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02/01/2017 07:00 AMAs a former Connecticut Department of Mental Health District director, Kathy Fox worked hard to get funding to nonprofit mental health service organizations throughout central Connecticut. She knows today’s changing political climate is especially challenging for nonprofits of all types.
That’s why, as a member of the Shoreline Nonprofit Workshop Series (SNWS) steering committee, Kathy hopes staff, board members and volunteers from Branford and Guilford nonprofits of all stripes will take advantage of the low-cost, professionally guided spring 2017 series, “Nonprofit Survivor’s Guide to a Changing Landscape.”
The spring series kicks off Thursday, Feb. 9, with the first of four workshops (one per month) at Branford’s Blackstone Library.
“We’re now looking at potentially very significant policy changes on the federal level, which will automatically influence funding opportunities at the state level. In addition to that, we’re looking at serious difficulties with the state budget,” says Kathy. “So it seems to me that many nonprofits going forward are going to need to be thinking about how are they going to reconfigure their service delivery systems, who are they going to partner with, what resources are they duplicating, and what resources can we share? By sharing resources and forming partnerships, they can be much more effective in their advocacy and making their presence known.”
The spring 2017 workshop series can help with those questions, ideas, and more during the two-hour sessions (8 to 10 a.m.) on the second Thursday of February, March, April, and May. Registrants can sign up for all four workshops or select those which best apply.
The Feb. 9 kickoff workshop is titled, “Be the Champion of Your Mission.” Additional workshops are set for March 9 (“Words Matter & So Does the Message You Deliver”), April 13 (“Advocacy is More than Lobbying”), and May 11 (“Collaboration: 1+1 is Greater Than 3”). Registration and other information can be found at www.shorelinechamberct.com.
SNWS programming is now in its second year, with new series offered each spring and fall. The result of a partnership between the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Nonprofit Council, Branford Community Foundation (BCF), and the Guilford Foundation, the series is also supported by the Guilford Savings Bank. The goal is to provide quality professional guidance at an exceptionally low cost ($15 per person, per session). Spring 2017 workshop leaders include Sharon J. Danosky (founder and president, Danosky & Associates); Larry Smotroff, Ph.D. (nonprofit training strategist and consultant); and Peter B. Roche (founder and president, IPR Inc.)
An added benefit is that the series creates a collaborative environment that’s not often available for those who serve with local nonprofits.
“It develops a collegial network, in what can be an otherwise isolated environment,” says Kathy.
The spring and fall sessions alternate between library sites in Branford and Guilford. SCC Nonprofit Council member and workshop series co-organizer Liza Petra says local nonprofits serving the Branford and Guilford communities are embracing the workshop series, with an average of 40 attendees representing 20 different local groups attending workshops.
Vital to the SCC Nonprofit Council’s mission of offering the workshops is the support provided by sponsors. As the executive director for BCF and the Guilford Foundation, Petra says these sponsoring foundations recognize the importance of helping to provide the programming.
“Especially in times of budget crisis, investing in this sort professional development becomes the lowest priority for nonprofits, because if you have a choice between what this type of programming would generally cost or helping someone, it’s going to be helping someone,” Petra says. “So our intent at the BCF and Guilford Foundation is to provide these services to organizations, and not just to help them to better advocate for themselves and collaborate, but also to provide the best quality of workshop leadership. We are really thrilled with the level of the people who are running these programs.”
The SCC Nonprofit Council is also thrilled with the expertise and experience Kathy brings to help steer SNWS. Kathy has helped to drive the focus of the workshops, as well as implementing and marketing the series to help extend its reach.
A licensed clincial social worker (LCSW), Kathy retired from her work with the state 17 years ago and entered into a private practice in Branford for 15 years. She continues to provide professional services one day a week as a consultant for a mental health service non-profit. Kathy has been a member of the BCF board for a little more than a year and, through BCF, signed on to help steer SNWS.
“Branford Community Foundation is critical in supporting the work of nonprofits, so when the opportunity came to serve on the board, I was very pleased to take advantage of it,” says Kathy, a Branford resident of 41 years with her husband, Parker. The couple raised their children in town.
In her work with BCF, Kathy serves on the foundation’s Grants Committee, which reviews applications seeking funding for causes that support and enhance the Branford community.
“In just the short time I’ve been with the BCF, there’s been a lot of growth in requests for grants, and the scope of things that we’re asked to consider funding—it’s absolutely fascinating,” Kathy says. “It’s given me the opportunity to learn so much about the breadth of the work that takes place in our community.”
Despite being a busy professional, wife, and mom, Kathy has always felt it’s important to give back to her community. In addition to her work with BCF, Kathy is member of the Board of Branford Fire Commissioners, serving since 2004. She also serves on the Shoreline Village CT Board of Directors. In addition, Kathy is on the Board of the Child Development Center at her family’s church, Branford First Congregational. In the early 2000s, Kathy served as an elected town official with the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). Kathy is also a member of Branford’s Democratic Town Committee. Her husband also gives back to their community as a volunteer, including as treasurer for non-profit Branford Food Pantry.
“You have to be part of the community. You meet wonderful people,” says Kathy. “Branford is wonderful town. It’s a town that’s got a heart.”
To register for the spring 2017 Shoreline Nonprofit Workshop Series, visitwww.shorelinechamberct.com or call 203-488-5500. Workshop registration cost $15 per person per workshop; register by Tuesday, Feb. 7 to receive discounted offer of attending all four workshops for $50 per person. To apply for financial assistance to attend any or all of the workshops, send an email with organization name and prospective attendee’s name and a brief explantion of the situation to Liza Petra at liza.petra@gmail.com.