Making the Most of Rural Philanthropy Days:
Resources and Connections
Connecting Like Never
Before: RPD's Ning Network
Ning is a social networking site, like
Facebook. What makes Ning unique is the ability to
create a private network around specific shared
interests -- nonprofit professionals serving rural
Colorado, for instance.
The Rural Philanthropy Days Ning network
will allow funders, organizations, and individuals
involved in RPD will be able to communicate, share
knowledge, and work on projects together.
It will also provide an opportunity for
conference attendees to get to know each other's
professional goals and more about one another. And it
will provide an easy way for participants to contact
prospective partners, just in case you lose his or her
card after the conference. The forum feature will
provide a place for participants to ask questions and
provide feedback. This will allow RPD to better meet the
needs of participants.
Similarly, participants will be able to
organize conversation around specific needs or desires,
such as carpooling, downtime activities during the
conference, and networking meetings.
On Friday May 28, Lauren Price will host
a live Q&A for any members of the RPD Ning network who
want to ask questions or seek input about the upcoming
RPD conference.
Already a member? Login at
ruralphilanthropydays.ning.com.
Still getting comfortable with social
media? Or new to Ning?
Download the step-by-step instructions here.
Misplaced your email invitation? Didn't attend RPD, but
you still want to join our private Ning network?
Email your request, and please include your name,
organization, and title.
Pre-Event Training, May 18-20
Less than a month prior to the RPD
event, the Community Resource Center and Anschutz Family
Foundation provide critical training sessions across the
host region. The training sessions are geared to help
local organizations and agencies understand how to
position their nonprofit to compete with Front Range
entities, how to use Philanthropy Days to their best
advantage, and how to increase their capacity to compete
for grants.
We include these trainings in your
registration fee, and the training is certain to
maximize your organization's exposure to the right
funders at RPD. Our funders require your attendance at
one of our pre-event Capacity Building Workshops. Three
trainings will be offered throughout the region.
Grant-makers are welcomed and encouraged to attend, but
it is not required.
The three-hour workshops are designed to
engage both veteran fundraisers and newcomers to the
nonprofit world. Come be inspired, and get prepared to
make the most of your Rural Philanthropy Days
experience.
Please plan to attend one of the
following sessions:
-
Tuesday May 18, 1-4pm. Pagosa
Springs. Fire District Building, 191 N. Pagosa Blvd.
-
Wednesday May 19, 9am-12pm. Cortez.
Empire Electric, 801 N. Broadway.
-
Thursday May 20, 1-4pm. Durango.
Christ The King Church Hall, 495 Florida.
(Please allow extra time to get
here due to construction in the area!)
Want to share these materials with
your co-workers? Click here to download the handouts
from these workshops (copies will be provided
on-site):
In order to help make this event run
smoothly and be most beneficial for everyone, the
Steering Committee has a few guidelines for both
grant-makers and grant-seekers.
-
Do you homework ahead of time
through the Grants Guide and other resources to
determine the top 5 grant makers with whom you’d
like to visit. It is helpful to look at what a grant
maker has funded in addition to looking at the type
of applicants they will accept.
-
Funders will be assigned a table and
will stay at that table for all 5 roundtable
sessions. The nonprofit representatives will rotate.
-
There will be 3 roundtable sessions
before a break and 2 after the break.
-
The morning of the roundtable
session, after a brief welcome and a review of the
guidelines we will blow a whistle for you to begin
the first roundtable discussions.
-
Each funder will introduce his or
her funding entity, its purposes and focus areas in
4-5 minutes.
-
The 8-9 nonprofit representatives at
each table have roughly two minutes each to present
their information. Some guidance usually takes
place, with the funder giving the nonprofit member a
sense of whether there is enough of a fit to move
forward with a proposal (red light, yellow light, or
green light). Please accept no if that is the answer
and do not take it personally.
-
Roundtables also provide an
opportunity for you to learn about other service
providers in the area. Use this as an opportunity to
learn about and from your peers.
-
We ask that nonprofit
representatives rotate to a new table only at the
sound of the bell after 30 minutes with a funder.
Even though you may have had your turn to speak,
please stay seated at your table to hear the other
participants until the bell sounds again. You may
pick up some unexpected pointers!
-
At the sound of the bell or whistle,
participants move directly to a new table where the
same process will be repeated. As you only have the
opportunity to meet with five grant makers and there
are only five minutes to move to your next table we
strongly recommend you have a very clear strategy in
place about which funders you would like to see
before the RPD event.
-
If all of your “targeted” funder
tables are full and discussions have already begun,
please move away from the roundtable area so that
the participants can hear one another better. There
are technical assistance providers available for you
to get some support with your pitch or with
identifying possible fits with grant makers.
-
We ask everyone to please stay a few
moments following the roundtable sessions to
complete an important evaluation of the RPD event
and to take part in a drawing for several copies of
the Community Resource Center’s Colorado Grants
Guide.
Roundtable Sessions: Tips and Guidelines for
Grantmakers
More information coming soon!
Did you know?
 The
Office of Continuing Education at Fort Lewis
College offers a Professional Nonprofit
Management Certificate!
Click here to learn more.
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