TCI INSTITUTE

 

5M Principles of Organizational Development

During the inaugural orientation seminar, TCI participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the foundational principles of nonprofit organizational development from vision to implementation to evaluation.  This includes a discussion on organizational: Mission (need, capacity, purpose, vision); Market (Who do you serve? How do you determine?); Methods (Choosing programs in light of mission); Measures (Establishing goals and objectives); and Means (Determining what you need to achieve mission).

 

501(c)3 Formation

Designed especially for church and faith leaders, participants learn how to acquire and maintain not-for-profit 501(c)3 status. We walk through the steps of completing the IRS form 1023 (application for tax exemption under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code) and discuss potential places for missteps in maintaining tax exempt status.​

 

Board Development (Recruitment, Management and Responsibilities)

This session will focus on how to identify potential board candidates, how to engage and motivate the board and the fundamentals of good board management.  Included in this session will be Tips and Tools for Evaluating Your Board’s Composition and Performance, Board Recruiting Tips and Tactics; Identifying 40 board prospects in Four Minutes; The Board’s Legal Responsibilities and Risks; Ways to Make Your Board Meetings More Efficient; Executive Director and Board Chair Relations, and Proven Methods of Making Committees More Effective. A number of proven board performance improvement tools will be presented and their use demonstrated.

 

Organizational Planning (Strategic & Tactical)

The key to organizational growth, success and fundability begins with planning.  In this segment of the training, we will demystify strategic planning, introduce participants to easy to use tools for planning, demonstrate the real dollar value of planning and address participant questions and concerns. Studies conducted over more than 20 years have shown that organizations that plan greatly outperform those that do not, and this session is designed to put the tools and techniques necessary for success into everyone’s hands in an easy to understand and implement format.

 

Introduction to Nonprofit Finance

Participants will be introduced to nonprofit finance. What is the capital structure of a nonprofit as opposed to other organized entities (e.g., for-profit business, the church, etc.)?  What is the nature of nonprofit revenue?  What is an audit comprised of? What are the compliances nonprofits need to observe in financial management and reporting? This is our context.

 

Cornerstones of Fundraising – Individual Donors and the Annual Appeal

The eternal problem – money! Yet, even in downtimes there are established, easy to use and learn processes that connect you and your organization to your most important funding entity – individuals. Individuals give charities 87% of all the charitable money given in this country, and that adds up to more money than the rest of the world gives, combined! You’ll learn the facts about funding and the proven C-PET process that will gain support and funding for your organization, from individuals and even businesses and foundations.

 

Effective Nonprofit Communication Strategies

Non-profit organizations do not communicate well, if they communicate at all. When they do communicate the result is often poor and confusing. In this presentation you will learn some basics of how to create newsletters that are read (!) as well as how to get your important news published or presented by the media. If you’ve heard that a great web page or presence on Facebook or Twitter will revolutionize your ability to communicate, that will be part of our discussion as well.

 

Grantwriting from a Funder’s Perspective

The nuts and bolts are important to writing a good grant proposal, but are also mechanical in nature.  In this session, participants learn the science of grantmaking before learning the mechanics.  The focus is the “why we do” not just the “what we do” when completing a proposal to a funder.  Funding types and streams will be discussed along with the testimony of actual grantmakers on grantwriting.

 

Grant Management & Reporting

“The good news is you got the grant! The bad news is you got the grant!” Participants are provided insight on grant management, data collection, performance management and reporting that gives funders substantive feedback on the return on their investment in a nonprofit or church. The focus is on moving from simply reporting on outputs to outcomes; funder expectations, narrative reporting and financial.

 

OTHER TOPICS AVAILABLE

 

Budgeting and Bookkeeping for Nonprofits

Participants learn the nuts and bolts of effective budgeting and bookkeeping for a nonprofit organization.  What is a chart of accounts?  What are debits and credits?  What are proper financial controls?  How about accounting methods - i.e., accruel versus cash accounting?  Methods and tools will be reviewed and best practices highlighted in this important presentation.

 

Effective Director Role

The success of a nonprofit organization often hinges on the effectiveness of its Executive Director. However, often, this person does not possess or is not aware of the keys skills necessary for his or her success.

 

Human Resources Management: Hiring, Firing, Managing Risk and Critical Information

This course provides information as to how to hire, motivate, and manage paid staff, consultants and volunteers in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organizations and the underlying support systems critical to accomplish this.  At the end of this course the participant will have gained an understanding of how to develop effective tools and systems to manage the internal and external information needs of a community based organization and its programs.

 

Alternative Revenue Generating Strategies

Strategies to faith and community-based not for profit organizations about how they can increase their capacity to build a sustainable future through alternative revenue generating strategies.

 

Starting and Managing a Service Business

Participants will learn skills, knowledge and experience on how to turn those assets into a thriving business.

 

Faith-based Business Planning

Participants will learn how to develop a business plan consistent with the values and vision of service, equity and profit.