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Empowering Nonprofits: Session Descriptions

Fundamentals of Grant Narratives and Budgets

Instructor: Amanda Finnell 

In this session, you'll learn about the key elements of a grant narrative, how to position your organization and project to funders and tips for a successful submission. The session will be led by Amanda Finnell, Temple University Harrisburg grant writing instructor, who has nearly two decades of nonprofit development and sustainability experience.  

 

Beyond the Numbers: Demonstrating Impact Through Personal Stories and Case Studies 

Instructor: Christina Reardon 

Nonprofits often use numbers to report impact: how many clients were served, how much did test scores improve, what percentage of families found a program beneficial. But numbers fail to capture and communicate nuances — the subtle details and complexities within clients’ experiences, thoughts and perspectives. This session will provide an introduction to collecting and using qualitative data to report impact, with a particular focus on personal stories and case studies. 

 

Rethinking Resources: Building Community Power Through Fundraising 

Instructor: Veronica Rae Adams

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn the principles of community-centric fundraising—a fundraising approach that shifts away from prioritizing donors to focus on community needs. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, we’ll explore how to mobilize resources, foster collective decision-making and build sustainable power within communities. Participants will leave with practical tools to implement community-first strategies and drive long-term impact in their own work. No prior knowledge of fundraising is necessary; this session is designed to provide a fresh perspective and actionable steps for all experience levels. 

 

Race to the Finish: Understanding and Implementing Anti-Racist Work in the Non-Profit Sector 

Instructor: Timothy N. Welbeck, Esq.

Anti-racism is a body of scholarship that creates a better understanding of what racism is, how it manifests and often informs best practices to combat its many forms. Its foundational premise rests on a simple idea—racial hierarchies, along with the inequities they create, have little justification and thereby have no place in modern society. This session will provide an introduction and overview of anti-racism in addition to practical steps as to how non-profit leaders may apply its principles in their work.