About the Convening

The day will begin with an interactive presentation / dialogue on resilient leadership that will set the stage for participants to formulate decisions about moving themselves and their organizations and partnerships toward greater resiliency.

Participants will attend breakouts led by subject-area experts on three of the following five topics:

• Board Governance: Understand the unrealized potential of your board and how to move the dynamics of the board forward. What does it take to build a high performance board?
• Financial Sustainability: Each organization’s financial underpinnings determine the priorities for the next steps toward sustainability. How recession proof is your organization?
• Realignment/Collaboration: Most organizations are involved in one to several collaborations. What’s your return on investment in collaborating?
• Innovation: Innovation is at the heart of community improvement. How can unleashing innovation in your field can help you achieve your mission?
• Technology / Social Media: New social media can carry organizational messages far beyond that achieved with other media. How do you use social media to your benefit?

The day will include lively activity and networking and will conclude with a preview of capacity building resources available.

The goal is for you to leave ready to take action based on an increased understanding of how you can use capacity building resources to improve the health and resilience of your organization and partnerships.

Who Can Attend?

There will be a total of four convenings, two in the Twin Cities area open to current and prior Blue Cross Foundation grantees only and two in greater Minnesota open to all nonprofits—grantees and non-grantees alike.

Each organization is encouraged to have staff and board leadership represented (up to 3 people total). For partnerships that receive funding from the Blue Cross Foundation, 3 to 5 leaders who are representative of organizations in the partnership should attend.

Dates and Locations

• Wednesday, August 19 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Neighborhood House, St. Paul
• Saturday, August 22 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Neighborhood House, St. Paul
• Monday, September 21 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls
• Tuesday, September 22 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Initiative Foundation, Little Falls

Registration Information

There is no charge for attendance. For grantees of the Blue Cross Foundation, attendance is required for those who wish to apply for capacity building grants this fall.

Deadlines:

• August 12 for metro-area
• September 11 for Greater Minnesota (Redwood Falls and Little Falls)

We hope you will join us in this important step toward creating healthier communities for tomorrow – register now!

To register or find out more information, please contact BCBSFoundationConvenings@mapfornonprofits.org.