Fall of Fundraising Webinar Series

The Leadership & Sustainability Institute for Black Male Achievement wants to help you prepare for a strong Fall of Fundraising. Please join us for three upcoming webinars focused on the critical topics of financial sustainability and marketing/communications:   1. Wednesday, September 4th, 2-3:30pm (EST): "The Minute Message Model" by Mission Minded.       So—what does your nonprofit do? Tell us in under a minute. Many nonprofits "do" so many great things that their messaging suffers as a result—there's just so much to say, it seems impossible to keep it short and sweet. If you share this frustrating experience, start with one simple idea: focus on benefits, not features.       Our Minute Message Model offers a framework to guide nonprofit leaders in creating the clear, compelling messages that move their audiences to action. We believe you're better equipped with real stories—not cold statistics. With your Minute Messages in hand, you'll be able to make a powerful connection with new supporters, and remind current ones why you're important to them.   * Participants will develop a draft minute message or "rocket pitch" for your organization right in this webinar.   2. Wednesday, September 25th, 2-3:30pm (EST): "Principles of Fundraising" by the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training   GIFT trainers will lead a rich discussion on the principles and politics of grassroots fundraising that is rooted in racial and economic social justice. Learn in this training how the bulk of money given away in the US comes from working and middle class individuals (not foundations or corporations) and introduces the concept that fundraising IS political and needs to be integrated into the rest of the organization's programs to be successful. As we continue the political and philosophical framework for the training we look at the "pillars" of a strong fundraising program.  A discussion on the importance of mission-driven fundraising and developing ongoing relationships with your donors which raising money and creating a constituency that supports the "cause".  This webinar will be interactive and participatory for attendees.      3. Thursday, October 24th, 2-3:30pm (EST): "How to Ask for Money: Strategies, Tips and Pitches" by the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training   We understand that for many of us, communities of color and marginalized communities, we have "baggage", community taboos, and myths that get in the way of our ability to ask for money. In this interactive popular education-based discussion format will dispel myths who gives and receives money, who can be a good fundraiser, and learn essential skill sets that will help us to ask for money for our critical work by our communities and allies.     Please RSVP for any or all of these webinars by clicking here.   These webinars will be most useful for those in nonprofit, philanthropy, academia, and community-based groups. Presenter information is below.     Mission Minded presenters: Jennie Walton: is a 25-year marketing veteran sought for her expertise in branding and positioning nonprofit organizations. Since co-founding Mission Minded in 2002, Jennie has served as a strategic advisor for over 150 nonprofit organizations, and has inspired hundreds more as a nationally sought lecturer. With gifts in the areas of brand strategy, messaging, and fundraising, Jennie excels at helping senior nonprofit leaders clarify how they talk about their work, which leads to greater organizational stability, increased revenues, and an expanded ability to deliver on the mission of the organization. Zach Hochstadt: is a Mission Minded Founding Partner and runs Mission Minded's Denver office. Zach is a branding and strategic communications expert with a gift for imagining and then translating organizational initiatives into creative solutions. As a brand strategist, writer, trainer, and creative director, Zach has served over 150 nonprofit organizations, including Levi Strauss Foundation, Center for Investigative Reporting, Western Resource Advocates, and Children's Museum of Denver.   Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training presenters: Laurene Francois: who alternates between her first name and her family name is an Oakland resident by way of Brooklyn, NY. She is first generation American and has strong roots and connections to Haiti.  Francois is the Training Director at the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) where she works with grassroots organizing and community based organizations around the country facilitating trainings and workshops, co-developing curriculum and supporting the leadership development of people fundraising in various capacities both in and outside non-profits.  Using popular education as a means to elevate the legacies of giving and resourcing in communities of color, she continues to work to make fundraising and finance literacy accessible and empowering to all.  She enjoys going out &lounging with friends, re-reading The Boondocks, biking and playing ping-pong.  Ryan Li Dahlstrom: has worked at the intersection of LGBTQ youth, and anti-violence movements for the past decade as a fundraiser, organizer, facilitator, and trainer. Currently, he is the Movement Building Director at the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) and Co-Editor of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal where he support and elevates the works of communities mobilizing resources for organizations and movements. Prior to GIFT, Ryan Li was the Executive Director of the Trans Youth Support Network (TYSN), an organizing and leadership developing project for trans and gender non-conforming youth in Minnesota. He's participated in the Brown Boi Project's leadership program as well as PFund Foundations' Racial Equity Imitative. Currently he is a board member of Community United Against Violence (CUAV) and Astra Lesbian Foundation for Justice.     If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@lsibma.org. We look forward to hearing from you!   Onward, The Leadership & Sustainability Institute team   As part of its mission, the LSI will be delivering webinars on a range of topics based on your input, including areas like measurement & evaluation, strategic communications, best practices for direct service and advocacy activities, and building strong management teams. Webinars will provide practical strategies and steps to strengthen and sustain the work of leaders, organizations and networks, and will include opportunities to discuss priority challenges and solutions with peers in the LSI network across the country.