Events

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Who should attend: Senior Staff and Board Members

The challenges of retention, motivation, and alignment in the current environment have been exhausting for both staff and boards.

Join us to examine different organizational structures and to discuss the roles, responsibilities and necessary tools board and staff leaders must coordinate to help their staff and organizations thrive.

Our Content Expert Omar Brown will address issues such as alignment during staff/ leadership transition(s), integrating return to work policies, complications caused by vaccine mandates, and a focus on mental health and well-being that we have never experienced in the workplace.  He will also share his theory for multiple generations working together in this virtual world .

After attending this session, you will have several tools and lessons energizing you to lead your organization with clarity and purpose.

Content Expert: Omar Brown, Senior Vice President, People & Culture Officer at Big Ten Conference and Adjunct Professor at Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago

Who should attend: Senior Staff and Board Members

Are you trying to make sense of the numbers after two years of a pandemic? Need a financial refresher in general? Truthfully, you’re not the only one. The pandemic has left us all a little drained when it comes to financial planning for our organizations.

Please join us as we examine budgeting tools, tax implications, and organizational finances to plan for brighter days ahead. We want you and your organization to thrive in 2022.

After attending this session, you will walk away with several tools and lessons that energize you as you lead your organization with clarity and purpose.

Content Expert: C. Lorenzo Evans III is Founder and Chief Consultant at CLE Business Services, based in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore Area. Lorenzo is currently Adjunct Faculty of the Masters of Arts Management Program at American University as well as a Teaching Fellow at National Arts Strategy through the University of Pennsylvania. Lorenzo formerly held the position of Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance at Washington Performing Arts.

Who should attend: Senior Staff and Board Members

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.  

Legal and Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members is part 1 of 4 in 2022 On BOARD curriculum. More information about this session is provided below. 

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.

We are currently unable to provide financial assistance for our On BOARD sessions, but we are offering a 2×1 opportunity. Register for this session, and we will contact you via email to ask for the second attendee’s contact information.  

Overview

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 On BOARD session on Legal and Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members, Northwestern law professor Shermin Kruse will cover the most indispensable aspects of legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

The impact of COVID-19 in the nonprofit sector has driven A&BC’s team to review this session’s content to include topics that better respond to contemporary pressing challenges and issues in the industry.

For this reason, our content expert will share her expertise in a matter that is becoming more and more present in the digital realm: Corruption and Cybercrimes – Bribery, Fraud, and Extortion Considerations.  In addition, she will complement this session’s content by talking about The Business Judgment Rule.

Learning Lab: Values-Based Leadership – Leading with purpose, motivation, and direction
What principles guide your decisions as a professional?

Values-based leadership is an approach to leading where individuals draw from their values for decision-making processes and various professional situations. This online workshop will guide you on how to identify your values and create an action plan to better lead in alignment with them.

What you will learn

• Gain clarity on your values and how they impact your leadership
• Identify the opportunities to lead with a more values-based approach
• Learn from the leadership experiences of others
• Create an action plan to better lead in alignment with your values

Price: $30

Get your tickets here!

Content Expert: Nicole Johnson-Scales, CEO,  NJS Consulting Group

Nicole Johnson-Scales is an Executive Career Strategist who applies more than two decades of corporate leadership experience to empower her clients to become high-impact leaders within their industries. Whether starting a new role or positioned to take their leadership to the next level, Nicole helps executive leaders design a powerful strategy; leveraging their strengths and talents, to create impactful business outcomes. As a member of the Executive Leadership team at Fifth Third Chicago, she has steered several critical initiatives, using Corporate Social Responsibility to grow the business and enhance its reputation. Her wide-ranging responsibilities include leading the bank’s $5.6 billion Community Commitment and acting as a key strategic advisor to the region president and other executive leaders; effectively navigating the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Nicole has an MBA from Olivet Nazarene University and is a certified coach through an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited program. She is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University and Lake Forest Graduate School of Management where she teaches courses on Values-Based Leadership, Leading Organizational Change, and Corporate Social Responsibility.  She is a Founding Guide at Chief (Chicago), the social network dedicated to women’s leadership.

Nicole has been recognized nationally and locally as a corporate and civic leader. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful & Influential Leaders and Chicago United Leader of Color. She serves on several boards and committees, including the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation. Nicole offers a wide range of coaching services, including executive onboarding, executive coaching, and leadership seminars and workshops.

She can be reached at nicole@designyourprofessionaljoy.com.

On BOARD® Lab: 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.

Who is encouraged to attend: Senior Staff and Board Members

Strategic Planning for Nonprofits is part 2 of 4 in the full On BOARD® curriculum.

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

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

Price: $ 50

We are currently unable to provide financial assistance for our On BOARD sessions, but we are offering a 2×1 opportunity. Register for this session, and we will contact you via email to ask for the second attendee’s contact information.  

Get your tickets here!

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.

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: Grant Writing, Building a Successful Case for your Project

Support for nonprofit arts organizations and art makers in Chicagoland drastically increased in 2022 and is expected to continue growing throughout 2023. Grant amounts from the City of Chicago are larger, their terms are more flexible, and the application process is less rigid. When it comes to private foundations, a similar case is happening. 

However, even if there are more funding opportunities, chances of getting funds will largely depend on the applicant’s ability to effectively build their case and present a successful grant application. 

In view of this exciting scenario, the Arts & Business Council offers a Learning Lab on Grant Writing where participants will gain insights into communicating effectively with prospective funders.  

During this workshop, attendees will get tools to build a case for their project and prepare effectively for grant writing. This session focuses on philanthropic foundation and government grants for arts organizations, although some underlying principles around proposal writing apply to individuals.  

Topics covered during the session 

• Brief History of Nonprofit Funding 
• Anatomy of a Grant Application, with a focus on narrative, timeline, budget, and impact/evaluation 
• Case Studies: Critically Examining Writing Samples 
• Creating Your Case: Share your Elevator Pitch  

Topics not covered 

• Identifying relevant government and private foundation funders 
• Types of foundations and other funders 
• Types of proposals and submissions
• Application for research grants 

We encourage participants to prepare a one-paragraph pitch for a project they want to get funded.  

Content Expert: TBD

Price: $30