2014 ANN Las Vegas Regional Conference for Nonprofits Report

2014 ANN Las Vegas Regional Conference for Nonprofits Report

May 8-9, 2014

Contents

Overall Conference Evaluation

Pre Conference Workshops

Quickbooks for Nonprofits: Gregg Beeson

Grant Writing Basics: Phil Johncock

Elephants in the Boardroom: Stacey Wedding

Rethinking Volunteers: Tricia Thompson/Tim Strauch

Breakout Sessions

How to Build a Brilliant Board that Raises Big Bucks: Deanna Ackerman

Crowd Sourcing: Megan Keane

Grants Management: Making QuickBooks Work For You: Jennifer Olsen

What’s Wrong with Your Fundraising, and How to Fix It: Linda Lysakowski

Social Media: Megan Keane, Warren Whitlock

Dashboards & Other Tools to Liven Up Board Meetings: Stacey Wedding

Volunteer Engagement: Bartel/Highet/Kelley/Wright

Finance Management for Nonprofits 101: Gregg Bossen

Collaboration Panel: Swain/Hauck/Serrata/West

Worker Classification: Employee or Independent Contractor: Kathy Olsen

Permission to use Comments in Promotions

Overall Conference Evaluation

1)Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements concerning the conference:

Q1: N=19 / Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
a) / Good learning experience / 10 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 0
b) / Good networking experience / 11 / 7 / 1 / 0 / 0
c) / Location was comfortable and convenient / 11 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0
d) / Logistics and registration process worked well / 11 / 6 / 2 / 0 / 0
e) / Conference seemed well organized / 9 / 9 / 0 / 1 / 0

Comments:

Coffee the morning the first day would have been appreciated. Also, Iced Tea/Coffee at lunch the second day.
OK opportunity to network. The exercises were good to involve everyone.
Temperature was uncomfortable

2)Please rate the topic presentations:

Q2: N=19 / Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
a) / Power Networking / 11 / 6 / 1 / 0 / 0
b) / Funder Panel / 2 / 6 / 6 / 4 / 1
c) / Kate Marshall / 11 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 1

Comments:

Would have liked more participants on funder panel
This would have had better attendance not at the end of the last day -- on a Friday, too!
Everyone loved the networking activity, which made for great lunch conversation. Kate Marshall needs to do a state of the nonprofit every year at both regionals. I loved it and the graphic.

3)What topics would you like to be presented at future breakout sessions?

Topics / Number of People
Advocacy & Public Policy / 7
Data Collection / 6
Financial Management / 3
Fundraising & Resource Development / 10
Grant Writing / 3
Governance & Board Structure / 4
Human Resources & Personnel / 8
Information Technology / 7
Legal / 3
Long & Short Range Planning / 8
Marketing, Communications & PR / 8
Organizational Development / 10
Program Evaluation / 9
Volunteer Management / 8
Work Skills Development / 3
Other

All of them have good value

/ 1

4)The topic above that I would like to see in a half-day or full-day preconference workshop is…

Advocacy and Public Policy (would be good in legislative year)
Fundraising, HR & Org. Dev
Finance management
Financial Management
Interactive sessions on strategic planning and evaluation
Long and short range planning
Marketing, Volunteers
Data collection, human resources, & personnel
Fundraising & resource development
Program evaluation
HR/Personnel and Governance and board structure
Fundraising

5)One speaker (and his/her contact information) who I would like to see considered for next year’s Regional Conference for Non-Profit, is…

Gregg with quickbooks
Gregg
Deanna Ackerman
Kate Marshall
Need to reach more

6)One of the biggest takeaways from this conference is …

The diversity of attendees/large & small/ knowledgeable & innocent
People met during networking
Exposure to new ideas
I expected it to have higher attendance. More advanced PR would have made a difference. More than just email.
Board & Volunteer - how to determine who is a fit.
Funding information
Board Evaluation & training
Networking - How I can help and be helped
This is a great source for skill building and networking

7)Can we use your comments in future promotional campaigns…

Karen Sartell, Program Administrator: (no comments)
No names: Exposure to new ideas; This is a great source for skill building and networking; Everyone loved the networking activity, which made for great lunch conversation. Kate Marshall needs to do a state of the nonprofit every year at both regionals. I loved it and the graphic.

Pre Conference Workshops

Quickbooks for Nonprofits: Gregg Beeson

Overall Rating (N=12):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 10

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Editing lists and chart of accounts
Never used before. Learned how it works so I can begin to use
Applying expenses to programs. Bank recs.
I have much to learn. I am new to QB
Many short cuts. Ctrl-Y
More than 1 thing!
All parts of this workshop can be applied
Various things. In-kind/budgets, etc.
Use customer field to track grant expenses
Tracking special fundraising events
Everything

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Information samples. Given handouts all worked together
Speaker very entertaining and super informative
Covers a lot of material
It will prepare me for what we need to do in our organization
Answered questions I could not get elsewhere
Great presentation/presenter
Knowledgable presentation
Presenter knowledgable, engaging, fun
Instructor had a great sense of humor
Flowed well
It was very interesting. Kept it lively

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

All that can be done on QB
How easy the progam appears to be. Can’t wait to try
How much it engaged me
QB have much to offer
Engergetic Presenter
No breakfast
Most are boring & dull. This one was not!

Grant Writing Basics: Phil Johncock

Overall Rating (N=11):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 4

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

To begin the grant writing process set up
Understanding the grant process
Be clear on what you want
How to set up grant records(?) book
Start grant research to apply
That I can do this…
Strategic approach to grant writing and the logic model
Conducting more research
To keep applying
Steps to organization of binder / it is not only ok, to include more people in grant writing team, it is better

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Everything
The format
Cookies
The important points to write an effective grant
Good information about how to get set up to apply for grants
The ability to take practiced pointers to a variety of applications
The practical information shared
The informality and opportunity to get feedback
interactive. Great job by presenter!
Diversity of information offered

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

Amount of $ available
Low number of attendees
The hard work and research that must be applied to effectively write a grant
It was very relaxed for the amount of information. A lot of interaction helped vs. just lecture
It was on time and relevant
The detailed explanative delivery of the material and the willingness of Mr. Johncock to answer questions
The depth of information available
That grant writing is best done in teams which should be larger than I assumed (bigger teams are better?)

Elephants in the Boardroom: Stacey Wedding

Overall Rating (N=19):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 13

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Communicating key points to my fellow board members
Succession planning --> straegic outreach to other board members
Ideas to engage board members
I liked the board engagement ideas for fundraising
Improving board management
How to liven up our board meetings. How to engage chair potatoes 1. Have another board member present big give results. 2. Survey at the end of each meeting what's good/not good. 3. Keep Big Give target all year at meetings. 4. Ask what is your ideal board role & describe the Board environment that best helps motivate you and keep you engaged 5. Change the minutes
To improve board governance (i.e., removal policy, attendance policy, recruitment) & work on board recruitment strategies
More communication & consistent w/ board chair
Strategies for board engagement, prepping the board chair for running meeting
little pieces make a difference
resources available
Just ask
Using some resources like strength-finder to identify why board members are serving and what strengths are.
The fact communication is a must - no matter the issue or topic
Learning board management
Communication
Give Board Member responsibilities and require them to report right away
Board governance vs. nominating

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Interactive; received good insights from other participants
Discussion
Discussion between attendees
How interactive the workshop was. Lots of input/participation. Good format - ice-breaker, break out…
Everything!
Lots of interaction and realizing our board is functioning well
Everything. Case studies very helpful
It's addressing a topic that is common but often difficult to discuss or form solutions to fix/improve
Idea sharing
Interaction, we were encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback
true skills, little steps
Interaction
It was all great
Good conversational style. Not just lecture. Good activities.
Open discussion of group materials were right on target
Everyone was open - good discussion
Helpful tips on communication and it's ok to ask a board member to step down
Hearing other ideas
Good conversation

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

Nothing
The case studies were fun and interesting
Nonprofits that I was not aware of.
Nothing - Stacey Wedding is always a good presenter. It's like getting a min-masters class
Love having the avgstds i.e., 75% of board mtg s/b spent on future and board members s/b 6-9 hrs/mo
Shared issues/obstacles with boards
Even though the subject matter was broad, the interaction helped specify and draw out relevant examples
"I was afraid I wouldn't get ""real answers"" I am most please that tools and workable solutions were given."
Great session
Teamwork
Case studies. They were very helpful

Rethinking Volunteers: Tricia Thompson/Tim Strauch

Overall Rating (N=13):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 2 / 5 / 3 / 0

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Helped refocus on more fully integreating volunteers & impact on overall organizational culture
The eight characteristics of a service enterprise are valuable to apply in a consistent maner though simple that are important to keep in the forefront in meeting and communication
Learned many thing in just simply developing our volunteer program. This service model helped me see our potential - but we've already started to do these steps in developing our program
A more in-depth way of thinking about using volunteers
Involving other staff members in volunteer management. Goot thought on training staff on volunteer management
My organization needs to look more closely at how we use our volunteers
How we have to look at volunteerism from a different perspective. Volunteers as a core strategic function. To achieve social mission of organization.
Very informative
Survey components
Find out what the volunteer wants to do. Not what we assign them
The model of the program
Working to set expectations & goals with volunteer base
Investigate other non-traditional resources - share research w/other organizations

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Broadened my thought process on the subject
Although the service enterprise is directed at nonprofits, its principles apply to corporate volunteer programs
Examples & how it was really broken down & presenters were knowledgeable and influential. (Felt rushed -- too little time - could have been a full day session)
Getting by head back into this field of work after being out of it for several years
Great model to discuss and let me know that I am on the right track!! I just started assessing skills of volunteers to better plug them in.
Has given me food for thought
Well presented and organized
Hopefully more agencies will use trained volunteers
Hearing other organizations' challenges
"Glad that it was ok to give ""job descriptions"" for volunteers and to give them an annual review"
Learning about how volunteer organizations would like to partner from corporations and how program could help them leverage corporate communications
Introduced new tools for utilizing volunteer services

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

The introduction of the service enterprise model itself; I didn’t know it existed! As a business representative and commissioner, I think this is valuable to move our State in the right direction. Public interface & awareness would be important.
As developing our vol. program now, we are already thinking along these lines - I want to do this!!
How on the right track we are and this would be helpful
I was hopingfor detailed ways to attract volunteers, but not receiving this information I have learned that my small nonprofit needs to formalize our volunteer program/training & staff relationships
It's ok to fire a volunteer
It was all fresh information
"Saddened that program does not help ""for profit corps."""
Thought it was going to be more brain-storming on volunteer recruitment

Breakout Sessions

How to Build a Brilliant Board that Raises Big Bucks: Deanna Ackerman

Overall Rating (N=15):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 6 / 5

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Re-evaluate board members. Establish policies, board job descriptions, etc.
How to vet board members
New board members - go over the budget
How to get them fundraising focused
One high quality board member is better than 10 dead weights
Getting more knowledge about the board
Move non-fundraisers off the bord
Need to establish give/get for board members
Board fundraising development
Teach the board how to tell our story
Exercise #2 -- Good tool
Starting steps to development plan
That there's a ton of work to do
The importance of realigning the board members into people who will be good fundraisers and who will make our board stronger

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Great overview of topic unclear to me
Everything
Great information
Great ideas on how to assess/engage/inspire board members!!
Great presenter!
Sharing stories - hearing questions
Very informative and interactive
Assessment forms that I can use to help assess my board
Got me thinking
It really helped to have the PP print out. I could pay better attention to the words.
That I now know wholesale changes are necessary

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

Scope of board member requirements
I've taken Deanna's training before & I still learned
How much I should be incorporating fundraising with my board
The thought/idea that board members need to feel fearless
The diversity of other orgs boards
Great content presented in a fresh way
Not all people with money should be board members, donors work too. :)
It talked about fundraising more than board structure
How many large, successful nonprofits were in attendance. How many were already on, or in charge of their boards.
How a session that left me daunted can at the same time be useful
We are a small NP. We will probably remain small because of our focus. I am afraid we will still have trouble attracting funding.

Crowd Sourcing: Megan Keane

Overall Rating (N=17):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 3 / 4

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Crowdsouring research
What crowdsouring is
Have a strategy! Share data.
Researching crowdsourcing methods to resources
What crowdsourcing is
Using competition to create funding
Get with city social media services and get a training to employees
What it is and good examples
Preparing written tweets, blogs in advance for others to post
Need to
Motivation in the community
Ideo & I think I can site
Need to look into crowdfunding software
Twitter mapping
Outlined that crowdsourcing is more than just money
Links to organizations that have been successful with crowdsourcing
Still craved more information about how to crowdsource

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Info on crowdsourcing and some new ideas
All of it
Concice/Good Examples
Presentation skills of Mega; relevant examples
I understood it
All the variety of ideas
The breadth of information
Very approachable presenter & good content
Learned different types of crowdsourcing
Gave importance to using social media
data mapping info
Real-life examples
Content. Good topic!
Seeing all of the ways to apply the information
Exchange
New ways of looking at engaging new people

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …

It was understandable knowledge
It provided information I can use
All the things that are crowdsourcing
The vast array of opportunities to utilize social media
More about funding than I thought
Integrating gathering into and with possible donors

Grants Management: Making QuickBooks Work For You: Jennifer Olsen

Overall Rating (N=12):

Poor 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Excellent 10
0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3 / 7 / 1

Q1: One thing that I learned in this breakout session that I can apply to my job right away is …

Jobs = Grants
How to set up grants/jobs per grantor
Grant distribution
Better knowledge of Quickbooks
What reports to ask our bookkeeper to organize
I am learning to work in this area. Looking forward to "planning" with QB to see how to apply them.
How to track expenses for separate grants in QB for proper reporting
Subclass (job, project)
Devise a plan to change our QB
Dividing P&L by statement, class and job
Customer and jobs function

Q2: What I liked most about this breakout session is …

Detailed
Tips to properly use QB
Lots of great input from attendees
Great speaker! Personable and knew her stuff
Ability of presenter to answer specific questions
The solutions the speaker provided to the attendees problems.
Easy to understand and handouts of the presentation were given to participants
Q&A
It was interesting and informative
I think the presenter did not know that her handouts would not be available during the session. I think that hindered her effectiveness. She's very knowledgeable.
Easy to understand

Q3: What surprised me about this breakout session is …