Leadership Development ServicesA Partnership of the United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge and The United Way of Oshawa-Whitby-Clarington-Brock & Scugog

Winning Workshops for Community Organizations

Training for Not-For-Profit Organizations:

Executive Directors Board Members Management Staff Managers of Volunteers Direct Service Staff Volunteers

Survey for 2008-9

Healthy organizations continually assess their strengths and opportunities for improvement, plan for the future and build on their experience. This ensures they can respond and adapt to the needs of their community. United Ways in Durham are strongly committed to helping agencies continuously improve the development of their organizational capacity. Our Leadership Development Service offers training in the core competencies of organizational capacity and the workshops will be related to these competencies:

Board Governance Strategic Planning Financial Management Fundraising Development Management & Leadership Development Communications/Marketing Human Resources Other special topics of interest

To ensure we are aligned with the needs of agencies in our Region, we ask your assistance in completing the following survey. This will assist us in developing community workshops consistent with the needs of our community. It should only require 10-15 minutes of your time! Thank you!

Please complete the survey by May 20, 2008 and return by email or fax to:Fran FeganUnited Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridgeffegan@uwayapu.org

Fax: (905) 686-0609

For additional information, please contact Michelle Chambers at (905) 430-4218. United Way Leadership Development Services provided by Chambers and Associates.

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Community Workshop Survey

Board GovernanceIndicate which topics or community workshops your organization would be interested in participating in and include the level of importance by placing an “X” in the appropriate box:

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Board Roles and Responsibilities – are the roles understood by all members – do you conduct reviews and evaluations – do members feel they have reached full potential

2. Board policies and procedures – are they reviewed periodically – are they openly and systematically shared with staff and shareholders – are they up to date regarding privacy laws, human resources issues

3. Developing and writing effective policies and procedures

4. Staff and Board relations and communications (e.g. decision making, conflict management, idea generation)

5. Committees – learn more about the components of an effective committee structure within the various board models

6. Board Liability – learn about the issues and considerations that are relevant to every board member; identify the legal risks; understand the duties of a trustee; understand how to limit legal risk and identify the reports needed to ensure due diligence

7. Bi-laws - identifying their purpose; describing how to organize; identify articles most commonly found in bi-laws; identifying articles that are mandatory; describing the process for amending and re-writing bi-laws

8. Other topics? If there are other areas which you think might benefit you and other organizations, please provide.

Volunteer Management

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Writing volunteer job descriptions – the keystone to recruitment and retention

2. Volunteer orientation and training – orientation content – formal training, coaching, counseling

3. Supervising & evaluating volunteers; coaching – maintaining communication, contact; creating a motivating environment; evaluation as a positive process

4. Retaining, rewarding and recognizing your volunteers

5. Other topics?

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Human Resources Issues

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Effective Job Descriptions – learn how to write effective job descriptions for staff, board and volunteer positions.

2. Performance Management – relating work performance to the mission of the organization, developing goals, creating plan to meet goals, evaluation

3. Evaluating the Executive Director – understand the board’s obligation and benefits of evaluating the ED and providing performance and development support to the senior leader

4. Leveraging Generational Diversity – learn how to leverage the difference and strengths of 5 generations in the workplace today

5. Diversity and Inclusivity – learn about the benefits of being a diverse and inclusive organization; the impact on organizational processes such as recruitment; volunteer management; client service; what does an organization need to do to support diversity;

6. Effective Recruitment, Retention & Succession Planning Practices Learn about the recruitment, retention and succession planning processes; Identify potential sources for board members, staff & volunteers; Develop strategies on retaining key employees and volunteers; Receive valuable ideas on reward and recognition; Learn more about key tools such as job descriptions, board profiles and skills matrices.

7. Behavioural Interviewing – Learn a valid and reliable method of choosing your next staff, board member or volunteer. Based upon the premise that the best predictor of future performance is past behaviour.

8. Other topic?

Community Building

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments1. Strengthening organizational and community

capacity - Strategies for fostering organizational collaborations and partnerships

2. Other topics?

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Management & Leadership Development

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Effective supervision and leadership – values and vision in supervision; setting goals and priorities; communicating with staff; engaging and motivating staff

2. Strategic Plan Development - Strategic planning is a management tool, a proactive problem solving process and a direction finding vehicle for organizations in relation to the environment. - What is strategic planning? - What are the benefits of having a plan? How does an organization develop a plan? - How does an organization implement a strategic plan?

3. Risk Management and Insurance Risk is anything that threatens the ability of the

organization to achieve its mission. It is the possibility that adverse consequences may flow from a decision, an action or a failure to act. Are you prepared? Learn how to identify potential sources of risk; Describe the risk management process; Identify techniques and strategies that can be used to manage risk

4. Mastering Meetings: A Guide to Planning, Organizing and Conducting Powerful Meetings

Learn the necessary steps in planning, organizing and conducting effective meetings.

5. Time management – learn successful strategies to better manage your most limited resource - time!

6. Conflict management - understand your conflict style; de-escalating the situation; causes of difficult behavior and overcome communication breakdowns

7. Change Management – The only certainty is that change is constant! Learn how to understand change, the stages of change; manage resistance; develop support for change efforts and support yourself and others during times of change.

8. Developing Effective Teams – Learn about stages of group development; value of team operating norms; developing a team culture; team building etc.

9. Other topics?

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Financial and Legal Management

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Financial & legal management for boards - To identify the financial responsibilities of the board and to review some of the legal issues affecting not for profits and their boards.

2. Interpreting and Understanding financial statements for board and staff members. Fulfill your responsibility to be able to manage and interpret revenue and expense reports; income statements and other key financial statements.

3. Accounting 101 for Treasurers of NFP’s and Charities: This workshop will provide practical guidance to non-financial folks who have accepted the challenge of being the Treasurer of a community organization. Learn more about: bookkeeping versus accounting; Where to start; Getting a bank account; First level tracking; Tools; forms; external accountants; budgeting and actual expenses.

4. Charities and Tax law – learn more about receipt of gifts by registered charities as well as how to deal with expenditures; tax audits and treatment of charitable donations

5. Privacy Legislation and NFP’s: Learn how to: Identify “commercial activity” in terms of charitable and non-profit organizations; Describe the “10 Principles of Compliance”; Ensure that you are managing privacy and confidentiality

6. Other topics?

Fundraising Development

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Internal readiness – identified financial needs of organization – case for support – resources available for fundraising

2. Develop a Strategic Fundraising Plan

3. Managing an annual campaign. Learn about the committee; members duties; who to recruit; role of the Board; training and preparing the volunteer ; who to approach and how

4. Acknowledgement, Recognition, Stewardship Learn about developing a relationship with donors – ways to recognize and thank donors

5. Other topics?

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Communications/Marketing

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Presentation Skills – increase your confidence – analyze your audience and objectives – preparing the structure of your talk – presentation & delivery

2. Effective grant and proposal writing - to learn how to write effective and successful grant proposals to obtain funding for your organization!

3. Developing a Communications Plan – developing the right message for your organization and how to get it out there

4. Social Marketing – the use of various marketing principals and techniques to “sell a behaviour” – useful for e.g. volunteer recruitment, environmental conservation, partnership development, fundraising, changing community behaviour

5. Crafting Effective Marketing Strategies - Successful marketing can help your organization maximize your mission, build credibility and raise your profile within the community. Learn more about: setting marketing goals, positioning your organization; Conduct a market audit; Develop a marketing plan and promotional campaigns

6. Building Your Organization’s Brand – learn how to design and sustain a brand; identify the elements of a brand; design a branding plan and start developing a unique brand for your organization to help it stand out!

7. Working with the Media - Learn about: writing for the media; Telling your story to the media; Dealing with media inquiries and requests; The Do’s and Don’ts of media relations; How to control your message and Tips on how to improve your relationship with the media

8. Direct Marketing Basics

9. Other topics?

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Other topics

Description of topic Low Mid High Comments

1. Facilitation Skills - What does it mean to be a Facilitator? - What skills will I need to assist groups to reach their goals; effectively work together; and overcome difficult group dynamics? - What can I do to manage meetings/sessions effectively?

2. Mastering Minutes – understand the role of minute taker; developing skills in active listening and note taking; understanding rules of order; develop action plans in response to meetings

3. Health and Wellness – Tips on Managing Stress, Burnout and Exhaustion

Demographics

Please check which community your organization belongs to:

Ajax Oshawa Pickering Clarington Uxbridge Brock & Scugog

Please check what types of workshop times are preferable for you:□ Morning□ Afternoon□ Evening□ Full day

Please check what your affiliation is with the organization:□ Board member□ Executive Director□ Staff Member□ Volunteer

Are you interested in trying e-learning options? (Learn via the internet using your computer in your office).□Yes □ No

Do you currently have money dedicated to training and development in your operational budget?□ Yes □ No

Your views and comments are important to us and we thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please submit by May 20, 2008 to:

Fran FeganUnited Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridgeffegan@uwayapu.orgFax: (905) 686-0609

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