectiveness, network with colleagues from across the region, and explore ways to improve coordination of capacity-building services to nonprofit organizations.

Who Should Attend?

Management support organizations
Nonprofit state associations
Grantmakers
Consultants
Professors of nonprofit management
Publishers
Technical assistance providers
Researchers
Technology providers
Accountants
Lawyers
Community-based capacity builders
Capacity builders who work to strengthen nonprofit organizations and communities.

What to Expect

The Regional Meeting will include leading-edge presentations incorporating the latest research and innovative practice in nonprofit capacity building, peer networking and structured dialogues. It promises to stretch your thinking, enhance your contacts and ultimately help you be more effective in your work with nonprofit organizations.

It will address questions such as:

How can capacity builders understand organizational culture, and help organizations become aware of their own cultures?
What are the unique skills for nonprofit capacity building that enable us to work effectively in various dimensions of culture?
- Age/Generation
- Class; Economic/Educational Background
- Gender and Sexual Identity
- Geography: Urban/Rural; Large City/Small City, etc.
- Political viewpoint; Religion/Spirituality
- Race/Ethnicity
How do we analyze and become aware of our own cultural lens and its impact on our work with communities and organizations?
How can we incorporate concepts of cultural competency into areas of our work such as strategic planning, board development, fundraising, technology, or other areas of strengthening nonprofit performance?
What are some ways to strengthen the nonprofit infrastructure in New England to support capacity building that is sustainable as well as culturally competent?

Registration Rates

Alliance members: $125
Non-members: $175

15% Discount for Nonprofit Workout Registrants: To receive the discount, register first for the Nonprofit Workout Conference and you will receive a discount code in your confirmation email from Third Sector New England.

Meeting Location

Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Overlooking Boston
575 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139-4896
t 617 492 1234

More Information

If you would like to receive updates via email on the Regional Meeting agenda and speakers, please send us your name, title, organization and contact information to info@allianceonline.org.

2004 Midwest Regional Meeting

March 31-April 1, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois

The "New Basics" of Nonprofit Capacity Building

As a consultant, trainer or technical assistance provider to nonprofits, are you READY for what lies ahead? Is your practice STRONG and GROWING, or is it sometimes difficult to stay abreast of the business-side of things? Have you been looking for a professional development event that is focused on your needs as an EXPERIENCED practitioner? The Alliance Midwest Regional Meeting is a rare opportunity to gather with a group of senior consultants, grantmakers, management support organization leaders and others who build capacity with nonprofits to discuss the “new basics” of capacity building, strengthening the business-side of our work, and understanding future trends in the nonprofit sector.

The "old basics" of nonprofit technical assistance focused on important areas such as marketing, fundraising and governance - these are all necessary but no longer sufficient for nonprofits to survive and thrive in the new environment. The "new basics" of capacity building include:

Collaboration;
Accountability;
Cultural competency;
Succession planning; and,
Advocacy.

These skills are becoming more important for capacity builders and their clients to understand. Participants will have an opportunity to hear from experienced consultants who have mastered these new basics and choose one of these areas to explore in depth in smaller-group discussions.

Building Our Practice
Ensuring quality technical assistance (TA) and having a viable practice are significant challenges for technical assistance providers to nonprofits. This session will cover the financial, legal, marketing and management aspects of capacity building with nonprofits. No matter what your tax status - nonprofit management support organization (MSO), consulting firm or independent practitioner, this session will delve into what it takes to succeed in the nonprofit TA marketplace.

Future Trends in the Nonprofit Sector
As capacity builders, we give advice and provide guidance to nonprofits, often for decisions that will have an impact on the organization and its beneficiaries for years to come. It is critical that we have a grip on the current trends and potential future scenarios in order to ensure nonprofits are able to adapt and stay strong in a changing environment. This session will help flag issues and areas to which we must pay attention in our own professional development and that of our nonprofit clients and partners.

2003 Alliance Regional Meeting

November 13, 2003 in San Francisco

The Alliance brings together those who share an interest in strengthening nonprofit organizations and the sector as a whole.

At this full-day Regional Meeting, expect to:

Get re-energized to face current challenges in nonprofit capacity building;
Gain some practical ideas to strengthen the business side of your work in tough times;
Connect with your peers who are eager to share experiences;
Hear from funders and discuss strategies to use an asset-based approach in working with traditionally under-served communities; and,
Take part in discussions on how to strengthen the network of capacity builders and thereby build greater power in the sector.

If your work involves strengthening the management and governance of nonprofits, the Alliance for Nonprofit Management is YOUR professional community. You will find unparalleled learning and networking opportunities with your peers.

Sessions Include:

Balanced Management in Times of Financial Difficulty
Presented by Peter Brinckerhoff, President, Corporate Alternatives, Inc.

Funding and Capacity Building: Pathways to Success in the Real World
Panel of Funders, Moderated by Patricia St.Onge, Seven Generations Consulting

Strengthening Our Capacity-Building Network
Presented by David J. Maurrasse, Chair, Alliance Board of Directors and Arthur Cutler, Alliance Deputy Director for Network Growth

2002 Midwest and Southeast Regional Meetings

The Alliance held two Regional Meetings in 2002: The Midwest Regional Meeting focused on "Funding and Capacity Building in Difficult Times" and took place October 14-15 in Chicago, IL. The theme of the Southeast Regional Meeting was "Focus on Rural, Under-Served and Minority-Led Nonprofits" and took place on December 9-10 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Download Report (PDF) on both Regional Meetings

Report Highlights:

Providing sound advice to nonprofits in times of difficulty and ensuring quality in our work:

Mission-Based Management In Times of Financial Difficulty: Peter Brinckerhoff offers his advice for nonprofits and capacity builders.
Measuring the Impact of Capacity Building: Nancy Fuhrman of Executive Service Corps - Chicago outlines ESC's approach to evaluating their work.
Quality Capacity Building Requires a Quality Relationship: Jennifer Henderson provides tips and tools for succeeding in those crucial first moments of a capacity-building relationship.
Ten Ways to Succeed as a Generalist Consultant: Ruth McCambridge Editor in Chief of the Nonprofit Quarterly and Brigette Rouson of Rouson Associates shared insights from research on effective consulting with nonprofits.

Ensuring sustainability of capacity building services:

Raising Funds for Capacity Building in Difficult Times: A panel of capacity builders - Dimitra Tasiouras of Chicago Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Barbara Kemmis of Donors Forum of Chicago, Jeff Weissglass of More than Money, and Delena Wilkerson of the Nonprofit Financial Center put their heads together on the question of fundraising for capacity building.
Starting and Maintaining a Healthy Management Support Organization: Peggy Morrison-Outon of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management and Rose Mary Fry of the Texas Nonprofit Management Assistance Network gave a workshop on how to start, program, market and sustain healthy MSO's.
Funding for Rural Capacity Building: An interview with Sandra Mikush of Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation on their pioneering capacity-building grant programs.

Promoting diversity and reaching the under-served

Diversifying Boards: Six tips from Barbara Cheives of Toward a More Perfect Union
Capacity Building in Communities of Color: June Rostan of the Southern Empowerment Project and Bess deFarber lead discussions on building capacity in communities of color.
Capacity Building Across Distance: Terrie Temkin of Nonprofit Management Solutions outlined her phone-support mentoring and coaching methods.
What is the South: Deborah Warren of the Southern Rural Development Initiative, helps frame the special issues that relate to capacity building in the South.

Click here for a PDF Report on both Regional Meetings!

We hope these resources are helpful to the capacity building community, and special thanks to all those who contributed and participated in the 2002 Alliance Regional Meetings!