LACF News:
The Los Alamos Community Foundation is hosting two nonprofit training sessions focused on board governance, orientation and good management and the importance of implementing internal financial controls.
Now in its eighth year, the LACF Nonprofit Training Program serves organizations across northern New Mexico by providing training aimed at building capacity, strengthening organizational stability, and increasing impact. Sessions are open to all nonprofit organizations. Staff, board members and volunteers are welcome, but advance registration is required.
Title: Nonprofit Governance and Meeting Management: Practical Advice for Boards
- Date:Â Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023
- Time: Â 9-11 a.m.
- Location: UNM-LA Student Services Auditorium (Building 2, Room 230)
- Presenters: David Izraelevitz, Los Alamos Community Foundation Board Chair and J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Vice-Chair; Sara Scott, First Born Los Alamos Board Vice-Chair. Both David and Sara have extensive experience serving in leadership on local boards and commissions, including as Los Alamos County Councilors.
Presenters David Izraelevitz and Sara Scott
Description: Involvement in a board of directors can be either, or even at the same time, a rewarding activity or a frustrating one. Board member responsibilities may be ill-defined and meetings ineffectual or inconclusive, or alternatively, participating in a board may result in the satisfaction of contributing to the direction and impact of a worthwhile organization. We will discuss the basics of board governance, including differences between policy and operational roles, fiduciary and other board responsibilities, and related topics. We will provide practical advice on making roles and responsibilities clearly defined and applied. We will also discuss the bane of boards – the board meeting. There are ways to make board meetings more efficient and effective; Robert’s Rules are just a means to desired ends, and we will concentrate on the product rather than parliamentary minutiae while providing advice on how to structure and participate in meetings that get the job done.
- Title:Â Internal Financial Controls for Nonprofits: Viable Solutions that are Easily Applied
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
- Time: 9-11 a.m.
- Location: UNM-LA Student Services Auditorium (Building 2, Room 230)
- Presenter: Chris Daniels, CEO, The Family YMCA
Presenter Chris Daniels
Description: Geared toward nonprofit boards and staff, this session will focus on protecting the value of the organization’s reputation. Even the slightest of fraud events can be devastating to your organization’s standing as a trusted steward of donor contributions and grant funds. We will examine real world examples of fraud, discuss lapses in financial management, and present simple steps that can be taken to protect funds from fraud in both the real and virtual worlds. Many organizations have few or no professional staff, thus limiting their ability to implement extensive financial controls; but it is essential to have some basic financial policies and procedures in place.
Registration is encouraged on a per organization basis. Each organization may bring up to three people to help drive home the learning and encourage continued conversation within the organization. Training is appropriate for staff, board members and volunteers. Each workshop includes structured learning, discussion and helpful handouts and materials for you to take back to your organization.
Registration is $50 per organization (up to three participants) per session. Individual registration is at the same rate ($50/session).
Register at losalamoscf.org/ticket.
The LACF Nonprofit Training Program is made possible in part through the support of the Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards fourteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $950,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
