GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Sept. 16, 2005) - Managing a charity has become an increasingly difficult challenge in recent years. Managers and volunteers must not only deliver services and goods to the needy, but also build healthy organizations for the long haul. At the same time, donors of money and goods are demanding measurable results for their support, and unprecedented levels of financial accountability.
The Acton Institute's Center for Effective Compassion is holding an intensive, one-day event in Fort Myers, Fla., on Oct. 28, to help nonprofit professionals cope with these rising demands. The “Toward Effective Compassion Training Day” will offer focused instruction on such key functions as fundraising, foundation relations, financial reporting, and media relations. This back-to-basics program will be especially helpful to smaller faith-based and other community charities but is appropriate for any community focused nonprofit. Foundation grantees, grassroots community and faith-based service providers, students, and volunteers are all invited.
Key speakers include Rev. John Nunes, pastor of Dallas-based St. Paul's Lutheran Church; Carol McLaughlin, chief programs officer at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation; Craig Folk, a partner with the Fort Myers accounting firm Miller, Helms & Folk, and Karen Woods, executive director at Acton's Center for Effective Compassion.
The Training Day will be held at the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers on Friday, Oct. 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (800) 345-2286 to register by phone.