Fundamental Nonprofit Management Workshops in Partnership with Hartford Public Library

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.

2026 Upcoming Workshops

Intro to Data: Build Your Data Literacy

📅 Date: Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
🕒 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🔗 Please click this link to Register
👤 Presenter: Jackie Vancour, (Data Engagement Specialist at CT Data Collaborative)

Data literacy is essential for making informed decisions. This workshop has been designed to help you build your confidence in working with data by breaking down need-to-know concepts, challenging common assumptions, and giving an overview of the entire data life cycle. Whether you are new to data or are looking to strengthen your skills, this session will give you the framework and strategies you need for your data work.

By the end of this workshop, you will:

Understand the importance of data literacy.
Gain confidence using data for personal and professional lives.
Challenge common misconceptions of data work.
Discover ethical principles you can use to ensure you use data for good.
Learn about the data life cycle and how to approach data work systematically.
This workshop was created for participants at every skill level.

This workshop is ideal for all skill levels, whether you’re new to data or looking to strengthen your skills.

How Nonprofits Can Strengthen Their Governance and Operations During a Time of Uncertainty

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
🔗 Please click this link to Register
👤 Presenters: Sara Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Partnership, Inc. & Jen Fournier, Owner & Principal Consultant, Racebrook Consulting, LLC

During this webinar, 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. We will have time for questions!

Previous Workshop Materials

Board Governance / Development

Setting Your Board Up For Success – October 2025
Session Recording: PP Slides,
Handouts
Nonprofit Lifecycles
Ten Basic Responsibilities
Board Matrix Example

Aligning Leadership with Purpose – July 2025
PP Slides

Leading Through Ambiguity and Change – June 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides

Board Governance / Setting Your Board Up for Success – May 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handout
Nonprofit Life Cycle

Board Member Bootcamp – November 2023
Session Recording, PP Slides

Fund Development / Fundraising / Grants

Introduction to Resource Mobilization: Building A Sustainable Donor Base – October 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides

Resources
Q&A Session Follow-Up

Fundraising Fundamentals – May 2023 – Recording, PP Slide
Handouts
Development Calendar Template
Tech Impact Consumer Guide to Fundraising Software 2020

Grantwriting 101 – October 2023 – Session Recording, PP Slides

Finance & Budgeting

Introduction to Nonprofit Budgeting – January 2026
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Budgeting Worksheet

Financial Management Fundamentals for Nonprofits – May 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides

Introduction to Candid Resources: Foundation Directory and GuidStar – October 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides

Organizational & Strategic Planning

Exploring Organizational and Leadership Lifecycles – April 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Case Study
Worksheet Ogranizational Lifecycles Self Scan
5-4-3-2-1 grounding: How to use this simple technique for comping with anxiety
Guide to Understanding Gender Identity and Pronouns: NPR
BMP The-Push-and-Pull Report
Life Stages – assessement combined

Setting Annual Priorities and Work Plans – January 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Outside-In Thinking
Priority Setting Session Guide

Helping Your Nonprofit Thrive: Succession Planning and Executive Transitions – April 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handout
Onboarding a New ED – Toolkit

SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING FROM A VOLUNTEER ONLY TO A STAFFED ORGANIZATION – A TWO-PART SERIES

Part 1: How do we know we are ready to hire staff? – February 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides

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
Session Recording, PP Slides

Creating a Business Model – September 2023 – Session Recording,PP Slides
Handout
Nonprofit Business Model Canvas

Strategic Visioning: Create The Future You Want For Your Organization – November 2021 – Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Editable Triage: Assessment Tool
Nonprofit Business Model: Interactive Tool

Technology

Tech Tools and Techniques to Boost Efficiency – February 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Using Templates to Save Time
Free Advice for Uncertain Times
Scheduling Aids

Tech Fundamentals for Small Nonprofits – December 2023
Session Recording, PP Slides

Legal Issues

Filing, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Nonprofits – April 2023, Session Recording, PP Slides
Resource Handout

Review of Important Wage Payment and Employment Issues for Connecticut Nonprofits – June 2023 – Session Recording, PP Slides Handout

Leadership

Aligning Leadership with Purpose – July 2025
PP Slides

Leading Through Ambiguity and Change – June 2025
Session Recording, PP Slides

Helping Your Nonprofit Thrive: Succession Planning and Executive Transitions – April 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handout
Onboarding a New ED – Toolkit
Nonprofit-lifecycle-matrix

Data & Evaluation

Small Steps, Big Impact: Practical Program Evaluation for Nonprofits – December 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides
Handouts
Data Collection Toolkit
Likert Response Choices Resources
Program Evaluation Survey Links
Program Logic Model Template
Quantitative Chart Chooser – Evergreen
Chart Chooser 1 & Chart Chooser 2

Tools / Resources

Essential Tools for Nonprofits – May 2025
PP Slides
Handout
Nonprofit Online Resources

Introduction to Candid Resources: Foundation Directory and GuidStar – October 2024
Session Recording, PP Slides

Nonprofit Fundamentals (2-part workshop) – March 2023
PP Slides-Part 1 & Part 2, Part 1 Recording, Part 2 Recording
Handouts
Myths About Nonprofits
Intro to Mission Statements
Nonprofit Business Model Canvas
Ten Basic Roles and Responsibilities
Board Member Job Description
Outcome Measures

Nonprofit Resources at the Hartford Public Library

Are you trying to search for grants? You can access Candid’s Foundation Directory Online at Hartford Public Library locations either on a library computer or using the library’s wi-fi. This resource provides in-depth profiles for organizations that supply grants and can be used to determine which funders to contact. For a brief introduction, watch this video.

Are you looking for information about a nonprofit? GuideStar can also be used at Hartford Public Libraries. Look up a nonprofit to access extensive data about the organization that can hep you decide what nonprofits to support, send job applications to, etc. For a brief introduction, watch this video.

Are you in need of building your nonprofit schools from home? You can access the free training you need on your own time through on the Candid Training Website.

Library staff is available for questions via e-mail at contatus@hplct.org or by calling 860-695-6300.