2025 Capacity Building

Workshops and Application

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain will offer in-depth, hands-on capacity building training workshops to local non-profit organizations based in or significantly serving Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. Below is a menu of this year’s offerings. All workshops are free of charge, with the exception of the Grant Mastery Training (page 1) and The Leadership Experience (page 5).

WORKSHOPS

GRANT WRITING

  • Grant Mastery Training – TWO full days
  • February 25 and 26, 8:30am-4:30pm
  • Grant Professionals Certified and Grant Professional Approved Trainers: Scot Scala and Cyndi MacKenzie

Location: Doubletree by Hilton, 42 Century Drive, Bristol (breakfast & lunch included)

This training will provide a holistic approach to grant writing and is ideal for development staff, Executive Director’s or other staff that do grant writing, or volunteers that take on this role. Whether new or a seasoned professional, the Grant Mastery training will provide you with valuable skills and information. Topics to be covered include ethics, research/prospecting, developing a competitive in your grant writing, aspects of the proposal, how to demonstrate impact, budgets, grant/funder stewardship and federal grants. This training is being offered by the CFGNB in partnership with the Main Street Community Foundation. More than one person from an organization can attend; the per person fee for the two full days is $75.

CLICK HERE for more info about Grant Mastery Training

Limited spaces are available, and registration is required by February 14, 2025, to Julie Matthews at Main Street Community Foundation by calling 860.583.6363 or emailing julie@mainstreetfoundation.org. Payment is due by February 21, 2025, and can be mailed to Main Street Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2702, Bristol, CT 06011-2702.

FUNDRAISING FOR SMALL SHOPS

  • Trainers: John Books and Sharon Danosky, Danosky & Associates; Paul Dunne, CFRE, The Nonprofit Group

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

This session will build on and go into greater depth from the Fundraising Fundamentals workshop presented by the CFGNB with John Brooks in 2024. These topics are specifically designed for the small person nonprofit; one that does not necessarily have a full-time development director. It is also appropriate for organizations that do have a development director as a refresher course. It will be most beneficial to attend all 3 sessions, but not required. More than one staff person from an organization may attend; board members are encouraged to attend all 3 sessions. If an organization has a development office – the sessions on major gifts would be especially valuable for Board members.

Session 1 – Friday, March 14, 9am-4pm

  • The Art and Science of Fundraising – Sharon Danosky & John Brooks
    Effective fundraising is predicated on two factors: understanding human behavior and how this behavior motivates giving; and analysis of the data you have on your donors, collectively and individually so as to craft a meaningful approach that will appeal to them. In this workshop we will explore these fundamentals and help both beginner and advanced fundraisers hone their skills to build a stronger development plan.
  • Acquiring, Retaining and Upgrading Donors – John Brooks

To build a sustainable development program, there must be a steady pipeline of donors coming through the doors and staying with you as their charity of choice. We will look at different ways you can acquire new donors and the strategies necessary to keep them and encourage them to continue giving and give more.

  • Managing Events for Greater Donor Engagement – Sharon Danosky

Events are a mainstay of every development program. How you organize them and then leverage them will determine if you are building a sustainable program or just creating a revolving door of events. We will discuss what works and what doesn’t in terms of an effective fundraising strategy around events and how to use events to build and create a more loyal donor base.

Session 2 – March 20, 3-6pm

  • Major Gifts Base Level: Engaging Donors – Sharon Danosky

Nearly 80-90% of contributed revenue comes from a relatively small percentage of donors (10-20%). How to maximize and grow that revenue is the magic sauce that makes a development program strong. The ingredients include donor qualification; donor cultivation and donor stewardship. We will explore these three topics in depth to show how to optimize your fundraising efforts and build a continuously stronger program.

  • Major Gifts Advanced: Getting to Yes – Paul Dunne

At the end of the day, every development and advancement officer must “close the deal”. You can’t keep engaging without asking for the gift. Sometimes it’s a presumptive ask; sometimes it’s an outright solicitation. This workshop will walk you through how that is done; from the two-meeting ask; to the one-meeting solicitation.

Session 3 – March 26, 3-6pm

The Board’s Role in Fundraising – John Brooks

Probably the most debated and discussed among boards – usually with only minimal action following. This workshop will explore how to recruit, orient, set expectations and meaningfully engage board members in the process of raising funds. We encourage Board participation and show you how to set a plan that makes it easy and enjoyable for board member participation.

  • The Fundraising Plan: Pulling It All Together – John Brooks

The final step is pulling all the elements discussed above into a coherent plan that targets how much you can expect to raise and can be used to create your revenue projections. Instead of pulling estimates out of thin air, you will learn how to accurately estimate contributed income based on donor engagement. This session will also show how to create a fundraising calendar to guide expectations throughout the year.

STAFF TRAINING

Working With Diverse Teams

  • Trainer: Stacie Watson, Transformative Leadership Services
  • April 4, 9am-4pm

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

As the workplace becomes more diverse, misperceptions and miscommunication can easily occur. In this training, we will explore a variety of perspectives on diversity including: Foundations of DEIB; LGBTQI+; Generational Competency, Unconscious Bias and Neurodiversity. Participants will be asked to be self-reflective as well as to practice a variety of skills that can enhance empathy, understanding and effectiveness at work.

Building a Culture of Balance

  • Trainer: Stacie Watson, Transformative Leadership Services
  • April 24, 9am-12 noon

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

As leaders, we often stress the importance of ‘work-life balance’ with our team members and within our organizations. However, the reality is that we ourselves may feel completely ‘out of balance’ much of the time. In this session, participants are invited to consider their own relationship with the idea of ‘balance’, and offered an opportunity to identify ways to experience more ‘work-life harmony’ for themselves. They will then create a plan that reflects how they can infuse their organization’s culture with this kind of ‘harmony’.

Balance is a ‘Verb’: The Real Truth about Self-Care

  • May 14, 9am-12 noon
  • Trainer: Alicia Davis, Transformative Leadership Services

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

The experience of ‘balance’ in life can feel very elusive. We often believe that it is a state to achieve versus the practice of choosing where and how we place our attention and energy. In this session, participants will explore the role that mindset, boundaries, guilt, and self-compassion play in creating an experience of balance in life.

Healthy Approaches to Managing Conflict

  • Trainer: Alicia Davis, Transformative Leadership Services
  • September 18, 9am-noon

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

This session is designed to bring a broader perspective to the concept of conflict and conflict resolution. Using a model that provides various modes of conflict, each participant will be encouraged to consider an actual conflict-based situation during the session to allow opportunity to explore various approaches for handling the situation.

DATA

For non-profit organizations, leveraging data enables a deeper understanding of an organization’s target audience, helps assess program outcomes, optimizes resource allocation, supports informed decision-making with timely insights, and enhances social impact. A data-driven approach also allows nonprofits to refine their outreach and fundraising efforts to better align with the community’s needs. Join us for one or more of the workshops offered and described below by the CT Data Collaborative, an organization that “connects people and data for good.

Intro to Data: Build Your Data Literacy

  • Trainer: Jackie Vancour, Data Engagement Specialist
  • May 6, 9:30-noon

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

Data literacy is essential for making informed decisions in today’s data-driven world. However, many of us feel overwhelmed by the abundance of data available and struggle to understand and use it effectively. This workshop will help participants feel more confident working with data in their professional and personal life. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to evaluate data quality, and the conclusions others make with data. We will explore how generative AI can be used throughout the data life cycle. Participants will leave the workshop with a better understanding of data literacy and practical ways to apply it in their everyday life. Participants will leave this workshop:

  • Understanding the importance and definition of data literacy.
  • Becoming more critical consumers and creators of data.
  • Being more careful in making data interpretations.
  • Understanding how to improve your data work.
  • Gaining a basic understanding of how generative AI can be used throughout the life cycle and how it can be used ethically.

Share What Matters: Become a Data Storyteller

  • Trainer: Jackie Vancour, Data Engagement Specialist – June 3, 9:30 to noon

Location: Klingberg Nexus Center, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to tell captivating stories with your data isn’t just a plus, it’s a must-have skill that turns numbers into action. Whether you are trying to get your team on board with an idea, convince people to support a cause, or just want your presentations to stand out, knowing how to create a data story can make all the difference. However, transforming numbers into a cohesive story can be difficult and leave audiences with more questions than answers. This workshop offers a process to create clear and memorable data stories that guide readers toward action. By the end of this session, attendees will:

  • Understand the concept of a “data story” and its significance in communicating information effectively.
  • Acquire a step-by-step process to craft data stories that are clear and compelling.
  • Learn how to combine insights with visualizations, creating memorable data stories that inspire an audience to take action.
  • Gain an awareness of how generative AI can be used as a tool to writing data stories

Explore Public Data: Find the Data You Need

  • Trainer: Jackie Vancour, Data Engagement Specialist –This is a virtual lunch and learn session
  • June 18 from noon to 1pm

Location: Zoom

The availability of public data is more critical than ever before for making informed decisions, understanding our communities, and assessing the impact of our programs and services. However, many people are unaware of the existence of public data, don’t know how it can be useful to them, don’t know where to find it, or lack the skills to use it. During this workshop, CT Data will provide a comprehensive overview of public data available for everyone to use. This workshop applies to anyone interested in learning more about public data. By the end of this session, participants will:

  • Learn what public data are, where to find them, and how they’re collected
  • Recognize the value of public data from state and federal sources
  • Access data and learn how to download it for their exploration

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR INDIVDUAL STAFF

  • Trainer, Alicia Davis Transformative Leadership Strategies (TLS)

The TLS Leadership Experience (TLE) is a 22-hour leadership development program that combines 18-hours of group coaching and experiential learning with 4-hours of individual coaching. During TLE, managers are given the opportunity to reflect on their leadership style and skills to determine which aspects hinder and which support their ability to lead effectively.

TLS coaches establish a safe environment that supports giving and receiving constructive feedback. Managers develop strong interpersonal connections with other group members while receiving one-on-one attention through individual coaching sessions. They are able to apply new skills, strategies, and techniques in the workplace as soon as completing the first group session. Some key topic areas included within TLE include: Confidence, Balance, Boundaries, and Authenticity. More information about TLE may be found in Appendix A.

Logistics:

  • We can accommodate a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 in this program.
  • This training is for managers, directors, vice presidents, team leaders, other high performers or those in succession planning to move up within the organization
  • There will be 3-hour sessions once a month for 6-months and 4 hours of individual 1:1 coaching
  • Location: TBD (in person or Zoom); Dates TBD
  • The cost per participant is $1,895; CFGNB will pay 75% ($1.420); the balance of $475 to be paid by the organization. Need-based scholarships available by contacting Joeline Wruck.

To reserve a spot, the Executive Director of your organization should email jwruck@cfgnb.org with the participant’s name, role, how their participation will benefit your organization, and a pledge to provide the $475 payment prior to the first session.

CONSULTANT SUPPORT AND MINI GRANT PROGRAM

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) Consultant Support Program will provide funding of up to $2,000 to non-profit organizations that are actively participating in the CFGNB Capacity Building Program for an outside consultant, thought partner or coach to help an organization to work through a challenge or explore an opportunity that will increase organizational capacity, functioning, efficiency or sustainability or to support implementation of a small capacity-building project that will help strengthen your organization and the Board’s capacity to operate.

To complete your application, you can log onto our online portal from our website on the “Applying for a grant page” or by clicking here. Use the 2025 Capacity Building Consultant or Mini Grant application form. If this is your first time using the portal, you will need to create a profile first. Feel free to contact Joeline Wruck prior to submitting you application to discuss if your project is a good fit for this program.