Thursday, August 29, 2013

Workshop: Use Social Media for Audience Development

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Columbia College Chicago
623 South Wabash, Hokin Hall, Rm 109
Register Here!
Price: $45 (NPO budget <$250k); $65 (NPO budget > $250k/ for-profit/ individuals)

Speaker: John Armstrong, Senior Community Manager, Astek

Let's "get real" about social media. It's not free and it's not easy. At its worst, social media is a loud speaker pushing undifferentiated noise few will understand or even care about. At its best, it is the most effective and efficient way to have a meaningful conversation with you patrons and add value to their relationship with your company. This relationship is the foundation for building new audiences, attracting volunteers and developing long-term donors. At this workshop, you'll join John Armstrong in a discussion about creating targeted, resource-friendly campaigns designed to build loyalty and your brand. In addition, case studies will be presented from two organizations at different stages of development that have used social media beyond the traditional strategies and engaged their audience in a uniquely memorable way.

At this workshop, you'll learn:
- The myths and misconceptions of social media that create barriers to successful use of this creative marketing channel;
- How to target a social media strategy for two purposes; reaching a new audience and making your current audience more loyal;
- How to move social media from the computer screen into real-life and activate your audience (and your brand);
- Examples of both small and large campaigns that have created engagement, entertainment and brand awareness;
-How creating a simple social media campaign can be a fun, collaborative and mission-building experience.

Online registration will close at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 9. 


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Basic Bookkeeping with Quickbooks - 3 sessions for $249

Learn the basics of bookkeeping  and corresponding Quickbooks entries relevant to internal control issues for each type of transaction. The training will cover recording and tracking income and expense transactions, creating standard reports, and establishing internal controls to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud. The presentation will focus on the specific needs of nonprofit arts organizations.

**This course is meant for Managing Directors, Office Managers, Bookkeepers or anyone else who is new to bookkeeping and is responsible for their organization's financial record using Quickbooks. Class size is limited to 12 people. 

Part 1: Intro. to Bookkeeping with Quickbooks, September 25, 1-4 p.m.
- Overview of Quickbooks software
- Using the Chart of Accounts, Classes and Job functions
- Receivables (Recording income such as donations, ticket sales and grants)
- Payables (recording expenses and paying bills)
- Using Memorized Transactions
- Question & Answer Session

Part 2: Intro. to Bookkeeping with Quickbooks 2. October 23, 1-4 p.m.
- Review of Quickbooks Basics from Part 1
- Reconciling Bank and Credit Card Statements
- Basic Quickbooks Reports
- Customizing, Memorizing, and Exporting Reports
- Question & Answer Session

Part 3: Best Practices & Internal Controls, November 6, 1-3 p.m.
- The Financial Management Cycle
- Introduction to Internal Controls
- Ten Controls You Can Put in Place Immediately
- Key Policies for Nonprofits
- Question & Answer Session


Sessions will be led by a certified Quickbooks Adviser from The A.C.T Group LTD, a Chicago CPA firm and Dan Jacobson, Director of Operations for the Arts & Business Council of Chicago. Dan is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP), through the National Association of Nonprofit Accountants & Consultants (NPAC).

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Social Media Boot Camp Classes Available! (Month of August)

Two Social Media Boot Camp Classes Available This Month 

There are still seats available for BACP's* Social Media Boot Camp workshops in August. The workshops are designed help small businesses develop and expand a social media presence.

The two workshops will focus on Facebook (Aug. 16) and YouTube (Aug. 30). Additionally, a workshop on connecting your business with smartphones users will be available on the remaining Friday (Aug. 23)

All the workshops are free to attend and are held in Room 805 at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago. The full calendar of August workshops can be viewed here and at the bottom of this newsletter.

*City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

BOARD BOOTCAMP

Through a generous grant from Crown Family Philanthropies, and additional support from Pierce Family Philanthropies, Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) will host its third annual Board Boot Camp. The program will include a comprehensive, interactive two-and-a-half day training where participants will gain skills in topics such as board roles and responsibilities, understanding nonprofit financials, and fundraising basics. There will also be a panel discussion where women currently serving on boards and CFW grantee organizations will share their experiences, as well as a reception where participants can meet nonprofits in need of board members and find a good fit for their new skills.

Board Boot Camp is designed for individuals with no prior nonprofit board experience.

WHEN: October 19, 23 and 26, 2013

Saturday workshops, October 19 and October 26: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Networking session, October 23, 2013: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Chicago Loop (Details will be sent to registered participants)

Completed applications due by: Early Bird registration: Before August 30th $150*

Regular registration: August 30th - September 30th $200**

REGISTER HERE

*Cost is $150 for all current CFW Giving Council member in good standing
**Limited scholarship opportunities are available. 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Dance for Life TONIGHT!

Come out to see and support Chicago's dance community TONIGHT at Dance for Life at the beautifully historic Auditorium Theatre. Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Dancers Fund, and Chicago House.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Workshop: Alternative Sources of Revenue Generation

Tuesday, August 20, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Columbia College Chicago
33 E. Congress, Room 101
Price: $45 budget < $250k/ $65 budget > $250k or for-profit organization
Click to Register

In an environment where income sources for nonprofit arts organizations are flat lining and often declining, it's critical for groups to think creatively about generating new sources of revenue to ensure near - and long-term sustainability. At this workshop, you'll hear from three organizations at different stages of development that are experimenting with business models that venture beyond the traditional strategies of relying solely on grant support, fundraising events and ticket sales. The case studies presented will include examples of for hire work, rental income opportunities and the counter-intuitive model that has yielded financial growth through free programming.

You'll learn:
- How to reconsider your assets as an arts organization and determine your untapped value;
- How to challenge the traditional ways of doing business in the nonprofit world;
- What the possibilities are for growth relating to contract and commissioned work; and
- What questions need to be considered before testing out a new program.

Moderator: 
Kristin Larsen, Executive Director, Stage 773

Panelists:
Alex Balestrieri, Director of Events, Redmoon Theater
Jocelyn Florence, Business Development, Redmoon Theater
Brad Little, Executive Director, Oracle Productions
Anthony Moseley, Executive & Artistic Director, Collaboraction Theatre Company

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Grow Your Reach: Establishing an Advisory/Auxiliary Board

Monday, August 12 - 11:30am-1:00pm
Arts & Business Council of Chicago
70 E Lake St., 3rd Fl Conference Room,
Chicago, IL 60601
Price: $15.00

Presenter:
Aleen Bayard, Principal, marketZing

A&BC Board Consultants:
Jennifer Harris
Stuart B. Jamieson
Travis Life
Jim Nolan

The session will begin with a 40 minute presentation about the benefits and challenges of maintaining an Advisory/Auxiliary Board, determining whether your organization is ready to embark upon creating one, and some steps to get started planning and recruiting. Following the presentation, attendees will meet in small groups with one of A&BC's Board Consultants to discuss concrete, tailored next steps as well as other related challenges that the organization is facing.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Call for Proposals: "Dance: A Moving Canvas"

Audience Architects is launching an exciting new program for select audiences, supported by the Doris Duke Foundation's Engaging Dance Audiences (EDA) research project, a program of Dance/USA: In partnership with Chicago Artists' Coalition (CAC), Arts & Business Council of Chicago and Flyspace Consortium as lead choreographic partners.

"Dance: A Moving Canvas" features four live, interactive gallery showings of visual art and dance works augmented by audience participation, educational materials and lively post-event discussions.

Looking for dance artists who are:
- Available to perform at one of the "Moving Canvas" nights; January 22, April 16 and June 4, 2014.
- Interested in helping to create supportive online event materials including interviews and video.
- Available to meet and actively collaborate with visual artists from CAC's HATCH program residency.
- Able to attend the October 16 kickoff event.

Benefits of Participation Include:
- Exposure to a culturally curious audience who want to learn more about dance
- A supportive collaborative environment that encourages experimentation and allows artists to sample work and get feedback that may inform the piece in unexpected ways.
- Introduction to visual artists and curators through the CAC program.
- A substantive stipend that should offset many costs related to the project.
- Opportunities to be featured in interviews and/or videos that will be promoted on the www.SeeChicagoDance.com and CAR websites.
- May be selected to have a "Dance Tribe" group attend an additional concert late in the year.

To Apply:
- Read the Guidelines HERE.
- Download the application HERE

DEADLINE: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Questions? For more info contact surinder@audiencearchitects.com