Education Sessions

Board Fundraising: Building Board Development Champions

February 8, 12-1pm, Zoom

Speaker: Ellie Moore, Community Foundation of Johnson County

Session Description: Board members can be your greatest champions! In this session, learn how to encourage board members not only to become donors themselves, but also to be fundraising champions for your organization. Receive some resources and tools to help your board members boost your development team.

Speaker Bio: Ellie is an avid community supporter through not only her professional role as the Director of Grantmaking & Strategic Communications at the Community Foundation of Johnson County, but also in her volunteer roles as Board Chair for Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa and an at-large board member for The Iowa Children’s Museum.

Capital Campaigns: A Journey of Growth

April 12, 12-1pm, Zoom

Speaker: Paula Land, Catherine McAuley Center

Session Description: Join Executive Director, Paula Land as she shares the Catherine McAuley Center journey of growth in services leading to a successful capital campaign and a new facility.

Speaker Bio: Paula Land is the Executive Director of the Catherine McAuley Center. As a nonprofit leader for over 25 years, she is committed to lifelong learning and giving back to her community. Paula currently serves on the Nonprofit Advisory Council for the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the Policy Board of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and many other councils and committees advancing the issues that impact members of our community.

Save the Date

May 10, 12-1pm, Zoom

Building Capacity in Small Organizations with Americorps

August 9, 12-1pm, Zoom

Speaker: Meredith Roemerman, Bur Oak Land Trust

Session Description: Adding AmeriCorps members to small organizations and nonprofits can be a cost-effective option for expanding organizational capacity, generating future nonprofit workforce, and implementing new programs and services. Join to learn how Bur Oak Land Trust utilizes AmeriCorps members to increase efficiency and develop new programs; tips for choosing the right roles for members; how to fund AmeriCorps positions with a small organizational budget; and the successes and challenges Bur Oak has experienced with AmeriCorps.

Speaker Bio: Meredith is the Communications and Program Director at Bur Oak Land Trust. In her three years at Bur Oak, Meredith has managed four AmeriCorps grant cycles. She has a background in journalism and mass communication and served as an AmeriCorps member with the American Red Cross in the Quad Cities. Her experience gives her a unique perspective on managing an AmeriCorps program as a nonprofit, from grant application to grant closeout and the benefits and challenges in between.

Financial Literacy: How to Read a Balance Sheet, Income Statement, & Form 990

September 13, 12-1pm, Zoom

Speaker: Shelly Maharry, Community Foundation of Johnson County

Session Description: Shelly will walk you through how to read a balance sheet, income statement, and form 990 – these basics are the building blocks to nonprofit financial literacy for staff, board members, and donors!

Speaker Bio: Shelly Maharry is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Johnson County, where she oversees nearly $50 million in charitable assets dedicated to improving the quality of life for those residing in Johnson County.  Her work with a 22 member board of directors, professional staff, volunteers, donors and community leaders allows the Community Foundation to be a strong, positive voice for charitable giving throughout the region.  Prior to her work with Community Foundations, she worked for 15 years at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in various leadership roles, including as the Director of Patient Relations and Service Excellence.

Save the Date

October 11, 12-1pm, Zoom