We invite you to continue engaging and learning with each other through these FREE opportunities. Space is limited, so select the session(s) you want to participate in and submit your request to participate now through May 15th – and CNE will follow-up to confirm your participation.
Learning to Action Sessions: Four of the conference sessions were designed for participants to advance into Learning to Action sessions. Beginning in June, Learning to Action session trainers will meet with a group of 10 organizations for a half-day session to learn about, discuss, and trouble-shoot concrete actionable plans and tools. Learning to Action sessions will include facilitated peer review and key takeaways, followed by an individual one-hour zoom meeting with the trainer, and the ongoing opportunity for continued peer support. Sign up to advance your work in these areas:
- Small AND Successful, on June 20th, 8:30am-12:30pm, with Scott Turner of c3 by Design
- Developing Surveys to Track Your Impact, on June 25th, 8:30am-12:30pm, with Maryfrances Porter of Partnerships for Strategic Impact
- Building and Strengthening Your Strategic Development Plan, on June 27th, 8am-11:30am, with Allison McElroy of The McElroy Group
- Workshopping Your Strategic Full-Cost Budget, on July 9th, 8:30am-12:30pm with David Deaton of MindSalt
Leadership Discussion Groups: Continue learning from and connecting with peers by joining one of four Leadership Discussion Groups – facilitated small groups of 8 nonprofit leaders will meet monthly for 6 months (September through March), following an all-group convening on the morning of June 11th. These Leadership Discussion Groups will provide a confidential setting for mutual peer support, personal and professional development, and discussing and solving real-time problems with real-world experience:
- Emerging Leaders with Melanie Palmer, GPC, CFRE, Owner and Principal, M. Palmer Consulting
- Executive Directors of Small Organizations with Anne Shelley, Co-Founder, Inclusive Edge Consulting
- How Your Life Impacts Your Work with Alison Nail-Malone, SHRM-CP, ICF-ACC, Founder and Principal Consultant, Malone Consultants Group
- Leadership through Transition with Elecia Smith, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Inclusive Edge Consulting
Learning to Action Program Descriptions
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Small AND Successful
(Title) Small AND Successful (Description) In this session, you’ll apply learning and use tools to firmly establish the financial management and administrative infrastructure foundations necessary for your organization to grow sustainably and to add a layer of resilience that may not currently exist. Exercises will focus on strategic budget, administrative, and capacity planning principles aimed at strengthening your organization’s foundation. Our goal will be to ensure the key components of a resilient and sustainable infrastructure are in place as your organization grows.Afterward, each organization will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Scott to further clarify your plan in a 1-hour zoom session. Topic Finances and Operations (Principles 2 and 5) When Thursday, June 20, 2024, 8:30am-12:30pm Where Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s, Meeting Room 5, 1200 W.Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756 Trainer (& Link to website/bio) Scott Turner, Founder and CEO, c3 by Design Trainer Description Scott has enjoyed a 25-year career serving the community in both non-profit and public sector organizations. Prior to founding c3 by Design, he served in leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer and Financial Officer where he experienced firsthand the benefits of tackling the critical, sometimes daunting challenges that exist within the finance, operations, and administrative worlds. His current focus is to stand side-by-side non-profit leaders, sharing lessons learned, so you do not have to face these challenges alone. He strongly believes this approach will lead to the sustainable growth of your organization, the furthering of yourmission, and most importantly will have a positive impact on the community you’ve chosen to serve. In addition to his experience, Scott holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (University of Louisville), Certificate of Financial Accounting (Harvard Business School), Certificate of Business Process Design for Strategic Management (MIT, Sloan School of Management), and was a Presidential Management Fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (# spots available) 10 organizations (can be 1-3 people from each org) -
Developing Surveys to Track Your Impact
Title Developing Surveys to Track Your Impact Description Collecting and talking about impact can feel complicated, expensive, and overwhelming for nonprofit leaders. Data collection can get in the way of service provision, and dedicating the time and resources for program evaluation can feel impossible. Fortunately, the innovative ImpactStory™ Strategy is a framework and toolkit for wrangling your impact tracking and making it straightforward and sustainable.
Come learn about Smart Data Collection and get a Smart Survey Toolkit. The Smart Survey Toolkit includes how to inclusively create surveys that help build equity, how to increase response rates and fold surveys into service provision so they are not disruptive, how to best word questions, what response scales to use, and more!
Bring a survey you want to revamp and/or one you’d like to create to the class. Afterward, each organization will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Maryfrances to further develop and tweak your survey in a 1-hour zoom session.Topic Evaluation (Principle 7) When Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 8:30am-12:30pm Where Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s, Meeting Room 5, 1200 W.Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756 Trainer (& Link to website/bio) Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D., CEO and Founder, Partnerships for Strategic Impact Trainer Description Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D., she/her, is the CEO and Founder of Partnerships for Strategic Impact.® She brings more than 20 years of experience in academic research; working with nonprofits, foundations, and local governments; program development and program evaluation; grant writing; developing strategic vision and action; and facilitating diverse, cross-sector groups in finding collaborative, strengths-based solutions. Since 2013, Partnerships for Strategic Impact® has partnered with nonprofit service providers and their funders to use impact to promote democracy, social justice, equity, and activating the power of those who have been disenfranchised. The innovative, three-step ImpactStory™ Strategy is a straightforward toolbox for tracking impact on a path toward systems change. The Strategy allows service providers and funders to collaborate in being clear about the immediate impact and vision they are working toward, being confident in the data collected and how use it, and in telling compelling impact stories that move people to action: clients to achieve, staff to support progress, programs to improve, funders to invest, volunteers to connect, and partners to collaborate. (# spots available) 10 organizations (can be 1-3 people from each org) -
Building and Strengthening Your Strategic Development Plan
(Title) Building and Strengthening Your Strategic Development Plan (Description) Bring your case statements to review and refine with feedback from your peers and an expert fundraiser. Then get started workshopping and building your development plan with supportive templates. You’ll also learn how to make real progress on your action plan with a concrete schedule and timeblocking exercise. You’ll leave knowing how to develop and accomplish your fundraising goals, with the building blocks to a successful and sustainable development plan.
Afterward, each organization will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Allison to further clarify your plan in a 1-hour zoom session.Topic Development/Fundraising (Principle 3) When Thursday, June 27, 2024, 8:00am-11:30am Where Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s, Meeting Room 5, 1200 W.Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756 Trainer (& Link to website/bio) Allison McElroy, CFRE, Founder, The McElroy Group Trainer Description Allison began her career in fundraising at an organization called Open Avenues. When she started there in the spring of 1995, she had no idea her job was going to become a career. After establishing a development department, blazing through a $6.5 million dollar capital campaign, and many other accomplishments of fundraising – she felt the baptism by fire! In 2015, she stepped away from Open Avenues to take care of her Dad, Bill; while doing so, The McElroy Group was born in March of 2016. Allison is passionate about Rotary and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and has earned an award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive. (# spots available) 10 organizations (can be 1-3 people from each org) -
Workshopping Your Strategic Full-Cost Budget
(Title) Workshopping Your Strategic Full-Cost Budget (Description) For those who attended one of David Deaton’s Strategic Budgeting sessions, build on lessons learned from asset-mapping and financial curiosity questions, identify your activity drivers, and practice forecasting and projecting. Bring your budget – no matter what state it’s in – to discuss and compare how you’re implementing it, how you’re applying full-cost budget concepts, what are the virtues and limitations of different formats people use, and how you get your teams involved.
Afterward, each organization will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with David to further hone your strategic budget practices in a 1-hour zoom session.Topic Budgets/Finance (Principle 1) When Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 8:30am-12:30pm Where Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s, Meeting Room 5, 1200 W.Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756 Trainer (& Link to website/bio) David Deaton, Co-Founder, MindSalt Trainer Description David Deaton, co-leader of MindSalt, has more than 20 years of experience transforming organizations of all types, sizes, and industries. He has extensive expertise in strategic planning, operational and financial analysis, market research, and effective execution. David has developed organizational strategy and gained leadership and staff alignment, walked side- by-side with clients through implementation, and helped them navigate myriad challenges from stagnation to hyper growth and expansion. He has led nonprofits in developing their missions and organizational design, guided teams through global product launches and technology roll- outs, and advised startups from funding through maturation. David is a frequent keynote speaker on purpose-driven business, strategy, and business resiliency. He is on the board of directors for the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC), the Early Music Access Project, and serves on the board development advisory committee for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF). (# spots available) 10 organizations (can be 1-3 people from each org)
Leadership Discussion Group Program Descriptions
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Emerging Leaders
(Title) Leadership Discussion Group: Emerging Leaders (Description) Topic When 9-11am on 1st Wednesdays (except January) – September 4, 2024; October 2, 2024; November 6, 2024; January 8, 2025; February 5, 2025; and March 5, 2025. Where Startup Junkie – CenterSpace Conference Room, 1 East Center Street #270 in Fayetteville Facilitator (& Link to website/bio) Melanie Palmer, GPC, CFRE, Owner and Principal, M. Palmer Consulting Facilitator Description Melanie Palmer, GPC, CFRE, is the Owner and Principal of M. Palmer Consulting, a fundraising consulting firm specializing in grants, fundraising, leadership development, board development, and organizational management. Having raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations both as a staff member and consultant, Melanie is a visionary nonprofit leader who loves the big picture, executes the small details, and wants everyone at the table. She is committed to the elevation of the grants profession, the empowerment of young professionals, and the maximization of everyone’s unique skills. Melanie was the first Grant Professional Certified (GPC) in the state of Arkansas and is one of only two dual-certified GPC/CFRE fundraising professionals in the state. Melanie currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Grant Professionals Association, Arkansas Chapter, and the ArkansasCoalition Against Domestic Violence. (# spots available) 8 -
Executive Directors of Small Organizations
(Title) Leadership Discussion Group: Executive Directors of Small Organizations (Description) Topic When 9-11am on 2nd Thursdays (except November) – September 12, 2024; October 10, 2024; November 7, 2024; January 9, 2025; February 13, 2025; and March 13, 2025. Where Circle of Life – Soderquist Conference Room, 901 Jones Road in Springdale Facilitator (& Link to website/bio) Anne Shelley, Co-Founder, Inclusive Edge Consulting Facilitator Description Anne Shelley is a longtime resident of Northwest Arkansas and an active community member. Shelley has deep roots in community organizing and advocacy. Her work has included statewide LGBTQ organizing for the Women’s Project, whose mission was to fight racism, sexism, and homophobia and as executive director at the NWA Center for Sexual Assault serving adult survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones. She has served on numerous boards and advisory councils in the region. She is the proud parent of Eva Mae and wife to Bridget Gibson.
Shelley is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner, and for the last 4.5 years has served the community and the campus through the IDEALS Institute at the University ofArkansas. IDEALS was a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, consultancy and research institute dedicated to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces and communities. Through the Institute, she and her colleagues worked with campus and community leaders representing organizations of all sizes, sectors, and industries to affect organizational change.
Shelley is a Co-founder of Inclusive Edge Consulting, a new boutique agency that provides organizational effectiveness services for non-profit organizations and businesses. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Talent and Leadership Development for Human Resources at the University of Arkansas.(# spots available) 8 -
How Your Life Impacts Your Work
(Title) Leadership Discussion Group: How Your Life Impacts Your Work (Description) Topic When 9-11am on – September 12, 2024; October 15, 2024; November 5, 2024; January 16, 2025; February 11, 2025; and March 11, 2025. Where Startup Village North at the Collaborative, 700 SE 5th Street, Suite 130, in Bentonville Facilitator (& Link to website/bio) Alison Nail-Malone, SHRM-CP, ICF-ACC, Founder and Principal Consultant, Malone Consultants Group Facilitator Description Alison Nail-Malone is the dynamic force behind Malone Consultants Group—an HR maven turned leadership coach, End-of-Life Doula, as well as a Grief Educator & Coach. With over 15years of honing expertise in human resources, performance engagement, and leadership development, Alison took the plunge in 2016 to establish Malone Consultants Group. This visionary move aimed to democratize strategic HR support and leadership development, transforming these services from a luxury into a necessity for nonprofit organizations and small businesses. In the wake of personal losses in 2020, Alison underwent a metamorphosis. Fueled by a desire to make a difference, she became an accredited End-of-Life Doula and Grief Educator. Thus,Miseria (Miss-Eree-Uh) was born—a haven where Alison leads both community and corporate leaders through the intricate journey of grief, injecting humanity into the process. At Miseria, steadfast support is extended to individuals, families, and teams, helping them find solace and stability amidst life’s most formidable challenges. On a personal front, Alison isn’t just a seasoned professional but a resilient soul who has stared down two life-threatening challenges, embodying the courage to conquer the seemingly insurmountable. Beyond the roles of a teacher, facilitator, and noted public speaker, Alison is a passionate community advocate. Away from the professional hustle, Alison finds joy in family adventures exploring America’s National Parks and indulges in the perpetual quest for Bigfoot. Inspirational, cheeky, and always professional— Alison is not just a coach; she is a beacon of strength and compassion, navigating both the peaks and valleys of life with unwavering grace. (# spots available) 8 -
Leadership through Transition
(Title) Leadership Discussion Group: Leadership through Transition (Description) Topic When 9-11am on 2nd Tuesdays – September 10, 2024; October 8, 2024; November 12, 2024; January 14, 2025; February 11, 2025; and March 11, 2025. Where All meetings except November will be at Circle of Life – Soderquist Conference Room, 901 Jones Road in Springdale (November 12th will be at Circle of Life – Hardwick Room, 1201 NE Legacy Pkwy in Bentonville) Facilitator (& Link to website/bio) Elecia Smith, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Inclusive Edge Consulting Facilitator Description Elecia Smith is a longtime residents of Northwest Arkansas and an active community member. Dr. Smith is an educator with a background in human resources, workforce education, and change management. She is a servant leader and is actively involved in community and church organizations, such as the Rogers Arts Commission, St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the NWA Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. She has had a lifelong commitment to inclusionand belonging initiatives and has mentored students of color for over 30 years. She is the proud mother of Xavier and Sterling and wife to Henry Smith, Jr.
Dr. Smith is an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner, and for the last 4.5 years has served the community and the campus through the IDEALS Institute at the University ofArkansas. IDEALS was a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training, consultancy and research institute dedicated to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces and communities. Through the Institute, she and her colleagues worked with campus and community leaders representing organizations of all sizes, sectors, and industries to affect organizational change.
Dr. Smith is a Co-founder of Inclusive Edge Consulting, a new boutique agency that provides organizational effectiveness services for non-profit organizations and businesses. She currently serves as the Sr. Director of Training, Workforce Strategy, and Belonging for the Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance & Title IX at the University of Arkansas.(# spots available) 8