As the calendar flips to 2017, Forefront is ready to help you and your organization hit the ground running with programming specifically designed to help strengthen nonprofits from the ground up.

 For the first time ever, Forefront is offering workshop series and individual seminars in four key areas of nonprofit organizational development: Board Development, Financial Management, Volunteer Management, and Storytelling.

We recognize that excelling in these areas is vital for a nonprofit's growth and expansion. We're offering brand-new, affordable professional development opportunities for you, your staff, and your nonprofit to thrive in 2017. 
 
Remember: Forefront Member organizations are eligible to receive up to 20% off our professional development programs. Receive an additional discount if you register for an entire series. Log in to receive your discount. Email us if you need to add staff members to your account or are having trouble logging in. 

May 2017 be your best year yet!

– The Forefront Team

Board Development Series: Building Your Best Board

Build the best board for your organization with one or all four of the workshops in this new learning series. From initial recruitment to board efficacy and performance, learn how to help your board – and therefore your nonprofit – prosper. Register for the full series by clicking here. Register for individual sessions by clicking "register" below each course description.
 
Recruiting
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Time: 9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

In this workshop, we will explore how to recruit and retain highly engaged board members, and how to leverage their talent for the mission. Participants will develop a recruiting action plan that builds in engagement.
 
Developing Effective Advocates
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Time: 9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

Your board should be among the most effective advocates for your organization. This workshop will focus on whys and hows of board advocacy. You’ll leave with tools to help your board face their fears, and an action plan to engage and fully utilize your board of directors as advocates for your mission.
 
Structure and Process
Date:    Thursday, March 30, 2017
Time:    9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

Are you board/committee meetings driving board members away? In this workshop, we will deconstruct the structure and processes that may be holding your board back from being more effective. We will provide a framework and tools for injecting new energy into your board’s work that helps members reengage and recommit.
 
Performance and Culture 

Date:    Friday, April 28, 2017

Time:    9:00am – Noon

Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

Do you know what a high-performance board should be doing? Do you have the right culture to build a high-performance board? In this workshop, you will learn the elements of a high-performance board, identify the elements of your own board that will make a difference in the board's culture and performance, and develop a draft action plan to help you create a stronger board culture to deliver a greater impact on your mission. 

Financial Management Series

This spring, we're offering three new courses in nonprofit finances to assist with budget/strategic planning, financial sustainability, and sustainability analysis.
 
Planning for Financial Sustainability
Date: Thursday, February 2
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

Forefront Executive Vice President and CFO Andreason Brown will help you take strategic action with this practical look at how your organization can plan for long-term financial stability. Learn key strategies that will ensure your organization remains financially solvent, has a sustainable business model, and progresses toward achieving its mission through high impact programs.  


Nonprofit Budgeting for Results
Date: Wednesday, March 15
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register
Budgeting isn't just about the numbers. Join us for a discussion on strategies that effectively engage staff at all levels in creating budgets that are useful tools for everyone. This workshop will cover:
    •    Connecting your budget and strategic plan and the operating plan
    •    Strategies for an inclusive budgeting process
    •    Creating stronger connections between program, development, and accounting staff
    •    Developing financial report tools for shared understanding
    •    Gathering staff input to inform the budgeting process
    •    Increasing staff awareness of nonprofit finance and accounting 

Volunteer Management Series

Volunteers are the life blood of an organization. Whether your nonprofit is in the beginning stages of developing a volunteer program, or you're looking for new ways to engage volunteers, our new series can help. Register for the full series by clicking here. Register for individual sessions by clicking "Register" under each course description. 

This series if offered in partnership with Chicago Cares! 
 
Volunteer Management 101
Date:     Tuesday, January 31
Time:     9:00am – 11:30am
Fee: Member: $50 / Non-Member: $75
Register

A crash course to volunteer management for those who are new to the field, looking to revamp their volunteer program, or are starting a program from scratch. Topics include program design, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention, and the importance of volunteer recognition.

 

Volunteer Management 201
Date:     Tuesday, March 7
Time:     9:00am – 11:30am
Fee: Member: $50 / Non-Member: $75
Register
This second workshop will review the basics learned in 101 and then go on to discuss advanced management topics such as change management, logic modeling, program evaluation, return on volunteer investment, and risk management.  
 

Storytelling Series

This series will provide practical training in social media usage as well as the core skills of effective storytelling and communications planning. Register for the full series by clicking here. Register for individual sessions by clicking "Register" under each course description. 

This series is offered in partnership with Public Narrative. 
 
L.I.F.T. (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter)
Date:    Thursday, March 2, 2017
Time:    9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160
Register

A primer on the basics of LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter that will help you develop social media profiles, policies, and plans that reflect your organization's values, and how to keep your organization, and yourself, safe online.
 
Heavy L.I.F.T.ing
Date:    Thursday, April 6, 2017
Time:    9:00am – Noon 
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160 
Register

This workshop is for intermediate and advanced users of LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and will dive into strategy, timing, and tools for all four platforms. Leave equipped to use social media as a powerful communications tool.
 
Storytelling with Impact
Date:    Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Time:    9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160 
Register

To move our audiences to action you must engage them emotionally, and great storytelling is the only way to make an effective brain-to-heart connection. In this workshop you'll learn to craft stories about your organization's work that will captivate audiences AND inspire them to act.  
 
Building a Better Communications Plan
Date:    Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Time:    9:00am – Noon
Fee:  Member: $95 / Non-Member: $160 
Register

It's easy to believe that the more people that hear your story, the more money you'll raise and the more work you'll get done. In this workshop, we'll replace that belief with a set of practical skills to truly engage donors, advocates, volunteers, and clients, not to mention the ability to craft a strategic communications plan to better engage your audiences.