Welcome to CORFA’s digest of free and low-cost webinars designed to help you build a strong nonprofit and Friends organization. We generally update the list weekly. If you have a webinar you’d like added, send us a note through our Contact page. Most listings are free unless specifically noted.
Looking for the recorded webinars sponsored by CORFA/NWRA? Please visit the Resource Center Webinar Category.
April 2024
10 Tips and Tricks for a Successful Grant Seeking Strategy
April 3, 1:00 PM ET
Participating in “10 Tips for a Successful Grant Seeking Strategy” will provide you with insider knowledge about what funders are looking for and some specific tips you can use when reaching out to funders and crafting nonprofit grant applications. It will go through ten tips that all grant professionals can use to help implement a successful grant-seeking strategy in their organization. It will also look at specific examples of how these tips can and have been successfully used so you can consider how to best utilize the information within your own organization.
How to get the most out of your events
April 3 from 1:00pm EST
Even though they’re rewarding, we know events can be incredibly stressful for you and your nonprofit. From planning to attendee outreach to staying in touch and building relationships after your events end, you need to get the most out of the hard work you put in. How can you make sure you’re streamlining your work and meeting your event goals?
In this webinar, we will share what to do before, during, and after your events to make a bigger impact. We’ll show you how you can execute those strategies through Bonterra Fundraising and Engagement in a way that saves time for you and your small team.
This live demo will cover the following best practices:
- A six-week roadmap for promoting your nonprofit event
- Simple ways to build your event registration page
- How to seamlessly tie auctions into your event
- The best supporter communications immediately following your event (and beyond)
How Surveys Can Showcase Success to Your Donors, Volunteers, and Clients
April 4, 1:00pm ET
Uncover the art of effectively communicating success in your nonprofit endeavors. In this session, we’ll explore the strategic use of surveys as a powerful tool for highlighting the impact of your initiatives. Learn how to craft surveys that capture valuable feedback from donors, volunteers, and clients, allowing you to emphasize the positive outcomes and meaningful contributions of your organization. Join us to unlock the potential of impact measurement through surveys and enhance your ability to engage and communicate success to your stakeholders.
Introduction to fundraising planning
April 4, 2:00 PM ET
Does your organization need help directing its fundraising efforts? Planning focuses your organization by setting fundraising priorities and helps give staff and board members a roadmap to success. This introductory class will provide you the basic steps for developing a fundraising plan.
Fundraising Friday: Beyond the 501(c)(3) – Thinking Differently About Governance, Nonprofit Structure, and Social Change
April 5, 2024, 9:00 am ET
It’s a conversation for nonprofit nerds!
The traditional nonprofit model – the 501(c)(3) organization – is a legacy structure dating back more than a century. Does it still work in today’s world? If not, what are the alternatives?
Join us along with Andy Robinson of Train Your Board for a provocative, interactive session where we consider a broad range of options: everything from modest tweaks to board composition to entirely different governance models and legal structures. Come learn about multiple examples from across the country, then share your own experiences rethinking nonprofits.
Growing Your Nonprofit with Google Workspace
Apr 8, 2024, 12:00 pm ET
So many small nonprofits start out using the free Google Workspace platform you can set up and administer yourself. Google makes it easy! But as you grow from a one- or two-person nonprofit to a larger team you may be wondering if Google Workspace is professional enough, and whether it can handle more complex IT needs. And what about volunteers and others who need to access your files – is Google secure? What are best practices on setting up and administering Google Workspace in nonprofits with 10+ staff? Are there steps you can take now to make it easy to keep Google Workspace as you grow?
Join us for a look at what you need to know about growing your nonprofit and managing the IT to go with growth. This webinar is appropriate for nonprofit staff of any technical level, and is recommended for nonprofit managers and leaders. Learn how well-managed IT can help you achieve your mission.
Welcome to TechSoup: New Member Orientation and Q&A
April 10, 1:00pm ET
Learn how to access TechSoup’s wide variety of product discount and donation programs to help your nonprofit with productivity.
Have you recently joined TechSoup as a member, or are you thinking about becoming a member and want to better understand how TechSoup can help your nonprofit organization? Join us for our meeting on how your organization can access TechSoup’s wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we’ll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
We’ll also show you how to access our many learning resources, tech services, courses, and community offerings designed to help you optimize technology for your organization. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so be sure to bring your questions!
Celebrating Contributions: Rewarding and Appreciating Nonprofit Volunteers
April 11, 2:00pm ET
The goal of this workshop is to equip nonprofit leaders and organizers with effective strategies for recognizing, rewarding, and appreciating the invaluable contributions of volunteers. Participants will gain insights into building a positive volunteer culture, fostering engagement, and expressing gratitude in meaningful ways.
Using Analytics to Drive Dynamic Major and Principal Giving Pipeline Development
April 11, 1:00 PM ET
This presentation will outline how nonprofits identify prospects with larger gift potential and continue to do so throughout the donor engagement and giving journey. It will also cover moving major gift donors towards ultimate giving potential in order to make truly transformative gifts.
Inclusivity Essentials: Creating Accessible Websites for Nonprofits
April 16, 1:00 PM ET
Discover key strategies for website accessibility with experts. This webinar focuses on practical tips to make your nonprofit’s website more inclusive and user-friendly. You’ll learn about essential accessibility features, compliance with ADA standards, and how to ensure that your site is welcoming to all audiences. This session is a must for nonprofits looking to enhance their online presence and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Inclusivity Essentials: Creating Accessible Websites for Nonprofits
April 16, 1:00pm ET
Discover key strategies for website accessibility with Tapp Network’s experts. This webinar focuses on practical tips to make your nonprofit’s website more inclusive and user-friendly. You’ll learn about essential accessibility features, compliance with ADA standards, and how to ensure that your site is welcoming to all audiences. This session is a must for nonprofits looking to enhance their online presence and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Accessibility is Not Accessible
April 16, 2:00pm ET
Ensuring that your nonprofit’s digital products are accessible to all users represents more than civic duty—increasingly, it is both a legal requirement and a smart way to expand your audiences. But, ironically for many nonprofits, the standards and responsibilities around these guidelines are murky and mystifying.
In this webinar, our subject matter expert will distill the most important concepts and strategies you need to know to both launch accessible digital products and keep them compliant over time.
“Aldo Leopold and the Gila Wilderness” a Chautauqua performance by naturalist, Steve Morgan
April 17, 6:00 pm MST
His words have awakened many over the years to the necessity of respect for the land and for each other. Many know who he was through his conservation classic, A Sand County Almanac. He is known as a founding father of the wilderness movement and the studies of wildlife management and land restoration, one of the great minds behind “The Land Ethic”, a brilliant professor and a profound writer. Please join us as Aldo Leopold weaves his stories of the journey leading to the Gila Wilderness Area.
This call will feature Aldo Leopold reenactor, Steve Morgan. In addition to treating us to a lovely “visit with Aldo”, Steve will also highlight the many exciting events happening in and around NM’s Gila Wilderness this spring and summer, as part of their Celebration of 100 years of Wilderness!
Quarterly OASIS Zoom calls are now open to the public, so please invite your friends and family to come learn about our beautiful refuge and theOASIS, a sustaining community of hope! This is the perfect time to join as a monthly donor by giving a monthly gift in any amount that feels right for you – you’re in control of when to start, stop and make changes to your level of monthly giving!
Online Fundraising: How to Raise the Most on your Website, Social Media and More
Apr 17, 2024, 12:00 pm ET
Your website design, email, and social media campaigns, along with your choice of fundraising platforms, all play a critical role in your fundraising. Regardless of the size of your nonprofit, optimizing the donor experience is essential to maximizing your impact. Join us in this webinar, where our experts from Zeffy will delve into the best practices of online fundraising. Learn how to retain 100% of the funds you raise, avoiding the fees associated with traditional fundraising tools.
How to grow long term relationships with event supporters using a CRM
April 17, 12:00 PM ET
Keeping track of your organization’s special events in your donor management system can have a tremendous impact on your ability to grow long-term relationships with your donors. In this webinar, you’ll learn what pieces of event data are most important to track in your CRM (and what isn’t!), using your data to save time and energy planning your annual event, and how to develop a practical stewardship plan to convert event attendees to donors
Fundamentals of Donor Journey Mapping for Nonprofits
April 18, 2:00 PM ET
This free webinar will provide a detailed overview of the fundamentals of donor journey mapping. It will discuss the importance of mapping individual donor journeys and how it can enhance donor relationships and retention. Additionally, it will address the inclusion of institutional funders like foundations in the mapping process, highlighting the unique considerations and strategies required to engage with these important stakeholders.
Impact Amplified: Strategies for Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy
Apr 22, 2024, 11:00 am ET
This workshop is tailored for nonprofit organizations with existing experience in policy engagement at the state or federal level. This session aims to equip participants with advanced strategies to enhance their advocacy efforts while adhering to nonprofit guidelines. The focus will be on deepening engagement with policymakers, leveraging partnerships, and utilizing innovative approaches to amplify the organization’s impact.
Strategies for Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy
Apr 22, 2024, 11:00 am ET
This workshop is tailored for nonprofit organizations with existing experience in policy engagement at the state or federal level. This session aims to equip participants with advanced strategies to enhance their advocacy efforts while adhering to nonprofit guidelines. The focus will be on deepening engagement with policymakers, leveraging partnerships, and utilizing innovative approaches to amplify the organization’s impact.
An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Nonprofits
April 23, 1:00pm ET
If you could significantly increase staff productivity and improve community engagement and impact, what kind of impact would that have on your cause?
Geared toward nonprofits, this one-hour webinar provides demonstrations on how to use Al-driven tools to enhance donor engagement, optimize campaign targeting, and personalize communication strategies.
Whether you’re already using the tech or have reservations, this free one-hour webinar offers practical insights and tangible takeaways for implementation.
Topics include:
- Live ChatGPT prompts and demonstrations
- How to incorporate AI into your nonprofit’s work
- Discussion about any issues you may have with AI
- An exploration of what lies ahead in AI and nonprofits
Why Refurbished Hardware Is the Best Choice for Sustainability and Savings
April 23, 1:00pm ET
Over the years, TechSoup has partnered with leading technology companies and refurbishers to collect, refurbish, and distribute donated or discounted hardware to eligible nonprofits and schools worldwide. In this webinar, We will be discussing the history of the refurbished hardware program, how computers and phones are refurbished, and the environmental and cost benefits of choosing refurbished products over new ones.
Social Media 101 for Nonprofits
April 23, 3:00 PM ET
This session includes practical tips and tools for extending your cause and mission via social media. This webinar will cover the basics of using social media for your nonprofit organization and give you handy tips for the most useful social media platforms for nonprofits.
Engaging Your Donors Online in 2024
April 24, 2:00 PM ET
This webinar is focused on donor engagement. It will focus on the digital evolution of fundraising and review best practices to optimize your organization’s online giving experience. Emphasis will also be put on optimizing email newsletters and monthly giving enrollment.
Chat with the Chief: Refuge System’s Funding, Workforce, Budget, & Priorities
April 24, 2:00 PM ET
Join Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, for an update on
Funding and workforce changes
FY 2024 budget and priorities
How Friends can help tell the National Wildlife Refuge System story
Presenter
Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Martinez is the first woman and Hispanic to lead the Refuge System. She began her career in 1993 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior. Martinez came to Refuge System headquarters in September 2010 as chief of the Division of Visitor Services and Communications, where she led the process for developing the Refuge System’s 2011 Conserving the Future vision conference and subsequent documents – the renewed vision for growth and management of the Refuge System. She was deputy chief of the Refuge System from 2012 to 2015. Before coming to Refuge System headquarters, Martinez was the manager at Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has a bachelor of science degree in general biology from New Mexico State University and a master of science degree in fisheries and wildlife science from University of Arizona.
Grant Readiness 101
April 30, 1:00pm ET
Join us for an essential webinar designed to empower your journey in securing grant funds. In this insightful session, we will delve into the minds of funders, unveiling what they truly seek in qualified grant applicants.
With our unique perspective, we will share over 30 specific scoring points, providing you with the insider knowledge needed to enhance your application and stand out from the competition. Furthermore, we will introduce you to our proprietary GRR (Grant Readiness Review) process, a comprehensive evaluation tool designed to assess and grade charities on their preparedness for grant acquisition.
Whether you’re new to grant applications or seeking to refine your approach, this webinar will equip you with the insights and tools necessary for success.
Introduction to measuring your impact
April 30, 2:00 PM ET
Your nonprofit does great work, but what is most important is the impact of that work. How do you demonstrate that your programs get results? An outcome-centric approach will lead to stronger program design and increased funding opportunities for your organization. In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes. It will demystify the language of outcomes measurement and guide you through the process of creating logic models for programs.
Storytelling for Impact
April 30, 3:00 PM ET
From the beginning of civilization, storytelling has maintained a uniquely impactful position in defining culture, motivating action and bringing people together. Today’s marketers need to be better storytellers than ever before as more and more stories are told all around us.
May 2024
The Secret to Loyal Supporters: Email Welcome Journeys
May 1, 2024, 11:00 am ET
If your first question is, “What’s an email welcome journey?” then you’re in the right place! An email welcome journey is a series of messages sent to a supporter immediately after they take an action with you. Research shows that the window of time immediately following one of these actions is the absolute best time to contact someone. This is your chance to draw people into your story, validate their decision to take action with you, and turn them into loyal ambassadors for your brand.
During this session, we’ll introduce you to the effectiveness of automated email welcome journeys and everything you need to know to set one up. We’ll share the best practices on when you should trigger emails and what content you should include to engage with your donors meaningfully, with some examples of successful welcome journeys from nonprofit organizations. You’ll leave this session with ideas, inspiration, and an outline for your first welcome journey.
7 Ways to Grow Your Nonprofit’s Following on Social Media
May 1, 1:00pm ET
The average growth rate for new social media followers ranges from .64% to 3% per month, depending upon the platform. In other words, the era of organic growth on social media is over.
To grow your nonprofit’s following on social media, you need to make a concerted effort to let your supporters and donors know how to find your nonprofit on social media.
Cultural Humility: People, Community, & Practice
May 6, 2024, 11:00 am ET
Cultural humility is an evidence-based framework that prioritizes the co-creation of dynamic and generative relationships with people from different cultural experiences than your own. Through a participatory framed experience, participants will be able to heighten their efficacy in their work by understanding how their biases, perceptions, and worldview impact their service to the community.