Question 1

Grant Writing: Biggest Misconceptions | Room TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Robert McClure Learn more (https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

Grant writing remains essential but is often misunderstood. This session separates fact from fiction around identifying, applying for, and managing grants in a rapidly changing funding landscape. Participants will learn how to avoid common missteps and improve competitiveness.

Session Outcomes
 • Identify common misconceptions in grant research and writing
 • Understand how funders evaluate proposals
 • Learn strategies to improve alignment and competitiveness

Question 2

Building & Energizing Effective Boards | Room TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Pam Gregory and Erica Joseph Learn more (https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

Strong nonprofit boards don’t happen by accident. They are intentionally recruited, meaningfully engaged, and well supported. This interactive session explores practical best practices for building boards that are diverse, effective, and aligned with mission and strategy. Participants will learn from proven frameworks and, just as importantly, from one another’s real‑world experiences.

Session Outcomes:
 • Explore best practices for recruiting mission‑aligned, diverse board members
 • Learn tools for onboarding, engagement, and performance management
 • Examine common board challenges and how nonprofits address them in practice
 • Share real examples from your own organizations
 • Leave with actionable ideas you can apply immediately

Question 3

Run Your Nonprofit Like a Business | Room TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Amy Thompson Learn more (https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

This workshop distills the core principles of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program into a practical, nonprofit-focused framework. Participants will learn how to think like growth-oriented CEOs, strengthen financial and operational discipline, and build scalable strategies that increase organizational impact, sustainability, and mission delivery. This session connects mission, money, measurement, and management into a single operating system for real world nonprofit leaders.

Session Outcomes
 • Adopt a CEO growth mindset focused on sustainability, scale, and impact
 • Define a clear impact growth strategy across programs, funding, and partnerships
 • Use financial statements as strategic leadership tools
 • Align people, processes, and performance metrics to support growth
 • Leave with a 12-month impact growth map and actionable next steps

Question 4

AI for Nonprofits: Practical Strategies | Room TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Jose Tizol Learn more (https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

This session shows nonprofit leaders how to use AI to strengthen fundraising, plan more effective events, and improve community engagement using simple, accessible tools. Participants will learn practical workflows they can apply immediately, including donor outreach, content creation, and document organization. The focus is on real strategies that save time and increase impact.

Session Outcomes
 • Use ChatGPT for donor communications, fundraising messages, and campaign content
 • Apply AI tools to plan events, promotions, and timelines
 • Improve community engagement through AI-assisted newsletters and social posts
 • Learn how to summarize documents and track fundraising work using NotebookLM and Notion

Question 5

Staying Effective Amid Volatility | Room TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Kaitlyn Gallander Learn more(https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

Nonprofits are operating amid constant change, including funding uncertainty, shifting policies, and growing community demand. This session introduces practical adaptive management processes that move beyond linear planning and support real-time decision-making. Using applied examples, participants will learn how to make better decisions with imperfect information and leave with immediate next steps.

Session Outcomes
 • Make more confident decisions with imperfect information
 • Understand adaptive management processes that reduce change fatigue
 • Apply tools such as scenario planning and sentinel indicators
 • Identify immediate steps to strengthen adaptive capacity

Question 6

Simple Ways to Make Messages Donors Love | Room  TBD

Accepted Answer

Presented By: Nancy Merrill Learn more (https://www.cfes.org/nonprofits/presenters)

Unlock the practical communication tools you need to better engage and inspire your donors. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn essential messaging techniques that work across multiple channels including newsletters, blogs, annual appeals, grant proposals, and social media. We’ll practice simple ways to frame issues and craft compelling stories that pull readers in, and you’ll leave with strategies you can use immediately to make your communications more effective and engaging.

Session Outcomes
 • Learn two storytelling techniques that frame issues for donors in engaging ways
 • Learn how to choose and crop images that grab attention
 • Learn ways to write headlines donors can’t ignore
 • Identify seven common mistakes that repel readers

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Lower Shore Nonprofit Summit