Need a QuickBooks checkup? Wonder if you are using QuickBooks in the most effective way for your organization? This fall The Nonprofit Center will hold monthly half-day Basic and Intermediate sessions featuring lots of one-on-one time for hands-on practice, questions and troubleshooting.

The Basic Clinic will focus on Chart of Accounts, Customers, Jobs and Classes. The Intermediate Clinic will look at Tracking Restricted Funds, Entering Payroll and Setting Up Budgets. Class size limited to five.

Classes will run from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Each participant must bring a back-up disk of their QuickBooks company file (or a laptop with the file on it). Here's the schedule:

*To be held at Korean Women's Association International Place (1701 E 44th St. Tacoma, WA 98404)

Volunteer Management – Recruiting, Recruiting, Recruiting!
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., KWA's International Place

In today's market different people want different things in their volunteering choices. Are you aiming your recruiting efforts at bringing in the people you need? What does your Web site say to different types of people and their volunteering choices for your organization? Here is a workshop that focuses on streamlining an existing recruiting effort to attract people with different skills and interests. Do some volunteer task analysis to expand the engagement of volunteers. Get feedback on your current recruiting strategies. Plan a campaign to recruit a specific type of volunteer. All enrollees must bring print information used in the recruiting effort—brochure, flyer, or copy of Web page aimed at recruitment.

Volunteer Management – Managing the Challenging Volunteer
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1:15 to 4:30 p.m., KWA's International Place

Some volunteers present creative challenges, some are bossy, some do not follow the guidelines, and some are just plain cranky. Managing volunteers who present difficulties is likely the most difficult part of the volunteer administrators task. How to cope with the “difficult” volunteer. This workshop distinguishes between those who are creative and how to effectively channel that creativity and those who are detrimental to the overall program. Discuss with your colleagues strategies to handle your challenges in managing people. Start with some background on what motivates people to volunteer and go away with new ideas or practical tips on how to cope with that challenging volunteer.

Both Volunteer Management seminars will be led by Nancy Macduff, an internationally recognized trainer and author on volunteer management and administration, with nine books on volunteerism to her credit. She has served as Executive Director of a nonprofit youth agency and as the coordinator of a government volunteer program, working with such organizations as Red Cross, United Way, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, WSU, Girl Scouts, Points of Light, and National Park Service.

A box lunch is available for an additional cost of $10.

The legislative season is nearly upon us, so it’s time to brush up on the rules and regulations regarding lobbying and advocacy by 501(c)(3) organizations. Scott Winship of Vandeberg Johnson & Gandara will provide an overview on what is permitted and what is not, along with the record keeping that must be done. This is a brown-bag session; bring your own lunch. Beverages will be provided.

The Nonprofit Center is delighted to be partnering once again with the Puget Sound Grantwriters Association (PSGA) to present a series of three seminars for beginning grantwriters. Each of the seminars is a stand-alone, but you are invited to register for all three to enjoy an extra discount. Members of PSGA are eligible for the same discount as members of The Nonprofit Center. Trainer for this series is Joyce Mork O’Brien, a highly experienced consultant and grantwriter and member of the PSGA Board.

Session 1 – Getting Ready: What do you need to do to prepare yourself and your organization to write grants? Do you know where to find funders, and how to determine if they are appropriate for your organization? Learn what you and your agency need to have in place in order to be successful grantseekers, including some valuable resources that will help you get started.

Session 2 – Essentials of Proposal Writing, Part I: This session will focus on how to tell your story to funders by introducing your organization and writing a compelling statement of need. You will begin to develop your program description, so bring details about your project to the class.

Session 3 – Essentials of Proposal Writing, Part II: In this final session of the series, we will conclude the discussion of program description, including an explanation of the logic model. We will also cover other important components of a proposal – evaluation, sustainability, cover letter, budget and attachments.

Creating a budget is one of the most time-consuming, yet crucial aspects of nonprofit financial management. A good budget reflects the values, the mission, the vision and the strategic plan of the organization. This workshop will take the participants step-by-step through building program budgets, grant budgets, and overall agency budgets. The seminar is presented by Christine Garst, Director of Financial Services for the Center. Please bring sample budgets to share and review.

One of the challenges for small nonprofit organizations is maintaining current knowledge about human resources regulations and best practices. Pete Donor, Human Resources Director for Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community and consultant to small nonprofits, will present information on the basics - hiring, supervision, evaluation, termination, compensation, benefits, time-off, overtime, files, etc. This session will look at the nuts and bolts of your "People Operating System" to help you establish and update policies, procedures and practices that best serve the interests of your agency and employees while complying with legal standards.