Year 1 Outcomes Mid-point Check-In

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through Year 1 of the 3-Year SMART Growth grant.  You should have received an email regarding a mid-point check-in/status update.  If not, please let me know by contacting me at kkurcz@artsbiz-chicago.org or (312) 372-1876 ext 229.  Hope all is well and that you're making great progress!

Sincerely,
Katie

Successful Event Planning: Friend-raiser vs. Fundraiser

Tues, June 26 from 9:30 – 12:00pm
Columbia College Chicago, 623 S Wabash Ave, Hokin Hall, Rm 109

Panelists:
Carolina Jayaram, Executive Director, Chicago Artists Coalition
Erik Schroeder, Director of Marketing, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Megan Smith, Executive Director, Sideshow Theatre Company
Stef Tovar, Founder/Artistic Director, Route 66 Theatre Company

What does it take to execute a successful  fundraising event and how do you define success? What's the difference between a friend-raiser and a fund-raiser? What are the advantages of each?

This workshop will discuss the benefits and challenges of different types of events, including budgeting, marketing, acquiring donations, and board engagement. Panelists will share their experience creating, managing and evolving their organizations' events and tips for fundraising success.

Who should attend:

• Organizations that are planning a fundraiser for the first time
• Organizatins that have had small, singular events and are hoping to plan 1-2 years ahead
• Board Members, Event Committee Chairs, and staff interested in innovative themes and programming for their upcoming fundraisers.

Price: $45 (npos under $250,000)/ $65 (for-profit/npos over $250,000)
(Nonrefundable)

Register: http://www.artsbiz-chicago.org/events/2012/06/successful-event-planning-friend-raiser-vs-fund-raiser/

The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund
333 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 510,
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 236-1192
iris@albertpickjrfund.org

 

The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund is an Illinois nonprofit corporation organized in 1947 as a general-purpose private foundation.

Funding Opportunities in CULTURE

The Fund supports the efforts of Chicago's cultural organizations - both large and small. It considers applications from the full spectrum of arts endeavors. Projects that seek to spend audience access or to educate new audiences through outreach activities are encouraged.

The next deadline is July 1^st.

For more information: http://www.albertpickjrfund.org/overview0.aspx

Master the skill of Grant Writing!

NEW: Grant Writing Masterclass Series: How To Write a Compelling Needs Statement to Mesmerize Grant Funders - and Win!

Space is limited. Please select from one of the following date options:

Price: $87.00

Wednesday, May 30
3:00pm - 4:30pm EST

or

Monday, June 11
3:00pm - 4:30pm EST

Webinar Description:

The success of every grant proposal hinges on its needs statement. If the need for a project lacks concrete evidence, funders may not believe the need really exists. If it lacks passion or impact, reviewers' heartstrings are not pulled. This webinar will show you step-by-step how to create a fundable needs statement that will win your nonprofit money to keep your organization's mission on track and serving your community well.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Mission - Driven Business Planning 101

Nonprofit organizations have complex operating environments, multifaceted markets, missions with social impact as the bottom line, and unique financial considerations. Have you ever asked yourself the following questions:

• How does a business plan for a mission-diven venture differ from a traditional business plan? 
• How can a nonprofit take these differences into account when developing a business plan?

In this FREE webinar, TCC Group Partner Shelly Kessler and Senior Consultant Nadia Gomes will explore these questions along with the building blocks of a mission-driven business plan.

Participants will take away an understanding of purpose, use, and components of a business plan, as well as how to incorporate mission into organizational decision making. This introductory session is appropriate for executive staff who are considering the launch of a mission-based enterprise or assessing how to start developing a business plan.

When: Wednesday,  June 6, 2012, 1pm Eastern Time/ 2pm Central Time

Where: Click here to register

Arts Organizations & Community Engagement Workshop - May 22

Tues, May 22 from 5:30 – 8:00pm
Columbia College Chicago, 623 S Wabash Ave, Hokin Hall, Rm 109

Presenters:
Michael Rodd, Founding Artistic Director, SoJourn Theatre
Kimberly Bares, President, PLACE Consulting 

The Chicago Way: Working together and building more vibrant, socially and culturally inclusive, and economically prosperous neighborhoods. We will discuss how supporters, residents, civic and business leaders can engage with arts organizations in their communities to reach these mutually beneficial goals.

You'll hear case studies from our lead presenters on how successful cross-sector partnerships were established and maintained. This workshop is intended to ignite dialogue from a variety of perspectives, so we encourage an audience across sectors.

At this workshop, we will discuss:

• What do arts organizations offer the community?
• What does the community offer the arts organization?
• What are ways to partner that help build a better community?

 
Price: $45 (npos under $250,000)/ $65 (for-profit/npos over $250,000)
(Nonrefundable)

Registration: http://www.artsbiz-chicago.org/events/2012/05/arts-organizations-community-engagement/

DanceWorks Chicago and Muntu Dance Theatre collaboration

DanceWorks Chicago is excited to partner with Muntu Dance Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie this weekend in a spirited program of dance and music. Highlights include a premiere by Monique Haley featuring artists from both companies, a collaboration between DanceWorks and Muntu musicians, and a finale created for the occasion by Muntu Artistic Director Amaniyea Payne. We are proud to be a Critic's Choice from the Reader.  Happy (Mother's Day) Weekend, everyone!

Financing Not Fundraising Webinar Series

Social Velocity is proud to unveil its new Financing Not Fundraising webinar series based on the popular Financing Not Fundraising ongoing blog series. The webinar series shows nonprofits what the broader approach to securing the overall financing necessary to create social change looks like, including:

• How to align your nonprofit's mission with the money needed to deliver on it
• Why a message of impact results is more money
• Understanding the critical difference between revenu and capital
• Why overhead isn't a dirty word anymore
• How and why to calculate the net revenue of money raising activities
• When to explore new revenue stream

To learn more about the webinar series, CLICK HERE.

The Chicago Community Trust Announces Fifth Annual Fellowship Program

Emerging and Experienced leaders invited to apply  

The Trust’s fellowship program is designed to elevate the careers of 9 Chicago leaders and increase their future impact on the Chicago metropolitan area by investing in their professional development. The Trust Fellowship offers professional development opportunities for both emerging and experienced leaders. Successful fellows must be open to new learning, have a track record of accomplishments, have potential for significant community impact and possess a strong commitment to building organizations in the nonprofit and public sectors.  

The Chicago Community Trust fellows have the choice of taking a leave from work or continuing to work while engaging in professional development activities. The Chicago Community Trust Fellowship provides financial resources which can cover current salary and benefits for time off, costs related to academic courses, coaching, learning from other practitioners and other associated expenses. Emerging leaders are eligible to apply for up to $30,000 and experienced leaders are eligible to apply for up to $60,000. The Trust anticipates awarding up to ten fellowships — up to seven for emerging leaders and three for experienced leaders. The Fellowship must be completed within the calendar year of 2013.  

More information about the program and application process can be found via http://www.cctfellowship.org. The deadline to submit the fellowship application is June 15, 2012.

The Trust will hold a Q & A session on Friday, May 18, 2012 from 9:00– 11:00am at The Chicago Community Trust, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2200, in Chicago. Please note that this is the new office location of the Chicago Community Trust. Please register for this information session by sending your RSVP to Elizabeth Weldon at EWeldon@cct.org. Please bring a photo ID and check in at the Security desk.

Webinar: Grant Basics!

Webinar: Grant Basics: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Space if limited. Please select from one of the following date options:

Price $77.00

Monday, May 7, 2012
Start Time: 1:00pm - End Time: 2:30pm (Eastern Time)

or

Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Start Time: 3:00pm - End Time: 4:30pm (Eastern Time)

Webinar Description

** Bonus Material: Also included in the webinar is copy of The GRANTstarted - The Complete Guide to Writing Winning Grants

Anyone can write a grant application - but there are steps for doing it right. And the economy's not to blame for losing out on grant after grant. Private foundations and corporations gave $56 billion in the U.S. alone last year in grant money.

Are you wondering why you're not getting your share? The solution to accessing foundation grant money is simpler than you think and this webinar will teach what has worked consistently for grant writers that earn millions of dollars in grant funding. Webinar Outline: A getting-started guide to writing grants the correct way that will win your nonprofit organization grant funding.

Learn:

• An overview of the 5 step process of grant writing.
• Basic documentation that grant funders expect in your grant applications.
• Six things that signify an organization is ready to ask for grant funding.
• Free and paid sites for your grant research.
• What you need to be ready to answer in a grant application.
• The importans of cultivation for grant funding success.

Presented by Betsy Baker, MPA: Betsy Baker is President of YouGrantAuthority.com. She is an author, trainer/coach, public speaker and grant writing consultant having raised $10 million in grant funding for her clients. Betsy has spent her entire career in the nonprofit worls and understands both the rewards and the challenges that grant writing present.