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Explore the Use of Social Media

The Community Foundation’s technical assistance programs helped nonprofits create their giveGreater.org profiles, explore the use of social media, develop basic fundraising competencies and build the skills of volunteer board members. One-to-one consulting followed with organizations who attended the training seminars.

In 2010, The Community Foundation offered special training sessions to nonprofits participating in the giveGreater.org 2010 Challenge. Training was conducted by Foundation staff to help the organizations create their giveGreater.org profile and by a local interactive marketing firm to help them leverage the power of social media and raise their visibility among potential new donors. A marketing toolkit was also prepared to help nonprofits engage donors to give during the Challenge.

In response to feedback from the nonprofit sector, The Community Foundation created customized technical assistance for nonprofits to help strengthen their capacity to deliver much needed and quality services. Training sessions were held in 2009-2010 on The Recession Planning Workshop: Managing through a Financial Crisis (Michael Negron), Strategic Relationships, Partnerships and Collaborations: Exploring New Relationships to Enhance Your Mission (Mike Burns), Keep Your Donors: Building Profitable Relationships That Last (Simone Joyaux), Building Your Development Program (Barbara Strauss) and The Doctor is in: A Practical Check Up For Your Board (Simone Joyaux).

Regarding Simone's training on Board health, the Coordinating Council For Children In Crisis had this to say:

“Our Board Retreat, made possible with the support of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, offered our Board of Directors the opportunity to better understand what corporate governance is and how to design board meetings to make sure that good governance takes place, to ensure that performance expectations are understood and met and to invest the entire Board in helping CCCC fulfill our mission. Our Board is already composed of enthusiastic and dedicated members but the Retreat helped us to focus and channel that energy in a very productive and positive direction.” - Cheryl Burack, Executive Director of Coordinating Council For Children In Crisis.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors for the Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis, I'd like to thank you for all of your support and financial assistance in the consultations and Saturday work session with Simone Joyaux. Simone's been extremely helpful to us as a Board that wants to be its best for the 4Cs. Thank you for all that you do to enhance the services provided within New Haven. What you do makes differences in ways you don't always see but you are important in laying the foundation and planting the seeds of change. Thank you for caring and helping us to grow." - Michelle Lawler, Board Member, Coordinating Council For Children In Crisis.

In the summer of 2010, nonprofits were provided one-on-one coaching assistance, social media and viral marketing training so they were ready for the public launch of giveGreater.org in November — the start of the traditional giving season.

In 2009-2010, The Community Foundation hired several trainers, including Simone Joyaux, to provide capacity building workshops for local nonprofits at no cost.