Events
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 considering 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 workshop, you will learn:
- To streamline your board of directors’ roles and responsibilities in the organization’s annual work plan;
- To reduce board anxiety around giving capacities and prospecting new donors in their networks;
- To create a framework for an equitable board of directors that is welcoming to marginalized groups (socioeconomic, gender identity, race, accessibility, etc.); and
- To design a points-based assessment model that’s not all about the give / get
Presenters: Kristin Larsen / Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Joel Farran / Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Click here to meet the presenters.
For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 x 105.
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Meet the Presenters:
Kristin Larsen rejoined the Arts & Business Council of Chicago in 2017 after serving as Director of Programs in the early aughts. Prior to returning to A&BC, Kristin was Executive Director of Stage 773 (2013-2017), a performance venue in Lakeview and Executive Director of Remy Bumppo Theater Company from 2002 to 2012. From 1995 to 2000 Kristin was a business representative with Actors’ Equity Association after many years of being an Equity Stage Manager. Kristin has her BFA in production management from The Theatre School, DePaul University and her MA in facilitating organizational effectiveness in the arts from DePaul University’s School for New Learning. Kristin serves on Americans for the Arts Private Sector Council, The Actors Fund Central Region Advisory Council, Pivot Arts Advisory Council and volunteers with DePaul’s Alumni Sharing Knowledge program and the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. Kristin is an active member of the Unitarian Church of Evanston.
Joel Farran is the Chair of the Board of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago. Farran is the former Chief Brand Officer of Health Care Service Corporation.
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled professionals with arts and cultural organizations in need of management assistance. Are you ready to join our pro bono consulting program and lend your professional abilities? Apply in time for our next volunteer orientation!
Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to an orientation.
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 7. Apply here.
For more information on the BVA program, click here.
What is public relations? There are many different responses to this question, but arts and culture leaders should be most concerned with managing their organizations’ public image and reputation.
Whether you are connecting with media outlets, community members, or target audiences, a strong public relations plan can help increase your name recognition. By strategically communicating your mission your organization can build audiences and generate revenue like never before.
In this workshop, you will learn to:
- Define public relations and understand how it affects your business;
- Increase your brand recognition by using low cost (and no cost!) public relations tools;
- Implement strategies to develop target audiences for your organization; and
- Create credibility by managing your image and reputation.
Presenter: Vanessa Abron / Agency Abron Public Relations
Click here to read Vanessa’s bio.
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Meet the Presenter:
Vanessa Abron is a public relations professional with expertise in securing positive media coverage for brands in national and local media outlets such as Good Morning America, Extra, The Insider, The Huffington Post, The Breakfast Club, the Associated Press, and ABC News to name a few. Some of her past client work includes, but aren’t limited to, Aflac, Illinois Lottery, Chicago 2016, Pringles, Adidas, Salesforce.com, ComEd, American Optometric Association, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Interscope Records, Def Jam Recording, Virgin Records and Reebok. Vanessa’s experience represents a broad range of public relations initiatives in a variety of industries, making her a valuable asset to any campaign. She accredits her success on her passion for continuously building positive relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals combined with her steadfast commitment to ensuring that the media, community and the client all receive mutually beneficial rewards from any project.
BOARD MEMBER TRAINING
Presenter: Kristin Larsen, Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Chicago
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 an arts administrator leaders and On BOARD alumni.
Price: $150
Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations. For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.
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Leaders in non-profit organizations – board members, executive directors and everyone else – should be comfortable asking for money. But, too few of them are actively doing it.
In this fast-paced, interactive session, fundraising veterans Christopher Jabin (Dragonfly Advisors) and Charles Katzenmeyer (The Field Museum) will offer a practical framework for identifying and cultivating prospective donors, engaging them in the work of your organization, getting the meeting and finally, … making the ask.
Participants in this session will understand how to:
- Identify prospective donors for a non-profit organization
- Build cultivation efforts that help move distant prospects toward being top prospects
- Request and structure a solicitation meeting
- Make the ask and answer potential objections
- Close a gift and begin donor stewardship
Presenters: Christopher Jabin / Dragonfly Advisors
Charles Katzenmeyer / The Field Museum
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Presenter: Megan Angle, CPA & Manager, Porte Brown LLC
Learning objectives 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
Price: $150
Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.
For questions, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.
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Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creativecommunities in need of management assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!
Application Deadline: Sunday, October 13. Apply here.
For more information on the BVA program, click here.
Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
Merriam Webster defines “Engagement” as “something that engages;” “the state of being engaged;” an “emotional involvement or commitment;” or “the state of being in gear.” Each facet of this definition speaks to a critical component of board engagement and knowing how to create the right mix of engagement opportunities for your board can be challenging. This session will help you understand where your board’s engagement-sweet spot is in relation to its evolutionary status and the work you need it to accomplish going forward.
Participants in this session will learn:
- Phases of development of nonprofit arts, cultural, and creative organizations
- How a board of directors typically functions at each phase of development
- Tailored engagement strategies for boards at each phase of development
- To motivate board growth
Presenter: Lisa Tylke / Illuminant
Founder and principal consultant with Illuminant, a consulting practice specializing in evaluation, organizational development, planning, governance and fundraising, Lisa has worked in the non-profit sector since 1987. Her background in arts, education and association management informs her consulting work which focuses on the areas of organizational development, assessment, strategic planning, board development and fundraising. As a consultant, Lisa has served over 40 nonprofit organizations. She has conducted independent evaluations of grant giving programs at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust as well as grant review for The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and Prince Charitable Trusts. In addition to her consulting work, Lisa has served as Executive Director for the Chicago Dance Coalition, Director of Arts DuPage for the DuPage Foundation and Chief of Staff for the UFHI Foundation. In 2018, Lisa joined Giving Tree Associates as an adjunct consultant working with their team on fundraising, planning and assessment projects. In 2011 and 2014, Ms. Tylke served as a member of the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, Civic Knowledge Project team of instructors supporting its Board Leadership Certificate. In her volunteer life, Lisa serves on the board for the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center a literacy organization providing out-of-school educational enrichment services for low-income, immigrant and refugee families living within Illinois School Districts 41 and 89
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Presenters:
Patricia Marx, Attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP
Cris Beilstein, Consultant
Learning objectives 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
Price: $150
For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.
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BOARD MEMBER TRAINING
Speakers:
Charles Katzenmeyer, VP Institutional Advancement, The Field Museum
Jonathan VanderBrug, Policy & Research Director, Arts Alliance Illinois
Learning objectives include:
- Funding landscape for nonprofit organizations and sector-wide trends in giving
- The role board members play in securing funds
- Identifying prospects and creating an “ask”
- Creating a donor cultivation strategy
- Understanding current cultural policies and advocacy tips and resources
Price: $150
Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.
For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.
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Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!
Application Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2020. Apply here.
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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
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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
Registration: $65
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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.
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
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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.
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
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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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, CPA / Manager / Porte Brown LLC
Price: $150
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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
Registration: $65
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.
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.
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 your: organization, 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
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.
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.
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!
Application Deadline: May 3, 2020. Apply here.
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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.
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.
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities through short-term one-on-one consulting? Apply here!
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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:
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.
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
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities through short-term one-on-one consulting? Apply here!
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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
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
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!
Application Deadline: Sunday, September 6, 2020. Apply here.
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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
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:
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.
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
Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities through short-term one-on-one consulting? Apply here!
For more information on BVA, click here.
Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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