Audience: PATH

Marketing and Communications Discussion Group – February 2026

Are you a marketing or communications professional looking to connect and learn from your peers in other organizations? 

CNE’s Marketing & Communications Discussion Group provides an opportunity for folks working in communications to share challenges, swap stories, and get industry updates. Each session will focus on a different topic and include guest speakers when possible. 

Special thanks to LaTasha Durrett, Senior Communications Manager at Southern Environmental Law Center, who generously facilitates these sessions.

Treasurers Discussion Group- February 2026

Are you currently serving or interested in serving as a treasurer on a nonprofit board? Would you like to connect with others in similar roles to share insights, learn best practices, and discuss the unique challenges of nonprofit financial leadership?

This discussion group is designed to support individuals serving as nonprofit board treasurers or those interested in taking on the role. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore practical solutions to the financial and governance challenges they face in their organizations.

Program Overview

This program provides a collaborative and supportive environment for peer learning and mutual support. Whether you’re seeking advice on tackling a specific financial issue, looking to strengthen your understanding of nonprofit financial management, or simply hoping to connect with peers who understand the responsibilities of a treasurer, this group is here to help.

How It Works

Each session will focus on a specific topic related to nonprofit financial leadership to spark meaningful conversation. The latter portion of the session will be dedicated to open discussions, allowing participants to address pressing concerns or challenges. This time is ideal for seeking feedback on financial practices, brainstorming solutions to complex problems, or simply networking with peers who share similar responsibilities.

Special thanks to Melody Bianchetto who generously facilitates these sessions. 

Marketing and Communications Discussion Group – January 2026

Are you a marketing or communications professional looking to connect and learn from your peers in other organizations? 

CNE’s Marketing & Communications Discussion Group provides an opportunity for folks working in communications to share challenges, swap stories, and get industry updates. Each session will focus on a different topic and include guest speakers when possible. 

This month's topic:

Topic: Goal setting and communications planning for a new year: This month we will take the time to set goals for 2026 and discuss how to remain accountable, set milestones, and plan communications.

Special thanks to LaTasha Durrett, Senior Communications Manager at Southern Environmental Law Center, who generously facilitates these sessions.

Treasurers Discussion Group- January 2026 (Online Only)

Are you currently serving or interested in serving as a treasurer on a nonprofit board? Would you like to connect with others in similar roles to share insights, learn best practices, and discuss the unique challenges of nonprofit financial leadership?

This discussion group is designed to support individuals serving as nonprofit board treasurers or those interested in taking on the role. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore practical solutions to the financial and governance challenges they face in their organizations.

Program Overview

This program provides a collaborative and supportive environment for peer learning and mutual support. Whether you’re seeking advice on tackling a specific financial issue, looking to strengthen your understanding of nonprofit financial management, or simply hoping to connect with peers who understand the responsibilities of a treasurer, this group is here to help.

How It Works

Each session will focus on a specific topic related to nonprofit financial leadership to spark meaningful conversation. The latter portion of the session will be dedicated to open discussions, allowing participants to address pressing concerns or challenges. This time is ideal for seeking feedback on financial practices, brainstorming solutions to complex problems, or simply networking with peers who share similar responsibilities.

Special Guest for January Session

We are excited to welcome Amy Gallagher, CPA and partner at Davidson, Doyle & Hilton, CPAs in Lynchburg, VA, to this month's discussion. Amy specializes in nonprofit accounting and serves as the audit and tax partner for several Charlottesville nonprofits.

Think about any questions you’d like to ask a CPA, such as how a treasurer can best support staff during an audit, when an audit versus review is needed, or strategies for strengthening internal controls in small organizations, and bring them to the discussion.

Special thanks to Melody Bianchetto who generously facilitates these sessions. 

Practicing Fundraising: A Deeper Dive into the Fundamentals & Techniques- 2026

Warren Buford, Executive Director of the University of Virginia Engineering Foundation, will lead us through an engaging and interactive exploration of donor engagement, annual giving and major giving. 

During this 6 hour workshop participants will explore the fundamentals of fundraising and practice proven approaches and techniques of this important component of the non-profit, social impact sector.

State Budget 101

Nonprofits, do you know how Virginia’s General Assembly and budget process impact your work?

Join us and the Dan River Nonprofit Network for an upcoming session that will:

  •  Break down key players & timelines
  •  Share tools to track issues that matter
  •  Highlight ways nonprofits can engage effectively

Don’t miss this chance to build your advocacy toolkit! 

How Nonprofits Can Leverage BoardBuild for Alignment & Impact

CNE is excited to launch a new partnership with BoardBuild, an innovative online platform that helps nonprofits find great board members while also preparing community members to serve. BoardBuild offers both board training courses to strengthen governance skills and a board matching platform to connect nonprofits with the right volunteers – making it easier than ever to build strong, mission-driven boards.

Ready to strengthen your board through intentional alignment, skill diversity, and shared purpose?

Join BoardBuild for a free session designed for nonprofit leaders, EDs, and CEOs who want to:  

  • Learn how to use BoardBuild’s free matching platform to find the right board members based on the skills, knowledge, and expertise your organization needs
  • Discover how BoardBuild’s certification courses can onboard new board members and level-set existing ones for stronger governance and collaboration
  • See how intentional board development drives deeper mission alignment and long-term sustainability – BoardBuild’s platform is always free for nonprofits!

This is our gift to our nonprofit community. 

Compliance: Supporting Responsible Work & Belonging

Nonprofits play a vital role in serving communities. In today’s complex policy environment, it’s important for nonprofit leaders to understand how new and existing executive orders may affect their programs, advocacy efforts, and organizational compliance.

Join CNE and Madeleine Rodriguez and Christopher Hart from Foley Hoag on Zoom on Wednesday, December 17, at 1 p.m., EST for an overview of the current landscape of executive orders. Participants will gain practical insight into what these directives mean in real terms—what is required, what may be restricted, and how to ensure compliance while continuing to serve their missions effectively. The session will focus on the following:

  • Key requirements for compliance under recent executive orders affecting nonprofit operations and programming.
  • Steps organizations can take to align policies, procedures, and activities with legal standards.
  • Judicial guidance: an overview of provisions that have been challenged or deemed unlawful by the courts.

This session equips organizations with the knowledge to stay informed, compliant, and mission-driven, so you can confidently navigate today’s regulatory landscape and serve your community.

We invite you to pay what you can—whether that means covering just your spot, giving a little extra to support others, or simply joining us. Every contribution strengthens our community!

1.5-hour program typically valued at $70.00 per person

Board Essentials- October 2025

High-impact boards start with board members who understand their role and how best to bring their skills to the board table. Join CNE staff member Melissa German on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 5:00 pm for the first of a two-part series, Board Essentials. This series is designed to give board members a jump start on effective board serviceDrawing from CNE’s Board Academy curriculum and feedback from our members, this workshop will teach the key roles and responsibilities of board members, include interactive exercises for skills development, and provide a unique networking opportunity for community members engaging in board service.

Topics covered will include:

  • The unique role of the nonprofit sector
  • Characteristics of a high-impact board
  • Fiduciary duties of nonprofit boards
  • The board/CEO partnership
  • and more!

Participants will gain a new understanding of their role as board members and the path to a high-impact board, as well as a toolkit of resource materials to take with them to the boardroom. These two sessions are designed to make practical board training more readily available and to complement your organization’s own board orientation session or board education goals.  New board members of area nonprofits are encouraged to attend, as are more experienced board members who seek a refresher course to sharpen their board knowledge. Nonprofit leaders are also welcome; this is a great opportunity to engage your new board leadership!

Board Essentials part 2 will be scheduled at the first session. Please bring your calendars.

Refreshments and a light meal will be provided.  

Leaders of Color Collective: The Future of Leadership

The Leaders of Color Collective is a program designed specifically for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working in the social impact sector.

Join CNE for the spring session in our Leaders of Color Collective, The Future of Leadership: Collaborative & Collective Models. The next era of leadership emphasizes collaboration, shared power, and community impact. This session challenges participants to imagine leadership beyond the individual and experiment with collective approaches to decision-making. Together, they will envision future models that prioritize equity, belonging, and collective strength.

We invite you to pay what you can—whether that means covering just your spot, giving a little extra to support others, or simply joining us. Every contribution strengthens our community!

2-hour program typically valued at $90.00 per person

With a special thank you to the Dan River Nonprofit Network.