Upcoming Webinars & Workshops
We are dedicated to connecting grantees with relevant, affordable, and diverse resources to help their organization's growth and development. Check out the upcoming webinar and workshop opportunities below. This page is updated weekly, so check back regularly for added opportunities. Click the accordion menu to expand additional information for each session.
October 2024
10/17 | Bridges Workshop
Through this workshop, learn how economic realities of poverty, middle class, and wealth impact individuals, communities, systems, and structures. In order to positively impact the education and lives of individuals in poverty, we must explore the way we think and behave. Bridges Summit County Workshops offers a structure to help us assess the mindsets and world views we hold as individuals, institutions, and communities. It helps us define and visualize the experiences in economic class environments in order to increase our understanding.
Host Provider: United Way of Summit & Medina
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: United Way of Summit & Medina (37 N. High St.
Akron, 44308)
Cost: Non-continuing education cost is $25.00; Continuing education cost is $40.00. Workshop, lunch, and materials included.
10/17 | Grant Budgets (Session Two)
Did you know that some grant reviewers look at the budget first to tell the story of your application? Learn how to build a strong grant budget that explains where you stand, where you intend to grow, and what impact a grant will have in achieving your mission. We will discuss the importance of teamwork in building the budget and budget narrative to ensure you are delivering what you promise to grant funder.
This is a three-part session. Other sessions:
- Session One: Reverse Engineer Your Grant Applications - Thursday, October 3
- Session Three: Navigating the World of Grants - Thursday, October 31
Host Provider: Akron Community Foundation & Full Circle Fundraising
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Summit County Public Library - Main Library - Meeting Room 2AB
Cost: Free
10/17 | Crafting Inclusive Stories To Move Your Mission
Join us for this webinar to learn how thoughtful, inclusive storytelling can become a powerful tool for positive change in your nonprofit's communications. We'll explore creating narratives that are not only impactful but also protect, respect, and dignify those you serve.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/17 | Introduction to fundraising planning
Does your organization need help directing its fundraising efforts? Planning focuses your organization by setting fundraising priorities and helps give staff and board members a roadmap to success. This introductory class will provide you the basic steps for developing a fundraising plan, including tips on:
- Making your case for support
- Diversifying your organization's fundraising base
- Creating a plan of action
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/22 | Working with AI: How to Get Along with an Artificial Coworker
As generative artificial intelligence rapidly transforms how we work, nonprofits can thrive by implementing these technologies to automate tasks and better understand their data (and thus who they serve). However, the ethical questions and risks posed by A.I. present challenges for nonprofits, which must be especially mindful of maintaining delicate donor relationships and of aligning with human-centered missions. In addition, training teams on mindful A.I. use can feel overwhelming.
Join Your Part-Time Controller for an upcoming Webinar to demystify A.I. on Tuesday, October 22, at 2 PM ET. This free event will dive into:
- The basics of A.I. and automation.
- A.I. ethics and responsibility.
- Case studies of A.I. successes.
Register for “Working with A.I.: How to Get Along with an Artificial Coworker” to hear from expert speakers and walk away with practical tools to apply right away, such as a checklist to help your team communicate effectively with chat-based A.I. tools.
Host Provider: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/24 | AI for Social Impact - BVU’s Civic Leadership Summit
The integration of AI stands as one of the most pressing and transformative topics for organizations working to make a difference in our community. At this year’s Civic Leadership Summit, BVU seeks to demonstrate how nonprofits and the people who care about them can make a BIGGER difference through the responsible use of AI technology.
Just as the advent of computers revolutionized the way professionals operate, AI presents unparalleled opportunities and challenges that demand our attention and understanding. BVU’s position at the intersection of the nonprofit and business world allows us to connect civic leaders with AI experts who will discuss trends, practical insights, ethical considerations, and specific tools.
Host Provider: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Case Western Reserve University (Tinkham Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106)
Cost: $115 - BVU is thrilled to share that they are offering to extend its member discount to all GAR grantees! Simply select "I am a BVU Member" during registration for a $50 savings per person.
10/24 | Engage and Convert: The Email and Social Media Power Play
Social media is a powerful tool; however, it is just one piece of the marketing puzzle. Using social media as the only channel in your strategy limits your ability to drive better outcomes. Incorporating email marketing is essential for amplifying your reach, engagement, and results. Join our free, one-hour webinar to discover how to leverage both email and social media marketing to achieve results.
You'll learn how to:
- Fine-tune your social profiles to make them more effective
- Use your existing marketing efforts to create impactful social content that attracts attention
- Convert your social media followers into email subscribers and keep them engaged with a strategy that works
Host Provider: Constant Contact
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/28 | What is my Theory of Change?
How do you know that your organization is having an impact? Join us for this presentation about the linchpin of your performance measurement arsenal: the Theory of Change. You'll learn what it is (and is not!), how and why it inspires funders, staff and other stakeholders, and about the tools and insights that link your strategies with outcomes, making your organization's agenda for social impact clear and accessible.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/29 | Introduction to proposal writing
Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? If so, you don't want to miss one of our most popular classes!
This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation. It will include:
- The basic elements of a proposal
- The "do's" and "don'ts" of writing and submitting a proposal
- How to follow up whether the answer is yes or no
- 30-minute hands-on exercise to develop a proposal outline (in-person classes only)
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Understand how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.
- Know how and when to follow up with funders after submitting a proposal.
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/30 | Develop your nonprofit funding strategy
“Aren’t you leaving money on the table by not going after more types of funding?” Many nonprofit leaders are asked why their organization isn’t hosting a gala or pursuing a grant or launching a viral social media campaign like other organizations. Too often, reacting to fundraising opportunities or following conventional wisdom (“diversification is good”) substitutes for thoughtful planning around a funding strategy.
In fact, nonprofits often benefit from concentrating on just one or two revenue categories (such as government, philanthropy, corporate, or earned income) and building dedicated capabilities to match. By focusing and building the capabilities to do one or two things really well, an organization will have a better chance to find and pursue a strategy that will position it to attract the dollars needed to achieve its aspirations for impact in the world.
Whether you are seeking to grow or mainly to sustain the current size of your nonprofit organization, join this webinar to:
- Learn how a well-defined funding strategy will better position your organization to attract the dollars needed to achieve your mission.
- Walk through three key questions you should focus on in order to develop your organization’s funding strategy.
- Hear what other nonprofit leaders have learned in the process of revisiting their funding strategies
Host Provider: The Bridgespan Group
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
10/31 | Navigating the World of Grants (Session Three)
Where is the money? For nonprofits looking for new funding opportunities, we will discuss various ways to identify new funding opportunities that are both free and subscription-based. We will discuss pre-award and post-award best practices and funding sustainability.
This is a three-part session. Other sessions:
- Session One: Reverse Engineer Your Grant Applications - Thursday, October 3
- Session Two: Grant Budgets - Thursday, October 17
Host Provider: Akron Community Foundation & Full Circle Fundraising
Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Summit County Public Library - Main Library - Meeting Room 2AB
Cost: Free
10/31 | Introduction to measuring your impact
Your nonprofit does great work, but what is most important is the impact of that work. How do you demonstrate that your programs get results? An outcome-centric approach will lead to stronger program design and increased funding opportunities for your organization. In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes. We will demystify the language of outcomes measurement and guide you through the process of creating logic models for programs.
This course will prepare you to:
- Draft SMART objectives for a program
- Identify the parts of a logic model
- Report the impact on your Candid profile
Intended audience
- Beginner
- Fundraising & development staff
- Program directors and staff
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
November 2024
11/6 | Intro to Nonprofit Board Service
Are you ready to make a difference at the nonprofit board room table? BVU believes that community leaders should represent diverse voices and experiences. As part of our Minority Pipeline Initiative, we are pleased to host this introductory series to discuss how nonprofit board service can provide valuable development and networking opportunities for professionals of underrepresented backgrounds.
Host Provider: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
11/7 | Creative Placemaking Conference
Join us for this dynamic one-day conference designed to explore creative placemaking from ideation to execution. Through engaging panel discussions and talks, we’ll dive into key areas of this community-driven initiative. Seize this chance to be a part of a network that’s reimagining and revitalizing our local spaces. Meet us at House Three-Thirty— and let’s turn ideas into action and visions into reality together!
Host Provider: Summity County Land Bank & ArtsNow
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location: House Three Thirty
Cost: $45 (for early bird registration)
11/7 | Linking New Leaders
Building strong connections between emerging talent and nonprofit organizations is a win-win for everyone. BVU’s Linking New Leaders is a dynamic event bringing the best and the brightest together in a unique “speed-dating” format.
Host Provider: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 5:30-8:00 pm
Location: Bop Stop (2920 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113)
Cost: TBA
11/7 | The Enneagram at Work
The Enneagram increases one’s ability to better understand, relate, and work with others. Key Content:
- Discover ways you relate to yourself and others
- Insights into your communication style
- Learn new ways to give feedback
- Manage, change, and lead
We invite both individuals and organizational teams to join us for this unique opportunity.
Host Provider: Center for Immersive Leadership
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: The Sojourner Truth Building (37 N. High Street, Akron, Ohio 44308)
Cost: $149 (Includes an Enneagram assessment, coffee, light snacks, drinks, and participant materials)
11/12 | Unlocking Workplace Well-Being
Join the Center for Immersive Leadership, in partnership with the Greater Akron Chamber, for a full-day (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) program aimed at providing managers the tools and resources to promote workplace well-being and enhance the productivity and culture of your workplace.
Host Provider: Center for Immersive Leadership & Greater Akron Chamber
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Greater Akron Chamber (388 S Main St., Ste. 205, Akron, OH 44311)
Cost: $399/GAC members; $599/non-GAC members
Deadline to register is November 4th
11/18-21 | Intro to Nonprofit Board Service
These 60-minute one-on-one meetings provide an opportunity for nonprofits to receive assistance, answers, and suggestions from a skills-based volunteer in a particular subject area.
Host Provider: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Date: Monday, November 18-Thursday, November 18, 2024
Time: Various
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
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