One of the most important ideas for building up the capacity of organizations to offer better programs and provide better service is the personal and professional development of the people who work there. From the Board to the clients and everywhere in between the leaders, staff, and volunteers who show up to serve every day need opportunities to grow and they need guidance to find the good things to do next.
Creating a culture of learning in which each person is continuously encouraged to develop new skills and explore new practices keeps us innovative and keeps us engaged in the great work that we do for our communities. This issue we want to introduce two new opportunities to help you and your organization grow the learning culture.
CNA Training
The areas for the training that will help us increase the effectiveness and capacity of our client organizations are focused on:
1) Organizational Development - designed specifically for Nonprofits and Agencies
2) Professional development - geared for Nonprofits, Businesses and Individuals
The training team will work closely with nonprofit organizations, funders, and staff to ensure training is focused and relevant to the current and long-term needs of the students. In order to help students practice what they learn we will use project-based learning and case studies where possible to reinforce concepts with practice.
Taco Training Tuesdays
As we move into our new building we want to encourage members of the nonprofit and small business community to join us on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 for classes that may be more convenient than trying to get away during the day. This will be a BYOT (Bring Your Own Taco) Event
Upcoming Tuesday Evening Classes
"Completing and Submitting Your Exemption Applications" - Beginning April 4 we will begin a four week class for new or existing nonprofits wanting to get their IRS 501 (c) 3 and CA State tax exemption letters required by many funders and donors.
"Intermediate Excel"- On April 25 we will have our training class for those who are ready to take their Excel skills to the next level. Bring your laptop and be ready to work!
We will cover:
* Create and filter lists
* Protect data
* Import external data
* Audit worksheets
* Grouping and subtotals
* Perform "what-if" analyses and using scenarios.
* Create and sort databases and use database functions
* Create and modify PivotTables and PivotCharts
* Create and edit macros;
Course prerequisite: Previous Excel training or 6 months experience
CNA Mentoring
One of the key focus areas for the Center for Nonprofit Advancement is the delivery and management of high quality mentoring and coaching as part of our strategy to increase the capacity of the organizations and partners that we serve.
The CNA Mentoring Program engages boards, staff, and nonprofit professionals in an environment that promotes excellence, leadership development, and career exploration. Furthermore, the program supports participants' continuous growth and development, the transfer of knowledge, and the building of capability in our protégés and mentors.
Thursday Night Mentoring Is Here! Our first 12 week mentoring cycle will begin on April 6 at 5:30 PM.
If you are interested in being a mentor we will be conducting a series of four one-hour developmental workshops each week to ensure you have the skills that will make the mentoring experience richer for you and those you assist. Whether you are an experienced mentor or a "newbie," these workshops can give you the tools you need to guide others to a better professional and personal career journey. These workshops start at 5:30.
If you are interested in finding a mentor come to our mentee/protégé orientation at 6:30. We will go over the ins and outs of finding mentors that can help you take the steps you need to build your career and help your organization.
Finally, if you are looking for the opportunity to join a group of like-minded creative people who can help you explore new opportunities and where you can have a safe and honest discussion, join us at 7:30 for our Master Team Forums. We will have mentoring groups of 4 - 6 participants who are committed to meet for one hour for 8-10 weeks working to find in-depth solutions that can transform your organization or your career!
One of the most exciting features of our Mentoring Program will be our partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Through this partnership AFP members will be engaged as mentors and protégés as they network with local organizations and they will be encouraged to use their mentoring opportunity to support them in acquiring the prestigious Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential.
Come out and join us or contact me at:
jepps@rapfoundation.org
or (760) 674-9992 if you want to sign up or have any questions.
Pictured: A maximum capacity of nonprofit professionals attended the Inaugural Nonprofit Mixer on March 8, 2017.
Mixers April 18 - Theme: The Many Faces of Funding
Join us for a great evening of networking and building relationships that will help us find new resources and identify opportunities to collaborate with other organizations and agencies. One of our goals at CNA is to assist nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, social service agencies, and businesses in the community to build relationships that help us increase the scope of our programs and leverage funding so that together we can provide the important services required to fulfill the unmet needs of the great communities we serve.
At this meeting, we will have as our guest the Executive Director of United Way of the Desert Krystal Granados, to share with us the value of their work to the communities of the Coachella Valley and how the United Way can help the organizations that provide services in those communities. Not only does the United Way have great funding tools but they also have great organizational tools that can benefit teams wanting to operate more effectively and more efficiently.
Foundation has reached another milestone: We are pleased to report that the RAP office is now located in our new building at 41550 Eclectic Street in Palm Desert. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have resulted when we had to close our office last week to make the move. We are still settling in, but we have reopened for business. 
