April 30 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn the basics of successful fundraising for your nonprofit in our hands-on workshop!

Join us at the Humboldt Area Foundation for a crash course in fundraising for nonprofits! Fundraising 101 provides a beginner-friendly introduction to core fundraising concepts and practical strategies, empowering participants to start building or improving their organization’s fundraising efforts. Over the course of three hours, participants will explore the fundamental philosophy behind nonprofit fundraising and gain insights into various types of giving. The class will delve into the donor development cycle, providing a framework for building lasting relationships with supporters.

Attendees will learn about effective asking techniques and will also cover key elements of annual giving programs, including direct mail strategies, event planning, and donor recognition. This class is particularly well-suited for non-profit staff, board members, and/or volunteers who have limited experience with fundraising or who work in organizations with relatively undeveloped fundraising programs.

Topics Covered:

Fundraising Philosophy ·Types of Giving · Constituencies · Donor Development Cycle · Effective Asking Techniques · Elements of Annual Giving (direct mail, events, recognition)

Presented by Beth Bray:

A seasoned fundraising professional and Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), Beth Bray has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, specializing in fundraising and operations.  Her diverse background includes leadership roles, both staff and volunteer, at non-profits in the health care, conservation, social services, and higher education sectors.

Beth serves as founder and principal of Add Lightness Consulting where she assists nonprofits with a range of needs including strategic fundraising, board development, and meeting facilitation. She has also shared her expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management by teaching courses through Cal Poly Humboldt Extended Education and the Northern California Association of Nonprofits. In addition to her consulting work, Beth serves as Operations Director for both the Northcoast Regional Land Trust and her family’s business, Hubbard’s German Auto.

To inquire about scholarships, please email info@norcal-nonprofits.org.

May 13 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Back by popular demand, learn the ins and outs of effective board governance from nonprofit board expert, Byrd Lochtie!

Are you a board member of a nonprofit organization? Do you want to enhance your understanding of governance, legal duties, and effective leadership within your role?

Join us May 13, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for an insightful and interactive Governance Workshop designed specifically for nonprofit board members* in Humboldt County.

*Though this is a workshop for board members, executives are also welcome to attend. Attending the Governance Workshop can empower Executives by providing them with a clear understanding of the board’s governance role, legal obligations, relationship with staff, and effective leadership strategies, enabling them to lead their organizations more effectively and strategically.

Desired Outcomes:

At this workshop, our primary goals are to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to excel in your role and to create an opportunity for networking and collaboration with fellow board members and other nonprofits.

By the end of the workshop, participants can expect to:

– Understanding the difference between Governance vs. Management

– Know Legal Duties & Roles and Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards in California

– Improve Communication, Teamwork, Relationships & Meetings

– Meet and Network with Other Nonprofit Board Members

**Coffee and tea will be provided. Please come prepared with your own bag lunch/snacks.**

Presented by Byrd Lochtie:

Byrd has dedicated much of her life to strengthening nonprofit organizations and supporting her community. A longtime Eureka resident, she has served on the Eureka City Schools Board of Trustees, helped establish the city’s first Recycling Center, and has been an active member of the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County for over fifty years. She is currently an appointed member of the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission.

Since 1990, Byrd has served on the planning committee for the Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival, which brings 25 published authors to local schools to inspire young readers. A lifetime Girl Scout, she has held many leadership roles and completed an extended Trainer Course that deepened her passion for adult education. In the 1980s, she began consulting with nonprofit Boards of Directors, specializing in governance, planning, communication, teamwork, effective meetings, recruitment, volunteer engagement, and leadership development.

Byrd grew up in New Jersey and earned a BA with honors in Chemistry from Cornell University. She and her husband Robert moved to Eureka after honeymooning in Europe and ran a veterinary practice together, with Byrd managing the accounting while raising their two children. She enjoys working with people of all ages and chooses organizations whose missions align with her values.

To inquire about scholarships, please email info@norcal-nonprofits.org.

June 12 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Regardless of your experience level, this workshop will help you build skills to draft a compelling grant proposal.

Practical Skills to Help You Write Compelling Grant Applications

Whether you’re just getting started or an experienced proposal writer, this workshop will help you build skills to draft a compelling grant proposal. We’ll explore how to tell your story – the unique role your organization plays in your community and intended benefits it will deliver through proposed work – so your narrative matches funder priorities and requirements. Beginning with an overview of what’s important to consider when developing a project idea and how it could be funded, we’ll focus on using storytelling techniques to effectively carry a consistent narrative through key elements in a grant proposal and ensure the budget supports proposed work. You’ll leave this session understanding how to use language that speaks to funder concerns within a given proposal structure and approach relationships with funders, whether the proposal was successful or rejected.

Workshop Approach

The session will emphasize strengthening grant-readiness and application skills, storytelling techniques, funder alignment strategies, and foundational budget development skills through presentation, hands-on practice, peer discussion, and problem-solving guidance.

Key Takeaways

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

– Apply storytelling techniques to effectively convey organizational mission, vision, and impact and describe a funding request.

– Build a clear budget aligned with proposed project goals and funder requirements.

– Assess funder priorities and tailor proposals for stronger alignment.

– Strengthen draft application sections through hands-on exercises and group discussion and feedback.

**Coffee and tea will be provided. Please come prepared with your own bag lunch/snacks.**

Meet Your Trainer

Dr. Ursula Bischoff is a strategic management consultant specializing in collaborative systems change, inclusive community and economic development, and organizational capacity building. Her work in education, workforce development, and human services at national, state, and regional levels builds partnerships and centers diverse communities—including BIPOC peoples, youth, immigrants, and justice-involved individuals—in designing initiatives that create equitable access to opportunity and sustainable outcomes. She has funded her work for over 20 years by successfully securing competitive funding from federal, state and local agencies, philanthropies and private donors.

To inquire about scholarships, please email info@norcal-nonprofits.org.