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Nonprofit Events & Opportunities in January and February 2020

agenda on table

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Valentine’s Day aren’t the only days worth recognizing in January and February. I like to help spread the word about all the awesome events, awards, and grants available in Iowa. There are so many great opportunities for nonprofit pros, board members, volunteers, and donors, that range from seminars to galas. But, life is busy, and it can be hard to keep track of what you should register for or put on your calendar. That’s why I compiled a list for your convenience!

Learning Seminars, Trainings, & Workshops

  • 1/9/20; 1/23/20; 2/6/20; 2/20/20; 3/5/20 – Hosted by Volunteer Iowa: “The online Volunteer Management series will enhance best practices training and provide a consistent curriculum to be used within your organization. The webinar series is live, interactive, and the online classes are presented by leading experts across the state. Registration fee to attend all six sessions: $125.”
  • 1/15/20 – Head to Cedar Rapids for “Nonprofit Know-How: Grants at the Community Foundation in 2020.” A taco bar followed by a panel discussion to offer insights about the grantmaking process at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Panelists include a former grant committee member, a former grant writer, and Community Foundation Program Officers. The event will also include a review 2020 grant opportunities at the Community Foundation for local charitable nonprofits that provide services in Linn County.
  • 1/21/20- At the Des Moines Fundraising Institute’s “Capital Campaigns I” class, participants will develop a framework for building a successful campaign that includes planning, timelines, and resources. This session will explore feasibility studies, hiring outside counsel, and creating a case statement for the campaign.
  • 1/22/20- Nonprofit staff and volunteers who have social media and digital marketing duties or those who are interested in exploring social media may want to register for “How to Succeed in Social Media in 2020 and Beyond” at Junior Achievement in Des Moines.
  • 1/28/20- Nonprofit professionals (executive directors, program staff and others) that train adult learners may want to register for “Train the Trainer” session covering everything that goes into planning a successful training session. Attendees will receive all the slides, handouts and a Train the Trainers toolkit. Morning coffee, snacks and lunch will be provided.
  • 2/17/19- At the Des Moines Fundraising Institute’s “Capital Campaigns II” class, attendees will focus on the implementation of the plan including the private and public phases of the campaign, unrestricted and restricted giving (purpose and time), pledge payments, and complex gift vehicles including blended gifts.
  • 2/29/20 – “Equity by Design: Using Equity-Centered Community Design to Co-Create Community-Engaged Projects” workshop will be hosted at Grinnell College by Iowa Campus Connect. The workshop is open to faculty, staff, community members/organizations, and students interested in beginning to develop a framework for their own collaborative community projects.

Events

Grants/Scholarships

  • 1/24/20 – Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact is seeking host sites for next year’s VISTA Community Corps program, which strives to eliminate poverty through community-campus partnerships by placing full-time capacity-building support in nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Deadline for applications is January 24.
  • 1/31/20- Applications are due at the end of January for the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, which connects community-minded high school juniors and seniors with paid summer internships with local nonprofits and a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
  • 1/31/20- Each year, dsmHack holds a 48-hour hackathon to help a local nonprofit organization solve their technology problems. This flagship event connects technology enthusiasts including developers, designers, and project managers and partners them with nonprofits selected through an application process. Nonprofit applications are open through January 31.
  • 2/28/20 – Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants fund small-to-medium-sized projects with grants ranging from $100 to $99,999. These grants support qualified organizations seeking to improve the lives of those in their communities. Submissions are due by February 28.

There are so many great events and opportunities for nonprofits and the people that advance them that there is no doubt I missed some in the list above. Don’t hesitate to email me at gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com to notify GFLF of any upcoming nonprofit-focused events and opportunities in the coming months.

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Nonprofit Events & Opportunities in April 2019

blackboard

April Fool’s and Easter aren’t the only days to look forward to in April! I like to help spread the word about all the awesome events, awards, and grants available in Iowa. There are so many great opportunities for nonprofit pros, board members, volunteers, and donors, that range from webinars to workshops. But, life is busy, and it can be hard to keep track of what you should register for or put on your calendar. That’s why I compiled a list for your convenience!

Learning Seminars, Trainings, & Workshops

  • 4/2- For those on the western side of the state of Iowa, young professionals can take advantage of the opportunity to learn about what it means to serve on a nonprofit board at this Board Training (in Omaha) presented by Share Omaha.
  • 4/3- Still not sure how search engine optimization can help your nonprofit, or what it is? Cedar Falls-based Red Lab Technologies will be helping the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Marketing Meet Up group get answers and solutions to these questions and more.
  • 4/4- Attend the Central Iowa Chapter of Grant Professionals Association, “In It to Win It – Grant Writing, Management, and Everything in Between” workshop at DMACC. Pro grant trainers Johna Rodgers, GPC, and Amanda Day, GPC, share their knowledge of grant writing, management, and other topics.
  • 4/4- The Minnesota Planned Giving Council will lead community foundation participants in a one-day seminar through the nuts and bolts of planned giving instruments and strategies at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens. Registration is $25 per participant.
  • 4/9- Cedar Valley Nonprofit Association is hosting SuperSTAR Supervision to enhance your professional skill repertoire while heightening the intentionality of your supervision through the sharing of tips and strategies to make you a S.T.A.R. in your most important role. Presenter: Dr. Beth Triplett, Leadership Dots.
    Free for CVNA members/$25 non-members.
  • 4/9- The Association of Fundraising Professionals Eastern Iowa Chapter is hosting a program highlighting the Eastern Iowa successes with giving circles that reflect the generosity of community members and may offer insights into giving preferences of a relatively untapped demographic. Learn more from Leighton Smith, who helped found the Hawkeye Chapter of 100+ Men Who Care, which surpassed $500,000 in total cash contributions this past November.
  • 4/15- Hosted by World Renew in Pella, “Helping that Helps” workshop attendees will hear stories from practitioners, best practices from each other, and be inspired to confidently partner both locally and globally in a way that provides hope instead of unintended harm.
  • 4/25- For the quarterly membership meeting of the Iowa Council of Foundations, head to NewBoCo for an interactive session on how Power Moves can help you redefine risk to more effectively build, share and wield power for equity and justice.
  • 4/30- Here’s a great event in Des Moines: “A Fairytale for Fundraising: Storytelling Strategies to Inspire Donations.” The workshop is for nonprofit staff and board members who want to make a connection between marketing and development functions, lead fundraising or promotional efforts for the organization or want to gain a better understanding of how they can be an ambassador for their organization by telling the story of impact and opportunity. The cost to attend is $30 and the event will be held at Junior Achievement in Des Moines.

Events

  • 4/4- UNI’s Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association hosts the15th Annual Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards Luncheon to recognize the contributions of local nonprofits and nonprofit leaders.
  • 4/5- Put a spring in your step with eight rounds of trivia in Iowa City to benefit a community non-profit, the Antelope Lending Library Bookmobile.
  • 4/6- Join the Clinton Committee at the 24th Annual Clinton Benefit: Red, White, and Blue make wishes come true to benefit Make-A-Wish Iowa.
  • 4/6- Hops for Housing is a fund- and awareness-raising event at NewBo City Market to benefit Willis Dady Homeless Services, which provides shelter and prevention services to homeless and near-homeless households in Linn County. The event will feature beers from 35-40 local, state, national, and international breweries. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
  • 4/12- Eastern Iowa Corridor wine and beer tasting event, Uncork A Wish, returns to Cedar Rapids. All proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish Iowa to help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
  • 4/25- Attend the spring banquet benefiting the Dubuque Dream Center. The theme is Impacting Youth. In the keynote, “Telling Our Story,” teachers, parents & students will share how the Dubuque Dream Center has impacted lives and the Dubuque community. An individual ticket for this event is $75 and a table of 8 is $600.
  • 4/26- Putts for Prevention is an exciting and fun nine hole putt-putt course located at all of your favorite downtown eateries in Cedar Rapids. Your day will start at Greene Square Park and follow the course of restaurants and bars. The best part? The proceeds will go to Foundation 2 and support crisis services and suicide prevention efforts.

Grants

First Day of the Season: Spring Ahead with Nonprofit Success

There are so many great events and opportunities for nonprofits and the people that advance them that there is no doubt I missed some in the list above. If you would like to notify GFLF of any upcoming nonprofit-focused events and opportunities in the coming months, don’t hesitate to email me at gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com.

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Need a Speaker? Drop Me a Line!

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Gordon Fischer speaking at event

One aspect of running my own firm that I love is getting out and teaching groups of people. Just like mission, my presentations center on maximizing charitable giving. Be it through estate planning education, nonprofit board training, or sharing tools and resources for professional advisors, I’m always open to speaking at different organizations and events across the state of Iowa.

Gordon Fischer speaking at event

Here’s an example of a presentation I gave in a workshop open to the public, entitled “Basics of Estate Planning.” This presentation on clauses to include in an executive’s contract was focused toward a different audience—nonprofit employers. And just in case those samples weren’t enough, here’s a presentation I gave to my fellow estate planners on effectively including digital assets in plans. Of course, I modify my content so it’s applicable to the event, organization, and audience.

So, if you’re in need of a speaker on any topic related to my core services, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com or give me a call at 515-371-6077 to discuss your upcoming event and potential speaking topics.

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Free Workshop April 26: Basics of Estate Planning

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Gordon Fischer Basics of Estate Planning Workshop

Let’s be honest, estate planning isn’t the most enticing topic to spend your free time on. The last thing you want to do after a long week at work is to dive into the depths of the internet to attempt to understand what an estate plan actually is and why you need one. Even if you do get that far, it’s hard to know where even to begin to start making an estate plan. Can you write one yourself? Do you have to hire a lawyer? What information do you even need?

Lucky for you, estate planning is one of my passions and what I spend a good deal of time and focus on while achieving the mission of Gordon Fischer Law Firm: To promote and maximize charitable giving in Iowa.

Gordon Fischer Law Firm mission

On April 26 at 325 E Washington St, Iowa City (in the large conference room on the 1st floor), I’ll take the mystery and complicated leg work out of estate planning. We’ll keep it simple and easy to understand while we cover:

  1. Five major reasons you need an estate plan
  2. Six “must have” estate planning documents
  3. Seven common mistakes in estate planning (and how to avoid them!)

Bring your questions and I’ll stick around after the presentation until all questions are answered.

The hour-long workshop is free and open to the public. A light lunch will be served.

It’s been approved for one hour of CFP credit for financial planners AND for one-hour of CLE for Iowa lawyers.

Please RSVP to gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com. 

Choose “going” on the Facebook event and invite your friends, co-workers, and family to join you!

Can’t make it to the event, but still want to learn more? Contact me at any time via email at gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com or phone at 515-371-6077.

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