The descriptions are for guidance only and are not meant to limit great ideas or suggestions for workshops.
Building Support through Fundraising and Membership: Building sustainable organizations through diversified fundraising strategies; developing an effective case for support; managing membership, annual giving, major donor programs; grant seeking and writing; capital campaigns; relationship science and philanthropy. Advanced topics encouraged.
Community Conservation: Working with people in the community who usually don’t benefit directly from conservation work; and using your mission of land conservation to address issues related to education, public health, clean water, local food, underrepresented and underserved communities, or other community needs; going out of your way to listen authentically to new voices; partnering with new and sometimes unexpected partners; or connecting people from different walks of life to the land. Examples from rural, suburban and urban areas are welcome.
Communicating Effectively: Improving your identity/brand to build broader and deeper support; using your website, newsletters and other communications tools effectively; incorporating social networking strategies; communications planning.
Doing Deals and Ensuring Permanence: Transaction due diligence; drafting conservation easements; baseline documentation; appraisals; legal and tax issues; stewardship; landowner relationships; monitoring and recordkeeping; dealing with condemnation, amendments, trespass and violations.
Financing for Conservation: Where and how to get money for deals including innovative fundraising; effectively borrowing money; leveraging public and philanthropic money with other sources such as private investment capital; engaging wealth managers.
Managing Land and Water Resources: Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems; land and water management; water rights; climate adaptation and mitigation; restoration; conservation of working landscapes including farms and ranches; partnering with young farmers; forest management; managing for public access and educational opportunities.
Organizational Impact: Effective governance, decision-making and risk management; addressing conflict of interests; organizational development; board recruitment and orientation; staff management; financial management; strategic planning; transition and succession planning.
Public Policy: New and emerging policy issues facing land conservation; Strategies to advance policy priorities at the federal, state and local level; Building relationships with public officials; Mobilizing your board and supporters; Advocacy communications.
Strategic Conservation Vision: Long-term conservation planning and acquisition priorities; watershed and coastal planning; using partnerships effectively; landscape-scale conservation; land use planning and addressing community development needs; planning for climate change impacts such as sea level rise, species loss and habitat movement.
Technology Tools: New and emerging technologies that provide new ways to manage, program and advocate for land conservation; using GIS effectively; using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones); developing a mobile App; selecting a database management system to meet your needs; website and database security.