Nonprofit Support Program - Executive Management Institute 2026

Participant Contact List
Participant Bios
EMI Donor Database List 

Course Outline / Schedule

 

 

Presenter: Devon Dabbs & Melissa Harris, Fio Partners

Get to know your fellow EDs/CEOs and the work of their organizations through a creative exercise that receives consistently high marks from participants.

Design and implement a dynamic and effective organizational planning process that creates buy-in, fosters strategic decision-making, and moves your organization forward.

Handouts

PowerPoint Slides
Preparing to Plan Workbook
7 Considerations for Strategic Planning
Strategic Management Framework
Sample Implementation Tool
RFP Guideline
Consultant Directory Flyer
Scenario Planning Resource
Toolkit – Responding to the Moment
Strengthen Emotional Intelligence in Teams
Compass Points Team Reflection Worksheet
Cultivating a Network Leader Mindset, SSIR
William Bridges’ Transitions Model
Sample Implementation Planning Template
Data Strategic Planning

Presenter: Andy Robinson, Andy Robinson Consulting

The role of the executive director in building and engaging a healthy and effective board, managing board and staff roles and responsibilities, and creating a strong board/executive director partnership that strategically advances the organization’s mission.

PowerPoint Presentation
Agenda
Board Matrix
Board Job Description
CMLC Board Agreement
Financial Management Board Quiz
Cycle of Fundraising
GCH Fundraising Menu
Board FR Agreement
Action Planning Form
Paying Board Members

Presenter: Shari Pinsky Adams, Shari Adams Consulting

Key strategies for successful fund development, including building a donor-centered organization, fostering board and staff engagement, and creating a fund development plan that produces ownership and results.

PowerPoint Presentation

Resources:

The Fund Development Cycle
The Fund Development Cycle – A Worksheet

Resources for Writing Better Donor Thank You Letters
Lisa Sargent Thank You Letter Checklist
Use AI to Write Thank You Letters: A Prompt from Gail Perry
Donor Thank You Call Sample Script Template

Measuring Fundraising Effectiveness
Download the Toolkit

Culture of Philanthropy
Culture of Philanthropy Assessment
Action Steps for Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Culture of Philanthropy – An Example of Why it Matters

Further Reading on Culture of Philanthropy
“Beyond Fundraising: What it means to build a Culture of Philanthropy”
“Fundraising Bright Spots”

Community Centric Fundraising
Prioritize Communities – Reimagine Fundraising – https://communitycentricfundraising.org/
CCF Aligned Actions List
Maria Rio – The Highs and Lows of CCF in Practice
Adopting Community Centric Fundraising – Findings from a national study –  https://johnsoncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Adopting-Community-Centric-Fundraising_Practice-Guide.pdf
Vu Le – How Donor-Centrism Perpetuates Inequity, and Why We Must Move Toward Community-Centric Fundraising
Adrian Sargeant – Donor Centricity: Is It Still Fit For Purpose?

Infrastructure Resources
Gift Acceptance Policies & Procedures

Donor Database Resources
Donor Management Software Data Policies – Sample from Bloomerang
Keeping Your Nonprofit Donor Database Clean – Get Fully Funded Blog Post

Board Engagement in Fund Development
Individual Board Member Annual Engagement Plan
List of Activities for Engaging Board Members in Fund Development
Fundraising Communication ToolKit for Board Members, BoardSource

Role of Development Committee Template

Fund Development Planning
Development Calendar Template

AI
AI Prompt Examples for Nonprofits – https://bloomerang.com/resources/ai-prompt-library/

Donor Advised Funds
Strategies to Leverage Donor Advised Fund Philanthropy – FAQs

Contacts at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
Marcy Herlihy, Interim Director of Donor Experience
Reid DiRenzo, Community Philanthropy Officer

Planned Giving
Josh Kornberg, Vice President for Advancement

Bequests
Get Started with Bequest Fundraising
Planned Giving Toolkit

{VIDEO} How & Why to Ask Donors to Leave your Nonprofit in their Will – Without Fear & Anxiety – PowerPoint Handout

Presenter: Professor Russell James, J.D., PhD, CFP, Director of Graduate Studies in Charitable Planning, Texas Tech University

NSP Resources

 

Presenter: David Stolow, Boston University School of Business

Using the budgeting process to align resource allocation with organizational strategy, making board discussions about finance more inclusive and constructive, and using financial information to drive improvements in organizational performance.

PowerPoint Presentation
Key Ideas for Budgeting
Reports to Review and Questions to Ask

Presenter: Elena Ragusa, Drive Evaluation Studio

How to build your organization’s evaluation capacity and develop and sustain evaluative practices to better understand and communicate the results of your work.

Presentation Slides
Evaluation Planning Worksheet
Program Logic Model Template

Data Collection and Analysis
Data Collection ToolKit
Likert Response Choices Resource

Data Visualization and Storytelling
Chart Chooser 1
Chart Chooser 2
Quantitative Chart Chooser – evergreen
Do No Harm Guide

Presenter: Lyn Freundlich, Change4Good Consulting

How to live your organizational values through equitable HR practices, in the areas of hiring & onboarding, compensation & benefits, performance management, among others.

PowerPoint Slides

Handouts
Equitable HR Practices
Resources for Setting a Thriving Base Wage
Conducting Performance Reviews
Johari Window – Peer Supervisor Feedback Form
Supervisor’s Job Description
RoadMap – General Hiring Tips

Presenter: Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson, Partner, Robinson & Cole

Topics include employment, hiring, disability and discrimination, employee handbooks, discipline and discharge, wages and hours, and independent contractors.

Debrief the program with your fellow participants and Foundation staff, and celebrate at the graduation reception.