Bill Connors, CFRE, Database Administrator and Independent Consultant, Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation

Does creating policy and procedure documentation for The Raiser's Edge seem like having to write War and Peace? Who has time for that? In this session, we'll discuss how to create documentation for your organization's use of The Raiser's Edge that is realistic to achieve and useful for you, other users, and those that follow you. We'll cover what should be documented and provide you with an outline. We’ll discuss how to organize and store your policies and procedures and how they should be written, including both content and format, discussing a number of Microsoft® Word tips and tricks. Examples of data entry and data output documentation will be provided. After this session, you will be able to:

1. Differentiate between useful, time-effective policy and procedure documentation and the typical approach
2. Document how The Raiser’s Edge is used in your organization for data entry, data output, and database setup
3. Create an action plan for the creation of your organization’s Raiser’s Edge policy and procedure documentation

Chad Norman, Internet Marketing Manager, Blackbaud, Inc.
Melanie Mathos, Public Relations Manager, Blackbaud, Inc.

Get 50 tactics to turbo-charge your nonprofit’s social media strategy! It’s hard to keep up with the ever-evolving world of social media and what has emerged as a vital communication channel. The first session of the Social Media Skill-Building Workshop will provide 50 beginner-level to intermediate-level tactics that you can use to better engage your supporters, communicate your mission, and inspire action. In part two, attendees will focus on putting key social media into action. Before attending part two, participants must set up Twitter®, Google®, and Facebook® accounts. After this session, you will be able to:

1. Create a unique RSS dashboard that will enable keyword monitoring
2. Implement tips and tricks to increase meaningful interactions on your Facebook® page and Twitter® account
3. Learn how to integrate your blog and Twitter® feed into your Facebook® page
4. Follow users that are interested in your cause and establish a strategy for gaining Twitter® followers
5. Incorporate social media channels into event and news communications

Allison Van Diest, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Blackbaud, Inc.

With the economy in a slump and no foreseeable end in sight, it’s high time for you to beef up your email marketing strategy! There’s simply no faster or more cost-effective way to reach out to supporters and keep your organization top of mind than through a well-organized and managed email marketing program. In this seminar, we’ll discuss why email is so effective, how to get started if you haven’t already, how to grow your email address list, and much more. We’ll highlight proven strategies to help you bring in gifts, as well as tools to help you plan, develop, launch, and manage a successful program. We’ll share tips and tricks that can help you ease donors’ concerns about parting with their dollars during a recession. After this session, you will be able to:

1. Identify major email audience segments and the appropriate eCommunication mix for each segment
2. Define the types of email your organization is sending
3. Create an email calendar for 2010 for major audience segments that uses the appropriate mix

Jay Love, Founder, President, & CEO, eTapestry
Joy Simpson, CFRE, Fundraising Consultant
Paul Clolery, Vice President & Editorial Director, NPT Publishing Group

Ethics aren’t a straightforward, “black and white” issue — instead, there are many shades of grey. This lively interactive session will start with a point/counterpoint review of the most controversial ethics cases. The last decade has brought unflattering media attention as we watched the public trust erode with headlines of nonprofits’ moral breakdown. What is the ethical tone of your organization? Has ethical behavior been influenced by the tightened economic conditions? Ethics Under Fire is an interactive workshop that will challenge your moral barometer and detail prescriptive measures you can take avoid an ethical lapse. Come and challenge your ethical judgment.

After this session, you will be able to:

1. Develop an understanding of ethics so you can navigate the grey areas at your own organization
2. Use the policy and procedure kit that will be given to you during the session to develop an ethics plan for your nonprofit and ensure compliance
3. Create an action plan to protect your organization