Events

Feb
8
Sat
On BOARD® Lab: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ Chicago Public Library - Little Village Branch
Feb 8 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Topics include:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Life cycle of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board—board governance, staffing and structure, income generation, and programming models
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Relationship between the board and staff, and challenges posed by staffing and board transitions

This training also features a panel of arts administrators and artists from Little Village who will address emerging issues like governance practices, recruitment efforts, the importance of board diversity, fundraising, and more.

Presenter: Braden Cleary / Director of Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Panel: William Estrada / Artist / Werdmvmnt Studios
J. Omar Magana / Founder & Executive Director / OPEN Center for the Arts

Price: $150

[wufoo username=”artsbizchicago” formhash=”rfjm3wa0c2ivdp” autoresize=”true” height=”2351″ header=”show” ssl=”true”]

Feb
12
Wed
Learning Lab: Working at the Intersection of “Arts &” @ Humboldt Park Cultural Center
Feb 12 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Art for art’s sake is a thing of the past. The arts, cultural, and creative sector (including institutional funders) is shifting to uplift civic causes in the communities it serves. Organizations working at intersections like arts and youth development, arts and health, and arts and veterans’ affairs are leading the way in using creativity and culture to improve the social and economic lives of their constituents.  

In this session we will discuss:

  • why artmakers are partnering with existing social service agencies
  • how artmakers are operating in divested communities where resources are scarce
  • the importance of arts, culture, and creativity in “non-arts” organizations
  • how you can thread social practice into your artmaking

Panelists: Calvin King / Founder and Executive Director / Free Lunch Academy

Cate Fox / Senior Program Officer / The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Lauren Krieg / Senior Program Officer / Albert Pick, Jr. Fund

Read the panelists bios.

Registration: $65

[wufoo username=”artsbizchicago” formhash=”z1abpy3i0mwlsnh” autoresize=”true” height=”1539″ header=”show” ssl=”true”]

Panelist bio: Calvin King III is a local Chicago business consultant and accomplished playwright with over 30 completed works for the stage. Calvin was very active in theater and writing for the stage during college. After becoming a father, educator, and youth pastor his creative work began to naturally center itself around children and youth. He set out to find ways he could use entertainment in an educational way to help coach and mentor young people to become the absolute greatest version of themselves, one choice at a time. Serving as the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Free Lunch Academy, Calvin has developed innovative teaching arts programs where children participate in their own learning and develop better social skills while having fun. Through mentoring his teaching artist staff and partnering with other organizations in the community, Calvin has made it a goal of the organization to eradicate bullying worldwide by October 1, 2025.

 

Panelist bio: Cate A. Fox is a Senior Program Officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. At the Foundation, Cate oversees: Culture, Equity, and the Arts and Community Capital awards as part of her work with the Chicago Commitment team.

Previously, Cate served as a senior consultant at The Alford Group, a consulting firm to the nonprofit community. Over seven years with Alford she helped nonprofit organizations, including those in the arts, evaluate programs, assess organizational strength, conduct strategic planning, and increase fundraising. Cate also worked with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to revise its international programs and structure.

Cate received a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Development Studies with first class honors from the University of Limerick (Limerick, Ireland), and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Hollins University (Roanoke, VA).

Panelist bio: Lauren Krieg is the Senior Program Officer for the Albert Pick Jr. Fund, a private foundation that supports Civic Engagement, Education, the Arts, and Violence Prevention Programming and Healthcare Access for Children and Youth. Lauren is also the Vice President of Iris Krieg and Associates, a philanthropic advisory firm that provides grant management and consultation services to foundations and individual donors. Through this role, for more than eleven years, she has worked for several other Chicago foundations supporting the arts and a variety of other issues. Lauren has served on the Steering Committee of the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development since 2008 and has been a strong advocate for the use of arts as a tool for improving communities and people’s lives in both traditional and unique ways.

Lauren earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees from Bryn Mawr College in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Framingham State College.

 

Mar
7
Sat
On BOARD® Lab: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ WeWork Monroe
Mar 7 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Topics include:

  • Laws governing nonprofit boards of directors
  • The role of the director: responsibilities & restrictions
  • Bylaws
  • Understanding the importance of Directors & Officers insurance
  • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience
  • Conflict of interest
  • Executive leadership responsibilities
  • Committees and non-governing boards: associate, auxiliary, advisory
  • The importance and process of strategic planning

Presenters: Braden Cleary / Director, Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Patricia Spiccia Marx / Attorney / Quarels & Brady

Cris Beilstein / Consultant / Elevation Collaborative

Price: $150

[wufoo username=”artsbizchicago” formhash=”rfjm3wa0c2ivdp” autoresize=”true” height=”2351″ header=”show” ssl=”true”]

Mar
14
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: South Shore @ South Shore Cultural Center
Mar 14 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • South Shore-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Mar
16
Mon
Learning Lab: Sexual Harassment Training @ Webinar
Mar 16 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

This Learning Lab has reached capacity. To be placed on a waitlist, please contact Braden Cleary, Director of Arts Services at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or (312) 372 – 1876 ext. 105.

As of January 1, 2020, Illinois employers must provide sexual harassment training to all full-time and part-time equivalent employees on an annual basis in order to be compliant with Illinois employment law. This includes nonprofit organizations! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago has engaged the Illinois Department of Human Rights to deliver compliance training to our clients.   

Participants will engage in a series of thoughtful discussions and exercises about the different perceptions of appropriate and inappropriate conduct. Participants will learn about the two types of sexual harassment, i.e.quid pro quo and hostile work environment, as well as issues including third-party and bystander sexual harassment. The training will encourage employees to report sexual harassment and help build a culture of respect.  

Due to limited capacity, this training is only open to current clients of the Arts & Business Council of Chicago. If you have questions about your client status, please contact Braden Cleary, Director of Arts Services at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or (312) 372 – 1876 ext. 105.  

Registration: Free 

Presenter: Marcio Mendoza / Human Rights Trainer / Illinois Department of Human Rights

Mar
19
Thu
CANCELLED: Arts & Drafts @ Osito's Tap
Mar 19 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 6 – 8 p.m.
Osito’s Tap, 2553 S. Ridgeway Ave.

What’s better than making new connections, sharing ideas, and having a local beer?

Meet us at Arts & Drafts, a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. If you believe in the power of the arts, want to make a difference in our city, or simply feel like getting to know Chicago a little better, this mixer’s for you!

Arts & Drafts is a casual opportunity to network, expand your circle, meet up with friends, and make new ones. Do you have a question about the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, our 77 Communities Initiative, or Business Volunteers for the Arts? Swing by and get it answered!

FREE to attend and open to all. Come for the networking, stay for the reposado.

For more information, email Kenneth Franco at kfranco@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 102.

Happy Hour pricing will be available between 6 – 8 p.m.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Parking

A parking lot can be found next to Osito’s Tap (accessible from Ridgeway). Metered parking can also be found off 26th Street and Ridgeway Avenue.

Special thanks to Osito’s Tap and owner Mike Moreno.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
About Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts is a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. The goal: To encourage new partnerships and relationships.

Future Dates:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
About Osito’s Tap

Osito’s Tap, established in 2019, is a speakeasy-style bar focused on the art of craft spirts, craft beer, and craft cocktails. This community-oriented space, set inside a historic grey stone building, was once the front to an underground bookie joint and, during the early 1900’s, home to a Bohemian bar for Czech immigrants. Today’s incarnation of the bar brings in a modern Latin flair and blend of the Little Village neighborhood’s rich cultural history, giving customers a unique experience filed with exotic and rare drink offerings. Osito’s Tap is a grant recipient of the City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

Apr
4
Sat
On BOARD® Lab: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues @ Webinar
Apr 4 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Topics include:

  • Financial oversight; policy creation and compliance; and safeguarding of assets
    • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Achieving financial accountability
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow
  • Taxes including payroll, UBIT, and changes to GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles)
  • Maintaining nonprofit status through tax compliance – filing with the IRS and other government entities

Presenter: Megan Angle, CPAManager / Porte Brown LLC

Price: $150

[wufoo username=”artsbizchicago” formhash=”rfjm3wa0c2ivdp” autoresize=”true” height=”2351″ header=”show” ssl=”true”]

Apr
22
Wed
Learning Lab: Capital Campaigns (Webinar) @ Webinar
Apr 22 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Acquiring land, renovating buildings, and purchasing large supplies are huge projects that take careful planning. A capital campaign is a fundraising process that aims to raise enough money to make any of these facility-related purchases. Running a successful capital campaign is a surefire way for nonprofit organizations to own space in the community they serve and create community wealth as an anchor institution.

In this session we will discuss:

  • Understanding the feasibility of reaching a high-impact fundraising goal in your capital campaign;
  • Business planning and lending processes;
  • Marketing and communications strategies to advocate for donations to your campaign;
  • And getting to the finish line! How will you know if you were successful?

Presenter: Tracy Lewis / CEO / Lewis & Associates LLC

Meet the presenter!

Registration: $65

Fill out my online form.

Lewis & Associates LLC. intentionally & purposefully supports small businesses, nonprofits and government agencies, with strategic planning community engagement and project management consultation services. Lewis & Associates is lead by Tracy Lewis, who is a Detroit native with a passion for urban spaces, sensory experiences and politics. Tracy has a Masters in Public Administration from Wayne State University and has worked in communities of color for the past 12 years on a variety of community and economic development projects.

May
2
Sat
On BOARD® Lab: Fundraising & Arts Advocacy in the COVID-19 Crisis (Webinar) @ Webinar
May 2 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
On BOARD® Lab: Fundraising & Arts Advocacy in the COVID-19 Crisis (Webinar) @ Webinar | Chicago | Illinois | United States

Topics include:

  • Funding landscape for nonprofit organizations and sector-wide trends in giving
  • The role board members play in securing funds
  • Creating a donor cultivation strategy
  • The role of board members in arts advocacy
  • Emerging issues in arts & cultural policy including The CARES Act and the government’s role in COVID-19 response

Presenters: Suzanne Griffith / Navigate Nonprofits

Jonathan VanderBrug / Deputy Director, Civic Engagement / Arts Alliance Illinois

Price: Pay-What-You-Can

All dollars earned from this On BOARD® Lab will go directly toward our efforts to creatively and accessibly provide support and lend expertise to nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 crisis.

Fill out my online form.

May
11
Mon
Learning Lab: Rebooting Your Strategic Plan (Webinar) @ Webinar
May 11 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a huge toll on nonprofit arts, cultural, and creative organizations. Many have faced canceled programs, staff reductions, and financial loss; and have been forced to put their strategic plans to the side. Although we don’t know when or if our organizations will operate in the way they used to, this webinar will outline tools to help organizations reboot their strategic plans in a way that is responsive to our new environment and find pathways to move forward. 

In this webinar we will discuss: 

  • Clarifying your commitments to yourorganization, audiences, donors, and community constituents. 
  • Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on your organization. 
  • Generating ideas to address the most important gaps you now face.   
  • Identifying new opportunities in your business and artistic production with the changed world we now live in. 
  • Embracing an iterative mindset to reboot your strategic plan while the world continues to evolve. 

Presenter: Cris Beilstein / Elevation Collaborative

Meet the Presenter!

Registration: Pay-What-You-Can

Even $5 makes a difference! If you have a stable income, please consider making a contribution towards this webinar. All dollars earned from this Learning Lab will go directly toward our efforts to creatively and accessibly provide support and lend expertise to nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 crisis.

Fill out my online form.

With over two decades of business leadership experience in innovation, product development, training, and coaching, Cris is known for her ability to see new possibilities in challenging situations and for her coaching skills that bring out the best in people.  She has an open and inclusive style, and her fusion of creative curiosity and technical practicality benefits clients as she guides them from thinking big to strategic planning and action.

 

May
30
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: North Lawndale @ Douglas Park Cultural Center
May 30 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, May 30, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Douglas Park Cultural Center, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • North Lawndale-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Jun
13
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: Austin @ Austin Town Hall Cultural Center
Jun 13 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, June 13, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Austin Town Hall Cultural Center, 5610 W. Lake St.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • Austin-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

Resource Exhibitors
City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development / Neighborhood Opportunity Fund: As the principal planning agency for the City of Chicago, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) promotes the comprehensive growth and sustainability of the City and its neighborhoods. The department also oversees the City’s zoning and land use policies and employs a variety of resources to encourage business and real estate development, historic preservation, accessible waterfronts, walkable neighborhoods, and related community improvements. DPD staff will be on-site to share which grants are available, for construction or rehabilitation projects, in South and West Side commercial corridors.

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Jun
25
Thu
CANCELLED: Arts & Drafts @ Motor Row Brewing
Jun 25 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Thursday, June 25, 2020, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Motor Row Brewing, 2337 S. Michigan Ave.

What’s better than making new connections, sharing ideas, and having a local beer?

Meet us at Arts & Drafts, a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. If you believe in the power of the arts, want to make a difference in our city, or simply feel like getting to know Chicago a little better, this event’s for you!

Arts & Drafts is a casual opportunity to network, expand your circle, meet up with friends, and make new ones. Do you have a question about the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, our 77 Communities Initiative, or Business Volunteers for the Arts? Swing by and get it answered!

FREE to attend. Open to all. See you there.

For more information, email Kenneth Franco at kfranco@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 102.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
About Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts is a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mashup of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. The goal: To encourage new partnerships and relationships.

Future Dates:

Jul
11
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: South Lawndale @ Piotrowski Park Cultural Center
Jul 11 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, July 11, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Piotrowski Park Cultural Center, 4247 W. 31st St.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • South Lawndale-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

Resource Exhibitors
City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development / Neighborhood Opportunity Fund: As the principal planning agency for the City of Chicago, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) promotes the comprehensive growth and sustainability of the City and its neighborhoods. The department also oversees the City’s zoning and land use policies and employs a variety of resources to encourage business and real estate development, historic preservation, accessible waterfronts, walkable neighborhoods, and related community improvements. DPD staff will be on-site to share which grants are available, for construction or rehabilitation projects, in South and West Side commercial corridors.

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Jul
22
Wed
Learning Lab: Marketing Your Mission in a Post-Pandemic World @ Webinar
Jul 22 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Arts and cultural programming has drastically changed due to COVID-19 – maybe for good. As organizations rethink and reinvent their services and programs to respond to emerging challenges, they will need to move from project-based marketing to holistic, brand-driven “institutional marketing.” Strong missions and brands will help organizations engage audiences, maintain loyal donors, and recruit effective board members. By transforming the challenges of the pandemic into creative opportunities, organizations can find new strategies to meet their audiences where they are and emerge as arts leaders in an increasingly competitive landscape.

In this session we will discuss:

  • Definitions of project-based marketing and institutional marketing – and their challenges and benefits;
  • The mechanics of a clear and compelling mission;
  • Communicating a cohesive brand that represents your new and adapted program models;
  • And strategies for staying relevant and present.

Presenter: Ben van Loon / Communications Director / AFIRE

Registration: $25

Fill out my online form.

Sep
14
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ Webinar
Sep 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities is part 1 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Phases of development of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board
  • Analysis of the board’s role in planning, governance, staffing & structure, income generation, audience development & marketing, financial management, and facilities management
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Relationship between the board and staff, and challenges posed by staffing and board transitions

Presenter: Braden Cleary / Director of Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Sep
16
Wed
Learning Lab: Crafting a Thoughtful Fundraising Approach During COVID-19 @ Webinar
Sep 16 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Everyone can fundraise – even you! Although our environments have been reshaped by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the important calls for social justice by the Black Lives Matter movement, arts and cultural organizations can still find success by developing thoughtful strategies with donor cultivation at top of mind. Whether it’s a full annual plan or a shorter-term initiative, the current moment has taught the nonprofit sector that we must be ready to meet future challenges. Building clear fundraising plans with well-timed tactics can help us do just that.

In this session we will discuss:

  • An analysis of the current fundraising landscape for arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations;
  • What you need to know to develop a successful fundraising strategy;
  • A deeper dive into important fund development tactics like matching gifts and targeted email campaigns;
  • And the fundraising steps your organization can take to thrive during COVID-19

Presenters: Christine Grodecki / Consultant / CCS Fundraising
                        Laura Aikens / Senior Vice President / CCS Fundraising

Registration: $25

Fill out my online form.

Sep
28
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ Webinar
Sep 28 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members is part 2 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • General roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members
  • Key fiduciary duties of nonprofit board members
    • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience
  • Liability and protections for board members, the importance of Directors & Officers insurance
  • Additional considerations for public charities and private foundations with 501(c)(3) status
  • Important reporting obligations at the state and federal level

Presenter: Patricia S. Marx / Associate / Quarles & Brady, LLP

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Oct
1
Thu
CANCELLED: Arts & Drafts @ TBA
Oct 1 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Thursday, October 1, 2020, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: TBA

What’s better than making new connections, sharing ideas, and having a local beer?

Meet us at Arts & Drafts, a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. If you believe in the power of the arts, want to make a difference in our city, or simply feel like getting to know Chicago a little better, this event’s for you!

Arts & Drafts is a casual opportunity to network, expand your circle, meet up with friends, and make new ones. Do you have a question about the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, our 77 Communities Initiative, or Business Volunteers for the Arts? Swing by and get it answered!

FREE to attend. Open to all. See you there.

For more information, email Kenneth Franco at kfranco@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 102.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
About Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts is a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mashup of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. The goal: To encourage new partnerships and relationships.

Future Dates:

Oct
10
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: Roseland @ Palmer Park Cultural Center
Oct 10 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Saturday, October 10, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Palmer Park Cultural Center, 201 E. 111th St.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • Roseland-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Oct
12
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Nonprofit Board Committee Structures & Strategic Planning @ Webinar
Oct 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Nonprofit Board Committee Structures & Strategic Planning is part 3 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • An exploration of typical standing and ad hoc committees on a board of directors
  • Appropriate times to form a committee and signs that a committee isn’t a good choice
  • Non-governing boards and their relationships to the board of directors and the organization
    • Auxiliary boards, associate boards, junior boards, advisory boards
  • Defining key vocabulary terms for strategic planning
  • Advantages of creating and using a strategic plan
  • How to approach the strategic planning process and the board’s critical role in planning

Presenter: Braden Cleary / Director of Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Cris Beilstein / Consultant / Elevation Collaborative

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Oct
26
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues (Webinar) @ Webinar
Oct 26 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues is part 4 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • Financial oversight; policy creation and compliance; and safeguarding of assets
    • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Achieving financial accountability
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow at a nonprofit organization
  • Taxes including payroll, UBIT, and recent changes to GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles)
  • Maintaining nonprofit status through tax compliance
    • Filing with the IRS and other government entities

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Nov
9
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Demystifying Fundraising for Board Members (Webinar) @ Webinar
Nov 9 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Demystifying Fundraising and the Role of Board Members is part 5 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • Sources of funding: foundations, corporations, individuals, government
  • Uses of funding: restricted, unrestricted, sponsorship
  • Designing your organization’s strategic fundraising engagement process
  • The three important roles that the board plays in fundraising
  • Developing a culture of philanthropy that is intentional and inclusive

Presenter: Suzanne Griffith / Vega Partners

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Nov
18
Wed
Learning Lab: Partnering for Impact During Uncertain Times @ Webinar
Nov 18 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

During times of great uncertainty, it’s natural for nonprofits to seek out efficiencies – particularly in the form of organizational partnerships. In this Learning Lab, we will explore two types of nonprofit partnerships; the Collective Impact Model and shared staffing collaborations. Whether you are looking to increase your demonstrated impact by aligning your evaluation metrics with like-mission organizations or offload administrative tasks from your program staff, the practices in this Learning Lab will help you build capacity and productivity with organizations with a common agenda.

In this session we will discuss:

  • Five conditions for success in building nonprofit partnerships for collaborative impact
  • Practical steps you can take to select an appropriate partner for your mission and needs during times of uncertainty
  • A case study of ArtCore – a nonprofit shared staffing collaboration
  • How shared staffing and back office support can promote cost savings and less “job suck” for organizations
  • Partnerships as a reliable way to continue critical work during the COVID-19 pandemic

Presenters: Kaitlyn Childs / Ph.D. Candidate / Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact at Northwestern University
                       Ivonne Romo / Director of Finance and Operations / ArtCore

Registration: $25

Fill out my online form.

Nov
23
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Arts Advocacy for Board Members (Webinar) @ Webinar
Nov 23 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Arts Advocacy for the Nonprofit Board Member is part 6 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • The definition of advocacy
  • How to create your story to advocate for arts, culture, and creativity
  • Tactics for delivering your advocacy message to key decision makers or stakeholders
  • Current events and cultural policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels
  • Differences between advocacy and lobbying and the do’s and do not’s for board members

Presenter: Jonathan VanderBrug / Deputy Director – Civic Engagement / Arts Alliance Illinois

Price: $35 – Nonprofit and public sector employees use code NPO20 for $10 discount

Fill out my online form.

Dec
7
Mon
Learning Lab: It’s Not All About the Give/Get @ Webinar
Dec 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

A superb board member brings a combination of time, treasure, and talent to an organization. So why do we continue to evaluate and prospect board members strictly on financial capacity? If a board of directors is to reflect the community it serves, the sector must consider more equitable models of assessment.

By recognizing the entire scope of what an organization’s board of directors contributes in a year, organizations can ignite a sense of self-governance that increases committee participation and reduces stress on the Executive Director – all while meeting or exceeding board contribution goals.

In this session we will discuss:

  • Streamlining your board of directors’ roles and responsibilities in the organization’s annual work plan
  • Reducing board anxiety around giving capacities and prospecting new donors in their networks
  • Creating a framework for an equitable board of directors that is welcoming to marginalized groups (socioeconomic, gender identity, race, accessibility, etc.)
  • Designing a points-based assessment model that’s not all about the give / get

Presenters: Kristin Larsen / Executive Director / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Registration: $25

Fill out my online form.

Feb
15
Mon
On BOARD® Lab: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ Webinar
Feb 15 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who participate in the On BOARD® Labs demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Topics in Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities include:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Phases of development of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board
  • Analysis of the board’s role in planning, governance, staffing & structure, income generation, audience development & marketing, financial management, and facilities management
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Using committees and non-governing boards to amplify the work of your organization

Presenter: Braden Cleary / Director of Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Price: $35

Fill out my online form.

Mar
8
Mon
Ask CI Anything @ Webinar
Mar 8 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

What is the real impact of the pandemic on arts marketers? Erik Gensler, president and founder of Capacity Interactive, and CI team members will lead an interactive group discussion with Arts & Business Council of Chicago, See Chicago Dance, and The Chicago Cultural Alliance.

Date: March 8, 2021

Time: 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. CST

About: You’ll dive into key takeaways from the Arts Industry Data Analysis: Pandemic Response and have an opportunity to ask the Capacity Interactive experts all of your digital marketing and research-related questions.

REGISTER NOW

What is the Arts Industry Data Analysis: Pandemic Response?

This livestream, aired on 2/25, explores evolutions within the broader digital and media landscape and the impact on the arts. You’ll also learn about research and frameworks help you build stronger and healthier teams. Watch the full recording here.

Mar
31
Wed
Learning Lab: Marketing Your Mission for the New Normal @ Webinar
Mar 31 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

More than a year after the pandemic was declared, arts and cultural programming has been drastically changed. And as the worst of the crisis is now (hopefully) in the rear-view mirror, arts organizations have the opportunity to re-emerge into the world and even help define the “new normal.” To do this, organizations will need to move from project-based marketing to holistic, brand-driven institutional marketing, focused on concrete values and meeting audiences where they are right now. As various sectors of the economy come back online into 2021 and beyond, what are the marketing, branding, and other strategic tools organizations need to thrive as leaders—and healers—in a challenging competitive landscape?

In this session we will discuss:

  • Definitions of project-based marketing and institutional marketing, including challenges and benefits
  • The mechanics of a clear and compelling mission
  • Articulating the values that define your vision and speak to your audiences
  • Strategies for creative relevance in the post-pandemic world

Presenter: Ben van Loon / Communications Director / AFIRE

Registration: $35

Fill out my online form.

Apr
12
Mon
On BOARD®: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ Webinar
Apr 12 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
On BOARD®: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ Webinar | Chicago | Illinois | United States

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

 

Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members is part 2 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To learn more about the full program curriculum, click here.

Topics include:

  • General roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members
  • Key fiduciary duties of nonprofit board members
    • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience
  • Liability and protections for board members, the importance of Directors & Officers insurance
  • Additional considerations for public charities and private foundations with 501(c)(3) status
  • Important reporting obligations at the state and federal level

Presenter: Patricia S. Marx / Associate / Quarles & Brady, LLP

Price: $35

Fill out my online form.

May
26
Wed
Learning Lab: Back to Budgeting Basics @ Webinar
May 26 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Simply put, a budget is a document that reflects the priorities of an organization. 2020 saw major shifts in organizational priorities, which means we need to get back to the basics of budgeting. In this Learning Lab, we will dive into the importance of approaching the budgeting process with new assumptions rather than relying on the old form. As many of us will hang on to virtual programs, accessible pricing models, adapted staff structures, and remote work in the future, it is important to use our budgets to help us achieve our missions through the lens of finance.

In this session we will discuss:

  • Diagramming your programs to better understand who they benefit, what they do, and how much they cost
  • Building a budget model that supports your new assumptions about programs, funding sources, and overhead
  • Budget scenario planning to help you think about scale you can support in the future
  • Connecting your program evaluation to your budget with key performance indicators

Presenter: Corrigan Nadon-Nichols, CMA / Corrigan Consulting Services

Registration: $35

Jun
14
Mon
On BOARD®: Understanding the Numbers: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues @ Webinar
Jun 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues is part 3 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. To register for the full program session, click here.

Topics include:

  • Financial oversight; policy creation and compliance; and safeguarding of assets
    • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Achieving financial accountability
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow at a nonprofit organization
  • Taxes including payroll, UBIT, and recent changes to GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles)
  • Maintaining nonprofit status through tax compliance
    • Filing with the IRS and other government entities

Presenter: Megan Angle / Partner / Porte Brown Accountants and Advisors

Price: $35

Fill out my online form.

Jul
14
Wed
Learning Lab: Media Power & Equity – Using Digital Storytelling to Support Your Mission @ Webinar
Jul 14 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Throughout 2020, about 72% of  U.S. arts and cultural organizations indicated that they would be transitioning some or all of their programming online. As arts organizations continue to increase our online and digital presence, it’s important that digital content has a strong, equitable understanding of how stories are shaped. This participatory workshop focuses on effectively utilizing film, media, and art to implement better digital programming and outreach. We’ll discuss how storytelling frameworks and media literacy are important guides in understanding institutional systems of oppression and current social justice issues. Participants will learn practical tools and best practices in the communication strategies that best serve their organization and their communities.

In this Learning Lab we will discuss:

  • Understanding film, media, and art as necessary branding tools in the digital age
  • Developing your media literacy within the context of systemic power, oppression, and privilege
  • Moving from micro to macro: how to utilize storytelling to better understand your organization within the context of emerging issues in the non-profit field
  • Implementing digital programming, outreach, and for your unique constituency and funders
  • Storytelling Frameworks 101: logistics, best practices, & common themes

Presenters: Caullen Hudson / Founder & Executive Director / SoapBox Productions and Organizing
David A. Moran / Multimedia Director / SoapBox Productions and Organizing

Registration: $35

Aug
16
Mon
On BOARD®: The Importance of Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations @ Webinar
Aug 16 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

The Importance of Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations is part 4 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum.

Topics include:

  • Defining key vocabulary terms for strategic planning
  • Advantages of creating and using a strategic plan
  • How to approach the strategic planning process and the board’s critical role in planning

Presenter: Cris Beilstein / Consultant / Elevation Collaborative

Price: $35

Oct
18
Mon
On BOARD® Demystifying Fundraising for Board Members @ Webinar
Oct 18 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

There is always going to be chaos, a crisis, or disruption – an economic downturn, funders’ shifting priorities, and some years- it’s a pandemic.

How are you managing the moment?

Join us for this participatory workshop focusing on the tried-and-true principals of fundraising that will help you weather any storm.

In this moment, your greatest asset is your staff and board’s ability to communicate and steward stakeholders. In fact, the smaller you are the better positioned you may be to grow your contributed revenue.

Topics to be discussed:

  • Designing your organization’s strategic fundraising engagement process
  • The three important roles that the board plays in fundraising
  • Developing a culture of philanthropy that is intentional and inclusive
  • And with all the Relief funding being made available: Uses of funding: restricted, unrestricted, sponsorship

Presenter: Suzanne Griffith, Founder and Managing Principal of VEGA Partners a firm that focuses on leveraging companies and philanthropies social impact solutions.

Nov
10
Wed
Learning Lab: Generating Revenue by Creating Operational Efficiencies @ Webinar
Nov 10 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

With limited ability to generate NEW revenue, can you find a greater margin of profit by creating operational efficiencies?

Join us for this participatory workshop focusing on creative and innovative solutions for your business or organization to generate more earned revenue by maximizing operational efficiencies.

Topics Include:

  • Conducting an operational audit – assessing income and expense to ensure sustainability and growth
  • The role of values and organization culture in operational efficiency
  • Service areas that can be outsourced or shared to minimize expenses
  • Building Consensus and Change Management

Even before the pandemic, organizations struggled with maximizing operational efficiencies. The economic setbacks from COVID-19 including restrictions on gatherings, changes in consumer behavior (voluntary or otherwise), and severe unemployment have taken a devastating toll on our sector- further impacting earned revenue which has now made it even more imperative to revisit operations efficiencies for organizations.

Presenter: Rashmi Narsana- Founder & CEO of CGT Strategy. Rashmi is an A&BC smARTscope consultant and has 18 years of nonprofit experience in management and leadership roles. She leads capacity building strategy projects that help organizations create well-developed plans to achieve their goals through a research-informed and data-based process. Rashmi also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Vermont, where she teaches Nonprofit Management, and Fundraising and Development.

Dec
6
Mon
On BOARD: Arts Advocacy for the Nonprofit Board Member (on demand only) @ On Demand Webinar
Dec 6 @ 12:00 am

Arts Advocacy for the Nonprofit Board Member, the final session (6/6) of the full On BOARD® curriculum is available on demand.  

In this session you will walk away with 1-3 actions that you can bring back to your organization to help sustain its mission through advocacy. 

Topics include: 

  • Current events and cultural policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels that affect your organization
  • How to use this moment to tell your story and advocate for arts, culture, and creativity
  • Tactics for delivering your advocacy message to key decision makers or stakeholders
  • Differences between advocacy and lobbying and the ““do’s and don’ts” for board members 

Presenter: Jonathan VanderBrug, Director of Civic Engagement, Arts Alliance Illinois. Jonathan coordinated the process of updating Illinois’ arts learning standards, as well as played a lead role in advocacy to include the arts as an indicator in Illinois’ ESSA State Plan.  Jonathan has also served as Health Care Justice Director, Campaign for Better Health Care; Calumet Community Educator, The Field Museum; Executive Director, St. Louis Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition; and Policy Adviser, Michigan House of Representatives.  He earned his Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from North Park University and B.A. in English Literature from Calvin College. All of Jonathan’s work has carried the spirit of the civil rights efforts of his parents, who fought for school desegregation as residents of North Lawndale in the 1960’s.

 

Feb
2
Wed
Learning Lab: Navigating Your Journey at Work in the New Normal @ webinar
Feb 2 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Who should attend:  Staff members and emerging leaders

During the great reshuffling and great resignation, many staff members are truly fatigued, while new hires show up energized.

How do you work alongside each other? How do you accomplish your goals or set goals when the future is unknown?

Our Content Expert Myla Skinner will explore team dynamics, empowering staff members to get what they need in a time of great flux, and help you get on the same page so that you can build resilience and re-engage with your mission.

After attending this session, you will have several tools to invigorate your work and team’s effectiveness.

Content Expert: Myla Skinner, Managing Partner, Quarter Five Consulting

Oct
20
Thu
On BOARD: Demystifying Fundraising for Nonprofits @ Online
Oct 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

At the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, we are creating a world where creativity is universally valued as a resource with limitless potential for social and economic impact. We are an arts service organization focused on serving Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises through consulting, programming, and mentorship to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy. 

One of the ways in which we fulfill our mission is through On BOARD®, the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership learning program. Throughout six sessions, we prepare individuals ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations to understand and own their role as board members successfully.  

On BOARD®: Demystifying Fundraising for Nonprofit Board Members 

One of the many responsibilities of Board Members is to leverage their strengths to engage donors and supporters. But asking for money and advocating for the support of an organization is scary – for new and existing Board Members. In this interactive Learning Lab, you’ll get to know where the money comes from and gain practical know-how on how you will be expected to fundraise and activate your networks.  

Participants will learn: 

  • The board’s role in fundraising  
  • The primary uses of funding board members can solicit from their networks 
  • Principles of designing your organization’s strategic fundraising engagement process 
  • Tactics for creating a compelling case for support that board members can use to solicit support and advocate for your organization 
  • How to develop a culture of philanthropy that is intentional and inclusive 

Content Expert: Braden Cleary, Client Engagement Lead at VEGA Partners

Price: $50 (2-for-1). Register and invite a friend to participate in this event!

Register here

Braden Cleary (he / him) is the Client Engagement Lead at VEGA Partners, a social impact consulting firm that works with businesses, government, philanthropies, and nonprofits to develop powerful strategies that deliver sustainable results. Braden works with clients in a variety of different issue areas and sectors, but has background and interest in arts & cultural management, board governance, and philanthropy. Dedicated to making meaningful contributions to the social impact sector, Braden currently serves on the Excellent Emerging Organizations Committee at North Park University’s Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management and is a former member of the Philanthropic Advisory Group at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Questions about this event? 

Email Constanza Mendoza, A&BC’s Director of Programs, at cmendoza@artsbiz-chicago.org 

Nov
29
Tue
Learning Lab 2022: Creating Cultures of Belonging in Arts Organizations @ Online
Nov 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

 

At the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, we are creating a world where creativity is universally valued as a resource with limitless potential for social and economic impact. We are an arts service organization focused on serving Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises through consulting, programming, and mentorship to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy. 

One of the ways in which we fulfill our mission is through our Learning Labs Program. Learning Labs provide opportunities to start new conversations about non-profit management with a particular focus on arts + culture. The goal of this program is to continue discussing solutions for challenges faced across the sector. 

 

About Learning Lab: Creating a Culture of Belonging in Arts Organizations

Learn to create cultures of belonging within your organizations, board, and communities. The session will include the most impactful recommendations for fostering belonging according to the R2P2 (Recruiting, Retention, Promotion, and Protection) model, with a special focus on the unique needs of arts organizations. Content Expert, Alida Miranda-Wolff, will leverage her experience working with institutions like the Poetry Foundation, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Hyde Park Art Center, and Steppenwolf Theater Company to provide tailored guidance to attendees on any and all of their diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging questions. 

Topics covered during the session:

  • The Intersectional Issues Arts Organizations Face in Achieving Belonging
  • Why Culture, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Matter
  • How to Diagnose Your Organization’s Inclusiveness 
  • R2P2 (Recruiting, Retention, Promotion, and Protection) Best Practices for Your Staff and Community Members
  • How to Measure the Impact of Initiatives

Price: $30

Register here

Content Expert: 

Alida Miranda-Wolff (she/her/ella) is the CEO and Founder of Ethos and author of the book Cultures of Belonging: Building Inclusive Organizations that Last, released on February 15, 2022. Alida received her certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion from Georgetown University and has eight years of practitioner experience. In 2021, Alida was a recipient of the University of Chicago’s Early Career Achievement Award.By helping organizations and the people inside of them understand their relationships with power, how to use their power responsibly, and how to share their power, she helps create the conditions for everyone to thrive at work.

 

Questions about this event? 

Email Constanza Mendoza, A&BC’s Director of Programs, at cmendoza@artsbiz-chicago.org 

Dec
14
Wed
On BOARD 2022: Board Cultivation. Actionable Insights on Board Recruitment, Engagement & Assessment @ Online
Dec 14 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

At the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, we are creating a world where creativity is universally valued as a resource with limitless potential for social and economic impact. We are an arts service organization focused on serving Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises through consulting, programming, and mentorship to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy. 

One of the ways in which we fulfill our mission is through On BOARD®, the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program. Throughout six sessions we prepare individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations to successfully understand and own their role as board members.  

On BOARD®: Board Cultivation. Actionable Insights on Board Recruitment, Engagement, and Assessment 

A superb board member brings a combination of time, treasure, and talent to an organization. So why do we continue to evaluate and prospect board members strictly on their treasure ‘capacity’? If a board of directors is to reflect the community it serves, the sector must consider more equitable qualifications.   

Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) Executive Director Kristin Larsen will present her innovative, point-based, planning and assessment model to engage boards of directors. Larsen will guide you through using game theory and a points-based evaluation system to reduce anxiety around giving capacities and create an equitable board of directors that is welcoming to groups that have been historically marginalized.  

In practice, Larsen has seen this fresh accountability system increase committee participation, mobilize current board members to prospect new members and donors, and ignite a sense of self-governance that reduces stress and time for the Executive Director. You’ll leave this lab with an action plan to define the entire scope of what your board of directors can bring to the organization and design your own point-based assessment model that’s not all about the give/get.  

We encouraged Executive Directors, Artistic Directors (directly interfacing with board of directors), Board Presidents, and Chairs of Board Governance committees to participate in this session.

Learning objectives  

  1. Attendees will understand how to translate their board’s Roles & Responsibilities into supporting the organization’s annual operating and work plans  
  2. Attendees will understand how to use this tool to ease board recruitment practices  
  3. Attendees will gain skills in motivating current board members to contribute to prospecting and communicating within their own networks  
  4. Attendees will understand how to utilize this tool to increase committee participation and motivate self-governance, reducing their stress and time in board management  
  5. Attendees will understand how to use this tool to increase board attendance at special events and fundraisers; also motivate board members to bring new guests to special events and fundraisers  
  6. Attendees will gain knowledge of how this tool can create board equity (socioeconomic, gender, race, access, etc.)  
  7. Attendees will expand the tenure of their board members using this tool as it presents a visible and tangible representation of a board member’s contributions 

 

Content Experts: Kristin Larsen, Executive Director at the Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC), and Simi Gambhir, Board Member at A&BC.

 

Price: $50 (2-for-1).

Session format: 90 minutes of content

 

Jan
24
Tue
On BOARD 2023: Nonprofit Organizational Structures @ Online
Jan 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

On BOARD®: Nonprofit Organizational Structures – Looking at Transformative Governance Models

This session is part 1 of 6 in the full On BOARD® curriculum. You can attend this single session or register for the full program here.

Who owns a nonprofit? This question is a bit more complicated than it seems! In this session, we will answer this question and learn about conventional board governance models while critically asking ourselves what it takes to imagine alternative models.

This introductory session will cover it all: from structures of arts and cultural organizations and expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure to imagining new nonprofit governance models rooted in care, social justice, and systemic change.

Topics:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Phases of development of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board
  • Analysis of the board’s role in planning, governance, staffing & structure, income generation, audience development & marketing, financial management, and facilities management
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Using committees and non-governing boards to amplify the work of your organization

Content Expert:

Bryan Perry is Vice President and General Counsel for Northern Illinois University (NIU). He focuses his practice in the areas of governance, labor and employment, NCAA athletics, and complex litigation.

He serves as a member of the President’s senior leadership team and as chief legal advisor and counsel to NIU’s executive officers and Board of Trustees. In the role of General Counsel, he coordinates all legal services for the university and manages the team of lawyers and administrative professionals who serve in the Office of General Counsel, Employee and Labor Relations, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office.

Bryan chairs the 6,000-member Employment & Labor Law Network of the Association of Corporate Counsel and in 2021 was selected by the National Black Lawyers Top 100, an elite network of legal experts, for inclusion into its list of Top 100 Lawyers.

Bryan currently chairs the monthly conference of Illinois public university general counsels and has served on many NACUA committees through his years of membership.

In his spare time, Bryan is chair of the Board of Directors for the Southside Community Art Center and also serves on the boards of Just The Beginning and Ready @ 5.

Bryan received his BS from Morgan State University and JD from the University of Maryland, where he was a member of the national Jessup international law moot court team.

Price: $50

Feb
22
Wed
Learning Lab 2023: Deep Listening. Human-Centered Design Tools @ Online
Feb 22 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Learning Lab: How Human-Centered Design Can Help You Listen to What Your Community Needs 

George Aye, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Greater Good Studio, will lead participants in a deep listening session. This method is one of several being practiced during an overview of human-centered design. This session will feature a video that Greater Good Studio produced as a teaching tool for sharing how to learn design research. The behaviors modeled during the video gives learners a rich sense for how to show up and honor the lived experiences of research participants that we’re ultimately learning from. 

Content Expert: George Aye, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Greater Good Studio

George Aye believes that design can lead to positive behavior change. Before co-founding Greater Good Studio, he spent seven years at global innovation firm IDEO before being hired as the first human-centered designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good, he has worked across multiple social issues, including autism, criminal justice, education, public health, and health care. He has facilitated discussions with small executive leadership teams and workshops with 150+ participants to help uncover hidden opportunities for innovation. George is an adjunct full professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Price: Pay What You Can ($15-$35)

Mar
28
Tue
On BOARD 2023: Legal and Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ Online
Mar 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations.  

On BOARD: Legal and Fiduciary Responsibilities + Ethical Considerations for Board Members

What are the spoken and unspoken responsibilities of board members? How can board members enact agency to respond to today’s major issues in the nonprofit sector? 

Serving as a board member can be one of the most challenging and rewarding volunteer assignments. While appointment or election to a board is an honor, board members have significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities that require time, skill, and resources.  

In this session, we will cover board members’ general roles and responsibilities and key fiduciary duties, liability and protection for board members, and corruption and cybercrimes.  

Topics include 

  • General roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members  
  • The Business Judgment Rule  
  • Key fiduciary duties of nonprofit board members  
  • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience  
  • Liability and protection for board members, the importance of Directors & Officers insurance  
  • Corruption and Cybercrimes – Bribery, Fraud, Extortion Considerations  

Presenter: Shermin Kruse, Law Professor at Northwestern Pritzker and Negotiation Consultant  

Price: $50

Mar
31
Fri
Group Leadership Coaching Program
Mar 31 @ 4:00 pm – Apr 16 @ 8:00 pm

 

Group Leadership Coaching Program

 

At the Arts & Business Council (A&BC), we understand the difficulties faced by arts leaders who have recently taken on a senior position in a nonprofit organization. With the added pressure of the pandemic, these leaders are expected to manage their staff, engage with their boards, and envision new models for transforming work culture to support equity.

That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce our latest offering, the “Group Leadership Coaching Program.” This six-month pilot program is designed to empower 10 arts leaders from 5 organizations to solve complex issues and lead their organizations with confidence.

As a participant in this program, you’ll be one member of a cohort of ten arts leaders from five nonprofit organizations. Through group and individual coaching sessions, you’ll build meaningful relationships, receive ongoing support, and solve complex problems together.

The Group Leadership Coaching Program is specifically designed for arts leaders who are new to senior roles and are grappling with the pandemic’s impact. Our goal is to provide a supportive space for you to navigate complex issues and develop your leadership skills.

We’re accepting applications from two senior leaders within the same nonprofit, the “lead applicant” being the new arts leader and the “second applicant” being a staff or board member. This approach is designed to help the new leader work with an internal colleague to create shared understanding, team alignment, and collective action toward the priorities affecting the organization’s mission, operations, and management.

We’re proud to collaborate with Emmanuel Neal, a Management Consultant, Executive Coach, and Ph.D. candidate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, to bring you this program.

If you’re a new arts leader looking to develop your skills and build a supportive network of peers, we encourage you to apply for the Group Leadership Coaching Program. This is your chance to work with a colleague to create team alignment and navigate this time of transformation together.

 

Scroll down to read about:

  • The Coaching Program
  • Eligibility Criteria
  • Application Process
  • Coaches and Facilitators
  • Q&A

 

About the Coaching Program

The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.

The Group Leadership Coaching Program will be co-facilitated by four executive coaches, including Emmanuel Neal, who has been coaching arts leaders for 10 years and has been a volunteer for 3 years with A&BC’s Business Volunteer for the Arts® program.

While Emmanuel and his colleagues are consultants, this program’s nature is to offer 1:1 coaching and encourage group dynamics to solve problems together. To that end, this program is not a consulting service; we won’t be reviewing grants, business plans, or any other consultative tasks. Instead, you will share your current challenges with your cohort and collectively get actionable insights and tools to solve them together. Read about the coaching topics below.

Format:

  • Group coaching sessions with all organizations
  • 1:1 coaching with (only) new arts leaders (lead applicant)

Duration: July – December 2023

Time commitment: 3 hours per month

  • Group sessions last 2 hours, and meet once per month in person.
  • Individual sessions last 1 hour, and meet once per month online.

The group sessions (2 hours long) will be held on Tuesday evenings between 4 pm to 8 pm. The exact times will be determined with participants after acceptance:

  • July 11th – 1st session
  • August 8th – 2nd session
  • Sept 12th – 3rd session
  • Oct 10th – 4th session
  • Nov 14th – 5th session
  • Dec 12th – 6th session

Location: Hybrid. Group sessions will meet in person (TBD cohort member locations) and individual coaching will be conducted through Zoom.

Topics: The group session topics will be collectively decided based on the general areas shared below

  • Leadership Development
  • Team Building and Collaboration
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Career Development
  • Stress Management and Resilience
  • Financial Management
  • Marketing and Audience Development
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Legal and Compliance
  • Board and Governance
  • Strategic Planning

Coaches (bios below):

  • Emmanuel Neal, Management Consultant and Executive Coach, Ph.D. Candidate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • Laticia (Dr. Tish) Thompson, Ph.D., Founder & Chief Business Psychologist at Legacy Blueprint, LLC
  • Chandra McPherson, Ph.D., Founder CLM Executive Coaching & Consulting
  • Lawrence James, Ph.D., Managing Partner at Lawrence James Jr & Associates

Cost: Participation in the program is free.

 

Eligibility Criteria

For this pilot program, we are seeking new leaders (executive, administrative, or artistic staff) to apply with a another/ second leader (staff or board) from their organization. We define “new leaders” as having been in their current role for less than 18 months.

To qualify for this opportunity, your answers to the following statement must be “yes”:

  • The lead applicant is a senior staff leader who has been in their role for less than 18- months
  • The applicant is representing a Chicago-based arts organization that has been in existence for at least 7 years
  • The organization has a board of at least 5 members, not including staff
  • Another leader (staff or board) within the organization has agreed to participate in this program. (It is not necessary for the second applicant to be new to their role.)

The coaches with A&BC staff will evaluate applications based on:

  • Organization’s commitment to racial equity
  • Alignment of motivations and needs with the program’s coaching topics
  • Availability to attend group coaching sessions.

 

Application Process

Please follow this link to submit your application before April 16th, 2023, 5:00 pm CST.

We recommend having the following documents handy before applying:

  • IRS letter designating 501c3 status
  • Bios of applicants if no LinkedIn or website link

All applicants will be notified by A&BC no later than May 5, 2023. Five organizations, with two leaders from each, will be invited to join the cohort.

If your organization is invited to be a cohort member, the Lead Applicant will be required to reply by May 12, 2023, agreeing to:

  • Officially join the cohort and engage in 1:1 and group coaching between July and December 2023
  • Complete the survey to indicate topics for group coaching sessions
  • Read and accept the standards of conduct
  • Attend 4 of the 6 group coaching sessions
  • Complete a post-engagement survey

In the meantime, please save the dates of the 6 group coaching sessions to be held on Tuesdays evenings between 4 pm – 8 pm:

  • July 11th – 1st session
  • August 8th – 2nd session
  • Sept 12th – 3rd session
  • Oct 10th – 4th session
  • Nov 14th – 5th session
  • Dec 12th – 6th session

If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Larsen, A&BC’s Executive Director, at klarsen@artsbiz-chicago.org, and Emmanuel Neal at emmanuel.neal@hotmail.com.

 

Coaches

Emmanuel Neal is a coach, consultant, and creative individual currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Psychology (Consulting) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

He takes an inquiry-based, facilitative, and experiential approach to coaching, recognizing each client as a whole person and subject matter expert. Emmanuel aims to serve as an accountability partner and accessible resource to help clients grow both personally and professionally. His coaching style is empathetic, patient, direct, and aligns with organizational goals.

Emmanuel holds a Master’s in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago and is a member of the Society of Consulting Psychologists and the Institute of Coaching through Harvard/McLean Hospital. He volunteers as a consultant with the Arts & Business Council of Chicago and serves on the board of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project.

Dr. Laticia (Tish) Thompson, Ph.D., is a renowned business psychologist, Founder, and Chief of Legacy Blueprint, LLC, a management consulting firm that helps people develop respectful and productive relationships in the workplace. With a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior, Dr. Tish recently completed her Ph.D. in Business Psychology from the Chicago School for Professional Psychology, emphasizing consulting.

Dr. Tish’s ability to bring about sustainable change in organizations and create fun and thought-provoking learning experiences is widely recognized. She has received the title of best-selling author for her personal story titled “I Am Not My Hair,” and her TEDx talk “I Am… Bold, Bald and Beautiful” showcases her expertise in leadership, change, organizational culture, and self-discovery.

Dr. Tish is passionate about working with organizations across various industries that value people as their most valuable asset and strive to build the best possible organizational culture. Her approach to driving change is engaging, empathetic, and insightful.

Dr. Chandra L. McPherson, Ph.D., is the Founder and Principal Business Psychologist of CLM Executive Coaching, LLC, a management consulting firm that specializes in empowering Sales Managers and their teams to effectively manage rejection and stress in the workplace, enabling them to excel in their sales roles. Dr. McPherson is a leading authority in teaching women how to use positive psychology and transformational tools to enhance their happiness, improve communication skills, and eliminate overwhelm and self-sabotage in the workplace.

With over 10 years of experience in sales, starting with Xerox Corporation, Dr. McPherson inspires other women in sales to love their jobs and lives by avoiding burnout. Her areas of expertise include sales, leadership development, transformational thinking, organizational culture, and executive presence. She has shared her knowledge and upcoming book, “The BOUNCE Method, 15-Proven Techniques to Help Professional Women BOUNCE from Misery to Excellence!” as a frequent guest on various podcasts.

Dr. McPherson holds a Ph.D. in Business Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, with an emphasis in Coaching and Consulting. She completed an ICF-Certified Coaching program from The CaPP© Institute to improve her coaching techniques. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in communications from National Louis University. Dr. McPherson finds inspiration in working with family-owned businesses and women in sales to help them develop a refreshed and inspired mindset, empowering them to achieve their goals.

Lawrence James, Ph.D., is a thought leader in the areas of diversity, inclusion, & belonging, executive development, and executive assessment. Showing a powerful mix of inquisitiveness, insight, and drive, he is an innovator known for his willingness to challenge existing paradigms and create new ones. He has developed a holistic, integrated, and systemic model for growing diverse talent which has been detailed in his seminal white paper “Journey to the Top: developing African-American Executives,” as well as numerous blogs.

With his forward-thinking and innovative whole-organization approach to talent development, he has been an invited keynote speaker at a variety of conferences, symposia, and corporate roundtables. Recently, he was selected to be co-editor of a special issue in the Consulting Psychology Journal entitled “The State of Black Leadership: What Can be Done to Create Sustainable Change,” which will go to press in March 2023.

After 12 years as a partner with RHR International, a premier boutique leadership development consultancy, he started his own consultancy focusing on the systemic development of diverse talent from assessment to coaching, inclusive leadership training and development, diversity strategy and advisory services, and organizational transformation. He is an expert in helping corporations develop cultures of belonging, inclusion, and diversity—so that all employees thrive. During his tenure at RHR, he co-created the firm’s diversity, inclusion, and belonging practice area and co-led the service. Internally, he coauthored the design, strategy, and intervention plan for the companies’ own internal journey which led to an over 40% increase in the hiring of diverse talent coupled with improved employee engagement scores firmwide.

Lawrence received his BA in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master of education in counseling psychology at Howard University, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of Illinois and is a member of several professional organizations.

Q&A

How are you approaching “coaching”?
We agree with The International Coaching Federation’s definition of coaching, which is “coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.”

Does this program also offer consulting?
No. This program encourages group dynamics to solve problems together and provides guidance around common challenges. To that end, this program is not a consulting service; we won’t be reviewing grants, business plans, or any other consultative tasks.

Where are the in-person coaching sessions taking place?
Although not a requirement, we encourage applicants to host group sessions in their buildings or facilities to advance the collaborative component of the program.

How do you define an “arts leader”?
Arts leaders are individuals who serve in nonprofit arts organizations in senior or executive leadership roles. Even though leadership positions vary from organization to organization, arts leaders usually are decision-makers within their organizations and team leads.

I still have questions. Who can I reach out to?
Please contact Kristin Larsen, A&BC’s Executive Director, at klarsen@artsbiz-chicago.org, and Emmanuel Neal at emmanuel.neal@hotmail.com.

Apr
26
Wed
Learning Lab 2023: Brand Strategy & Storytelling For Arts Nonprofits @ Online
Apr 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Learning Lab: Brand Strategy And Storytelling for Arts + Culture Nonprofits 

Brand strategy is no longer optional for the arts.   

Mission statements are aspirational, yet they are not enough – they are not decision-making tools and are rarely unique or memorable. In this session, we will make a case for articulating an organizational purpose that can help you make big and small decisions, create team alignment, make your funders understand why you are unique, and communicate to your audiences what they can expect from you. 

Content Expert: Jennifer Martindale, Marketing and Branding Professional

Jennifer has worked with global brands, innovative nonprofits, and founder-led companies. Her expertise includes consumer goods, multi-unit retail & restaurants, arts & entertainment, automotive, government, and professional sports. She believes brands can use their platform to help shift culture. She worked at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Leo Burnett, and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, before joining the Chicago Cubs as Senior Vice President of Marketing

May
24
Wed
On BOARD 2023: Understanding Nonprofit Finances and Financial Transparency @ Online
May 24 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

On BOARD: Understanding Nonprofit Finances and Financial Transparency

Financial management is not only about bookkeeping. Board members should be aware of ethical considerations regarding money management and financial decision-making. We will talk about financial oversights and transparency in nonprofits, from policy creation and compliance, and safeguarding of assets, to audits, managing cash flow, tax compliance, and filing with the IRS and other government entities.  

Most importantly, when pay equity and transparency are a must in the sector, we will discuss significant issues around nonprofit finances and transparency. 

Content Expert: Kate Lorenz

Price: $50

Jul
26
Wed
On BOARD 2023: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits @ Online
Jul 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

On BOARD® Lab: Envisioning the Future Through Strategic Planning for Nonprofits 

On BOARD® is the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership training program that prepares individuals who are ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations. Individuals who successfully complete the full program demonstrate an understanding and commitment to upholding high standards of nonprofit board governance.

Strategic planning can be scary. How to plan in a sector where burnout and putting out fires are the norm? However, learning how to scale strategy and planning to your goals, resources, and priorities can be exciting and an excellent opportunity to build team alignment toward a shared purpose.  

We will cover general governance and the role of the board of directors in strategic planning, the advantages of creating and using a strategic plan, how to approach the strategic planning process, and methodologies used for pre-planning and organizational assessments. 

Topics include:

  • General governance and the role of Board of Directors in strategic planning
  • Advantages of creating and using a strategic plan
  • How to approach the strategic planning process
  • Methodologies used for pre-planning and organizational assessments

Price: $ 50

Content Expert: Brandi Head, CEO Head-On Strategies, LLC

About the context expert

Brandi Head (she/her) possesses more than 20 years of business experience and finance acumen, which she employs while coaching small business and nonprofit clients. She has a passion for helping promising entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders achieve their strategic goals and build solid, thriving organizations. That passion prompted her to start Head-On Strategies, LLC which provides consulting, advisory, and implementation services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations, meeting them wherever they are in their business life cycles. Whether her clients are start-ups or at key inflection points, Brandi is positioned to help businesses develop data-driven strategies and solutions that work.

Additionally, she believes that her technical expertise is only one piece of the advisory puzzle; experience, perspective, and meaningful connection withpeople, organizations, and community complete that puzzle. While working in Commercial Banking (inclusive of Commercial Real Estate), Credit Risk, and Operations Management at blue-chip financial services firms, she has helped business clients and local governments secure financing for their various needs.

As a member of several corporate leadership and project teams, she has spearheaded several key initiatives and has been asked to lead outside of her primary roles, including in Financial Policy, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and Employee Engagement. Her contributions have benefited her previous clients and employers in terms of growth, cost reduction, and branding.

Brandi has also been a member of various project teams that helped nonprofits with finance strategy, marketing plans, and feasibility studies/strategic alignment. Brandi has an MBA from Purdue University, as well as company-sponsored executive education from Kellogg School of Management. She has served on several boards and committees and currently sits on the board of directors for Red Clay Dance Company where she has been responsible for operationalizing its Finance Committee, including charter creation and policy development, and helping to set long-range financial strategy.

Aug
30
Wed
Learning Lab: Roadmap to Enacting Pay Equity and Transparency in Nonprofits @ Online
Aug 30 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Learning Lab: Roadmap To Enacting Pay Equity and Transparency in Nonprofits

Enacting pay equity is not as expensive as it appears. From posting salaries in job offers and creating organizational policies to talking about money and fair compensation from a place of justice, this Learning Lab will tackle crucial aspects of understanding and navigating pay equity and transparency. 

 

Price: Pay What You Can ($15 – $35)

Content Expert: Elsa Hiltner, Organizer and Consultant for Pay Equity & Associate Director of Programs at Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

Elsa Hiltner has worked for over 15 years as a freelance artist and arts non-profit administrator, including as director of development for Collaboraction Theatre Company and as Associate Director of Programs at Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Her essays on labor and pay equity have inspired systemic change in the theatre industry. Her Theatrical Designer Pay Resource has been used nationwide to promote pay transparency and start conversations around pay equity. She is a co-founder of On Our Team, which successfully organized pay transparency on the job sites of Playbill, BroadwayWorld, and the League of Chicago Theatres.

Sep
27
Wed
On BOARD: Designing Inclusive Fundraising Practices @ Online
Sep 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

At the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, we are creating a world where creativity is universally valued as a resource with limitless potential for social and economic impact. We are an arts service organization focused on serving Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises through consulting, programming, and mentorship to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy. 

One of the ways in which we fulfill our mission is through On BOARD®, the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s unique board governance and leadership learning program. Throughout six sessions, we prepare individuals ready to engage as active board members of arts, cultural, and creative nonprofit organizations to understand and own their role as board members successfully.  

On BOARD®: Demystifying Fundraising & Designing Inclusive Fundraising Practices

One of the many responsibilities of Board Members is to leverage their strengths to engage donors and supporters. But asking for money and advocating for the support of an organization is scary – for new and existing Board Members. In this interactive Learning Lab, you’ll get to know where the money comes from and gain practical know-how on how you will be expected to fundraise and activate your networks.  

Participants will learn: 

  • The board’s role in fundraising  
  • The primary uses of funding board members can solicit from their networks 
  • Principles of designing your organization’s strategic fundraising engagement process 
  • Tactics for creating a compelling case for support that board members can use to solicit support and advocate for your organization 
  • How to develop a culture of philanthropy that is intentional and inclusive 

Content Expert: Braden Cleary

Braden Cleary is the Associate Director, Client Development at Arabella Advisors and former Client Engagement Lead at VEGA Partners. He works with clients in a variety of different issue areas and sectors but has a background and interest in arts & cultural management, board governance, and philanthropy. Dedicated to making meaningful contributions to the social impact sector, Braden currently serves on the Excellent Emerging Organizations Committee at North Park University’s Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management and is a former member of the Philanthropic Advisory Group at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Price: $50

Questions about this event? 

Email Constanza Mendoza, A&BC’s Director of Programs, at cmendoza@artsbiz-chicago.org