Upcoming Webinars & Workshops
We are dedicated to connecting grantees with relevant, affordable, and diverse resources to help their organization's growth and development. Check out the upcoming webinar and workshop opportunities below. This page is updated weekly, so check back regularly for added opportunities. Click the accordion menu to expand additional information for each session.
April 2025
4/23 | Introduction to Proposal Writing and Project Budgeting (In-person at ASCPL)
Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? If so, you don't want to miss one of our most popular classes. This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation. It will include:
- The basic elements of a proposal
- The "do's" and "don'ts" of writing and submitting a proposal
- How to follow up whether the answer is yes or no
- 30-minute hands-on exercise to develop a proposal outline (in-person classes only)
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Understand how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.
- Know how and when to follow up with funders after submitting a proposal.
Looking for sample proposals?
Our Sample Documents gallery has samples of actual winning proposals recommended by grantmakers.
Intended audience
- All levels of experience
- Grant writers
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Akron-Summit County Public Library (60 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44326)
Cost: Free
4/24 | Nonprofit leaders speak on people-centered philanthropy
Research has shown that Black nonprofit leaders face unique challenges, particularly in securing adequate funding for their organizations. A study by Candid found that nonprofits with Black CEOs are more likely to have smaller revenues than those with white CEOs. Black leaders didn’t need that study to know this was the case.
Despite the challenges Black nonprofit leaders face, they are committed to meeting the needs in their communities. These leaders use knowledge, partnerships, and ingenuity to get the work done because they are passionate about the role they play to change the world for the greater good of all, particularly for those most marginalized.
As part of Candid’s "Nonprofit leaders speak on..." series, join us to discuss strategies and practices that are working to make philanthropy more equitable. Attendees will gain valuable insights and leave encouraged to think more expansively and creatively about how to keep critical community work well-resourced.
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
4/24 | Impactful Storytelling Through Film & Video
As a nonprofit professional, we know you have stories to tell. Film and video allow you to showcase your work’s impact in a way audiences can’t ignore. For this free webinar, we’ve invited film production company 76 Degrees West to help demystify storytelling and filmmaking, offer insight into how to find stories inside your organization, and explore strategies for telling those stories yourself.
Host Provider: Green Gate Marketing
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
4/28 | Marketing for a Mission
The digital landscape is as crowded as ever, so how do mission-driven nonprofits stand out to reach new donors, volunteers, and other supporters? In this session, we will explore how nonprofits can develop and improve online communication plans that drive results.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Monday, April 28, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
4/29 | Introduction to measuring your impact
Your nonprofit does great work, but what is most important is the impact of that work. How do you demonstrate that your programs get results? An outcome-centric approach will lead to stronger program design and increased funding opportunities for your organization. In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes. We will demystify the language of outcomes measurement and guide you through the process of creating logic models for programs.
This course will prepare you to:
- Draft SMART objectives for a program
- Identify the parts of a logic model
- Report the impact on your Candid profile
Intended audience
- Beginner
- Fundraising & development staff
- Program directors and staff
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
May 2025
5/7 | Getting Started with AI in Teams: Foundations, Ethics, and Practical Prompts
Step into the world of AI with this beginner-friendly workshop tailored for nonprofit professionals. We’ll cover the essentials of artificial intelligence, focusing on what AI can (and can’t) do, the ethical considerations critical to responsible usage, and practical applications using tools like ChatGPT. Through discussions and hands-on activities, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of AI, uncover its ethical challenges, and learn to create effective prompts for ChatGPT to support your mission-driven work.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/7 | Advanced Board Training: Gear Up Your Governance Committee
About the Series
BVU’s NEW virtual Advanced Board Trainings are designed to go beyond the learnings of our signature Role of the Board event, with each webinar highlighting expert board insights from our senior staff.
About the Session
BVU’s first Advanced Board Training will discuss the qualities of strong governance committees, including best practices surrounding board leadership, recruitment, development, accountability, policy creation, and more. With nonprofit organizations facing new challenges each day, there’s never been a better time to Gear Up Your Governance Committee!
Host Provider: BVU
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom link sent after registration)
Cost: FREE for BVU Members and Board Matching Participants
$30 for Nonmembers
5/8 | How to Build a Monthly Giving or Sustainer Program
In 2023, nonprofit revenue from monthly gifts represented 31 percent of all online contributions. Savvy fundraisers are directing their energy to building monthly giving or sustainer programs that create a steady flow of donations and deepen donor loyalty. Join us for this 75-minute session to learn from nonprofits with successful programs how to set up a recurring gifts program and keep donors giving from year to year.
Host Provider: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:15 PM
Location: Virtual
Cost: Early Bird Price of $69 Ends April 10; $89 after 4/10
5/12-15 | Ask the Expert
Hosted four times per year, Ask the Expert connects nonprofits with BVU’s network of skills-based volunteers to help you make a bigger difference! Choose from over 20 hour-long virtual sessions where you will connect one-on-one with a subject matter expert in marketing, fundraising, HR, technology, or another specialty. Get advice, answers and recommendations that you can implement right away. Ask the Expert is FREE to attend for all nonprofit organizations. Once live, sessions can be found at the registration link below.
Host Provider: BVU
Date: Monday, May 12-Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time: Various
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/12 | 6+ Ways to Level Up Your Nonprofit Website Without Spending a Kazillion Bucks
In uncertain times, big expenditures like full website overhauls often aren’t on the table for nonprofits. That makes it even more important to ensure your current site is working as hard as possible—while staying safe and viable for the long haul. In this 30-minute session, we’ll cover 6+ practical, budget-friendly ways to boost your site’s speed, accessibility, security, and engagement—plus free tools to help you do it.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/13 | Build the Board You Need
Join us to learn practical strategies for creating a board that will move your organization forward. In this course, we’ll cover the board’s role, and what your organization needs from its board members. We will explore ways to find the right board members to serve your nonprofit at its current stage. We will also discuss how to create positive relationships with and within the board, and how to navigate the common challenges that arise with boards. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, or development professional, this course will help you plan for a healthy sustainable organization.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Recruit and engage diverse board members
- Use a Board Agreement as an integral tool for board establishment and management
- Identify strategies to establish positive relationship dynamics among board members, the Executive
- Director, and other key staff
- Strengthen your current board
Intended audience
- Beginner
- Board members
- CEOs, executive directors, upper management
- Fundraising & development staff
- Nonprofit startups
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/14 | ArtsNow Presents: Project Budgets
Are you ready to start fundraising for your project or idea, but don't know what and how much to ask for? If preparing a budget for your foundation grant is holding you back, come learn the basic elements of how to draft a project budget with confidence.
This class will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to generate a standard project budget for a foundation proposal.
We will discuss:
- The components of a project budget including income and expenses
- How to estimate the realistic cost of a project
- What other financial documents you may also need to submit with your proposal
Who Should Attend:
This workshop is ideal for anyone in the early stages of fundraising for a project or idea, including:
- Artists, creatives, and cultural organizations looking to secure foundation grants
- Nonprofit leaders and administrators tasked with developing project budgets for proposals
- First-time grant writers or those new to the fundraising process
- Individuals or small organizations seeking to enhance their budgeting skills for securing financial suppor
No prior experience with grant writing is necessary—just bring your ideas and readiness to learn!
Host Provider: ArtsNow
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Time: 12:00-1:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/20 | Get Your Board Fundraising
Join us to learn practical strategies for better engaging your board in fundraising. In this course, we’ll cover boards’ typical fundraising responsibilities, why some board members may be reluctant to fundraise, and how to overcome these concerns. We will also brainstorm new ways your board members can participate in fundraising activities and will share tips for strengthening your board and aligning on fundraising priorities. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, or development professional, this course will help you plan for your organization to fundraise better as one team.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- Describe the board’s role in fundraising
- Integrate fundraising into your board’s roles and responsibilities
- Plan how you will use your GuideStar profile for board development and fundraising
- Identify a range of fundraising activities that can engage your board members
Intended audience
- Beginner
- Board members
- CEOs, executive directors, upper management
- Fundraising & development staff
- Nonprofit startups
- Program directors and staff
Prerequisites
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/19 | Mastering Donor Engagement and Management for Long-Term Success
Your donors are more than just supporters - they're the heart of your nonprofit's mission. Keeping them engaged, inspired, and invested in your cause is key to long-term success. But how do you build meaningful relationships that last? Join Mightycause’s Fundraising Development Coordinator, Josh Garcia, to learn the best donor engagement and management strategies to strengthen relationships, boost retention, and maximize impact.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/27 | Ask Me Anything: Perfecting the proposal writing need statement
The most important part of any grant proposal is communicating the need to the funder. But what's the best way to do it? Should I try to impress with statistics, or concentrate on putting a face on the issue? Is there a way to use the need statement to educate a funder on important issues? How do I make sure I'm not selling my clients--or my organization--short?
This Ask Me Anything will give you a perfect opportunity to learn from national experts. Morgan Carpenter of Carpenter Nonprofit Consulting, and Jamie Rasmussen and India Phoenix Colon of By the Brujas will be here to answer your questions, offer their expertise, and help the novice and the expert alike. Join us for this free program and bring your questions!
Outcomes
- Learn how to write a persuasive need statement.
- Understand how to emphasize asset-framing in your writing.
- Get tips and tricks to improve your writing and create stronger connections with potential funders.
Intended audience
- All levels of experience
- Fundraising & development staff
- Grant writers
- Nonprofit startups
- Program directors and staff
Host Provider: Candid
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/27 | 2025 Grants Trends and Projections
This presentation cover grants projections for 2025 and analyzes trends from the previous year. Our time is primarily focused on regulatory changes to watch, addressing uncertainty for government grants, and the actionable steps organizations can take to protect their work and communities while we navigate the current turmoil. We also include tips for relationship building and strategies for sustainability.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
5/29 | Beyond the Bot: Leveraging AI for Nonprofit Impact
AI is transforming industries across the globe and nonprofits are non exception. Learn how Cathy and her team integrated AI into a medium-sized nonprofit to build efficiencies while staying mission-focused. We’ll cover issues of organizational culture, use cases, data privacy and policies, staff training and success measurement.
Host Provider: Nonprofit Learning Lab
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
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