Nonprofit Support Program Workshops

Workshops, webinars, training series, and other learning opportunities from Greater Hartford Gives Foundation’s Nonprofit Support Program.

About Our Workshops

Geared primarily toward nonprofit executive directors/CEOs and board leaders, the Nonprofit Support Program’s free workshops and webinars are designed to deepen your learning and development in key areas of nonprofit management, leadership and governance. NSP’s workshops are free and available to nonprofits that serve Greater Hartford Gives’ 29-town region.

In partnership with NSP, Hartford Public Library offers basic nonprofit management workshops at no cost. Any nonprofit may register to attend here.  To see previously recorded workshops, click here.

What We Offer

We offer a range of opportunities to learn from experts in the field, as well as your peers, about how best to effectively lead, manage and govern your organization.

See each of the offerings below to learn more about details and eligibility. Contact the NSP team if you wish to participate in any of our offerings.

Upcoming Workshops

Upcoming Workshops and Webinars

Geared primarily toward executive directors/CEOs and board leaders of area nonprofits, these sessions address key nonprofit management and board issues relevant to your leadership role. Topics include strategic planning, board performance, fund development, financial management, human resources, technology, legal issues and more.

Exploring Strategic Alliances
Could your organization advance its mission more effectively by partnering with others?

PowerPoint Slides
Recording
Strategic Alliance Resources

 

For Executive Directors/CEOs, Senior Staff, and Board Members
(We encourage you to attend as a team)

Nonprofits often form relationships with one another to advance a common purpose. The depth of these strategic alliances ranges from casual coordination to formal collaboration to consolidation. Alliances can be used to grow reach, resources, and community impact; protect vital services; or transfer them responsibly.

In each case, there is a unique opportunity to build a structure for a true win-win-win: benefits for each organization involved and, ultimately, for the communities they serve.

During this session, we’ll explore:

  • Clarifying your “why” for partnership
  • A high-level overview of the range of options
  • Preparing your organization to partner.


Presenters:  Anne Yurasek, Principal, and Melissa Harris, Director of Service Development, Fio Partners.

Giving and Receiving Constructive Feedback – an interactive, participatory session

PowerPoint Slides
Worksheet Packet
Recording

 

Thursday, April 16, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.  – On Zoom

For Nonprofit Leaders and Supervisors

While most leaders recognize the importance of feedback, few are truly comfortable receiving it, and fewer are able to give it with ease. In this session we look at barriers to receiving feedback, and how to develop strategies for overcoming them. We will also consider and practice, approaches for providing feedback under different conditions.

In this highly participatory session, participants will:

  • Understand the value of soliciting feedback and learn approaches to building this into their supervisory practice
  • Discover the barriers to receiving constructive feedback and ways to manage them
  • Learn approaches for providing feedback for learning as well as feedback directed at behavior change
  • Have opportunities to practice giving and receiving feedback


Presenter:  Lyn Freundlich, Change4Good Consulting.

 

PowerPoint
Recording
Worksheet Packet

Thursday, May 21, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.  – On Zoom

For Executive Directors/CEOs and Program Staff
(We encourage you to attend as a small team)

You know evaluation matters, but your organization might not always have the time, resources or bandwidth to do it as robustly as you’d like.  In this workshop, we will discuss lower-lift evaluation strategies to get the most out of the data you’re probably already collecting, including client records and application or intake data; designing quick pulse surveys to check in on progress; and building basic evaluation practices for your team. We’ll explore practical, right-sized approaches that meet your organization where it is, so evaluation feels less like an added burden and more like a natural part of how you work. Perfect for nonprofits that want to be more data-informed but aren’t sure where to start, this session will leave you with concrete, low-burden ideas you can put into practice.


Presenter: Elena Tamanas Ragusa, Drive Evaluation Studio

PowerPoint
Recording
Session Chat Transcript – edited


Thursday, June 11, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – On Zoom

For Executive Directors/CEOs and Program Staff
(We encourage you to attend as a small team)

This participatory workshop will explain what AI can and can’t do, navigate major AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini), and help you write effective prompts in order to get the best results. The session will also highlight ethical and responsible uses of AI such as protecting sensitive data and recognizing common sources of bias in AI outputs. You will also engage in hands-on activities that allow you to use AI tools in a practical application related to your work.

Attendance is limited to 50 participants, so please register only if you know you can attend. Limit 2 people per organization.

Presenter: Jasmine Daly, Principal Consultant & Founder, Daly Analytics

Training Series

These multi-session training series provide more in-depth learning, and often include follow-up consultation tailored to the needs of your organization. Some of these programs are exclusively for executive directors/CEOs or senior leaders. Others require participation from agency teams so that learning is spread across the organization.

This multi-session program exclusively for Executive Directors provides a comprehensive overview of nonprofit management and board issues relevant to the executive director’s leadership role. Participants learn from highly skilled and knowledgeable national presenters in a variety of fields, gain skills and knowledge to deal with leadership challenges, and develop a network of peers with whom to learn and share ideas.

By combining group workshops with individualized consultation, this program helps agencies strengthen their boards’ effectiveness and performance. The program allows teams of executive directors and board members to better understand and negotiate their respective roles and responsibilities, strengthen the board’s ability to provide adequate resources for the organization, and become more engaged in helping the organization to fulfill its mission.

Visit our Boards page for additional resources.

The Fundraising Training Program aims to provide a meaningful and scientifically-based foundation of fundraising knowledge to position you and your nonprofit for future fundraising success.  The program is designed to build your nonprofit’s knowledge of fund development, and strengthen your board and staff fund development team.

It consists of:

  1. Four Group Convenings for staff and board teams to learn together about fund development concepts applicable for the successful implementation of a fund development program
  2. Individual Coaching from an experienced fundraising consultant to help you apply your learning.

Visit our Fundraising & Marketing page for other resources.

By combining group workshops with individualized consultation, this program helps provide an understanding of and strategic framework for human resources best practices. Your organization will learn to build successful supervisory practices; design strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse, qualified employees and volunteers; and come to understand employment laws and regulations.

Visit our Human Resources page for additional resources.

NSP’s Financial Management Training Program offers nonprofit leadership teams an opportunity to learn to better understand, communicate and oversee their organization’s finances.

This free program runs for approximately four months and is offered periodically, based on demand. You must apply and be accepted in order to participate.

Visit the Managing Finances page to learn more.

NSP’s Strategic Technology Program enables your organization to:

  • Attend our Technology Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders workshop
  • Work with a technology consultant to develop a multi-year strategic technology plan
  • Apply for a Strategic Technology Grant to implement projects identified in your plan

Our Strategic Technology program is offered periodically. You must apply and be accepted in order to participate.

Visit the Technology page to learn more.

We recognize that departing your organization requires support, tools, and know-how. The Thresholds Program offers two distinct cohorts – one for Executive Directors/CEOs retiring from their organizations, and the other for Executive Directors/CEOs continuing on in their careers. These programs offer executives the opportunity to learn about effective practices to prepare for leadership departure.

The Thresholds Programs will help you to answer these questions and more:

  • When and how do I share the news that I have decided to leave my organization?
  • What are best practices in wrapping up my time with my organization?
  • Is the board ready to handle this?
  • How do I support my staff as I ready myself to leave?

Visit our Leadership Development or CEO Transition pages for additional resources.

Leaders’ Circles

We facilitate several Leaders Circles to provide Greater Hartford executive directors/CEOs and senior leaders a place to strengthen their ability to successfully lead their organizations and support each other. Visit our Leadership Development page for additional resources.

The EMI Leaders Circle is exclusively for graduates of the Executive Management Institute (EMI) workshop series, and consists of monthly group sessions and individualized coaching.

The Advanced Leaders Circle is for seasoned executive directors/CEOs, and consists of monthly group sessions and individualized coaching.

The Senior Leaders Circle is for leaders at the level just below the CEO, and consists of monthly group sessions and individualized coaching.

2025 Workshops

Invitations to our workshops are sent to nonprofit executive directors/CEOs prior to each workshop. Email mkelly@greaterhartfordgives.org to request workshop registration information, add or update your contact information, or suggest a workshop topic or presenter.

Managing and Fundraising in these Challenging Times (In-Person) – for Staff and Board Leaders – Thursday, September 25, 8:30 a.m. to Noon

Powerpoint 

Handouts
Matrix Map Quadrants
MacMillian Matrix Rephrased
Collaborative Spectrum
Income Diversification Form
Financial Dashboard
Contingency Budget Sample
Contingency Budget Worksheet

In this challenging moment, there are specific steps you can take to prioritize core programs, raise money differently, plan for various scenarios, and partner more effectively with peers. Join us for an interactive, in-person workshop and conversation about: Program planning and protecting core programs Contingency planning and budgeting for various scenarios Diversifying your income Collaboration with peers and partners, including shared fundraising Presenter: Andy Robinson, Andy Robinson Consulting, LLC and Train Your Board

Mastering Critical Conversations to Solve Complex Problems, Foster Collaboration, and Improve Staff Engagement and Retention – an interactive session on Zoom

For Executive Directors/CEOs and their teams Tuesday, October 21, 9:00 a.m. to Noon

PowerPoint Presentation
Generative Conversations Worksheet (Word doc)
Generative Conversations Worksheet (PDF)

This highly interactive workshop, rooted in the acclaimed Generative Listening framework featured in a TEDx Talk, will unlock your innate ability to shape transformative conversations that profoundly increase the capacity of your team to strengthen internal and external relationships to better manage change and innovation, break down silos, and make better decisions. As a result of this program, you will learn to:

  • Break down silos and foster genuine collaboration by creating an environment where all perspectives are truly heard and valued.
  • Solve complex problems and make more informed decisions by accessing deeper insights and understanding underlying dynamics.
  • Accelerate innovation and change by cultivating a listening space where new ideas can emerge and be nurtured.
  • Improve employee engagement, productivity, and retention by fostering a culture of feeling heard, understood, and valued.
  • Strengthen critical internal and external relationships by building deeper trust and rapport through powerful listening.

Presenter: Brent Robertson, Be Generative

A Theory of Change is a simple but powerful tool that helps your team get clear on what you’re trying to achieve, and how you’ll get there. It helps you plan programs that are actually connected to your goals, and helps you measure how your work is making a difference. Through real-world examples and practical exercises, we will explore how to develop a theory of change for your organization’s programming, and equip you to undertake this important strategic exercise with your team.

Part 1 – Building a Theory of Change –  Friday, October 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – on Zoom
PowerPoint
Recording
Homework – Theory of Change

Part 2 – Translating your Theory of Change into measurable, actionable evaluation components – Tuesday, November 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – on Zoom

Organizations should only register if they can attend both sessions. Presenter: Elena Tamanas Ragusa, PsyD, President and Founder of Drive Evaluation Studio

A Theory of Change is a simple but powerful tool that helps your team get clear on what you’re trying to achieve, and how you’ll get there. It helps you plan programs that are actually connected to your goals, and helps you measure how your work is making a difference. Through real-world examples and practical exercises, we will explore how to develop a theory of change for your organization’s programming, and equip you to undertake this important strategic exercise with your team.

Part 1 – Building a Theory of Change  – Friday, October 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – on Zoom

Part 2 – Translating your Theory of Change into measurable, actionable evaluation components – Tuesday, November 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – on Zoom
PowerPoint
Recording

Organizations should only register if they can attend both sessions. Presenter: Elena Tamanas Ragusa, PsyD, President and Founder of Drive Evaluation Studio

Beyond the Gift – From Year-End Donors to Loyal Supporters: The Power of Donor Retention – On Zoom

Wednesday, December 3, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

PowerPoint Presentation
Recording

Resources

Fundraising Effectiveness Project
Thank You Letter Resources

  • (Scroll to the bottom for a Thank You Letter Checklist)

Donor-Centric Content Tool (Free!)
Best Practices – Online Fundraising and Donation Pages
Charitable Contributions: Substantiation & Disclosure Requirement (See page 4 for requirements under Goods & Services for token exception)

Year-end giving often brings a wave of generosity, but how do you ensure those donors stick around? Donor retention isn’t just good stewardship—it’s the key to sustainable fundraising. This workshop will unpack why keeping your current donors is more cost-effective and impactful than constantly finding new ones. Learn how strong retention strategies build lasting relationships and increase donor lifetime value. This session will provide practical tools to boost your nonprofit’s donor retention rate and turn one-time donors into lifelong supporters.

This workshop will cover:

  • What donor retention is, and how to maintain relationships with your existing donors to secure their ongoing support
  • Proven strategies to retain both repeat and firsttime donors
  • How to involve both board and staff in improving your organization’s donor retention rate

Presenter: Shari Adams, Shari Adams Consulting

April 30, Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom

PowerPoint Presentation
Recording

For Executive Directors, Board Members, Senior Staff
During this session, we will briefly review the current political landscape and its effect on nonprofits. We will focus on what nonprofits can proactively do to build strength in the face of these external pressures, with an emphasis on board governance and human resources and operations. Topics will include: the basics of board compliance including proper financial oversight; employment law compliance including personnel matters; and issues to consider when planning for an uncertain future.

Presenters:  Sara Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Partnership, and
Jen Fournier, Founder, Racebrook Consulting.

PowerPoint
Recording

Resources

Designated Funds for Nonprofit Organizations
Organizational Readiness for an Endowment Program
Nonprofit Endowment Fund Expectations
Charitable Gift Annuities
Estate and Busines Planning Council of Hartford
Charitable Gift Planners of CT

Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.on Zoom

Have you or your board wondered whether you should build an endowment?

If so, this workshop will help you better understand:

  • What an endowment is, and what it does and does not accomplish
  • How an endowment would fit within your fund development program
  • How to determine if and when you are ready to build an endowment
  • How endowment funds are raised, and what alternative options exist
  • The Hartford Foundation’s role in supporting nonprofit endowments

Presenters: Hollis Dorman, Consultant; and Susan Dana, Director of Development, Major Gifts, Hartford Foundation.

Tuesday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

PowerPoint Slides
Strategic Alliances Resources
Fiscal Sponsorship Guide

(Only for nonprofits with annual budgets under $3 million)

Join Fio Partners for a full-day, in-person workshop tailored for smaller nonprofits (annual budgets under $3 million) who want to explore the purposes and types of strategic alliances — from loose coordination to formal collaborations to joint structures and mergers. Leave with an understanding of when and why you might consider a partnership, tools to help you assess your contexts and options, and guidance around how to navigate the process.

Presenters:  Anne Yurasek, Principal, and Melissa Harris, Director of Service Development, Fio Partners.

February 26 AND March 26
For Executive Directors/CEOs, Staff and Board Members

Presenter: Elena Tamanas Ragusa, PsyD, President and Founder of Drive Evaluation Studio

Session 1: Foundations of Evaluative Thinking for Organizational Success
Evaluative thinking is the practice of asking thoughtful questions about what we do and why we do it to improve the effectiveness of our work. We will explore the fundamental principles of evaluative thinking and how to embed them into your organizational culture.
PowerPoint, Recording
Homework Assignment – Modified Evaluative Thinking Assessment

Session 2: Putting Evaluative Thinking into Practice
Building on Session 1 and an organizational assessment that participants will complete between sessions, Session 2 focuses on practical application and integration of evaluative thinking into select daily operations.
PowerPoint, Recording

Resources:
Evaluative Thinking Templates

Thursday, January 30, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom

PowerPoint Handout
Insurance Brokerage Firms Providing Services in CT
Recording

Most nonprofits have too much or too little insurance coverage, or are paying too much for the coverage they need. This basic overview of nonprofit insurance will cover:

  • Most common types of coverage
  • How to determine your coverage needs
  • How to reduce insurance costs
  • What to look for in a broker
  • How to be a good client
  • The process to get a quote

Presenters:  Jodi Segal, Big Change Consulting and Phillip Shelby, Charity One Insurance Agency

“It was, in fact, the single most useful learning experience I’ve had in 30 years of nonprofit work. I’ll be spending the next year or two implementing everything I got out of this event.”

Past Workshops By Category

Recordings and materials from previous workshops:

 

Click here to find recordings, PowerPoints, and materials from past workshops.

How your Board and Staff Can Create Accountability and Transparency and Avoid Legal and Ethical Pitfalls (June 2024)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Setting Your Board Up For Success (October 2025)

Getting Started on Your DEI Journey: A Primer for Nonprofits (November 2020)

Innovative Survey and Data Collection Techniques to Help You Evaluate and Improve Programs, and Inform Decision Making – 2 Part Series

Part 1: Mastering Practical Surveys for Effective Data Collection (October 2024)

Part 2: Exploring “Off the Beaten Path” Data Collection Methods (November 2024)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Small Steps, Big Impact: Practical Program Evaluation for Nonprofits – December 2024

What Every Board Member Should Know About Financial Management …and Probably Doesn’t (May 2024)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Introduction to Nonprofit Budgeting (November 2024)

How & Why to Ask Donors to Leave Your Nonprofit in their Will – Without Fear or Anxiety (June 2023)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Introduction to Resource Mobilization:   Building A Sustainable Donor Base (October 2025)

Introduction to Candid Resources: Foundation Directory and GuideStar (October 2024)

The Role of Staff-Care in Effective Leadership (for EDs / CEOs) (January 2022)

The Role of Staff-Care in Effective Leadership (for EDs / CEOs) (January 2022)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Aligning Leadership With Purpose (July 2025)

Leading Through Ambiguity and Change (June 2025)

Exploring Organizational and Leadership Lifecycles (April 2025)

How your Board and Staff Can Create Accountability and Transparency and Avoid Legal and Ethical Pitfalls (June 2024)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Successfully Transitioning from a Volunteer Only to a Staffed Organization – Two-Part Series

Part 1: How do we know we are ready to hire staff? – February 2024

Part 2: We’ve decided to hire our first staff person! What are the initial legal and compliance issues we need to know? (March 2024)

Telling Our Stories – How Nonprofits Can Craft Compelling Narratives – September 2023

Building Genuine Connections: How to Craft a Compelling Brand Story – February 2023

Comprehensive Planning for Successful Facilities Projects (March 2023)

Getting the Most From Your Consultant Engagements (February 2022)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Exploring Organizational and Leadership Lifecycles (April 2025)

How Succession Planning Builds Organizational Sustainability (December 2022)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Helping Your Nonprofit Thrive: Succession Planning and Executive Transitions (April 2024)

Nonprofits and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Benefits, Uses and Cautionary Tales (November 2023)

 

Hartford Public Library – Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

Tech Tools and Techniques to Boost Efficiency (February 2025)

Consultant Workshops

NSP also convenes consultants who work with nonprofits in the Hartford region. We provide a forum for them to exchange ideas, experiences and expertise with each other, and we deliver workshops that impart useful skills and tools to improve their practices.

Email nsp@greaterhartfordgives.org to join our mailing list!

Want to start learning right now?

Visit the main Nonprofit Support Program page and browse the “How can we help?” section for resources on numerous aspects of nonprofit management and leadership.

Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops

The Nonprofit Support Program (NSP) partners with the Hartford Public Library to co-host a series of free workshops and trainings that help nonprofit leaders build strong, sustainable organizations.  These sessions are designed for small and emerging organizations and offer practical, fundamentals-focused learning across core areas of nonprofit management, such as budgeting and financial practices, board governance, fundraising/resource development, and data literacy.  Together NSP and the Library aim to strengthen nonprofit’s capacity to manage and govern effectively while connecting leaders to helpful tools and resources.  To see previously recorded workshops click here.

Contact the Nonprofit Support Program team at:

Phone: 860-548-1888