Leading and Managing Critical Nonprofit Decisions 2009

Nonprofit University and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits present

Leading and Managing Critical Nonprofit
Decisions in a Downturn – A Two Day Seminar

Nonprofits are facing a tsunami of events that are challenging the viability of their programs and often their organizations.  The challenges facing the nonprofit sector (and our constituents) will not be brief, and they will not be quickly or easily addressed by a new presidential administration, philanthropic leadership or state leadership. 

It is now time for nonprofits to turn to our own leadership and to one another to understand fully and respond quickly to the challenges that we face as individual organizations and as a sector.  Four dynamic sessions that you can take over two days or mix and match on multiple dates will lead you through the priority planning components of making critical decisions quickly and effectively in a downturn.

Topics include: 
• Preparing for a sustained crisis – Understanding How the current market environment will affect nonprofits including the depth and breadth of economic impact across donor and nonprofit segments and projections for the next 18 months
• Practical scenario planning and modeling: how to quantify the challenges to your organization and develop smart strategic responses
• Recognizing the hidden opportunities to strengthen your standing
• Revenue and expense considerations; cost containment strategies 
• Cash flow management and managing credit
• Role of the Executive Director and Board in leading the organization through a downturn

Participants will also come away with: 
• Assessment tools and checklists to keep you grounded during crisis periods
• List of critical issues to address with suggested prioritization

Offered: 

February 10 – 11   Cobb County, GA
February 17 – 18   Gainesville, GA
February 23 – 24   Macon, GA
February 25 – 26   Atlanta, GA

Note - Participants can mix and match dates and times to construct a course series that works for their time constraints. In other words, you can attend Module 1 and 2 Feb 23 in Macon, and Modules 3 and 4 February 11 in Cobb County.

Module 1 - Getting real about the financial impacts of the current economy

A Historical Perspective
Looking at historical reality; how have nonprofit operations (not giving) fared in various downturns?

Confronting Today’s Economic Realities
What is different now, and how should you respond?

Scenario Planning & Modeling
Determine the magnitude of your own “gap” and the implications of various options to close it

Introduction to scenario planning:
• Establish a process for decision making
• Develop revenue scenarios  (tool)
• Develop strategic cost reduction analysis – segregate costs into ‘type buckets’
• Make cost reduction decisions (tool)

Formulate Strategic Internal and External Responses
• Considering strategic alliances
• Types/levels of strategic alliances
• Getting started with a Strategic Alliance investigation

Module 1 is offered:
February 10  9:30 a.m.    Cobb County, GA
February 17  9:30 a.m.    Gainesville, GA
February 23  9:30 a.m.    Macon, GA
February 25  9:30 a.m.    Atlanta, GA

Module 2 – Nonprofit cost reduction & cash management strategies in detail

Organizing to examine cost reduction decisions
• Putting costs into operations, growth initiatives, capital maintenance
• Prioritizing mission centric programs

Implementing Cost Reduction Strategies
• Conducting a Spend analysis
• Procurement basics
• Leveraging suppliers
• Renegotiating Leases & Space
• Reducing Benefits
• Dealing with banks and financing
 
Reducing Programs
• Understanding your nonprofit’s unique role
• Identifying mission critical work
• Methodology for cutting back work – board, donor & constituent communication

Reducing staff
• Alternatives to lay-offs
• If you must lay-off – here’s how

Module 2 is offered:
February 10 1:00 p.m.   Cobb County, GA
February 17 1:00 p.m.   Gainesville, GA
February 23 1:00 p.m.   Macon, GA
February 25 1:00 p.m.   Atlanta, GA

Module 3 – People management in economic crisis

Productivity - Managing what matters

Alternatives to lay-offs

The ABC’s of Downsizing – make it compassionate and legal

Keeping morale up in a reduced workforce

Module 3 is offered:
February 11   9:00 a.m  Cobb County, GA
February 18   9:00 a.m.  Gainesville, GA
February 24   9:00  a.m.Macon, GA
February 26   9:00 a.m.  Atlanta, GA

Module 4 -  The Board’s role in navigating tough times

Board Oversight of financial management in times of crisis

Tough Decision making – ceasing programs, combining or merging, closing

Communicating to stakeholders

Working with the ED

Module 4 is offered:
February 11   1:00 p.m.Cobb County, GA
February 18   1:00 p.m.  Gainesville, GA
February 24   1:00 p.m.  Macon, GA
February 26    1:00 p.m.  Atlanta, GA

Cost:
$150 for all 4 Modules, covering 2 days of classes
Individual Modules are $50 each

If you want to sign up for individual modules, please contact Ellen Johnson at ej@gcn.org
 

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