Educational Projects
Launch the media gallery 1 playerCause Collective organizes many educational opportunities throughout the year. We hope there is something for all members at every staff level.
BOARD 101 TRAINING
The Cause Collective Board 101 Training is a free 1 to 1.5 hour training for our member agencies. This preentation is a review of basic roles & responsibilities of a nonprofit board.
To request a training, click the link below to complete the request form.
If you have any questions you can email us at director@causecollectivelincoln.org
SKILL SHARE PROGRAM:
Cause Collective's Skill Share program is a service for staff at member nonprofits who are looking for one-on-one coaching. We connect them with a "Mentor" who can offer confidential mentoring.
There are three categories of Skill Share:
- Skill Share (one hour, one session) - topic prompted by the mentee
- Skill Share Mentoring (one hour/month, six sessions) - generalized nonprofit professional development for those new to the sector/their role
- Skill Share Plus (four hours of content in one-two sessions) - in-depth technical assistance
Requests for Skill Share matches are rising...so we are seeking volunteers to serve as Mentors. Will you help nonprofit staffers be successful in their jobs?
VOLUNTEER AS A SKILL SHARE MENTOR
SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS:
Through a partnership with Ingrid Kirst Consulting and generous local funders, Cause Collective offers the Successful Transitions program. This highly-recommended program covers all aspects of succession planning including both emergency planning and long-range leadership development. A small cohort of organizations participates in interactive learning sessions. They also each receive individual coaching to address their organization's situation.
Alec Gorynski, Lincoln Community Foundation says, 'Successful Transitions helped me think about how we structure our team now so that our staffing model can continue to effectively run our organization well beyond any one member of the team. I learned so much, and highly recommend the program for anyone, especially if you have no succession planning in place.'
Lynne Lange, past executive director at the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, said "The Successful Transitions program is an opportunity that every organization should embrace. It allows for planning that embraces our ever-changing times, including Executive Director transitions; shift in staff member roles, responsibilities and growth; and solidifying a path for the Board of Directors to be mindful regarding their tasks and future leadership plans."
MORE INFO AND WAITING LIST SIGN UP
CURRENT TRAININGS AND NETWORKING EVENTS:
Unless otherwise indicated, trainings are $20 for any staff/board member of a member agency and $60 for all others
Friendraising 101: How fundraising is like making a new friend
DESCRIPTION
Fundraising isn’t just about asking for money—it’s about building authentic, lasting relationships that inspire support. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to connect with potential donors, volunteers, and community partners in ways that feel natural and genuine. We’ll cover practical strategies for identifying prospects, starting meaningful conversations, and cultivating trust over time. Whether you’re new or looking to refresh your skills, you’ll leave with actionable tools to grow your network and turn connections into champions for your cause.
DETAILS
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 11:30am-1:00pm
Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)
Jena Lambert, CFRE
Nonprofit fundraisers.
Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is teaming up with Cause Collective to hosting ED/CEO Roundtable
DESCRIPTION
These are challenging times for nonprofits. NAM and Cause Collective invites our members to be part of a conversation on what our nonprofit community is facing. The goal is to provide an opportunity for solidarity and see what nonprofit leaders need as it relates to self-care for themselves or for their team. These in-person meetings are a safe space to discuss the unique challenges of being a nonprofit ED/CEO at this moment in time. These conversations are only for NAM and Cause Collective members.
This session is hosted in partnership with Nonprofit Association of Midlands.
DETAILS
Monday, November 3, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am
Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)
People First: The HR Essentials Every Leader Should Know
DESCRIPTION
This interactive session introduces business leaders to core HR concepts through the lens of leadership, culture, and practical problem-solving. Rather than diving into legal jargon or technical policy, it focuses on real-world scenarios leaders encounter every day—hiring, retention, performance management, employee well-being, and workplace culture.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am
Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)
Ralph Kellogg--Lutheran Family Services-Executive Vice President, People & Training
Nonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.
Retain your Staff with Succession Planning
DESCRIPTION
Strategic succession planning will help you retain staff and increase your agency's impact in the community. This interactive session challenges traditional approaches, positioning your people as the most crucial part of your agency’s success.
Agency and board leaders will learn to craft equitable retention strategies that foster growth and define clear career paths, implement robust succession plans to minimize disruption during staff transitions, and design a streamlined executive transition framework for seamless leadership changes.
You will leave with actionable strategies, practical tools, and customizable templates to immediately develop your comprehensive plans.
DETAILS
Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am
Community Health Endowment (250 N 21st St)
Ingrid Kirst, Nonprofit Leadership Consultant
Nonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.
How to Utilize a Small Social Media Budget
DESCRIPTION
We all know nonprofits have shoestring budgets. And unfortunately, social media spend is often first on the chopping block. So how do you spread the word about your organization's great work — and the help you need! — without paying to play?
DETAILS
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am
Community Health Endowment (250 N 21st St)
Bri Prai--Union Bank and Trust, Digital Marketing Coordinator
Nonprofit communicators/administrators.
Engaging your Elected Officials
DESCRIPTION
This training will help nonprofit professionals understand the ways to stay compliant while leveraging lobbying as a tool to advance your organizations' missions and the concerns of your constituencies. We'll address questions specific to your issues and do some practice/preparation.
Topics will include
- defining the types of lobbying,
- responsibilities at the state and federal level,
- calculation of an organization's lobby limit, and
- how to engage safely as a 501(c)(3) in ballot initiatives
DETAILS
Monday, December 1, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm
Foundry Community (211 N 14th St)
Meg Mikolajczyk--Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, Executive Director
Nonprofit staff at all levels.
Elevate: Empowering Nonprofit Professionals
DESCRIPTION
Elevate aims to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem by fostering a network of professionals new to the sector/their role, and is designed to cultivate meaningful relationships and enhance leadership capabilities. The focus is on young or new individuals in the nonprofit sector; however all are welcome who are employed at a nonprofit in Lancaster County. Join your nonprofit peers at one (or ALL!) of the events this year!
DETAILS
Elevate meets monthly and trades off between morning and afternoon gatherings.
No RSVP required from Cause Collective members--all are welcome!
Foundry Community, (211 N 14th St), third floor conference room
- 11/5/2025 at 8:00-9:00am
- 12/4/2025 at 4:30-6:00pm
- 1/7/2026 at 8:00-9:00am @ Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)
- 2/5/2026 at 4:30-6:00pm
- 3/4/2026 at 8:00-9:00am
- 4/2/2026 at 4:30-6:00pm
- 5/6/2026 at 8:00-9:00am
- 6/4/2026 at 4:30-6:00pm