Human Resources Roundtables
Wednesdays, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 from 8–9:30 a.m.

A nonprofit’s greatest asset is often its staff, and managing, inspiring, and ensuring a healthy work environment is key to achieving results. HR Roundtables offer a monthly peer-learning forum for discussing difficult issues. Each roundtable will lead off with a short presentation by ESC volunteers, then be followed by open discussion.

Instructors: Ray Frankoski and Alan James, ESC Volunteers
Fee: $10
Locations:        September – Three Rivers Youth, 6117 Broad Street
                        October – The Children’s Museum, 10 Children’s Way
                        November – Urban Impact, 801 Union Place
                        December – Sharp Visions, 1425 Forbes Avenue, Suite 301

Activating Your Board
Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 1–3 p.m.

Building on the success of these organizations which excel at individual giving activities, we will have a lively dialogue about what moves board members and other volunteers to really get out there and fundraise! This conversation will be further enriched by fundraising best practices learned from the Grassroots Fundraising Journal. We will focus on strategies to motivate volunteers in advance of the Days of Giving to help build and strengthen each organization’s web of relationships so that individual giving grows as a percentage of budget.

Instructors: Peggy Morrison Outon, Bayer Center; Sister Sharon Costello and Beth Exton, Girls Hope; Joyce Rothermel, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank; Sylvester Pace, NEED
Fee: Free, but R.S.V.P. is required
Location: The Pittsburgh Foundation, Five PPG Place, Suite 250

So You Wanna Be a 501(c)(3)?
Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 5:30–8:30 p.m., OR
Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Setting up a 501(c)(3) involves a lot more than creating your website, opening your doors to clients and starting to fundraise. It’s a tricky and costly process, and it might not be the best choice right now. Learn about the incorporation process and alternatives that may be more appropriate, as well as non-profit governance and management issues and requirements. You’ll leave this class with homework, information and a template to guide you through the next steps.

Instructors: Yvonne VanHaitsma, Bayer Center; Bob Moll, ESC Volunteer; Jack Owen, Rhoades & Wodarczyk, LLC
Fee: $65 ($55 if payment is received one week prior to the class)

Building Up Your Database: Days of Giving and Beyond
Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m.

Simple if not easy: to raise money from individuals, you need to identify those you’re going to ask. While we can’t provide you with a magic solution, this session will help you focus practically on who might donate to your mission. We’ll cover what information to collect from individuals, how to set realistic goals for building the database both short-term before the Days of Giving and long-term after they’re over, strategies for gathering the names of those who already know you and love you, and tactics for acquiring new names of potential donors.

Instructors: Jeff Forster, Bayer Center; Kelly Uranker, Pittsburgh Foundation
Fee: Free, but R.S.V.P. is required
Location: The Pittsburgh Foundation, Five PPG Place, Suite 250

How to Get the Work Done When No One is Paid
Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 6–8 p.m.

Working in an all volunteer organization is rewarding and challenging. Learn from your peers what has worked and what helps keep everyone moving forward. Topics will include: volunteer recruitment and management, getting the word out, using technology, and developing a plan of action that is doable and focused.

Instructors: Yvonne VanHaitsma, Bayer Center; Megan Spak, Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library; Daisy Balawejder, Hello Bully; Terry Doloughty, Polish Hill Civic Association
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Sept. 15)

HR Fundamentals
Friday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m.–noon

Be sure that you are inspiring the best from your staff while also avoiding lawsuits and complying with state requirements. This session will cover performance appraisals, dealing with employee performance issues and employee disciplinary action. We will also provide participants with the essentials for an effective employee handbook, employee interviewing and new employee procedures. We will highlight federal/state wage and hour law provisions, posting requirements, whistle blower policies, and other nuts and bolts of the HR function.

Instructors: Ray Frankoski and Ed Vogeley, ESC Volunteers
Fee: $65 ($55 if paid by Sept. 17)

Effective Presentations
Thursday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m.–noon

There are few things more horrible than losing your audience. A narrative that lacks a human touch or a lack of audience interaction can contribute to wandering attention. In this workshop, we’ll focus on planning and executing a presentation with a specific goal to improve your audience’s level of knowledge and interest in your topic. We’ll discuss that optimal blend of facts and stories that make the experience memorable. Whether public speaking tops your list of fears or you want to take your presentation skills to the next level, this workshop will enhance your ability to present information in a way that engages your audience and moves them to action.

Instructor: Jeff Forster, Bayer Center
Fee: $65 ($55 if paid by Sept. 30)

Tipping Pittsburgh: A Conversation
About a Civic Culture that Challenges and Transforms
Monday, Oct. 18 from 6–8:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development (PPND), Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP), Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., and the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, have collaborated together to co-host an evening of lively conversation featuring Paul Vandeventer, President and CEO of the California-based Community Partners. Paul, a noted leader, thinker, and author, will offer insight from his book, Networks that Work, which encourages individuals to work together to advance their ideas for community change into sustained action. Paul’s presentation will be followed by an engaging panel discussion with some of our city’s key community stakeholders to share their perspectives on prioritizing a civic agenda for Pittsburgh for all attendees to consider meaningful engagement in our city’s future.

The evening will include a short reception with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Registration deadline is October 1, 2010.

Fee: Free, but R.S.V.P. is required
Location: Renaissance Hotel Ballroom, 107 Sixth Street, Downtown

Marketing on a Shoestring
Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 1–4 p.m.

Marketing strategies often fall by the wayside due to limited resources. Learn some easy ideas for developing a marketing plan that takes little funding to launch. Find ways to get the word out about your organization and get started Monday morning.

Instructor: Joyce Lewis Andrews, Girl Scouts Western PA
Fee: $65 ($55 if paid by Oct. 20)

Working with Our Foundation Allies
Friday, Oct. 15 from 9–11 a.m.

Generous gifts from foundations have often secured the future for regional nonprofits. In this time of financial uncertainty, foundation leaders are challenged to make every dollar count. Come reflect with some of our region’s most thoughtful foundation leaders about how they make their decisions.

Instructors: Peggy Morrison Outon, Bayer Center; Sylvia Fields, Eden Hall Foundation; Janet Sarbaugh, The Heinz Endowments
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Oct. 8, $75 for the entire 3-part "Allies" series)

Working with Our Corporate Allies
Friday, Oct. 22 from 9–11 a.m.

We’re not the only ones struggling: times are tough for our corporate allies, too. This session will explore what corporations really want (from us). Come talk about the prospects for corporate giving, how to make your organization the most likely recipient of corporate philanthropy, and ways that nonprofits and corporations can work together beyond just money.

Instructors: Scott Leff, Bayer Center; Rosemary Martinelli, WQED; Scott K. Hudson, Alcoa Foundation; Susan Kapusta, United States Steel Corporation
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Oct. 15, $75 for the entire 3-part "Allies" series)

Working with Our Government Allies
Friday, Oct. 29 from 9–11 a.m.

A strong partnership between government and the nonprofit sector is crucial. Nonprofits often serve as government partners, and the government’s policies and support is integral to our nonprofits’ ability to meet human needs. This session will feature perspectives from government leaders from the city, the county and the state. Bring your questions to this lively conversation with our government allies.

Instructors: Peggy Morrison Outon, Bayer Center; Councilman Patrick Dowd; Representative Jake Wheatley; Marc Cherna, Allegheny County Dept.of Human Services
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Oct. 22, $75 for the entire 3-part "Allies" series)

Shared Services
Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 9–11 a.m.

Wondering how you can save money and time by sharing or outsourcing your services? This workshop will look at models for sharing staff, space, technology, equipment, staff training, marketing, and advocacy at the state level. We’ll hear from people who have worked out the kinks and can share sample structures.

Instructors: Yvonne Van Haitsma, Bayer Center; Nancy Simpronio, The Human Resources Collaborative; Emily Buka, Riverside Center for Innovation; Marilyn Jenkins, Allegheny County Library Association; Jeff Mascara, Southwestern PA Human Services
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Oct. 27)

Ask! The Essential Fundraising Skill
Wednesdays, Nov. 3, 10, 17 from 4–7 p.m.

“The ask”… why are we so afraid of it? Here’s your chance to practice the art of the ask with a master fundraiser. In this three-part series, you’ll learn how to ask for the gift, with an emphasis on face-to-face appeals to foundation officers, corporation representatives and individuals.

Instructor: Dave Brewton, Coalition for Christian Outreach
Fee: $180 ($165 if paid by Oct.27)

Developing Logic Models for Program Planning and Evaluation
Thursday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Logic models are the gold standard of program development and service evaluation among nonprofits and their funders. How do you know that you’re meeting your goals? Are you sure you’re reaching the right constituents? In the morning, you’ll learn to create a logic model for your program that helps you plan and evaluate, and provides your funders with the information they want, too. In the afternoon, learn how to work with indicators and develop a data collection plan to get the best information about how well your model is working and where it may need improvement.

Instructors: Maria Zeglen Townsend, Ph.D., Townsend Associates LLC;Sheila Bell, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Fee: $125 ($115 if paid by Oct. 30)

Proposals that Get the Grant
Friday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m.–noon

Take that great idea and get it funded! But how? This class explores the indispensable principles of writing winning proposals: developing a strategic approach to funders, what you need to know before you start writing, the basic elements of successful proposals, and what you need to communicate.

Instructor: Teresa Gregory, Point Park University
Fee: $65 ($55 if paid by Nov. 5)

Putting Legs on Your Logic Model
Thursday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The logic model is a versatile tool, but often times it sits on the shelf collecting dust. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to dust off that logic model and bring it to class. We’ll explore how to use the logic model for strategic planning and specific program planning within your agency.  Lecture will be used to provide direction, but be prepared to work individually and in small groups as you learn how to make the logic model work for you and your agency. Please bring four copies of your completed logic model, knowledge of your program/agency’s resources, and the desire to put your logic model to work.

Instructors: Maria Zeglen Townsend, Ph.D., Townsend Associates LLC; Sheila Bell, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Fee: $125 ($115 if paid by Nov. 11)

Working Across Generations
Friday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m.–noon

Each generation shakes its head in wonder at every other one. But the truth is that our generational diversity can be the source of great creativity and collaborative richness. Bring multiple staff to this session as we “cross the ages” and look at ways to work with and serve our youngers and our elders most effectively. This class is always fun as we explore the cultural and personality quirks that define the times in which we were born.

Instructors: Scott Leff, Bayer Center; Carolyn Kerr, Communications
Fee: $65 ($55 if paid by Nov. 26)

Get Your Stories Straight
Monday, Dec. 6 and Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 10–11 a.m. (WEBINAR)

Arm yourself and your staff with the material that will come in handy when it’s time to introduce people to your mission and story. This workshop will help you craft your one-sentence overview, an emblematic story you can tell in 15 minutes and a more detailed half-hour presentation. Learn how to keep all three lively and make sure your audience remembers what you want them to remember.

Instructor: Jeff Forster, Bayer Center
Fee: $40 ($30 if paid by Nov. 29)

Pinpoint Planning Clinic
60-minute sessions available by appointment

Tired of spending too much time and precious resources trying to figure out how to best improve your nonprofit? Consider using PinPoint Planning™, a tailored and time-limited approach that provides quick analysis of critical operations in the following areas: finances and financial management, fundraising, human resources, legal issues, governance, and technology.  Each PinPoint Planning™ tool is a type of audit that will take organizations about an hour to complete. It provides executives and boards with concrete information about practice gaps so that their organization can focus its resources on specific areas needing improvement instead of a complete overhaul. Organizations receive an internal assessment to complete and return. The Bayer Center will assign an Executive Service Corps volunteer professional from the relevant field to review your materials and then meet with you for a working session. After your face-to-face meeting, you’ll receive a report containing a number of concrete, actionable suggestions to enhance your current operations. This program was developed by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management in partnership with the United Way of Allegheny County.

Instructors: ESC Volunteers
Fee: $50

HR Clinic
60-minute sessions available by appointment

Do your HR policies need updating? Is expansion requiring more staff, more new job descriptions and more care in treating everyone fairly? Maybe you’re facing layoffs or have a pregnant staffer and no maternity policy. We help you with these and other issues, including:

• Creating better performance appraisals
• Improving employee relations
• Restructuring benefits and compensation

The session is for any staff person with HR oversight. Bring your HR materials including employee handbook, performance appraisal form and anything else HR-related to your appointment.

Instructor: Ray Frankoski, ESC Volunteer
Fee: $50

Employee Handbook Clinic
60-minute sessions available by appointment

Is your employee handbook up to date? Does it include all the vital elements? Does its wording comply with wage and hour laws? Is it truly the employee information source that you would like it to be? We can help you get the answers to these questions and help you to modify and update your employee handbook as needed. During the clinic, we will do a complete review of your handbook and point out the sections which are missing or require revisions.

Instructor: Ray Frankoski, ESC Volunteer
Fee: $50

Emerging Organizations Clinic
60-minute sessions available by appointment

Thinking of starting a nonprofit? We’ll give you one-on-one guidance with the next steps–whether it is more research, looking into fiscal sponsorship, or reviewing an exemption application. We’ll guide you through different options and the decision making process.

Instructor: ESC Volunteers
Fee: $50

Storytelling Clinic
60-minute sessions available by appointment

Stories that capture the essence of your organization’s mission can be powerful tools for enlisting support. If you know that your organization does great work but you lack those two or three stories that help to explain it to outsiders, come work on your stories with one-on-one structured help. Although storytelling is a creative act, all good stories have specific ingredients. An outsider to serve as guide and first audience can hone your stories into compelling tools in your communication strategy. Note: This clinic - unlike the others - may be done by phone if travel proves inconvenient.

Instructor: Jeff Forster, Bayer Center
Fee: $50

Governance Classes

Recruiting and Retaining the Peak-Performing Board
Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m.–noon

Where do eager, energetic and enthusiastic board members come from? How do you locate, interest and engage them? Attend this lively, interactive session and learn how to build and constantly nurture a passionately committed, highly effective and thoroughly engaged board of directors. By the end of the workshop attendees will learn how to: