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Educational Projects

Cause 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

REQUEST FORM


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?

REQUEST A SKILL SHARE MENTOR 

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


Book Club--Bridges Out of Poverty

DESCRIPTION

Join the Book Club and meet with other nonprofit professionals to read Bridges Out of Poverty. This book goes beyond monetary considerations to address the root causes of poverty by equipping participants with essential tools and resources for enhancing health, education, and opportunities for those in need. You'll gain a powerful framework to tackle poverty comprehensively. Bring your own book or borrow one from us.

 

Facilitated by Georgann Roth, Food Bank of Lincoln

DETAILS

Tuesdays and Mondays from September-December, 2025 at 2:30-3:30pm. The first session, September 2, will last 2:30-4:00pm.

  • 9/2/2025
  • 9/16/2025
  • 9/29/2025
  • 10/14/2025
  • 10/28/2025
  • 11/10/2025
  • 12/2/2025
  • 12/9/2025

We'll meet virtually.

TARGET AUDIENCEIndividuals who work low income individuals or who want to better understand poverty in our community.

REGISTER


Networking for Welcoming Week

DESCRIPTION

Lincoln is celebrating Welcoming Week and the rich cultural diversity of our city. And Cause Collective doesn't want to miss the fun, so we are going to visit one of our member nonprofits (ECHO Collective) to celebrate services to immigrants. You're invited to connect and support each other as we work to strengthen out community! We'll provide some light refreshments. This is a great opportunity to connect with your fellow Cause Collective Members and bring staff at any level! This is also a great opportunity for a Member to bring a "potential member" guest.

DETAILS

Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 4:00-5:30pm

ECHO Collective will host us at Turbine Flats (2124 Y St)

TARGET AUDIENCEStaff/Board of Directors volunteers at Cause Collective member organizations

REGISTER


Business Continuity: Planning for Turnover, Outages, and Crises

 

DESCRIPTION

Keep your nonprofit running smoothly during leadership turnover, technology outages, and unexpected crises. We'll walk through how to build a practical Business Continuity Plan, including what key elements to include, how to identify and prioritize critical operations, and how to plan for leadership and staff transitions. We’ll also explore strategies for testing your plan, keeping it current, and ensuring your team knows their role when disruptions happen—so your mission continues without pause.

DETAILS

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 from 3:00-4:30pm

Filament Essential Services (1300 O St)

PRESENTERArt Provost--Filament Essential Services, VP of Security Services

TARGET AUDIENCENonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.

REGISTER


Leveraging AI to Amplify Your Nonprofit's Impact

 

DESCRIPTION

Paul Durban, Assistant Vice President-Nonprofit Services at Filament Essential Services, will help nonprofit leaders of all technical backgrounds explore how AI tools can help save time on administrative tasks or create engaging content. Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting with these technologies, you'll leave with practical, immediately applicable ways to incorporate AI into your nonprofit's work.

 

And, BONUS, this training also offers each attendee a free individual consultation, this fall or winter, with a Base Camp student developer from The Foundry Community to fine-tune your game plan. Attendees can sign up during the training!

 

DETAILSThursday, October 2, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am

The Foundry Community (211 N 14th St, Narnia Room on second floor)

PRESENTERPaul Durban--Filament Essential Services, Assistant Vice President-Nonprofit Services

TARGET AUDIENCEAI-curious nonprofit staffers

REGISTER


Right-Fit Boundaries: Healthy Selves and Healthy Workplaces

 

DESCRIPTION

This session will explore how a healthy self is inseparable from healthy workspaces, teams, and communities. Collective wellness isn’t accidental. It grows through intentional choices about care, accountability, and boundaries. Boundaries are central to both safety and self-preservation. When emotional, physical, or financial boundaries don’t fit, we become depleted and disconnected, unable to fully engage in relationships, purpose, or joy. In a culture that rewards speed and “more,” finding right-fit boundaries is both courageous and necessary.

Participants will:

  • Explore their own wellness and reflect on how it connects to collective wellness.
  • Understand the types of boundaries and how porous or rigid ones affect wellbeing.
  • Learn effective techniques for setting and maintaining right-fit boundaries.
  • Identify barriers that make boundary-setting difficult and explore new places where healthier boundaries are needed.

DETAILSWednesday, October 22, 2025 from 9:00-11:00am

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County (444 Cherrycreek Rd)

PRESENTER Jessyca Vandercoy, LICSW--Whole Collective, Co-Founder & NASW-Nebraska Chapter, Executive Director

TARGET AUDIENCECase Managers and other service providers.

REGISTER


A Vision, Mission, Values That Work For You

 

DESCRIPTION

Executive Directors, COOs, Administrators, Board Presidents  - or anyone curious and eager to grow - are all invited to join this strategic training.  

Discover the unique and essential role that vision, mission, and values play in every successful organization. Learn how to clearly distinguish each one within your own context and receive step-by-step guidance to strengthen their practical application across your organization.

If you’ve ever wondered whether vision, mission, and values are more than just buzzwords for impact reports or generic office posters - this is your chance to clarify your purpose and captivate your team with A Vision, Mission & Values That Work For You!

DETAILS

Thursday, October 23, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am - What They Are, How They're Different, And Why You Need 'Em All

Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am - Vision: Having A Dream For Beginners

Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am - Mission: From Impossible To Inevitable

Thursday, November 33, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am - Values: Lines In The Sand

Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)

PRESENTER Jeremy Pape, ANCHOR & COMPASS

An ANCHOR & COMPASS strategic training in partnership with Cause Collective.

TARGET AUDIENCENonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.

REGISTER


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)

PRESENTER Jena Lambert, CFRE

TARGET AUDIENCE Nonprofit fundraisers.

REGISTER


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.

 

DETAILSWednesday, November 12, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am 

Cause Collective office (6900 Van Dorn St)

PRESENTER Ralph Kellogg--Lutheran Family Services-Executive Vice President, People & Training

TARGET AUDIENCENonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.

REGISTER


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)

PRESENTER Ingrid Kirst, Nonprofit Leadership Consultant

TARGET AUDIENCENonprofit administrators/leaders/governance.

REGISTER


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)

 

PRESENTERMeg Mikolajczyk--Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, Executive Director

TARGET AUDIENCENonprofit staff at all levels.

REGISTER


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

  • 9/3/2025 at 8:00-9:00am
  • 10/2/2025 at 4:30-6:00pm
  • 11/5/2025 at 8:00-9:00am
  • 12/4/2025 at 4:30-6:00pm


COLLABORATE

The better we all know each other, the better we work together.Cause Collective facilitate partnerships, collaborates with its members and is a central information sharing center for nonprofits in Lincoln.

EDUCATION

By providing nonprofits individual and group trainings throughout the year they become better and more efficient at running their business, and in turn their services to the community improve.

ADVOCACY

One of the most important things a nonprofit can do to help those they serve is advocate for them. We help nonprofits understand how to advocate and lobby to improve public policy, making a more supportive and stronger community.