BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Forefront - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Forefront
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://myforefront.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Forefront
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20240310T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20241103T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20250309T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20251102T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260308T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20261101T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250505T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250505T140000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250127T183116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250127T183436Z
UID:2963856-1746446400-1746453600@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Critical Conversations Anti-Racism session: The Continuum of Harm (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:From February through June of 2025\, the Chicago Poetry Center is offering free online Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism sessions open to any Illinois nonprofit organization employee or volunteer. \nDrawing on CPC’s decades of workshop facilitation\, Critical Conversations use poetry as a springboard to increase belonging and inclusion in the workplace. By centering the dialogue on lived experiences reflected in poems\, the process launches transformative discussions without requiring those most violently and directly affected by racism to tell or retell their stories of trauma and resilience. \nEach session is led by two trained and racially diverse facilitators. Sessions include exploration of a theme related to racial justice through discussion of contemporary poems\, sharing of personal experiences\, and guided writing practice. No prior poetry experience or education is needed! \nTwo types of Critical Conversations sessions will be offered through this program: Belonging and Inclusion\, and The Continuum of Harm. Participants may register for one Belonging and Inclusion session and one Continuum of Harm session. \nAll participants will also receive access to the Continuing Practice Guide\, which provides all of the materials and guidance needed for pairs or small groups to engage in additional self-guided discussions around racism and its impact on their lives and workplaces using poetry as the center and launch point. \nAccessibility: The session will take place over zoom and will be live captioned. \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/critical-conversations-anti-racism-session-the-continuum-of-harm/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:General Public
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250506T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250506T100000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250408T153901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T155135Z
UID:2965017-1746522000-1746525600@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Phi Club: What We Wish Nonprofits Knew: A Candid Conversation with Funders (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:This session is designed to offer nonprofit leaders real insight into how funders are responding to today’s political and social climate — including how priorities are shifting\, how “impact” is being redefined\, and what makes organizations stand out in 2025. \nModerator: \nNdidi A. Okakpu\, CFRE\, CFRM\, President and CEO\, N. Okakpu Consulting \nPanelists: \nIona Calhoun-Battiste\, Senior Director\, Chicago Community Trust \nNathan Stevens\, Senior Program Officer\, The Coleman Foundation \nDilnaz Waraich\, President\, The WF Fund \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/phi-club-what-we-wish-nonprofits-knew-a-candid-conversation-with-funders-virtual/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:Advisor Program,General Public,Grantmaker Program,Nonprofit Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250507T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250507T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250401T142432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T145704Z
UID:2964973-1746612000-1746619200@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Grant Writing Fundamentals (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:Join grant writer and nonprofit development consultant Dr. Melanie Flores for a grant writing workshop designed for nonprofit professionals looking to sharpen their skills and increase their chances of securing funding. With over $7 million raised for community-based organizations\, Melanie\, founder of Propel Consulting\, brings practical experience and real-world insight into what makes a grant proposal stand out. This session will cover the fundamentals of writing compelling grant proposals\, including how to align with funder priorities\, craft strong narratives\, and develop realistic budgets. \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/grant-writing-fundamentals-virtual/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:General Public,Nonprofit Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250508T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250508T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250122T165556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250122T171209Z
UID:2963781-1746702000-1746705600@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Forefront Member Orientation (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:Forefront hosts a relaxed conversation for current and prospective Members to learn more about Forefront’s resources and to meet others in the Forefront community — your statewide association for nonprofits\, grantmakers\, public agencies\, advisors\, and allies. This free orientation will give you a chance to meet our Librarians and other Forefront staff. This is a great opportunity to ask questions  or share an idea with your peers\, while learning how Forefront can help you achieve your mission. This orientation is open to current and prospective members of Forefront. \nTopics covered include: \n\nLibrary reference and research services\nPeer Skill Share\nThe Impact Capacity Assessment Tool (iCAT)\nMember & Peer Networks\nPolicy and Advocacy\n\nThis is a virtual event. \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/forefront-member-orientation-virtual-11/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:Advisor Program,General Public,Grantmaker Program,Nonprofit Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250512T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250512T110000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250204T193148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250204T193148Z
UID:2964211-1747044000-1747047600@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Introduction to Prospect Research: Individual Donors (Webinar)
DESCRIPTION:This workshop will take a deeper look at available databases for researching individual donors and learn insider tips to connect with potential prospects. \nThis workshop is ideal for nonprofit professionals conducting fundraising or prospect research. \nThere will be time for Q & A with Forefront Librarians \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/introduction-to-prospect-research-individual-donors-webinar-2/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:General Public,Nonprofit Program
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T160000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250204T172548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250505T145059Z
UID:2964192-1747314000-1747324800@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Reframing Problems for Social Change (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:This program has been canceled.\nHow do we get ourselves unstuck? Social issues are complex\, and almost always interconnected. Forefront and Greater Good Studio are partnering to create a space to think about how we solve big social issues. How can nonprofits and grantmakers think about our partnerships in a new way? What if we can step back and plan for the ways our work intersects and can potentially support greater impact for good in our communities? \nGreater Good Studio has been working with social sector clients to reframe problems for the past 12 years. We find that the original problem statement often has one or more of the following issues: \n\nIt’s focused entirely on symptoms\, while root causes continue undeterred\nIt’s centering the wrong humans\, or no humans at all\nIt’s so vast that the only thing it inspires is overwhelm\n\nWhether you’re a designer looking to make a positive impact or a changemaker looking to get unstuck\, this workshop will give you concrete tools for starting or restarting your projects in a more strategic\, action-oriented\, and equitable way. \nYou will learn and practice methods for: \n\nMapping root causes\nWriting positive goals\nCentering the humans most impacted\n\nGreater Good Studio’s co-founder\, George Aye\, will facilitate this live\, 3-hour workshop. They have applied these methods to hundreds of projects across the social sector\, including in education\, community development\, public health and healthcare\, economic inclusion\, civic participation\, and arts & culture. \nTickets:  \n\nForefront Members w/budget under $2million: $10\nForefront Members w/budget over $2million: $25\nNon-member ticket: $50\n\nNot sure if you’re a current member of Forefront? Before registering\, email us at registration@myforefront.org to confirm your membership status.
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/reframing-problems-for-social-change-virtual-4/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:General Public
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T200000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250127T183335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250127T183335Z
UID:2963859-1747332000-1747339200@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Critical Conversations Anti-Racism session: Belonging & Inclusion (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:From February through June of 2025\, the Chicago Poetry Center is offering free online Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism sessions open to any Illinois nonprofit organization employee or volunteer. \nDrawing on CPC’s decades of workshop facilitation\, Critical Conversations use poetry as a springboard to increase belonging and inclusion in the workplace. By centering the dialogue on lived experiences reflected in poems\, the process launches transformative discussions without requiring those most violently and directly affected by racism to tell or retell their stories of trauma and resilience. \nEach session is led by two trained and racially diverse facilitators. Sessions include exploration of a theme related to racial justice through discussion of contemporary poems\, sharing of personal experiences\, and guided writing practice. No prior poetry experience or education is needed! \nTwo types of Critical Conversations sessions will be offered through this program: Belonging and Inclusion\, and The Continuum of Harm. Participants may register for one Belonging and Inclusion session and one Continuum of Harm session. \nAll participants will also receive access to the Continuing Practice Guide\, which provides all of the materials and guidance needed for pairs or small groups to engage in additional self-guided discussions around racism and its impact on their lives and workplaces using poetry as the center and launch point. \nAccessibility: The session will take place over zoom and will be live captioned. \nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/critical-conversations-anti-racism-session-belonging-inclusion-virtual-4/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:General Public
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250529T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250529T113000
DTSTAMP:20260621T221438
CREATED:20250507T181259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T215238Z
UID:2965373-1748512800-1748518200@myforefront.org
SUMMARY:Making Invisible Funding Visible: The Role of Federal Funding in Illinois' Early Childhood System (Webinar)
DESCRIPTION:Illinois is currently restructuring its early childhood education system through the creation of a new state agency dedicated to early learning. As part of this transition\, Robert R. McCormick Foundation and W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundations have hosted a series of webinars to build broader understanding and engagement across sectors. \nWith recent threats to federal funding that supports early childhood\, including Head Start funding\, the next webinar will focus on the critical role federal dollars play in supporting early childhood programs in Illinois—particularly in the context of system reform. \nAs Illinois aims to create a system that is simpler\, fairer\, and better\, federal funds remain an essential—yet often invisible—foundation. This conversation will unpack the real consequences of losing that support and make the case for protecting it. \nSpeakers \nAmy Blythe\, Assistant Vice President of Early Learning Services\, Easterseals \nYvette Sanchez Fuentes\, Senior Vice President of National Policy\, Start Early \nTommy Sheridan\, Deputy Director\, National Head Start Association \nAmanda Wike\, Executive Director\, Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street & Member\, ReadyNation Illinois \n  \nModerators \nSara Slaughter\, Executive Director\, W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation \nBrandon Thorne\, Senior Program Officer\, W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation \nBryan Stokes\, Director\, Education Portfolio\, Robert R McCormick Foundation \n  \nRegister here!
URL:https://myforefront.org/event/making-invisible-funding-visible-the-role-of-federal-funding-in-illinois-early-childhood-system-webinar/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Advisor Program,General Public,Grantmaker Program,Nonprofit Program
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR