1A BUILDING BOARDS THAT WORK
Samuel L. (Sandy) Batchelder, Jr., Chair, ESC Board of Directors & Consultant and former Partner, Goodwin Procter LLP; Sylvia Q. Simmons, Ph.D., former Chair, ESC Board of Directors & Consultant, and former President, American Student Assistance Corporation

Learn the critical elements of nonprofit governance and how to make management and boards of directors more effective. This session explores board and staff roles, responsibilities and relationships, as well as composition and operations of the board. A case study will be provided and participants will be encouraged to discuss their board and governance issues.

1B MAKING KEY FINANCIAL DECISIONS
Joel Aronson, Treasurer, ESC Board of Directors and VP, Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co.

Learn how to read and understand your agency’s balance sheet and statement of activities. Gain expertise in using the statements for long-and short-term financial management. You will also review key indicators used to monitor and benchmark.

1C CREATING A MARKETING ROAD MAP
Lyn Rosoff, ESC Consultant & President, Second Wind Enterprises

A marketing plan is your guide to developing a successful communications program for your organization. This seminar will cover the elements of a marketing plan including setting objectives, understanding the competitive landscape, how to involve your board and other key volunteers and the elements of a communications plan. Participants will leave the seminar with a template for developing their own plans.

1D CONNECTING FAMILIES: A TRUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE-ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP
Marylou Sudders, President & CEO Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Lorraine V. Klerman, Dr.P.H., Professor, The Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

This session will focus on the efficacy of outcomes measurement to influence public policy and to have a positive influence on children and their families. MSPCC raised private dollars for a child abuse prevention initiative and teamed with the Heller School to conduct an independent external evaluation. The objective is to influence public policy through outcomes research rather than anecdotes.

1E CREATING CORPORATE ALLIANCES
Anuradha Desai, Director of Organizational Development, Citizen Schools

Citizen Schools, an innovative out-of-school-time service for children, uses a win-win approach with corporations. Learn for yourself how to develop strategies for building strong corporate partnerships in a competitive fundraising environment

1F MAKING AN EFFECTIVE HIRE
Lois L. Lindauer, Director, Lois L. Lindauer Searches; Jill Lasman, Associate Director, Lois L. Lindauer Searches

This session includes tips for recruiting, interviewing and hiring. It will illustrate how to avoid the pitfalls of an ineffective interview. Learn the steps you can take and the questions you can ask to better predict on-the-job performance.

1G YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A COMPUTER TECH TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL IT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Kevin Haughey, Customer Account Manager, Computer Warehouse

A presentation designed for those who may think that IT means “Ignore Totally.” The belief that “It’s a machine–when it’s broke, we’ll fix it.” may be acceptable for the maintenance of your copier, but not for the systems that host your crucial organizational data. This presentation will give guidance on key concepts for effective IT management.

1H POLITICAL AND LOBBYING ACTIVITIES FOR 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS: WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO
Susan L. Abbott, Goodwin Proctor LLP

This session discusses what is covered by the prohibition on political campaign activity, the amount of lobbying activity that is permitted for 501(c)(3)’s, activities that are considered to be "lobbying" for purposes of the lobbying limitations and activities that do not constitute lobbying.

1I IS OUR CAPACITY BUILDING WORKING?
Deborah Linnell, Director of Mission Effectiveness, Third Sector New England

This session describes the “state of the state” of evaluation of capacity building. It includes analysis of which types of capacity building have the most impact, challenges to this type of evaluation and ways you can get started in measuring your project’s impact. It also addresses the need for mutual dialogue among funders, nonprofits and capacity builders on what constitutes “success.”

Session Two: 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

2A MAKING YOUR BOARD AN ACTIVE “PLAYER”
Theresa Hamacher, ESC Consultant and former Chief Investment Officer, Pioneer Investments, USA

Can a board be active without stepping on staff’s toes? Of course! This session explores why making your board “more active” should be a top priority. It will give concrete tips on how to structure board activities so that they build productively on your staff’s work.

2B WHY AN EXPERIENCED FACILITATOR CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN
William R. Huss, ESC Consultant and Senior VP, KEMA, Inc.

This session addresses how to select the best facilitator for the job (and the perils of a “go it alone” approach), how to reach consensus without watering down the results, how to make the right operating decisions before the plan is finished, and how to fast-track an effective strategic plan when funds are short or when quick action is required.

2C THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF EFFECTIVE MARKETING
Chris Colbert, former Member, ESC Board of Directors, President & Founder, one eighty

Marketing is a largely misunderstood term. Come to this session to hear what it is, how to market most effectively and why it is worth incremental effort on the part of every nonprofit.

2D ARE YOU READY FOR A REVENUE GENERATING ENTERPRISE?
Kristen McCormack, Director, Public and Nonprofit Management and Health Care Management, Boston University School of Management

What models work best? What are the first steps? What are the gains and sacrifices? How is your board involved? This workshop will give you the tools you need if you are beginning to explore this topic within your organization.

2E GETTING THE MOST OUT OF MEETINGS
Ann C. Dinsmoor, Ed.D., ESC Consultant and former public school administrator

Learn and practice skills and strategies for making meetings productive and energizing. Both experienced and novice managers will learn new ways to organize and lead meetings, including the “Three P’s” for establishing clear agendas and maintaining productive focus, and “thinkpair-share,” to deepen the quality of thinking and actively engage all participants.

2F WEBSITE 201: HOW TO LIVEN UP YOUR WEBSITE WITHOUT DOING AN EXTREME MAKE-OVER
Iang Jeon, former Executive VP, eCommerce; Jeff Freedman, Marketing Principal, smallarmy.net

This session looks beyond the static, on-line brochure to help you think through bringing your website to the “next level.” It will introduce new concepts in content management, creating a more dynamic, interactive on-line experience for your varied audiences.

2G MEETING THE CHALLENGE: SURVIVAL STRATEGIES FOR THE "UNDER $1 MILLION NONPROFIT"
Stephen Pratt, President, Boston After School Enterprise; David Wright, President, African American Federation of Greater Boston, Inc.

Ongoing challenges of the economy and changes in strategy by major foundations have placed small nonprofits in a “struggle for survival.” While some will continue as niche players, many must find some way to achieve a scale of operations sufficient for survival in an unforgiving marketplace. They will get there through aggressive growth strategies, mergers with similar service providers, or strategic and cost-sharing alliances. Two experienced Executive Directors will share their strategies and struggles.

2H AVOIDING LEGAL AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION PROBLEMS
Jamie Katz, Chief, Public Charities Division, Attorney General's Office

This session will give you insight into some of the problems that can arise for charity officials with both regulators and the public. Though officials may have good intentions, difficult situations may arise out of insufficient compliance with government requirements, certain relationships with for-profits, excessive compensation, fraud, weak financial systems, and unsupervised fundraising campaigns.

2I BUILDING ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
Carl Sussman, Principal, Sussman Associates

As nonprofit organizations work to improve what they do, they often overlook their capacity for change. Yet this "adaptive capacity" endows organizations with exactly the qualities that differentiate high performers from the rest. This session will look at different kinds of capacity building — programmatic, organizational and adaptive — focusing on how organizations can become more resilient.

Session Three: 2:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

3A THE BOARD/STAFF PARTNERSHIP
Nan J. Becker, ESC Consultant and founding Partner & Managing Director of New Harbor, Inc.; Barnet Fain, ESC Board Member & Consultant; E. Lorraine Baugh, ESC Board Member and President & CEO, Lena Park Community Development Corporation: Randal D. Rucker, ESC Board Member and CEO, Family Service of Boston

It can often be difficult to define board and staff roles, particularly during times of organizational change. This session will illustrate ways to encourage creativity, while navigating this process successfully.

3B STRATEGIC PLANNING–IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT?
Alan Steinert Jr., Vice Chair, ESC Board of Directors & Consultant and VP, O’Conor, Wright Wyman, Inc.; Michael F. Stauff, ESC Consultant and a panel of Executive Directors

Strategic planning is regarded as an important tool for nonprofits and for-profits alike. But, is it for everybody? What are the do’s and don’ts worth discussing and learning about? This panel will reveal all.

3C HOW TO PITCH YOUR CASE TO A VARIED CONSTITUENCY–WHY ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL
Elizabeth M. O'Donnell, ESC Consultant and General Manager & Senior VP, Articulate Communications; Neil H. Golden, ESC Consultant and former VP, ADE Corporation

This session shows you how to develop targeted messages for varying constituencies. It explores why compassionate, compelling arguments are not always the most effective approach in reaching your “audience.” This is an interactive session and participants should bring specific examples of audiences with whom they are trying to communicate.

3D “MAKING THE ASK”–APPROACHING CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Ellsworth E. Rosen, ESC Consultant and former Public Relations Director, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston; Rhoda Taschioglou, ESC Consultant and former VP for Development, Emerson Hospital

Asking for money face-to-face can be a daunting task, even if it is for a worthy cause. Learn along with your peers some of the time-tested pointers that can significantly improve your chances of success. This session will engage audience participants in various role-playing scenarios.

3E COO'S – THE EVOLVING ROLE OF THE SECOND IN COMMAND
Maureen F. Curley, Chief Relationship Officer, Bridgestar; Lauren Franks, Member Development Manager, Bridgestar and members of the Bridgestar COO Group

When does an organization need a COO? How does it differ from the CEO? Learn from a panel of seasoned leaders about the many joys and challenges of this position in the nonprofit world.

3F WHICH COMES FIRST: TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT OR SUPPORT FOR TECHNOLOGY?
Susan Landibar, Founder & President, Computer Warehouse; George Greenidge, Executive Director, National Black College Alliance

If Executive Directors could create a “wish list” for IT funding, what would it look like? How does that compare to existing funding opportunities? The session will illustrate the most efficient process for smooth planning and implementation of technology projects funded by outside providers.

3G ONE COMMUNITY, ONE COLLABORATIVE VISION
Mossik Hacobian, Executive Director, Urban Edge; Richard Thal, Executive Director, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation

Urban Edge and Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation have been serving a shared community for nearly 30 years. This session will present how their joint venture in Jackson Square came about and how they believe the collaboration of the two CDCs will allow for implementation of the community's vision for an exciting transit-oriented, mixed-use, mixed-income development.

3H THE NEW REALITIES OF GOVERNANCE: ARE BOARDS REALLY READY?
Scott Harshbarger, Harshbarger Governance Practice and former Massachusetts Attorney General; Elisabeth Babcock MCRP, Ph.D., President & CEO, Committee to End Elder Homelessness and Associate Professor, The Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

Learn how boards can cope with the ethical and legal challenges of governing in the new era of government oversight. Create healthy boards that self-regulate and promote healthy organizations.