Helping You Do What You Do Best
The nonprofit ecosystem is vital to the health of Bainbridge Island. For every quality-of-life element on Bainbridge, a nonprofit organization is actively working to keep it strong and healthy: from north to south, the schools, environment, social safety net, cultural community, and everything in between — all are vital. Yet, many or most of these essential nonprofits remain vulnerable. Increased demand, limited funding, and other issues threaten their longtime existence. We believe that to address the challenges of our local nonprofit organizations, we must go deeper. We must understand the unique issues facing these organizations and help them find solutions. We work toward positive, concrete solutions four ways:
- Nonprofit Convening and Annual Survey: We convene nonprofit leaders to discuss the issues and trends they face and survey local nonprofits to gain a better understanding of the elements and diversity of work on Bainbridge. The survey and sector conversations that follow help inform grantmaking and training priorities in the year ahead.
- Community Grants Cycle: Every year, BCF staff and dozens of well-trained community volunteers review applications and conduct site visits with nonprofits to help provide support for specific programs, capital projects, as well as general operations of local nonprofit organizations.
- Capacity Building Grants: We help nonprofits secure seed funding for in-house training and professional development to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
- Workshops and Trainings: We host workshops and trainings for community leaders and volunteers to improve access to education and professional counsel. For a list of upcoming training programs, please scroll below.
- Community Resources: We make ourselves available to interested parties who wish to discuss community issues and the role that nonprofits and/or philanthropy can have in addressing those issues.
Free Upcoming Nonprofit Trainings
BCF strives to help nonprofit leaders develop and implement the best possible practices in carrying out their programs and advancing their missions. Our surveys of nonprofits on Bainbridge Island and throughout Kitsap County have identified these priority needs for ongoing education and training:
- Improving Marketing and Communication
- Building Quality, Efficiency and Depth of Programming
- Maintaining Effective Board Governance
- Developing Powerful Strategic Plans
- Securing Sufficient Resources
- Assuring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Each year, BCF offers a series of workshops and mini courses to meet these needs. Each of these sessions is free. In addition to presentations by skilled trainers/facilitators, they include responses and additional guidance from experienced local nonprofit program managers, and lively discussions by all participants.
BCF also hosts a quarterly roundtable to help nonprofit organizations to focus upon diversity, equity and inclusion. BCF has asked trainers and facilitators to integrate DEI practices into all mini-courses and workshops.
Developing Capital Campaigns
Thursday, April 23 from 10am to noon at Bainbridge Performing Arts
Thinking about a capital campaign in the next few years? Join Julie Bianchi, Campaign Practice Director at Cloudbreak Collective, for a hands-on look at how to build momentum for a successful campaign, regardless of your organization’s fundraising history. We’ll explore the unique dynamics of campaigns in small communities, where relationships drive results. You’ll leave with tools to assess your campaign readiness and practical strategies for sustaining volunteer leaders, growing your circle of supporters, and expanding your organization’s fundraising capacity during the campaign and beyond.
Recruiting, Maintaining and Deploying Volunteers
Thursday, May 21 from 10:30am to 12:15pm at Bainbridge Performing Arts
Volunteers are essential to many nonprofits. Joanne Maher, Director of Island Volunteer Caregivers, and Reed Price, Director of the Bainbridge Island Senior & Community Center, facilitated by nonprofit consultant David Marzahl, will share strategies for recruiting volunteers, maintaining a reliable volunteer base, and engaging volunteers for both ongoing and short-term needs.
Hiring and Managing Employees
Thursday, June 4 from 10am to noon at Bainbridge Performing Arts
Employment attorney Steve Peltin, principal at the Seattle law firm Foster Garvey, will share practical guidance for nonprofit leaders on hiring, supervising, evaluating, and when necessary, terminating employees in Washington State. This program is designed for executive directors, senior staff, HR professionals, and board leaders.
If you have questions, please feel free to email nicole@bainbridgecf.org or call the BCF office at 206-842-0433.
