Nonprofit Network upcoming events

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive (Summer 2026) (July 15, 2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive

The 4-hour Bootcamp is a high-impact introductory intensive designed to give nonprofit leaders a clear, practical understanding of what a capital campaign truly requires. This is not a sales pitch or surface overview. It is a candid, strategic examination of readiness, risk, infrastructure, leadership expectations, and the disciplined planning necessary to execute a successful campaign.

All are welcome to attend this introductory intensive to gain a grounded understanding of capital campaign fundamentals—whether your organization is actively considering a campaign or simply exploring long-term growth strategies. Participants will leave with a realistic picture of timelines, board responsibilities, major gift expectations, case development, feasibility considerations, and the structure of a quiet phase.

For organizations interested in enrolling in the full Capital Campaign Planning Course, attendance at the Bootcamp is required. The intensive establishes a shared baseline of knowledge and ensures that cohort participants enter the extended course prepared for advanced, application-based work rather than introductory discussion.

A capital campaign is a defining organizational moment. The Bootcamp helps you determine whether you are ready—and what must be strengthened before moving forward.

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she leads the team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She has served in that role since 2018.

Prior to joining the foundation, Cindy spent 18 years as a fundraiser working in higher education and healthcare, where she participated in multimillion-dollar campaigns. She strongly believes that successful fundraising requires good planning, thoughtful strategy, and genuine commitment to helping donors fulfill their charitable interests.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy is eagerly planning out the details of her 2026 safari to Tanzania.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that all people can thrive.

What to know:
Location: Battle Creek, MI

We want you comfortable - We recommend dressing in layers as rooms may run warm or cool.

Coffee, water, and a light snack will be avaialble. But please feel free to bring a drink and/or snacks of your choice for your needs.

Please Note: Nonprofit Network may record, video or photograph public events. Recordings, videos and photos are used solely for the promotional purposes of Nonprofit Network. Nonprofit Network will regard as confidential all non-public information obtained during the course of its professional assignments. Information given in a public setting has no expectation of confidentiality.

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive (Summer 2026) (August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive

A capital campaign is a defining organizational moment. The Bootcamp helps you determine whether you are ready—and what must be strengthened before moving forward.

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she leads the team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She has served in that role since 2018.

Prior to joining the foundation, Cindy spent 18 years as a fundraiser working in higher education and healthcare, where she participated in multimillion-dollar campaigns. She strongly believes that successful fundraising requires good planning, thoughtful strategy, and genuine commitment to helping donors fulfill their charitable interests.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy is eagerly planning out the details of her 2026 safari to Tanzania.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that all people can thrive.

What to know:
Location: Lansing, MI

We want you comfortable - We recommend dressing in layers as rooms may run warm or cool.

Coffee, water, and a light snack will be avaialble. But please feel free to bring a drink and/or snacks of your choice for your needs.

Making the Confident Ask (on Zoom) (September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

*Making the Confident Ask: How Nonprofit Leaders Successfully Request Donations and Mobilize Fundraising Teams

Asking for a donation is one of the most important and most avoided responsibilities in nonprofit leadership. Many organizations struggle not because people don’t care about the mission, but because staff, board members, and volunteers lack the confidence, structure, and language needed to make effective fundraising requests.

This 2-hour, highly interactive workshop focuses on the essential skills leaders need to confidently ask for donations while staying organized when multiple people are involved in fundraising. Participants will practice real conversations, learn simple tools for deciding what to ask for, and explore practical ways to track donor relationships without complicated systems.

The session is designed to be hands-on and realistic for busy nonprofit leaders. Participants will spend time in guided practice, small-group role play, and real-life scenarios so they leave with language they can use immediately.

Topics Covered

Why asking for donations feels uncomfortable — and how to move past it
The basic structure of a successful donation request
How to decide what to ask for based on relationship, interest, and capacity
Practice conversations and role-play to build confidence asking for support
How to involve board members and volunteers in fundraising without confusion
Simple ways to track prospects, assignments, and follow-up using basic tools
Keeping fundraising organized when multiple people are making asks
Setting realistic expectations for volunteer involvement in fundraising

Participants will leave with:

Sample language for making a donation request
A simple framework for deciding ask amounts
A basic system for tracking donors and volunteers
Greater confidence in leading fundraising conversations

This workshop is ideal for Executive Directors, Board Members, Fundraising Committee Members, and volunteers who are expected to help ask for donations but have never been trained how.

Date: September 16, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM ET (US and Canada)
Location: on Zoom
Cost: $35 for members ($25 for guests) ~ $55 for non-members
Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she leads the team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She has served in that role since 2018.

Prior to joining the foundation, Cindy spent 18 years as a fundraiser working in higher education and healthcare, where she participated in multimillion-dollar campaigns. She strongly believes that successful fundraising requires good planning, thoughtful strategy, and genuine commitment to helping donors fulfill their charitable interests.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy is eagerly planning out the details of her 2026 safari to Tanzania.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform
communities so that all people can thrive.

Cancellation Policy

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive (Fall 2026) (September 23, 2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive

A capital campaign is a defining organizational moment. The Bootcamp helps you determine whether you are ready—and what must be strengthened before moving forward.

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she leads the team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She has served in that role since 2018.

Prior to joining the foundation, Cindy spent 18 years as a fundraiser working in higher education and healthcare, where she participated in multimillion-dollar campaigns. She strongly believes that successful fundraising requires good planning, thoughtful strategy, and genuine commitment to helping donors fulfill their charitable interests.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy is eagerly planning out the details of her 2026 safari to Tanzania.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that all people can thrive.