Establishing Excellence: Creating a Great Nonprofit

Month 1: Module 1

January 29, 2021

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A 501(C)3

Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Instructional time
• 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Intro and networking and cohort building
• 4 hrs. office hours between Module 1 and Module 2 to be scheduled.

Course Description:

Do you want to start a nonprofit?  This session will help you better understand the world of nonprofits, and help you focus your passion and determine how best to apply that passion to create the greatest impact.  Passion for your chosen cause is a powerful force, but without clear focus and a plan, you may not have the impact you hope to have.  The workshop is the first in a series, designed to help you get off to a good start.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the nonprofit sector nationally and in Mississippi.
2. Review the Alliance Checklist for Starting a Nonprofit to understand the process.
3. Clarify your mission, to provide focus and increase the ability to communicate what your organization does…and doesn’t do.
4. Develop basic knowledge of how to conduct a community resource mapping exercise / environmental scan related to your mission.

Month 2: Module 2

February 26, 2021

BECOMING A NONPROFIT/501(C)(3):

STAYING OUT OF “JAIL” – THE COLD HARD TRUTH ABOUT NONPROFITS

Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Instructional time
• 4 hrs. office hours between Module 2 and Module 3

Course Description:

Ready to create a new nonprofit?  There is specific paperwork that you’ll need to complete, and legal requirements that you’ll need to satisfy.  This session will help you better understand what needs to be in place legally to create this new organization: the paperwork, the corporate documents and the structure needed to be compliant.  While there’s no such thing as “nonprofit jail”, you can inadvertently get into serious trouble if you don’t keep an eye on the requirements of both the Secretary of State and the IRS.  The workshop focuses on giving you all the tools you’ll need to be compliant, and lay the groundwork for a successful organization.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to...

1. state what you need to do to file to become a nonprofit in Mississippi.
2. describe the basic legal obligations of all nonprofits.
3. describe the basics of nonprofit Boards of Directors.

Month 3: Module 3a

March 26, 2021

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE – TIER 1 Excellence in Action

Schedule:

• 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Instructional time

Course Description:

Intro to Board Governance:

The strength of a nonprofit’s Board of Directors is a key determinant of the organization’s long-term success. Yet, there is often a lack of clarity of the Board’s role and the rotation of Board member terms.  Key topics covered in this session include:

• • Board Member Responsibilities and Legal Duties
  • Diversity on Boards
  • Board Recruitment
  • Board Composition Best Practices

Intro to Financial Management and Budgets:

Often the most technically challenging aspect of nonprofit management, it is crucial that all Board and staff members have a grasp of the organization’s financial practices, plans, and status. This module helps interpret the language and disentangle the numbers. The information provided in this module is intended to give you an overview of nonprofit financial management.  Key topics include:

• • Terms
  • Internal Controls
  • Budgeting
  • The Board’s Role in Nonprofit Financial Management

NOTE: This session is NOT intended to take the place of the expertise & guidance of your organization’s CPA (volunteer or paid).  Access to the expertise & guidance of a CPA is a minimum standard for all nonprofits.

Intro to Fundraising:

Nonprofit donations are an opportunity for individuals and institutions to contribute to a cause of their choosing. But with that gift comes an obligation for the nonprofit to ensure its proper handling.  In this session, you will learn:

• • Key Concepts
  • Code of Ethics
  • The Board’s Role in Fundraising
  • Federal, State, and Local Laws for Fundraising
  • Donor Relations

Learning Objectives:

Board Development:

1. 1. List board member responsibilities & legal obligations including leadership, policy-making, budget approval, and fundraising.
   2. Discuss the importance of including diverse board members that represent the community served.
   3. Describe board member recruitment including how to engage board members and capitalize on their skill sets and resources to advance the organization.
   4. Identify how the board should adhere to the following best practices/legal requirements of: board size, officers, term limits, orientation, attendance, meetings & minutes, code of ethics, review of board performance, and compensation.

Financial Management/Budgeting:

1. 1. Understand assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and the accounting equation.
   2. Learn and understand the difference between cash and accrual accounting and the impact on your financials.
   3. Discuss FASB Statements of Financial Position (formerly called Balance Sheet), Activities, & Cash Flow.
   4. Review the concepts of internal accounting/financial controls.
   5. List the steps in the budget process.
   6. Describe the recommended best practices for board roles and responsibilities of the organization’s finances including adoption of written financial procedures to monitor major expenses.

Fundraising:

1. 1. List the key concepts related to annual campaigns, capital campaigns, planned giving, and the pyramid of giving.
   2. Explain why the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Conduct is widely accepted as the national standard in nonprofit fundraising.
   3. Describe the recommended best practices for the board in fundraising.
   4. Discuss the federal, state, and local laws concerning fundraising practices and the registration of professional fundraisers/companies registered with the MS Secretary of State.
   5. Discuss the elements of donor relations: donor communications, donor intent, guidelines described in the IRS Publication 1771 concerning donor charitable contributions, and gift acceptance policies.
   6. Describe the recommended best practices for board roles and responsibilities of the organization’s finances including adoption of written financial procedures to monitor major expenses.

Month 4: Module 3b

April 17, 23, and 24, 2021

BUILD A PLAN WORKSHOPS

Foundational board/Founder required to attend.

 Schedule:

• 4/4: Board Development Plan
• 4/23: Budget
• 4/24: Fund Development Plan
• Pre-requisites are Modules 1-3; delivered as coaching in small groups.

Month 5: Module 4

May 21, 2021

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND MEASURING RESULTS

Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Instructional time

Course Description:

Strategic Planning:

Organizational planning is a critical process that defines a nonprofit’s overall direction, activities, and strategies to be employed to fulfill its mission. Planning should unite the Board, staff members, and volunteers in a common goal and define the organization’s purpose to the general public.  In this session, you will learn about:

• Nonprofit Mission Statements
• Community Needs & Constituents
• Environmental Scans
• Success Factors for Strategic Planning
• Operational Plans
• The many different roles that founders can play in the organization and how to determine your “best and highest purpose” for the organization in the long term.

Evaluation:

How do nonprofit leaders know if the programs or services they design will be effective? How do they know if their program or service delivery is meeting the expectations of funders who support their work? What do grants mean by “outcomes measurement”? How can you use evaluation as an “early warning system” for how things are working? This module will assist in setting up a “ruler” to measure the work of the nonprofit, as well as tools to report the results and methods for modification when needed.  You’ll learn about:

• The importance of outcomes measures — Communicating Impact, etc.
• Terms
• Linking Mission to Outcomes for Impact
• Writing Outcomes Statements

Learning Objectives:

Strategic Planning (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies and Actions + Values):

1. Explain how a mission statement guides the actions of the organization.
2. Discuss the elements addressed in environmental scans and strategic plans including: developing strategies, setting goals and timelines, assigning responsibilities.
3. Define the term “operational plan”.
4. Understand the role that founders play, in strategic planning and within the organization.

Evaluation:

1. Identify outcome measurement terms and sample impact statements.
2. Discuss the value of using outcome measures--consider funders, clients, and your operational & marketing plans.
3. Develop one measurable outcome for your organization and the process for implementation.

Month 6: Module 5a

June 25, 2021

HUMAN RESOURCES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

 Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Instructional time

Course Description:

Human Resources and Volunteer Management:

Even if a nonprofit is an all-volunteer organization, there are important legal and management responsibilities that all nonprofits must take into consideration.  Professional development programs should be structured and intentional, focused on leadership development and creating a learning organization where information and knowledge is shared and modeled at every level.  In this session, you will learn about:

• Federal, State, and Local Employment Laws
• At-Will, Contractors, Exempt Employees
• Compensation and Benefits
• Job Descriptions, Recruitment, Interviewing
• Background Checks, Drug Testing, Hiring
• Performance Evaluations
• Grievances and Terminations
• Orientation, Employee & Volunteer Manuals, Training
• Employee and Volunteer Policies, Procedures, and Code of Ethics

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Is your organization committed to these concepts?  What’s your evidence?  This session will explore ways to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of the organization, including hiring both staff and volunteers, board diversity, and ensuring cultural competency in the delivery of programs.

Learning Objectives:

Human Resources:

1. Discuss the key employment laws and how they impact the workplace.
2. Articulate important policies and procedures needed to support a healthy work environment for employees and volunteers.
3. List the elements of a clear job description and be able to write one for employees and volunteers.
4. Identify key elements of new employee and volunteer orientation and assess your organization’s current methods.

Volunteer Management:

1. Assess the capacity of your organization to engage, supervise and support volunteers with the necessary level of attention, priority, and resources before recruiting volunteers.
2. Examine your organizational risk management procedures to assess, manage or lessen potential risks to volunteers, the organization and its clients, members and participants that may result from the delivery of a volunteer-led program or service. This should include obtaining ad­equate levels of insurance for volunteers and the use of liability waivers where appropriate.

Leadership and Organizational Culture-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

1. Discuss how organizations benefit from broad participation in important discussions and decision-making.
2. Explain why leaders should actively communicate how the organization’s activities produce the intended change in the community and inspire others to affect that change through fundraising, advocacy, and programming.
3. Define how a transformational leader ensures that organizational culture is open to various points of view, encourages innovative thinking, and promotes the concept of a learning organization where all benefit from shared ideas and concepts.
4. Describe how organizations should conduct activities with procedural fairness to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion in decision making and communication are addressed.

Month 7: Module 5b and 5c

July 23 & 24

BUILD A PLAN WORKSHOPS

Foundational board/Founder required to attend.

 Schedule:

• 7/23: Evaluation Plan
• 7/24: Strategic Plan (introduction; template)
• Pre-requisites Modules 5 & 6
• Delivered as small group coaching.

Month 8: Module 5b and 5c

August 27 & 28

BUILD A PLAN WORKSHOPS

Foundational board/Founder required to attend.

 Schedule:

• 8/27: HR/Staffing Plan
• 8/28: DEI Plan (introduction; template)
• Pre-requisites Modules 5 & 6
• Delivered as small group coaching.

Months 9 – 12: Module 6

September 1 – December 15

1-ON-1 CONSULTING

One-hour increments of consulting on any of the above-named Plans or a plan created on outside relative toward building your organization.