Presented by The Community Foundation 

Click here to register. 

Instructor: Sarah Milston

Social Media Strategies is designed for professionals who know how to use the most popular tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and are looking to increase their fan engagement. The class focuses on three major areas:

1. Emerging Trends and Tools. This will cover what is on the horizon, the latest news and laws around social media, and the best new apps and tools.

2. Strategy. Using research, we will focus on creating great content and timing it for the greatest impact.

3. Measurement. Using information from Beth Kanter's book Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, we will dive into measurement techniques.

In addition, throughout the one-day class we will take breaks to workshop problems submitted prior to the class.

PRIVATE CLASS

Instructor: Sarah Milston

Social Media Strategies is designed for professionals who know how to use the most popular tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and are looking to increase their fan engagement. The class focuses on three major areas:

• Emerging Trends and Tools. This will cover what is on the horizon, the latest news and laws around social media, and the best new apps and tools.
• Strategy. Using research, we will focus on creating great content and timing it for the greatest impact.
• Measurement. Using information from Beth Kanter's book Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, we will dive into measurement techniques.

Presented by: The Virginia Housing Alliance and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Presenter: Lindsey O-Pries

The Virginia Housing Alliance and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services are pleased to present the 2017 Housing Virginia's Most Vulnerable Conference, which will be held on August 16-17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Midlothian. Lindsey will be speaking on philanthropy and giving models. 

Click here to register.

Presented by The Community Foundation

Click here to register. 

Instructor: Sarah Milston

So you don't have money to hire a graphic designer and you don’t even know what a style sheet is or how to get started.  This course is designed for nonprofits who need to make the most out of donated services and with little to no budget for marketing.

• We will review brand strategy and audience definition and cover the basics of marketing.
• We will learn tips, tools, and tricks to edit our own images and videos.
• We will review the basics of social media as a marketing tool.
• Everyone will leave class with a clear idea of their intended audience and a marketing strategy and plan.

This class is designed for people who have marketing in their "other duties as assigned" job description, development professionals, and any other professional looking to beef up their skills.

Presented By Fredericksburg Area Fundraising Executives

REGISTER HERE

Presenter: Sarah Milston

How effective is your online presence and strategy? Come and learn as Sarah Milston, talks about the impact of online giving and generational giving patterns, and see case studies of successful online campaigns. 

Virginia Service: Virginia Volunteerism Conference

Register here. 

Presenter: Chris Bennett

This workshop explores the concept that some organizational challenges are not problems to solve but tensions to manage. A combination of small-group work and interactive conversation will give participants tools to manage organizational challenges to find win-win solutions. (Polarity management)

Virginia Service: Virginia Volunteerism Conference

Register here. 

Presenter: Sarah Milston 

Come learn about the role strategic planning plays in a nonprofit organization and why it is essential to your future. Review some best practices about the role of board, staff, and your stakeholders and how best to engage them. Participants will review the trifecta of strategic planning magic - the gathering of data, group processing and dreaming and landing a plan with solid implementation tools. 

Virginia Service: Virginia Volunteerism Conference

Register here. 

Presenter: Sarah Milston 

Using Creative and Fun Facilitation tactics to engage your community through focus groups, charrettes, and listening sessions. 

Virginia Service: Virginia Volunteerism Conference

Register here. 

Presenter: Chris Bennett

Excellence is doing small things well consistently over-time. This session challenges conventional wisdom on the necessity of talent in order to have excellence. Participants will get a framework for developing excellence in their organization. Interactive discussion along with group activities will provide a road map and some tools to develop a habit of excellence in themselves, their staffs and their volunteers.

Join The Spark Mill at YNPN RVA’s upcoming Ask an Expert Social on Thursday April 27th from 5:30-7:30pm at Triple Crossing Brewery in Fulton for networking opportunity with lots of professionals including TSM's Christopher Bennett and Rebecca Butler.

Register Here

The 4th Annual Power of Good is back - a celebration of volunteerism in Richmond and a joint presentation from The Spark Mill and Hands on Greater Richmond. Come play and enjoy learning about all the good happening in Richmond. BUT FIRST!  Nominate someone here. Don't know what we are talking about? - Read more here. 

Then, register to attend https://powerofgoodparty.eventbrite.com

Then, come play. 

Presented by the Academy for Nonprofit Excellence

Click here to register

Instructor: Sarah Milston

Does your development office need a make-over? Are you new to development or new to your role at your nonprofit and want to spend some time doing a deep dive? This session is designed to walk you through the basics of setting up a development office or rejuvenating one. We will focus on asking, thanking, events, board engagement, and committee involvement. This class is appropriate for development staff, executives, board members, and career switchers! You will learn:

• Basics of a high functioning office
• Best practices
• How to get your board involved in giving
• Practical tips on improving your workflow and office

Presented by Roanoke Community Foundation

Instructor: Sarah Milston

This custom class was designed for the Roanoke Valley to help prepare organizations for the Give 4 Good in the Roanoke Valley. Attendance guarantees that you walk away with tips, tools, and ideas to leverage the power of social media. To register contact

Presented by: Academy of Nonprofit Excellence

Two online classes presented; 9:30-12 and 1:00-3:30

Instructor: Sarah Milston

Creating marketing materials is part of an organization’s effective giving day strategy. Participants will review brand strategy, audience definition, and cover the basics of marketing – including email and direct mail. Participants will leave the session with an idea of their intended audience and the basics to start a marketing plan. They will learn tips, tools, and tricks to edit their own images and videos, along with the basics of social media. Match fundraising will also be discussed as a marketing tool.

Private Class for Virginia Association for Free and Charitable Clinics open to member clinics around the state. 

Course presented by Martinsville Area Community Foundation. Click here to register. 

Crash Course in Nonprofit Strategic Planning. Come learn about:

1) The role strategic planning plays in a nonprofit organization and why it is important.
2) The how to's - who leads and manages the process, who should be involved and how to engage them.
3) Tips on implementation of the strategic plan.

Course presented by Foundation for Roanoke Valley. Click here to register. 

Crash Course in Nonprofit Strategic Planning. Come learn about:

1) The role strategic planning plays in a nonprofit organization and why it is important.
2) The how to's - who leads and manages the process, who should be involved and how to engage them.
3) Tips on implementation of the strategic plan.

Presented by Nonprofit Learning Point

Click here to register. 

Social Media Strategies is designed for professionals who know how to use the most popular tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and are looking to increase their fan engagement. The class focuses on three major areas:

1. Emerging Trends and Tools. This will cover what is on the horizon, the latest news and laws around social media, and the best new apps and tools.

2. Strategy. Using research, we will focus on creating great content and timing it for the greatest impact.

3. Measurement. Using information from Beth Kanter's book Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, we will dive into measurement techniques.

In addition, throughout the one-day class we will take breaks to workshop problems submitted prior to the class.

The 2016 CONNECTVA Social Media Conference will be held in Richmond, VA on May 4, 2016. The Spark Mill will be speaking on How to Avoid a Social Media Disaster

Register Here! 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

08:15-08:30 Early Registration

08:30-09:15 Foundation Course*

08:45-09:15 Regular Registration/Breakfast/Networking

09:15-09:25 Kickoff

09:30-10:15 Breakout I (2 session options)

10:20-11:05 Breakout II (2 session options)

11:05-12:25 Lunch

11:25-12:25 Keynote: Be Networked, Use Measurement, and Learn:  What Nonprofits Need to Know to Succeed in the Age of Connection, Beth Kanter

12:30-01:25 Online Fundraising Panel

01:25-03:05 Workshop: Becoming a Networked Nonprofit – SMARTer Social Media, Beth Kanter

03:05-03:15 Closing

Presented by Academy for Nonprofit Excellence

Click here to register

The business world is awash in project management and board members are coming to you with dashboards and scorecards and talking about green and red lights.  This class is designed to introduce nonprofits to dashboards including the various types and the nonprofit specific subjects.  We will work as a team to build dashboards to help manage information.  Finally we will learn how to use visual representation of information to raise more money and keep our boards more engaged making it easier for them to excel as board members.

• What are dashboards and how can we use them?
• What is the role of an infographic?
• Participants will get information on visual storytelling and how to incorporate it across their organization

This course is designed for staff and board members of nonprofits and anyone else who wants to get a mix of information and skills to help their organization thrive.

Presented by The Community Foundation

Click here to register. 

The business world is awash in project management and board members are coming to you with dashboards and scorecards and talking about green and red lights.  This class is designed to introduce nonprofits to dashboards including the various types and the nonprofit specific subjects.  We will work as a team to build dashboards to help manage information.  Finally we will learn how to use visual representation of information to raise more money and keep our boards more engaged making it easier for them to excel as board members.

• What are dashboards and how can we use them?

• What is the role of an infographic?
• Participants will get information on visual storytelling and how to incorporate it across their organization

This course is designed for staff and board members of nonprofits and anyone else who wants to get a mix of information and skills to help their organization thrive.

Presented by Academy for Nonprofit Excellence

Click here to register

• We will review brand strategy and audience definition and cover the basics of marketing.
• We will learn tips, tools, and tricks to edit our own images and videos. 
• We will review the basics of social media as a marketing tool. 
• Everyone will leave class with a clear idea of their intended audience and a marketing strategy and plan. 

This class is designed for people who have marketing in their "other duties as assigned" job description, development professionals, and any other professional looking to beef up their skills.

To register contact Center for Nonprofit Excellence

1:30 PM Coffee & Conversation

2:05 - 4:00 PM Training

Social media continues to evolve quickly. Understanding platforms, techniques and trends increases your organization’s fan engagement. Participants will learn social media best practices. Emerging trends and tools will also be discussed in the context of what is on the horizon, the latest news, laws around social media, and the best new apps and tools.

Presented by Nonprofit Learning Point

Click here to register. 

Everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten—except the ins and outs of running a nonprofit. We will cover the core aspects of nonprofit management, including board development, fundraising, vision and strategy, and marketing. This is designed as a pragmatic course with plenty of on-the-ground practical application.

• We will review how to work with a board, including management, meetings, expectations, and recruitment.
• We will learn the nuts and bolts of setting up a fundraising office and raising money.
• We will briefly cover strategic planning and its role in nonprofit organizations.
• Finally, we will learn the basics of marketing and its importance to an organization’s survival.

This course is designed for staff and board members who are new to nonprofits, founders who are launching their first nonprofit, career transitioners, and anyone else who wants to develop their foundation in nonprofit management principles to help their organization thrive.

Private Class for Virginia Association for Free and Charitable Clinics open to member clinics around the state. 

Presented by Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Academy for Nonprofit Excellence REPEAT SESSION

Click here to register

With Give4Good approaching, it is essential for area nonprofits to learn how to maximize online giving through best practices in the days and hours leading up to the giving day and establish a solid social media presence before give day.  This session will dive into the minute details of how to streamline your messaging while using three main popular mediums, including: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with a focus on blogging as the hub of your organization’s online presence .  The session will include tips on:

• The kinds of images and/or short videos to include in your posts in order to engage your audience
• How to supply the right amount of information (in terms of frequency and length of posts) without overwhelming followers
• The most effective way to use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in conjunction with one another
• How to create social media ambassadors and encourage people to share your messages for you

The session will also provide tips on how to effectively utilize staff, volunteer and board support for social media in general and leading up to and during the giving day.  Participants will be given the opportunity to work in groups and will walk away with a completed planning worksheet to best prepare them for the 24-hour giving day in May.

Presented by Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Academy for Nonprofit Excellence

Click here to register

With Give4Good approaching, it is essential for area nonprofits to learn how to maximize online giving through best practices in the days and hours leading up to the giving day and establish a solid social media presence before give day.   This session will dive into the minute details of how to streamline your messaging while using three main popular mediums, including: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with a focus on blogging as the hub of your organization’s online presence .  The session will include tips on:

• The kinds of images and/or short videos to include in your posts in order to engage your audience
• How to supply the right amount of information (in terms of frequency and length of posts) without overwhelming followers
• The most effective way to use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in conjunction with one another
• How to create social media ambassadors and encourage people to share your messages for you

The session will also provide tips on how to effectively utilize staff, volunteer and board support for social media in general and leading up to and during the giving day.  Participants will be given the opportunity to work in groups and will walk away with a completed planning worksheet to best prepare them for the 24-hour giving day in May.

Presented by Nonprofit Learning Point

Click here to register. 

So you don't have money to hire a graphic designer and you don’t even know what a style sheet is or how to get started.  This course is designed for nonprofits who need to make the most out of donated services and with little to no budget for marketing.

• We will review brand strategy and audience definition and cover the basics of marketing.
• We will learn tips, tools, and tricks to edit our own images and videos.
• We will review the basics of social media as a marketing tool.
• Everyone will leave class with a clear idea of their intended audience and a marketing strategy and plan.

This class is designed for people who have marketing in their "other duties as assigned" job description, development professionals, and any other professional looking to beef up their skills.