Kevin Cummings (Director of Civic Corps for NYC Service), Gabriel Shanks (Executive Director of The Drama League), Meghan Moloney (Senior Director of Programs for New York Cares), and Fran Smyth (Manager of Arts & Business Services for the Arts and Business Council of New York) provide insight on how to cultivate and maintain a lasting and productive relationship with people who will work for your organization for free. They also discuss how to access existing programs to source your volunteer needs.

Grassroot Grantmakers, and Neighborhood Connections joined distinguished panel guests to explore grassroots grantmaking as a social change strategy that's about more than just grants.

Grassroots Grantmakers' executive director Janis Foster Richardson discusses increasing the leadership capacity of neighborhood residents to drive community change and building connections that boost citizen influence.

Jon Thorsen, a leader in the field of development research and the Director of Advancement Services at the Nature Conservancy, explain research techniques, products and services – from data modeling to portfolio assessment and relationship management.

Ethan Kahn, CPA at ERE LLP, Steven Scicere, Director of Contract Agency Audits at the Department of Youth & Community Development, and Jenny Walty, Assistant Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services discuss how nonprofits can prepare for and execute audits.

In this program, attorney Holly Gregory of Weil Gotshal & Manges discussed the legal guidelines and responsibilities of board members, and Inna R. White, CIO and founder of the hedge fund Althea Group, detailed some of her personal experiences serving as a board member.

Cause Effective Senior Associates Susan Gabriel and Judy Levine discuss how your small or one-person development shop can build powerful partnerships, prioritize your nonprofit’s funding strategies, manage your workload, and skillfully meet your fundraising goals.

Author Gigi Rosenberg shares top tips from her new book, The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary, and Performing Artist, which is designed to help artists navigate the process of pursuing funding for their work.

Cause Effective Senior Associates Susan Gabriel and Gregory Cohen talk about what you can do before, during, and after a special event to encourage participants to become year-round supporters, investing in your organization and not just in an evening out.

Terri Eason, Director of Gift Planning, and Rev. Dr. Stephen Rowan, Board Member of The Cleveland Foundation discuss the development of African-American philanthropy and its current state, with a particular focus on greater Cleveland. The event was moderated by Celeste E. Terry, Assistant Executive Director of United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland.

Jane Geever, consultant and author of The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing, takes a moment to share her thoughts on what funders look for when reviewing proposals. She also gives advice on crafting successful proposals, including things that grantseekers should avoid.

Jenny Walty (Assistant Director of Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, Elisa Velazquez (MOCS General Counsel), and Jose Mercado (Assistant Commissioner Finance for the Administration for Children’s Services) talk about how to manage a New York City contract. This is the second in a series of three presentations by MOCS.

Elaine Luttrull, Director of Financial Analysis at The Juilliard School, lays out the “Who”, “What”, “When”, “Why”, and “How” of budgeting for nonprofits. This presentation was presented in collaboration with the Arts and Business Council of New York.

Three representatives from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, Jenny Walty (Assistant Directory), Bryan Epps (Senior Policy Analyst), and Caitlin Caporale (Discretionary Award Compliance Coordinator), provide all the information necessary to gain a better understanding of the policies and procedures that go along with the provision of City discretionary funding to nonprofits.

Bobbi O'Malley, President of Ohio Prospect Research Network and Director of Prospect Research at Baldwin-Wallace College, answers questions about the field of Prospect Research.

Tom O'Brien, program director of Neighborhood Connections, talks about how sustained community engagement is one of the most important outcomes he looks for in a successful grant project. Tom also talks about how grantees can get involved with Neighborhood Connections.

Professionals from the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation, The Saint Luke’s Foundation, Deaconess Community Foundation and Nordson Corporation Foundation engage in a panel conversation discussing ways to improve your playbook and give your team the edge for scoring a Site Visit Touchdown.

We asked how the Foundation Center is making a difference and this is what you said.

Judy Wright, Program Officer with The Brush Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, discusses the process of selecting grantees, along with the Foundation’s giving focus and priorities.

NY state Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, NY State Senator Liz Krueger, and NYC Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer share their insights into how nonprofit arts organizations can work with the government.

Ann Freimuth, program officer of Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, discusses the Foundation and its efforts to assist Greater Cleveland’s organizations and leaders to improve the health and well-being of the Jewish and general communities now and for generations to come.

Tom McLaughlin, author of Nonprofit Mergers & Alliances and vice president of national customized services at the Nonprofit Finance Fund, answers audience questions and provides insight into the ways in which nonprofit organizations can collaborate.

John A. La Rocca, vice president and chief operating officer of the Rensselaerville Institute, discusses how nonprofit organizations can develop frameworks for tracking the outcomes and impact of their work.

Fran Smyth moderates a discussion about the role that the arts play in economic development. Megan Gorman offers insight into real estate finances, while Paul Nagle talks about the challenge of using the arts to usher in sustainable development rather than gentrification.