501(c)onference 2014

Collaborations are complicated and successful, lasting partnerships are rare. Hear from those who have made it work and find out how they do it.

Some executives rely on volunteers to provide support in new ways, find out how they could help you.

Today’s non-profit organizations are comprised of four and sometimes five generations, from volunteers to fundraisers to executives. How do they all get along? And what actions can you take to succeed as the leader of your multi-generational team? Join us as we identify what everyone can do to manage, engage, retain and inspire the multi-generational mix. We’ll explore: 1. Fast Facts – a quick tour of the four/five generation workforce and the demographic trends that created it. 2. The New Rules – how to be a great multi-generational group leader; practical tips to succeed with all generations. Facilitator: Devon Scheef, The Learning Café

Building our capacity for story-based strategy is rapidly becoming one of the essential tools for leading the future of non-profits and social sector. The nonprofit sector is always seeking to develop leadership, enhance effectiveness, and improve results. Often neglected in these efforts is a re-examination of what inspired many of us to get involved in this work in the first place: a story that made an issue meaningful or an experience that ignited passion. The work of framing an issue, developing a powerful story, branding and packaging ideas has a place within the non-profit sector. Indeed it is one of the formidable building blocks for mobilizing the support of people and resources, achieving policy and advocacy victories, and effectively advancing the vision and mission for our organizations. This session will introduce some of the tools for producing a meaningful story, mobilizing an audience, and strengthening strategy for building stronger more effective non-profit organizations. Facilitator: Kiara Nagel, Center for Story-based Strategy

We have limited human and financial resources, right? We can only be successful if we have “renaissance workers” – people who are smart and can do many things. How do managers encourage staff to think beyond the obvious, take responsibility, and keep learning? One way is through coaching. Participants in this session will learn and practice using professional coaching methods to bring out the best in their staff and help them meet their potential. Facilitator: Belinda Madrid Teitel, Center for Nonprofit Management

Nonprofit leaders essentially act as entrepreneurs who are responsible for motivating themselves, working under a steep learning curve, and looking for collaboration opportunities to enhance their roles as leaders. Facilitator: Jasmine Youssefzadeh, filmanthropos

In this fast-paced, informative and engaging presentation, we provide a description of common areas where technology can significantly increase the effectiveness of boards, their up-front preparation in advance of the meetings, attendance, the meetings themselves and the follow-up. We will demonstrate some of affordable tools that have been created to assist in the work of the board, such as BoardMax, Director Desk from NASDAQ, Diligent Board Book or BoardPaq. Facilitator: Lisa Rau, Confluence Corp.

Are you procrastinating on what you fear will be a “difficult conversation?” In this session we will teach you practical techniques for having those conversations that you’ve been delaying. Facilitator: Becky Kanis, The Social Change Agency

Boards are often not what they could or should be in terms of good governance. There are many reasons why this is the case. This highly interactive session will explore a dozen of the more common reasons and ask the audience participants to identify real world examples of how these problems can impact a board and recommend ways to overcome them. We will also ask the participants to identify additional reasons why board fails. The session will be led by three experts on successful boards who will guide the discussion and help the participants identify problems and solutions. Facilitators: Mitch Dorger, Dorger Consulting; Patricia Perez, VPE Tradigital Communications

Leaders who are fluent in social neuroscience can improve their ability to orchestrate change and influence others. This workshop introduces SCARF: a neuroscience-based model to maintain status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness. Facilitators: Pamela Thompson, Foresight Coaching & Consulting and Dr. Sharon Liu, MPH, MBA, EdD