Rural Nonprofit Networking Group to Host First Quarterly Professional Development Workshop

The Rural Nonprofit Networking Group (RNNG), a program of the Fayette Community Foundation, is excited to invite all nonprofit staff and volunteers to join their first quarterly professional development workshop series which will be held on Thursday, May 16. RNNG creates opportunities for the organizations that do so much good in our rural communities to share their missions and visions, discuss community needs and partnership opportunities, bring in experts to facilitate growth and professionalism, and simply connect to maximize the efficiency and impact that participants can bring to Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca, and surrounding counties.

Hosted by the RNNG Council, the workshop will be led by Colton Strawser, Ph.D., CFRE, BCC with Colton Strawser Consulting and begins at 9 a.m. The gathering will be held at Blinn College in Room 120 (100 Ranger Dr, Schulenburg) in Schulenburg. Dr. Strawser will facilitate a half day deep dive on “Defining Need and Measuring Impact.” Increasingly, nonprofits are being called upon by their stakeholders to provide “proof” that their programs are successful. In addition, or-ganizations must demonstrate need and share how their program will address this clearly defined need. While most nonprofit leaders agree that collecting data and measuring success is important, the ability to clearly define needs and document tangible outcomes remains elusive for many organizations. Building on an established program planning framework, participants will learn how to (1) clearly define the four types of needs within a needs assessment, (2) create a compelling needs statement, (3) draft detailed goals and objectives linked to specific program outcomes, and (4) locate the tools needed to measure.

Dr. Colton C. Strawser, a seasoned professional in the nonprofit sector, founded Colton Strawser Consulting in 2012. With expertise in organizational assessment, program evaluation, and capacity building, he supports nonprofits, foundations, and social service agencies. Dr. Strawser, an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, also speaks at conferences on philanthropy, fundraising, and governance. His firm offers services in organizational development, fundraising, research, and leadership. With a track record of training executives, securing grants, and conducting impactful research, his process guides organizations to understand community needs and achieve civic outcomes, positioning them as community leaders.

The Rural Nonprofit Networking Group would like to invite all organizations interested in participating to purchase tickets which can be found on the website at www. faycofoundation.com.

Scholarship opportunities are available by reaching out to info@faycofoundation. com. For more information on RNNG or this workshop, contact Ashleigh Parks with Fayette Community Foundation (979) 797-2182.