Workshops

Biz Start-up Checklist (5.5 hours):   Offers a review of a checklist of basic steps to starting a business for those who have been thinking about starting a business and want to know more about the steps recommended by experts and officials, as well as gain an understanding of the resources and tools available to help entrepreneurs pre-launch. Walks through the steps and offers practice exercises.

Business Plan Writing Clinic I, II, III & IV or Review Session (2.5 hours per session):   For those who want to write or rewrite a business plan, but have trouble getting started or have started, but are stuck.  The sessions take the mystery out of writing a business plan, and emphasizes how your business plan can help you succeed.  Each Session begins with overview & discussion of different business plan section(s), and then provides opportunity to write in class. 1-to-1 technical assistance and answers to questions provided on-site.  Review sessions can be scheduled by request.

Entrepreneurship Course:  48 hours to learn how to start and grow your business, and avoid expensive mistakes, plus 1-1 technical assistance.  Instructor: Julie Percell, coordinator: Martha Ross.  The Entrepreneurship Course is offered on set dates only.  Join the Email List, by clicking on the link found on the “Contacts” page of marthaross.org, to receive notice when dates set for this course.

Grant Reports & Sponsor Tips (3.5 hours):  Offers strategies and tools to prepare for post grant award requirements to receive reimbursement/advance timely and stay in good standing with grant funder. Focus: internal controls, grant accounting, expenditures, tracking performance deliverables, reports, payment requests, audit and compliance requirements, tips about working successfully with a sponsoring organization.

Grant Writing I & II (6 hours):  (I.)This is a basic, nuts and bolts class on how to write a grant application.  Learn basic grant writing techniques and strategies, and become familiar with key parts of grant applications such as the needs assessment, description of organizational capacity, project description, budgets, and work plans. Participants will learn the difference grant sources, and will receive a list of upcoming grant opportunities.   (II.)Workshop is designed for those who would like to increase their skills in grant writing through a hands-on approach.  It will enhance writing skills, help with effective communication of a project or idea and provide guidance to avoid pitfalls.  Participants practice preparing portions of a grant application.

Nonprofit Business Operations & Social Enterprise (3 hours):  This is a practice-oriented workshop to help nonprofit leaders with funds development. Review types of funds & understand community-oriented business enterprises (referred to as “social enterprises”) that can provide regular streams of income to their organization.  The goal is to help nonprofits be less-reliant on grants through business planning, business development, and revenue generation through entrepreneurial activities that support their mission and benefit the community.  Includes goals, priorities, “steps for how to set-up,” importance of financials & compliance.

Nonprofit Board Training (5 hours):  Refresh understanding of board duties & responsibilities, & learn tips and tools to strengthen board health for your community nonprofit well-being and sustainability.  Practice exercises included in the workshop.

Nonprofit Funds Development Planning (3.5 hours):   Basics of nonprofit fund development planning, and how to develop a plan for increased self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Non-profit Start-up – The Basics (5 hours):  For anyone thinking about starting a non-profit.  Learn ways to assess whether or not to start at this time, and gain an understanding of steps to non-profit start-up.   Comfortably ask questions as needed, while receiving an overviewof the start-up steps, planning, board recruitment & governance, articles of incorporation, bylaws, key policies, fiscal sponsorship, being a nonprofit vs. applying to IRS for 501 (c) (3) status, registrations & annual reporting, compliance.  Attendees receive a directory of resources, & tools, tips & templates for productive meetings, effective agenda and minutes, producing budgets and tracking expenses. 

Set Priorities & Goal Driven Work Plans (I) Budgeting to Flourish (II) (5 hours):   Business operations – organizing for nonprofit or for-profit businesssuccess.  (I.)Learn how to set priorities & build a goal driven work plan with objectives, activities & timeline to get things done.  (II.)Learn to develop a budget & track a budget regularly for sustainable growth.