Training Calendar for the Shiawassee Community
The Cook Family Foundation works with nonprofit organizations in Shiawassee County to help them realize their missions, build their capacity to make change in the community, and work with others to improve the quality of life for Shiawassee County residents.
The Cook Family Foundation hosts FREE Board training event and these sessions are open to any current Shiawassee County nonprofit leadership, board members, staff members, or volunteers that live in, or directly serve the Shiawassee County community.
Upcoming Public and Partner Events
These board training sessions are open to any current Shiawassee County nonprofit leadership, board members, staff members, or volunteers that live in, or directly serve the Shiawassee County community.
Professional Development for Nonprofit Leaders and their Boards
Confident Asks: How Nonprofit Leaders Successfully Request Donations and Mobilize Fundraising Teams
Date: June 3, 2026 Time/s: 5:15 PM to 7:30 PM ET (US and Canada)
Location: TBD in Owoso
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.
Please Register HERE
*Cook Family Foundation " Partner Only " Events
*To participate in the Nonprofit Capacity Building (NPCB) program, nonprofits in Shiawassee county and members of Nonprofit Network will work to develop an organization-specific Action Plan. To be eligible, the nonprofit organization must meet certain requirements. Please visit the Cook Family Foundation website for more information.
The Cook Family Foundation Nonprofit Capacity Building Program relies on the expertise of the Nonprofit Network, a nonprofit management and board governance support organization. The Nonprofit Network provides organizational assessments, board education programs, executive director coaching, nonprofit technical assistance, strategic planning, and both online and in-person access to the education and training to implement best management practices. If you have questions about partnership, please call the Cook Family Foundation at (989) 725-1621.
Collaborative Support: Peer Partner Events
Date: May 14th, 2026
Time/s: 5 PM to 7:00 PM (US and Canada)
Location: 242 W Broad St, Chesaning, MI 48616
Getting the months started off right! These Peer Support events will be highly supportive and interactive opportunities to share lessons learned. These events will help you be responsive to current issues, staffing, or whatever else you want to discuss.
Come prepared to share what you know and as always, we will find time to breathe, laugh, cry - or whatever may be necessary.
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