1:50 – 3:00 Concurrent Workshops

1) Navigating through Turbulent Times - How nonprofits respond and adjust to their environment.

The country, and in turn the nonprofit sector, finds itself in uncertain times that are creating unprecedented demands for services from the sector as a community safety net while posing new funding challenges as government, philanthropic, corporate and individual giving decreases or becomes more limited. It is clear that the nonprofits which survive are those that remain flexible and adaptive first to the clients they serve, second in the way they manage their balance sheet and finally in their ability to do more with limited resources and innovative partnerships. Through this study we seek to understand how a subgroup of the nonprofit sector (human service agencies) is adapting to their environments over time and to provide information that will allow the nonprofit community to remain competitive and relevant in a constantly changing environment.

2) Responding to Demographic Shifts - How the nonprofit sector is adjusting to employment needs and understanding the gaps.

As the country prepares for the baby boomer generation's shift toward retirement age, how do we begin to understand the implications for the nonprofit sector and prepare for transition? The question poses challenges at the senior management level as we struggle to anticipate executive transition in the coming years. Similarly, understanding the importance and value placed on procedural fairness by the Gen X and Gen Y population will have significant implications for the workplace. This study is designed to clarify the demographics of our region and those employed in the nonprofit sector and provide information and recommendations that will enable agencies to anticipate and prepare their organizations.

3) Financial Strategies Pilot Project

The Financial Strategies Pilot Project was an in-depth, two year study of three unrelated nonprofit organizations that focused on three key concerns:

a. How effectively each organization gathered, reported, and utilized financial information.

b. Could improvements in the way the organizations gather, report, and utilize financial information positively influence the organization's ability to make management and financial decisions and, therefore, its financial position?

c. Could a comprehensive financial assessment and coaching model be developed that would enable organizations to strengthen and sustain their financial viability?

This presentation will highlight the conclusions reached from the Pilot Project.