Learning Opportunity

Difficult Conversations - We All Have to Have Them! w/Lacy Alana Part 2Join Lacy Alana for this two part series on having difficult conversations. In this interactive two-part series you'll learn and practice the skills you need to make hard conversations as easy as possible! You'll be: -Guided to more deeply understand your biggest challenges during hard conversations -Given tips and tools to manage those challenges -Given frameworks to understand the nervous system responses to hard conversations for both the initiator and receiving partner in a conversationA part of our communications programming.

The Art of Active Listening - It's a Skill We All Need! Part 1 w/Lacy Alana (a companion to our Difficult Conversations Series)The Art of Active Listening – It’s a Skill We All Need! Join Lacy Alana for this two-part series on the Art of Active Listening (a companion series to our Difficult Conversations series). Listening with true presence isn't always as easy as it sounds. If you've ever caught yourself planning your next response while someone is still talking - you're in good company! In this series, we'll explore ways that you can listen deeply to *understand* - not just respond. In our fast-paced world, a lack of deep listening is often the unidentified problem that keeps us solving the wrong problems, miscommunicating, or not having as much success as we want. In this series, we'll combat these challenges! Great for leaders, teams, fundraisers and the rest of us!A part of our communications programming.

The Art of Active Listening - It's a Skill We All Need! Part 2 w/Lacy Alana (a companion to our Difficult Conversations Series)The Art of Active Listening – It’s a Skill We All Need! Join Lacy Alana for this two-part series on the Art of Active Listening (a companion series to our Difficult Conversations series). Listening with true presence isn't always as easy as it sounds. If you've ever caught yourself planning your next response while someone is still talking - you're in good company! In this series, we'll explore ways that you can listen deeply to *understand* - not just respond. In our fast-paced world, a lack of deep listening is often the unidentified problem that keeps us solving the wrong problems, miscommunicating, or not having as much success as we want. In this series, we'll combat these challenges! Great for leaders, teams, fundraisers and the rest of us!A part of our communications programming.

Creating a Culture of Self-Care that At Your Organization - Part 1We all agree that self-care is important, especially when daily life is stressful. And yet, transitioning from agreement that self-care is important to *actually* creating a culture of self-care is incredibly challenging in most organizations. In turn, this creates a significant burnout risk. This mini-series focuses on how to imbed a culture of self-care into your organization. We'll explore subtle, indirect, and common practices that undermine a culture of self-care - and what you can do about them. We'll identify strengths and weaknesses personally and within our organizations so that you walk away with a stronger sense of how to ensure that you - and the people you work with - can maintain balance.This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Making Your 1:1s Count: Fueling Collaboration and Caring - Part 1 w/Lacy Alana1:1 meetings are arguably the most important meetings that we participate in - but they're rarely used to their full potential. This series will provide: frameworks, tips, and tricks that will teach you to use 1:1s to fuel growth, build trusting relationships, workplace alignment, and more. Whether you're an employee, supervisor, or both - successful 1:1 meetings are a mutual responsibility. These trainings will guide you to creating a 1:1 meeting structure that actually capitalizes on the time spent in 1:1 meetings. This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Creating a Culture of Self-Care that At Your Organization - Part 2We all agree that self-care is important, especially when daily life is stressful. And yet, transitioning from agreement that self-care is important to *actually* creating a culture of self-care is incredibly challenging in most organizations. In turn, this creates a significant burnout risk. This mini-series focuses on how to imbed a culture of self-care into your organization. We'll explore subtle, indirect, and common practices that undermine a culture of self-care - and what you can do about them. We'll identify strengths and weaknesses personally and within our organizations so that you walk away with a stronger sense of how to ensure that you - and the people you work with - can maintain balance.This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Meaningful and Modern Performance Evaluations - Part 1While performance reviews have been standard in workplaces for many years, the way they're conducted is often ineffective at yielding performance improvement, motivation, and actual evaluation of work produced. In this mini-series, you'll be guided through evaluating your current performance evaluations, and given tips, tricks, and tools to modernize your review process and create a larger performance conversation strategy that works for you, your employees, and your organization. Whether you're an employee or employer - this series is for you! This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Making Your 1:1s Count: Fueling Collaboration and Caring - Part 2 w/Lacy Alana1:1 meetings are arguably the most important meetings that we participate in - but they're rarely used to their full potential. This series will provide: frameworks, tips, and tricks that will teach you to use 1:1s to fuel growth, build trusting relationships, workplace alignment, and more. Whether you're an employee, supervisor, or both - successful 1:1 meetings are a mutual responsibility. These trainings will guide you to creating a 1:1 meeting structure that actually capitalizes on the time spent in 1:1 meetings. This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Meaningful and Modern Performance Evaluations - Part 2While performance reviews have been standard in workplaces for many years, the way they're conducted is often ineffective at yielding performance improvement, motivation, and actual evaluation of work produced. In this mini-series, you'll be guided through evaluating your current performance evaluations, and given tips, tricks, and tools to modernize your review process and create a larger performance conversation strategy that works for you, your employees, and your organization. Whether you're an employee or employer - this series is for you! This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Giving Effective and Meaningful Praise (to others and yourself)- Part 1Does the way you give praise really *land* with others? Is it motivating? Encouraging? Affirming? Connecting? While giving effective and meaningful praise seems simple enough - most people rarely use praise effectively or deliver it in a way that is the most impactful and meaningful. (This is often the case for ourselves internally, too. We may give nod to things we do well, but do we acknowledge and validate our work in ways that feel important?) Praise, positive feedback, and meaningful acknowledgement are important elements in maintaining healthy personal and professional motivation and development. In this training, you'll: -Be invited to question and evaluate the ways you currently incorporate this into your work and life -Learn various ways to maximize the impact of praise/positive feedback -Learn why some types of praise "work" and others don't -Learn how to best give motivating and aligning praise in a way that helps you and your team unite and work together most effectively

Volunteer Engagement Strategies in Changing Times w/ Wendy Biro-PollardFor many, COVID-19 has turned lives and careers upside down. The new normal has become indefinite uncertainty and volunteer management systems that have been effective for decades are now in flux. In this session, we will take a look at what we’ve learned, emerging trends, challenges we face and resources that are available to help us maintain a high level of volunteer engagement and support.

Funder Focus Series w/ Susannah ErlerFunder Focus SeriesYour participation is invited as we learn more about Austin Community Foundation (ACF). Gain insights as we hear from an ACF representative who will describe the foundation’s philanthropic purpose including their grant-making mission to improve the quality of life for Central Texans. Bring your questions as we learn more about ACF’s grant programs: Community Grants, the Hispanic Impact Fund and the Women’s Fund.Series descriptionWhat do funders look for in a grant proposal: data, stories, both? What kinds of projects do foundations find inspiring? What choices do funders make in support of communities? Join us for Nonprofit Austin at ACC’s Funder Focus series to learn more about the funding and grantmaking process. Bring your questions for this exceptional opportunity to connect directly with those who make funding decisions that support nonprofit work.Funder Focus Host: Susannah Erler, Director, Greater Good StrategiesSusannah Erler started in a public radio career (including being Director of a National Public Radio affiliate) which later morphed into her current calling to support nonprofits. She earned her master's degree in Business with an Arts Administration (Nonprofit) specialization, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and is a Mission Capital Certified Interim Executive […]

Giving Effective and Meaningful Praise (to others and yourself)- Part 2Does the way you give praise really *land* with others? Is it motivating? Encouraging? Affirming? Connecting? While giving effective and meaningful praise seems simple enough - most people rarely use praise effectively or deliver it in a way that is the most impactful and meaningful. (This is often the case for ourselves internally, too. We may give nod to things we do well, but do we acknowledge and validate our work in ways that feel important?) Praise, positive feedback, and meaningful acknowledgement are important elements in maintaining healthy personal and professional motivation and development. In this training, you'll: -Be invited to question and evaluate the ways you currently incorporate this into your work and life -Learn various ways to maximize the impact of praise/positive feedback -Learn why some types of praise "work" and others don't -Learn how to best give motivating and aligning praise in a way that helps you and your team unite and work together most effectively

Strategically Engaging Volunteers w/ Kathy McCleskeyStrategically engaging volunteers is essential to a well-run program. The ability to intentionally examine where volunteers are needed and how to strategically integrate them into the overall nonprofit’s mission is a key to successful engagement. This course will enable participants to develop a clear path to incorporating volunteers into the overall mission and vision of their nonprofit.

Measuring Volunteer Program Outcomes w/ Kathy McCleskeyStrategically engaging volunteers is essential to a well-run program. The ability to intentionally examine where volunteers are needed and how to strategically integrate them into the overall nonprofit’s mission is a key to successful engagement. This course will enable participants to develop a clear path to incorporating volunteers into the overall mission and vision of their nonprofit.

Building Effective Volunteer Committees w/ Wendy Biro-PollardStrong committees contribute to strong organizations, and yet, in many nonprofits they are its weakest link. When committee members have clearly defined roles and direction, staff support and organized and experienced leadership, there are no limits to their effectiveness. In this course, participants will review committee roles and responsibilities, determine who should serve, and learn how to create committee work plans and monitor their progress.

Harnessing the Power of Organizational Storytelling - A great primer to our Ethical Storytelling Series!Humans are natural storytellers. We exchange stories to make and share meaning about who we are, the world around us, and our place within it. The way that stories are told by individuals and organizations drive relationship, connection, consumer action, and perception. This workshop series will explore foundational Organizational Storytelling tools, and will teach you to use storytelling to your individual and organizational advantage. Regardless of your professional role, this workshop will provide you with understand and tools that you can use to better understand and facilitate change within yourself and your organization.Expect: - Understand Organizational Storytelling Basics-Understand the role of organizational storytelling in internal relationships and collaboration- Understand how your personal story supports or challenges your organization's story-Understand the role of organizational storytelling in external relationships and consumer action-Identify gap areas between the spoken narrative within your organization and the actual narrative-Understand storytelling multitudes and how to hold space for various perspectives within an organizationA great primer to our Ethical Storytelling Series!

Get that Grant! The Series w/Susannah Ehler 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 & 4/28Can be taken as a 4-part series or as stand alone sessions! Learn what you need to "Get that Grant" w/Susannah Ehler.Join us and invite your colleagues!Week OneThursday, April 7th, 2022 from noon to 1:30 p.m. CSTTitle: The Art of Finding Grant OpportunitiesDescription:It is one of the biggest ‘grant writing secrets’: your chances of obtaining funding increase significantly when you find the right funding opportunity. Don’t spin your wheels; make sure you’re applying to funders that align with your nonprofit organization. This online class will clearly lay out the steps and strategies for effective grant prospecting. This can be taken as a stand-alone class or part of the April 2022 Grant series.Week TwoThursday, April 14th, 2022 from noon to 1:30 p.m. CSTTitle: Get that Grant I: Grant Writing Basics for NonprofitsDescriptionSo, you want to be a grant writer. Or maybe you’ve recently started writing grant applications for a nonprofit organization. This online class will describe the items funders are looking for and will provide a clear framework for crafting winning proposals. The focus is on writing grant applications for nonprofit organizations; join us if your level is anywhere from […]

Ethical Storytelling: Holding Vulnerability & Avoiding Exploitation-Part 1Storytelling is one of the most powerful currencies for human connection that exists. And it is one that is frequently used in the nonprofit and helping fields to amplify awareness, garner funding, create connection, validate donations and volunteering, and so much more. We tell stories to invite others in and to invite participation in the work being done. We often tell stories with great intentions. But, how do we ensure that we're not using someone's story or exploiting their experiences for our own gain? How do we ensure that we're empowering and amplifying someone's voice, rather than exploiting them and their vulnerability? How can we ethically tell someone's story while describing what we do? With the power of storytelling comes great responsibility. In this mini-series, we'll be exploring these questions, and the ways that you can ensure that you're ethically using storytelling in your organization and personal life without exploitation.This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.

Ethical Storytelling: Holding Vulnerability & Avoiding ExploitationStorytelling is one of the most powerful currencies for human connection that exists. And it is one that is frequently used in the nonprofit and helping fields to amplify awareness, garner funding, create connection, validate donations and volunteering, and so much more. We tell stories to invite others in and to invite participation in the work being done. We often tell stories with great intentions. But, how do we ensure that we're not using someone's story or exploiting their experiences for our own gain? How do we ensure that we're empowering and amplifying someone's voice, rather than exploiting them and their vulnerability? How can we ethically tell someone's story while describing what we do? With the power of storytelling comes great responsibility. In this session, we'll be exploring these questions, and the ways that you can ensure that you're ethically using storytelling in your organization and personal life without exploitation.This workshop is interactive and experiential, so you'll get a chance to engage in hands activities during the workshop, in addition to walking away with new knowledge.