MAJOR DONOR FUNDRAISING

This fun, participant-driven training covers important issues like who gives money and why, what makes a great fundraiser, overcoming your fear of “asking,” identifying major donors, how to build your case and conduct a face-to-face ask, donor cultivation and much more. The training includes chances to role-play asking for money.

-Valerie Reuther

INTERNALIZED SEXISM
(For women only)

We will look at how the enemy in our heads can be found and transformed. We’ll learn to recognize and challenge the effects of internalized sexism on our self-images, our relationships, and our organizations’ power dynamics.

-Tema Okun, Sally Yee

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Do you find yourself winging it too much of the time? Are you too busy to plan? Are you reacting to the unexpected rather than setting the agenda? Do you know what you’re doing? This training can help. We’ll cover stages of organizational development, board relations, staff leadership, fundraising, time management and more. For new directors and old-timers alike.

-Sally Smith

MANAGING MONEY FOR CHANGE- DAY 1

Managing money is often seen as a curse - but it is critical to the success of nonprofit organizations. We’ll cover planning and budgeting, record keeping and reporting, control, governance and staffing - and you won't be bored!

ADVANCED FUNDRAISING CLINIC: MAXIMIZE YOUR FUNDRAISING

Veterans in the field explore answers to problems that challenge even ace fundraisers, such as “How do I get my board to raise more money?” and “Where are the big donors and how do I meet them?” Submit your burning fundraising questions when you register and come prepared to participate. Limited to 15 participants with fundraising experience.

-Valerie Reuther, Andy Robinson

DISMANTLING RACISM IN SOCIAL CHANGE ORGANIZATIONS - DAY 1

For justice organizations seeking proactively to address racism and race dynamics. We'll provide a framework for understanding racism and tools for analyzing and taking action in your organization. For teams of three or more people from the same organization.

-Tema Okun, Sally Yee, and members of the Western States Center’s Dismantling Racism training team

STRATEGIC PLANNING

The skills and techniques learned in this session are useful for improving the quality of strategic planning in your organization. We’ll use role-playing and experiential learning approaches to provide a simple, easy-to-learn framework for understanding and applying important strategic planning principles.

-James Williams

MANAGING MONEY FOR CHANGE- DAY 2

GET THAT GRANT!

Learn the keys to grantwriting for social justice: how to incorporate grants into a complete fundraising strategy; design fundable projects; research grants; develop foundation staff relationships; and build your proposal, piece by piece. Andy is willing to review your proposal in advance; contact Western States Center for details.

-Andy Robinson

DISMANTLING RACISM IN SOCIAL CHANGE ORGANIZATIONS - DAY 2

-Tema Okun, Sally Yee, and members of the Western States Center’s Dismantling Racism training team

DISMANTLING SEXISM- DAY 1

Even progressive organizations reproduce sexism. This interactive workshop for women and men seeks to foster a common language and perspective regarding sexism; to strategize personal and organizational anti-sexist actions and to support and encourage the lifetime commitment to gender justice.

-Cathy Howell, Kamau Marcharia

ESSENTIALS OF BOARD DEVELOPMENT

This training focuses on three areas: problem-solving challenges participants face regarding board development, methods for supporting and developing current board members, and systems and strategies for building stronger boards.

NUTS and BOLTS OF FUNDRAISING

Eighty-five percent of all charitable funds come from individual donors, not foundations or corporations. Learn how to build a fundraising program that honors your mission and empowers your community. We will cover why people give away money, basic fundraising principles, raising money by mail, face-to-face solicitation, and board and volunteer roles in fundraising.

-Andy Robinson

INTERNALIZED RACIST OPPRESSION AND EMPOWERMENT
(For people of color only)

This training is aimed at how people of color internalize the racist myths about ourselves and how those myths impact organizers working in communities of color. Discussions will focus on the empowerment process and how people of color come together and work for social change.

-Kenneth Jones

DISMANTLING SEXISM- DAY 2

-Cathy Howell, Kamau Marcharia

SUPERVISING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

This training is for people who supervise others and wonder what it means to supervise well in the context of building a movement for social change. We'll look at how to approach supervising in a way that honors the values of your organization's mission and helps people in your organization (including you) to thrive.

ORGANIZING WITH A GENDER ANALYSIS

Women have been critical in most movements, yet organizations rarely move an agenda explicitly challenging gender-based power imbalances. This training explores strategies for moving a gender analysis with external issues.

-Rinku Sen

ORGANIZING 202: CAMPAIGNS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
(For people of color only)

We'll provide an in-depth look at campaigns and a chance for participants to discuss issues that have come up in their campaign work within communities of color. For people of color with some organizing experience.

-Francis Calpotura

STOPPING POLICE BRUTALITY

Police violence and the entire criminal industrial complex are out of control and growing. We’ll review the methods used by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Bay Area Police Watch, and the Third Eye Movement to fight police misconduct and brutality, including know-your-rights workshops, hotline set-up and monitoring, media advocacy, and community organizing.

-Jasmin Barker, Diana Frappier

ACTION EDUCATION: LINKING POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC ACTION

Conservative forces use “wedge issues” to exploit people’s differences around race, class, gender and sexual orientation. When community groups avoid discussing difficult and divisive issues, they limit their options for developing strategic actions and alliances. This training teaches you how to engage the members of your community group in political analysis that sharpens their organizing and helps build a broader social movement.

-Libero DellaPiana, Terry Keleher

RESEARCH FOR ACTION

Gather and analyze information and turn it into action by using it to help you think strategically, act on opportunities and overcome threats. Find the tools and resources in your community and on the web to trap the opposition, influence public debate, and conduct effective corporate campaigns.

-Catherine Powell

GENERATION OF YOUNG LAVENDER: ORGANIZING TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY

Meet other LGBT youth who are fighting for equality, learn some lavender history, share your strategies and frustrations, strengthen your recruitment skills and practice power mapping.

ORGANIZING STATEWIDE: WALKING THE TALK

What does it mean to do statewide organizing in the rural states of the Northwest? What are the successes, challenges and obstacles of rural inclusion? How can “statewide” groups in urban centers authentically engage with rural and small town constituents and issues? We’ll look at these and other questions from a rural perspective.

-Marcy Westerling

MEDIA STRATEGIES: DEFEATING WEDGE ATTACKS

This interactive training focuses on how to counter the racist, anti-poor, and homophobic media images that propel right-wing “wedge” attacks. Looking at successful and unsuccessful media strategies used to defeat wedge attacks and scapegoating initiatives, participants develop media messages and strategies for upcoming campaigns.

-Hunter Cutting, Taj James

SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL: CHALLENGING RACISM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Students across the country attend schools and classes that are segregated and unequal. We’ll explore ways to document, expose, and challenge patterns of institutional racism in public elementary and secondary schools. Learn what you and your community can do to increase public awareness of racial inequities and promote equity and excellence for all students.

-Libero DellaPiana, Terry Keleher

QUEER THOUGHTS: NEW IDEAS ON THE MEANING AND PRACTICE OF INCLUSION

Beyond defining bi or trans experience, this session covers how to build inclusive movements and make social change organizations accountable to the communities they represent. Participants gain an expanded, more thoughtful definition of the meaning of queer, skills to recognize and interrupt bi and trans oppression, and a vision of a different identity politics.

-Diana Courvant, Nerissa Ediza

YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR: CLAIMING OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD
(For young women of color only)

We examine the dynamics of race, class, gender, homophobia, and able-bodiedism in our lives and in the work for social justice. This is an interactive training where we strategize to create safe spaces and support networks beyond the isolation we may feel as women of color. Come kick it with your homegirls.

-Wula Dawson, Trang Duong, Nancy Haque

REGIONALISM ON THE GROUND

Regionalism is a buzz word with many possible meanings --regional equity, regional governance, regional ecology. Beyond concepts, what might it mean for your organization? Panelists will describe how regionalism has influenced their strategy development and organizing. Participants will then explore regionalism's strategic implications for their own work.

-Julie Quiroz, Tasha Harmon, others TBA

MONEY IN POLITICS RESEARCH AND ORGANIZING

We'll train participants in researching local, state and federal campaign contributions and contributors, and how to use this data in issue and electoral campaigns. Access to, and understanding of, basic computer functions is required for this training, as much of the research is available online at a variety of web sites.

ORGANIZING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES: TWO MODELS

Leaders and staff from Mujeres Unidas y Activas and Asian Immigrant Worker Advocates present their organizing strategies and methods, including leadership development, grassroots political participation, community organizing, economic development, and popular theater.

-Ken Fong, Clara Luz Navarro

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 101- DAY 1

This session acquaints participants with basic skills and techniques that one must have to effectively organize around issues in the community, workplace, church, nation and around the world. Experiential learning techniques are utilized to make the learning experiences more meaningful.

-James Williams

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 201: OUTREACH AND BASE BUILDING

This session reviews outreach techniques such as door knocking, house meetings and personal visits, as well as leadership development strategies and methods for keeping members involved in the organization. Picks up where Community Organizing 101 leaves off.

-Sandra Davis

STOP THE PRESSES!- DAY 1

This training covers basic and advanced media tactics including identifying and framing the news, key messages, pitching stories, staging media events and photo ops, on camera spokesperson training, and strategic media planning. The highly interactive atmosphere ensures that participants have a chance to try their hand at spinning a media message.

-Holly Minch

YOUTH ORGANIZING / YOUTH MEDIA

Young people are using media to win victories, stop the criminalization of their generation and to build strong communities. This interactive training covers how to organize through "adult" mainstream and alternative media and how use youth-produced media and communications to strengthen youth orgs and grow stronger networks. Bring examples of youth media (i.e. 'zines/ videos/newsletters/web sites/graffiti) and media outreach (press releases/news clips/sound bites).

-Isaias Rodriguez, Robin Templeton

HOMES ON THE RANGE

New development is transforming the social, economic and natural landscape of the rural West. Staff from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition share their approach to protecting both the environment and communities, including strategies around private land use planning and affordable housing.

-Dennis Glick, Steve Thomas

RACE, GENDER AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY

How do we deal with racism and sexism within lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans communities? We’ll discuss strategies to deal with these and other wedge issues that divide us in our struggles for liberation.

-Carmen Vasquez

ORGANIZING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY

Whether your demands are for better wages and working conditions, badly needed community services, or whatever, you’re likely to hear “it can’t be done” because of “globalization.” What makes the global economy tick and what does it mean for local organizing? Come learn and strategize with us!

ORGANIZING FOR TRANSPORTATION EQUITY

Community groups can win fights for transportation equity, whether it’s access to jobs, stopping discrimination or other improvements. We’ll look at new opportunities in federal transportation law that can advance local organizing, provide an opportunity for community groups to share lessons learned from local transportation campaigns, and strategize new approaches to local organizing.

-Dave Beckwith, Rich Stolz

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 101- DAY 2

-James Williams

GENDER JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

We'll review the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, explore the power of framing our struggles for gender equality in the United States in an international human rights context, and suggest practical ways for participants to become involved in the global movement for gender justice.

-Loretta Ross

STOP THE PRESSES!- DAY 2

-Holly Minch

YOUTH ORGANIZING: BUILDING POWER, DEMANDING JUSTICE, CREATING CHANGE

Connect with other youth who are demanding justice in their communities, learn movement history, talk about your strategies and frustrations and strengthen your power analysis and campaign development skills.

-Ann Caton, Jaison Garnder, Christopher Ramirez

DISABILITY, SEXUALITY, COMMUNITY, ACTIVISM

This session explores how romantic and sexual connections are an every DAY part of community building, how the desexualization of people with disabilities inhibits these connections, and the implications for creating social change if people with disabilities are less than full participants in activist communities. Special focus will be placed on disability issues within queer spaces where organizing is implicitly related to sexual liberation.

-Diana Courvant

DO WE HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO HOUSING?

The safety, stability and affordability of our homes often isn’t enforced by government or even protected by law. We’ll examine what tenant protections are lacking, why rents continue to rise and the effects of housing market forces on low-income people and people of color. We’ll also share inspiring organizing stories and highlight the connections between housing, environmental and other justice issues.

LIST ENHANCEMENT

Enhancing lists with voter file information and other data allows organizations to increase the effectiveness of their activist recruitment, voter education, and fundraising programs while building capacity. Trainers cover the legal, technical, strategic and practical applications of a list project.

-Carol Hudson, Ed Zuckerman

PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

Create a candidate development plan for your organization by exploring where to find good candidates for the year 2000 (and beyond) and how to do effective candidate training. Focus will be on encouraging people from our own organizations and constituencies to run for office and helping them to be successful.

BUILDING NONPROFIT CLOUT: THE (C) (3)/ (C) (4) / PAC CONNECTION

Different types of nonprofit organizations can work together to maximize your effectiveness. This training explains the permissible activities of each type, as well as how to create 501(c)(3), (c)(4), or PAC affiliates to expand your lobbying, increase your power in an election year, or make it easier to raise funds from foundations.

INITIATIVE CAMPAIGNS THAT WIN- DAY 1

Whether you’re defending against an attack or advancing your issues, learn how to build an initiative campaign that wins at the ballot box and leaves your organization stronger after election DAY. We’ll cover campaign planning, strategy, skills and movement/ organization building.

-Norma Martinez, Thalia Zepatos

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

"Clean Money Campaign Reform" opens the door to a multitude of candidates and platforms. We’ll discuss how it enables state legislative candidates who accept strict spending limits and reject all private contributions to finance their campaigns with public funds, and explore how it could be the key to all other policy changes.

INITIATIVE CAMPAIGNS THAT WIN- DAY 2