Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Wilmington, N.C. - As part of its overall mission to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of area nonprofit organizations, Quality Enhancement for Nonprofits (QENO) is offering a series of professional development workshops for nonprofit directors, management staff and board members.

Professional development support is one of the roles of QENO, a UNC Wilmington-led partnership aimed at strengthening nonprofit organizations, increasing the confidence of donors to those agencies, and therefore encouraging greater philanthropy in southeastern North Carolina. Other partners in the initiative include Cape Fear Area United Way, the Community Foundation of Southeastern N.C., Southeastern Alliance for Community Change, the Landfall Foundation, the City of Wilmington and Cape Fear Memorial Foundation. QENO supports nonprofit organizations in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, Duplin, Bladen, Columbus, Onslow and Sampson counties.

"The university and the other partners in QENO have a wide range of support services we can offer to nonprofits," said Lynn Smithdeal, faculty liaison for community engagement in the UNCW Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies. "For example, last year graduate students in UNCW's Master of Public Administration program conducted a needs assessment of nonprofit organizations to determine their areas of strength and areas in which they need training and support. The sessions that we are offering this year are specifically tailored to address those needs that were identified in that process."

QENO professional development sessions are being held at numerous locations to make them convenient for more people. There is a small fee for each of the workshops to cover food and materials. For more information on the workshops or QENO, call 910.962.3426 or e-mail smithdeall@uncw.edu. To register, call 910.962.3195 or go online to www.uncw.edu/qeno.

2007-2008 QENO Professional Development Calendar

Oct. 5, 2007-Lunch and Learn session, "What will your Legacy be?"

Noon - 1:30 p.m., $10, Cape Fear Area United Way Board Room

Andy Atkinson, president of Leadership Initiatives, Inc., will facilitate a conversation over lunch on being an effective leader in a nonprofit organization.

Oct. 18, 2007 Fundamentals of Grant Writing

1-4 p.m., Free, New Hanover County Library Downtown Branch

Cost: Free

New Hanover County Library

Lynn Smithdeal, of UNCW Public Service and Continuing Studies, will conduct a session on the basics of foundation grant development and writing. Registration will be taken by the New Hanover County Library.

Nov. 1, 2007 QuickBooks Training for Nonprofits

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., $10, UNCW Executive Development Center at Landfall

Area CPA and UNCW faculty member, Chuck Earney, with Bill Baugh, of Baugh Consulting, will lead this workshop to give nonprofits an introduction into the basics of using QuickBooks to help manage an organization's finances.

Nov. 7, 2007 Lunch and Learn Networking on Technology Assistance

Noon-1:30 p.m., $10, UNCW Executive Development Center at Landfall

UNCW Information Technology staff member Jarrett Piner will lead this networking session with a discussion on changing IT products for nonprofits and technology assistance that is available.

Dec. 5, 2007 Fundamentals of Grant Writing

9 a.m. - Noon, Free, Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center

Lynn Smithdeal, of UNCW Public Service and Continuing Studies, will introduce participants to the basics of grant development and writing.

Jan. 18, 2008 Lunch and Learn Session on Board Staff Relations

Noon - 1:30 p.m., $10, UNCW Madeline Suite at Wagoner Hall

This session will focus on the role of the nonprofit executive director as he/she relates to the board of directors and explore the appropriate relationship a nonprofit board should have with the organization's staff.

Feb. 1, 2008 Workshop on Nonprofit Law and Legal Compliance

Noon - 4 p.m., $25, UNCW Madeline Suite at Wagoner Hall

Nonprofit expert and attorney Marty Martin will conduct a presentation on nonprofit law and legal compliance, to help the organization understand the nonprofit legal landscape.

March 7, 2008 Lunch and Learn Session, "The Importance of Evaluation and Measuring Success"

Noon - 1:30 p.m., $10, UNCW Executive Development Center

This session will offer a facilitated conversation about the importance of evaluation and the tools that can be used to measure success in nonprofit organizations. Presenters will be announced at a later date.

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Media contacts:

Lynn Smithdeal, faculty liaison for community engagement, UNCW Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies, 910.962.3426 or smithdeall@uncw.edu

Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media relations, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu