* Recruiting and working with a Board of Directors;
   * Devising an effective media outreach strategy;
   * Creating and implementing a fundraising plan;
   * Planning and implementing special events;
   * Working with elected officials.

In addition to hosting individuals who can provide insight and guidance related to these topics, these Knowledge Building sessions will provide those who attend and participate with opportunities to share their insights and experiences with others from organizations similar to theirs.  Each monthly session will last approximately two hours and attendees can choose to attend individual sessions of their choice or all of the sessions in the series.

The Knowledge Building Special Interest Group will also aim to create the first forum for shared ideas among the leaders of these organizations.  Currently, the executives and Board members who lead smaller organizations operate largely in isolation, with few colleagues in the not-for-profit community with whom they can share insights, ask for advice, or create effective partnerships.  SINFPA believes that leaders of not-for-profits need to be engaged with other individuals at their own level of experience and resource availability in order to experience the most effective benefits of a shared community, and that the Knowledge Building Special Interest Group will provide such a forum. 

The first of the Knowledge Building Special Interest Group sessions will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, September 23rd, in the Social Hall of the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island (1466 Manor Road).  The primary goals of this first session are:

• * to introduce this group's focus and planned activities;

• * to introduce the concept of organizational planning and to provide some basic planning tools that attendees can use to establish and prioritize their organizational goals;

• * to provide attendees with information about the Board policies and public regulations and procedures that organizations need to incorporate and comply with in order to be qualified to receive critical support from government agencies, foundations, companies and individuals.

To compliment this discussion about best practices, accountant Doreen Inserra will join us at this session to review the basic regulatory and Board policies and documents that organizations must have in place to be positioned for effective fundraising and Board recruitment.

Attendance at this and other meetings of the Richmond County Savings Foundation Knowledge Building group is free and open to staff and Board members of Staten Island NFP member organizations who wish to increase their knowledge of not-for-profit management fundamentals.