Grants 101
with Amanda Heidel and Steven Densmore
Thursday, January 19, 2023
9 am -12 pm  
FREE
Borg Warner Room, Tompkins County Public Library

Curious about the grant seeking process? If you are new to grant writing or want to refine your foray into the grant seeking world- this workshop is for you!

This Grants 101 workshop will provide a basic overview on grant preparation, writing and research.

We will explore:   

• How to make your organization or program “grant ready”
• The essential parts of a proposal
• How to create a budget
• The dos and don’ts of grant writing
• How to research potential opportunities
• Differences and similarities between local, state, and federal resources

Bring your ideas, program, or projects you are working on. This workshop will be interactive to help you move through the process of drafting language and budgets for your proposal.

Grants 101 will be led by Choice Words Ithaca, a grant writing and fundraising firm that helps businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and municipalities identify and acquire grant funding.

Choice Words Ithaca is a new branch of the highly successful Choice Words Hudson Valley that has been serving clients across New York State with a focus on Mid-Hudson Valley for over 13 years. The firm has won more than $103 million for its clients- and are ready to help you do the same.  

About the Presenters

Amanda Heidel: Amanda is the manager of Choice Words Ithaca. She helped direct the development of Choice Words Small and Emerging Nonprofit grants program, which she now manages. Her background in marketing dovetails with grant writing to create an innovative framework for guiding emerging nonprofits who often need diversified funding streams to get on their feet. She is also an artist, educator within the Cornell Small Farms Program, and founder of the community project, Mushroom Shed.

Steve Densmore: Steve founded Choice Words LLC in 2010 to answer a persistent and critical need for strategic communications services within the Hudson Valley Region of New York’s nonprofit community. Steve has worked and lived in the Hudson Valley for more than three decades, much of it spent as a community journalist. Steve always dreamed of extending the firm’s services to the Central New York region. When Choice Words Manager, Amanda Heidel, announced she was moving to Ithaca, it seemed like the perfect time to implement that dream.

Developing your Inner Ally
with Amy Kohut
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
9-11 am  
$40
Via Zoom (link will be sent via email after registration)

Have you noticed that we are often stronger allies for others than we are for ourselves?

Many of us are familiar with the concept of the inner critic: that sometimes too-prevalent voice in our head that judges us. There are some good reasons for us to have some degree of self-criticism, but it can end up being destructive if it’s the only voice we listen to. 

What if we turn that on its side and develop our own inner ally?  What would it be like to have our self-talk be encouraging and productive?  What if we could rely on being self-supportive as we head into that tough meeting or tackle that task we are a bit unsure of?

This workshop will help develop your own inner ally.  You will:

• Understand why the brain behaves as it does as it relates to your “inner critic”
• Explore the concept of Self-As-Resource
• Practice presence and working from choice
• Engage in physical practices that help ‘install’ an ally state of mind
• Learn practical tools to develop a strong inner ally

A generous donor has provided funding for a scholarship for this session.  If you are in need of a scholarship for this session, please contact registration@hsctc.org.

About the Presenter

Amy Kohut has been skillfully leading groups and individuals towards their professional goals for over 25 years. She is the founder and owner of 1 Step Coaching and Consulting, LLC.

Amy served as the Director of Cornell University’s Team & Leadership Center from 2006-2016.  She continues to work for Cornell in the SC Johnson College of Business with the Executive MBA program as a team coach and is a Sr. Facilitator with the Cornell Team & Leadership Center.  She is a member of The International Coach Federation, is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Experiential Training and Development Alliance, and is a faculty member of Presence Based Coaching, LLC.  For more information please visit www.1stepcc.com.

Year End Fundraising with Maya Gasuk
Monday, November 7, 2022
1pm – 4pm
FREE
TC3 Ithaca Extension Center (Tioga Place), 118 N. Tioga Street, Rm 611

Will We Meet Our Annual Fundraising Goal? 

Oh, MG, will we raise enough money before the end of the year? If your organization is worried about reaching your year-end fundraising goals, learn effective strategies from Maya Gasuk (MG, that is!).

This FREE session is designed to help you focus on the essential elements of effective year-end fundraising and the key areas that drive success. Through an interactive series of activities, you will have a chance to reflect on your current strategy and develop a plan of action for the last two months of the fiscal year—and understand what a realistic goal might be for your results.   

Bring your organization’s goals, reports, donor list, draft mailing for the 4^th quarter, board directory and thank you letter to get the full benefit from the session.

In this workshop, you will:

• Learn which fundraising methods generate the most success
• Identify the strategy and focus that works best for your organization
• Develop a fundraising plan of action
• Set goals that are realistic and achievable 

Co-presented by the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County and AFPNY Finger Lakes Chapter 

About the Presenter

Maya brings over 30 years of fundraising experience to her work at West Wind Consulting Strategies in Fundraising, LLC, giving her clients access to hands-on experience and expertise and significantly increasing program results and performance.  Maya’s analytical and problem-solving skills enable her to develop innovative approaches resulting in extraordinary results both as a practitioner in the past, and as a consultant today.  She has a passion for teaching and problem solving.

Maya graduated Magna Cum Laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.  In addition to previous volunteer roles at Cornell, Cascadilla Boat Club as a rowing coach, she currently serves as a member of the Board for Historic Ithaca to keep active as a professional fundraiser and volunteer.

Peer to Manager – A Successful Transition with Munna Rubaii
Thursday, November 3, 2022
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
$70
Borg Warner Room, Tompkins County Public Library

This is a workshop for all new managers or supervisors or those who aspire to be promoted to a supervisory position.

It is normal to feel some hesitation about all the new skills required to become a supervisor.  Whether you have already accepted that promotion or you are thinking about taking that next step in your career, this workshop will help you:

• Transition from managing just yourself to managing others
• Learn and practice some of the basic skills needed to supervise others
• Learn how to manage competing priorities
• Strategize how to continue your own professional development once you become a supervisor

About the Presenter:
Munna Rubaii retired from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services after 32 years of service. Initially a direct care provider in both secure and limited secure juvenile residential facilities, she capped her state career as a training manager, responsible for supervising regional training centers and providing training to facilities and offices throughout central and northern New York. Munna has also worked as a private consultant since 1995.

Munna is a certified practitioner of the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Step I and Step II. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master of Science degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Inclusive Hiring Practices
with Belisa González
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
9:30 am – 11:30 am
$40
Online via Zoom

This workshop is for anyone who has been or will be involved at any stage of the hiring process and/or people who are interested in learning about the effects of unconscious bias. 

In this session we will investigate how unconscious bias affects decision-making throughout the hiring process. We will do this by learning about:

• unconscious bias
• how bias affects the way we construct job ads, review applications, and make decisions about which applicants to advance or reject
• the most common types of bias in hiring
• strategies for mitigating bias at every stage of the hiring process. 

About the Presenter:
Belisa González is a professor of Sociology, Director of the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, and Director of Faculty Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Ithaca College. Her teaching and research focus on inequality and race and ethnic relations in the U.S. In addition to teaching, Dr. González also conducts workshops and supports individuals, committees, departments, and organizations transform their policies, curriculum and cultures to those that align with social justice practices.

Sexual Harassment Prevention
with Kristi Taylor
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
9:30 – 11:00 am
FREE
via Zoom (link will be sent via email after registration)

This workshop will provide valuable knowledge about sexual harassment prevention. It will also fulfill the annual training requirements of NYS sexual harassment regulations that went into effect October, 2018.

All work places are susceptible to sexual harassment and have a responsibility to educate staff about the issue including what constitutes sexual harassment, employee’s rights, how to report it, and the potential impact on people targeted for harassment and the work place as a whole.

Participants will:

• Understand the definition of sexual harassment consistent with NYS laws
• Learn from real world examples what constitutes unlawful sexual harassment
• Learn your rights as an employee or volunteer under the law
• Fulfill the employee training requirements outlined in the updated NYS sexual harassment regulations

About the Presenter

Kristi Taylor is the Education Director with the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County. She holds a BA in Psychology, is a New York State Certified Rape Crisis Counselor and has worked in the victim services field for over 15 years. Throughout her career, Kristi has provided advocacy, crisis intervention and ongoing support for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence and is an avid supporter of victim’s rights. From her work with survivors, she has also developed a deep passion for prevention based worked and empowering adults to create safer communities.

In her current position, Kristi provides professional training and consultation to individuals and organizations about the dynamics and impacts of abuse, how to best support survivors and strategies to reduce the likelihood of abuse occurring.

Coaching Skills for Leaders and Managers
with Amy Kohut
9am – 12pm
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Cost: $70
Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room – Directions and Parking Information

Managing and leading people is a complex process.  How do you make sure team members achieve their fullest performance potential? How do you empower them with skills and tools to do the job instead of telling them how to do it?

Coaching is one of the key components of managing modern teams. It is a model in which managers ask questions and give support and guidance rather than instruction. Employees learn how to adapt and respond in ways that unleash fresh energy, innovation, and learning.

This interactive workshop will teach managers effective coaching techniques and when to use them to maximize employee learning and growth.

Attendees will:

• Understand the difference between directing, mentoring, advising and coaching, and when to use each
• Learn a coaching framework that can be used in one-on-one coaching conversations
• Practice coaching skills using real work situations
• Enhance their coaching, management, and leadership know-how

About the Presenter

Amy Kohut has been skillfully leading groups and individuals towards their professional goals for over 25 years. She is the founder and owner of 1 Step Coaching and Consulting, LLC.

Amy served as the Director of Cornell University’s Team & Leadership Center from 2006-2016.  She continues to work for Cornell in the SC Johnson College of Business with the Executive MBA program as a team coach and is a Sr. Facilitator with the Cornell Team & Leadership Center.  She is a member of The International Coach Federation, is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Experiential Training and Development Alliance, and is a faculty member of Presence Based Coaching, LLC.  For more information please visit www.1stepcc.com.

Budget and Finance Basics
with Duane Shoen, CPA
November 10, 2021
9:00-10:30 am
$30
Via Zoom

This workshop is for staff and board members with any responsibility to read and understand financial statements and make decisions based on financial reporting.

The workshop will raise your level of financial awareness and help you understand how to use financial information to make decisions for your organization.

In this interactive session, you will: 

• Understand financial reports including balance sheets and income statements
• Learn how to develop and monitor both organization-wide and program budgets (including variance analysis)
• Learn how to compare the budget to actual financial performance – and how to use the information for management and planning
• Learn how to report budget and financial information in a clear, understandable way to boards of directors and program staff to promote organization understanding and buy-in 

About the Presenter: Duane Shoen

Duane is a Partner with Insero & Co. with over 20 years of experience in taxation and financial reporting. Duane’s areas of specialization include auditing and accounting for not-for-profit organizations and government entities and includes consulting with these organizations concerning policies and procedures, internal control issues, and compliance matters.