BS 1-1: Strategy in Action: Making It Happen

Featuring: Jill Misra

In this session, participants will learn the practical steps for aligning the design of their programs directly to their strategic plans in order to avoid common pitfalls that lead to mission creep and slow a nonprofit’s ability to scale and grow.

BS 2-1: Building Effective Nonprofit Board Engagement

Featuring: Wai-Sinn Chan, Tyeise Huntley, Christopher Schneider

Do you know that your programs or services are advancing your theory of change? Are the people you serve receiving the value that you intend? In this hands-on workshop hosted by the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, explore how nonprofits can expand program alignment methods beyond surveys to fit programs and services to the needs of the people they serve. Participants will learn tools for understanding and innovating to align their nonprofit’s programs to its theory of change.

BS 3-1: That Board Member

Featuring: Consuella Brown

In this session, participants will learn how to keep board members engaged and active, with a special focus on board meetings and board culture.  The session will also explore how to create healthy boundaries between active board members and the organization’s executive director and leadership team.

BS 1-2: Business Modeling for Nonprofits

Featuring: Featuring: Wai-Sinn Chan, Tyeise Huntley, Christopher Schneider

Business modeling helps organizations of any size, including nonprofits, understand their operations and plan for the future. In this hands-on workshop hosted by the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, practice the work of business modeling to set up your organization to innovate, scale or simply operate sustainably. Participants will walk away with a framework for business modeling and a set of next steps for exploring areas for growth.

BS 2-2: Collaborative Engagement: Creating Connection and Delivering Impact

Featuring: Shaz Rasul, Makeda Crayton, Kenya Mercer, Charles Walton

In this session the three current Accelerator Core organizations (Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ladies of Virtue, and 100 Black Men of Chicago) will reflect on their unique approaches and performance results, as well as how they’ve found value in strategizing with others to achieve mutual mission benefits. 

BS 3-2: Creating an Effective Community Needs Assessment

Featuring: Noelle G. Gipson, Bram Roberts

A comprehensive community needs study provides a critical opportunity for an organization to better understand its members and the community to align limited resources for maximum mission impact. In this session, leaders from the Salvation Army Kroc Center Chicago will share valuable insights, tips, and lessons learned from the study they launched with support from the Community Programs Accelerator. Delegates attending this session will obtain a baseline framework for successfully deploying a process for their organization.

BS 1-3: Resilient Leadership: From Surviving to Thriving, What is Your Baseline?

Featuring: Dr. James Miles

The difference between surviving or thriving is often tied to our baseline belief systems and daily behaviors.  This session explores these connections and one approach to making and sustaining changes that promote thriving, even in challenging situations.

BS 2-3: The Great Leadership Journey

Featuring: Alyson Parham-Small

This session will help leaders take stock of their leadership skills as they grow their respective organizations and move on a journey towards becoming a great leader. As organizations begin to scale, it can sometimes be a challenge for leaders to begin trusting others, delegating tasks to others, or creating a positive environment for the team.  The session will explore qualities of great leaders and share steps that can be taken to develop leadership skills in order to support participants on their paths towards becoming great leaders!

BS 3-3: Reflective Leadership: Activating Your Genius

Featuring: Lesley Kennedy

“Today’s leaders are inspired to create meaningful and lasting change. You hold yourself accountable to rise to every challenge while remaining motivated, driven, grounded, and present. What continues to go unacknowledged is the toll this takes on the body and spirit.

This workshop will support emerging and seasoned leaders to think beyond self-care. Participants will examine their individual leadership style to determine areas where they shine and where they may have shadow. We will create a container of safety to explore these areas with our colleagues, while creating strategies to employ when faced with challenging situations.

At the conclusion of this workshop participants will:
• Develop an understanding of and appreciation for their authentic leadership style
• Unlock the genius that allows them to show up their most aspirational self
• Relate to others from a place of agency, grace, trust, and respect”

BS 1-4: Financial Management Essentials: A Beginners Guide to Stewarding Your Organization

Featuring: Mary Anton

In this session, participants will gain an understanding of the components of the financial management process, including basic budget and accounting terminology, compliance requirements, available tools, skill set requirements, and best practices for developing a consolidated financial management process. This is a foundational session for organization leaders seeking a practical approach and templates for setting up a simple accounting framework and tracking reporting.

BS 2-4: Build from the Beginning: Recognizing First Steps and Next Steps to Sustainability

Featuring: Kate Ansorge, Adrienne Baker, Crystal Coats, Brett Mueller, Jocelyn Velazquez

In this session, IFF will share key learnings from managing the Stronger Nonprofits Initiative, Chicago’s Cultural Treasures, and from administering MacArthur Foundation’s Arts and Culture Loan Fund. The panel will discuss how personal perceptions of money can influence an organization’s financial management, share feedback from the cohort on what has impacted them, and share some examples of preliminary steps organizations can make in order to improve their long-term stability. IFF is a mission-driven lender, developer, and consultant that helps communities thrive. IFF offers programs meeting the needs of nonprofits organizations and their leaders.

BS 3-4: Finance for the Non-Finance Leader: Developing an Effective Partnership with your Accountant

Featuring: Donna Gaydon

Accruals, Budgets, Cash Flows, Spreadsheets, Oh My! In this session, participants will learn why it’s critical to “own the numbers” and gain insights into how to review financial statements, prepare cash flows and perform planning and analysis for controlling an organization’s budget and making strategic decisions.