seminar build

This Senior Leaders Seminar is designed to dive right in, not wasting any time.
Here is the curriculum:
  • In this foundational first session, we’ll cover the key principles for growing women’s philanthropy and how they affect your current organization. Then, we’ll cut through the overwhelm of donor data and help you zero in on exactly what data is needed to kick-off your efforts.
  • Your assignment will have you apply what you’ve learned by reviewing one slice of your organization’s data.
  • Successful organizations have strong internal leadership commitment and involvement before they start. Using case studies of compelling documents used for leaders, we’ll discuss how to maximize your leaders’ championship of this effort.
  • Your assignment will be to create or enhance your compelling internal case for women’s philanthropy at your institution.
  • External women influencers can both help guide your approach and be bold champions with leaders as well as their own networks. I’ll share various task forces and advisory groups who have helped accelerate the results.
  • Your assignment will be to create a list of your influencers and begin first conversations to create your “guiding group.”
  • It is time to stretch – as in stretching your understanding of the 5 Ts of women’s philanthropy (Time, Talent, Treasure, Ties and Testimony). Honoring this broader definition of philanthropy makes all the difference in creating your tailored approach that will be robust, effective and sustainable. We’ll discuss the unique approaches of multiple institutions that have had early wins.
  • Your assignment will be to draft a potential vision and focus for your initiative.
  • Our discussion and case studies this month will get into further details about the critical components of successful approaches, including the voice of your women stakeholders, metrics and meaningful inclusion.
  • This month’s assignment is to enhance your high-level draft with what you learned in the session and then create a short version ready to share externally.
  • Women stakeholders who care about your organization are often more enthusiastic and bolder than you might anticipate. You can listen deeply to them through appreciative focus groups and/or surveys to find out what resonates and what is possible. We’ll share case studies, sample questions and various formats to gain this critical input.
  • You’ll take what you learned and draft your “listening tour” plan to gain input from a broader set of women.
  • While you reach out to the “Who” (your women stakeholders), we’ll do a deep dive into “What” is also needed for your early success. “What” includes fundraising processes, tools, templates, or skills and practices that have successfully been adapted in various institutions to connect with women effectively.
  • Continue your outreach to your women stakeholders this month but also begin creating a list of the “What” actions you will eventually need across your organization for success.
  • You are moving on many cylinders, and you can’t do it alone. So now is the time to broaden the “who” within your institution that will be critical to achieve success. The understanding, support and integration of the work across your organization is key to long-term sustainability.
  • Your assignment is to create a list of who will be critical to helping achieve your early success and set up time to have at least two conversations.
  • We’ll discuss what you can anticipate as your initiative flourishes and more and more women are involved. Success of your first initiative will open up the evolution of other ways women can provide support across your organization.
  • While this is the last session, you will not be left alone. You’ll receive resources to stay in touch with this cohort, as well as join a larger women’s philanthropy learning community.