January 27, 2022
Registration opens Feb. 1 for the 2022 Institute for Trustees

Registration opens Feb. 1 for the 2022 Institute for Trustees
Expanded partnership; keynote Dr. Kenann McKenzie highlight this annual event

Danvers, MA — Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), an organization that inspires philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County, is pleased to announce that registration for the annual Institute for Trustees (IFT) conference opens on Feb. 1.

The IFT, a signature annual event for the foundation, will bring more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders together for six weeks of educational workshops led by experts in the sector. For the third year in a row, sessions will be held virtually, including the April 11 kickoff keynote address by Beverly resident Dr. Kenann McKenzie, director of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. The Center, opened in the spring of 2021, serves as a hub and educational resource for the Tufts community to promote authentic dialogue and generous listening across differences.

“We are thrilled to host Dr. McKenzie as this year’s keynote speaker,” said Carol Lavoie Schuster, ECCF’s vice president for grants, nonprofit and donor services. “Her decades of work as an educator, social justice activist and expert in unconscious bias are incredibly inspiring and are really relevant to this unique moment in time that we’re all experiencing right now as nonprofit leaders.”

This year’s new variety of IFT presenters and workshops – which will take place from April 12 – May 26 – is due in large part to a collaboration with several area community foundations that have joined ECCF to widen the event’s scope and impact. The expanded list of presenting partners, which builds off last year’s inaugural partnership with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, includes SouthCoast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

“Shared learning is one of the most powerful tools that nonprofit leaders can use to navigate challenging times,” said Beth Francis, president and CEO of ECCF. “We are thrilled to grow this IFT partnership to help provide colleagues across the state with increased opportunities to collaboratively engage in learning meant to increase their resiliency and capacity and to move their nonprofit missions forward.”

“We are pleased to expand the power and reach of this exceptional learning and networking opportunity for nonprofit board leaders around the state,” said Peter Taylor, president of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “Coming together to explore common challenges and promising solutions with sector experts is critical for effective leadership in uncertain times.”

Because of the virtual delivery of the IFT, participants will be able to sign up for any number of 25 workshops that will cover topics ranging from strategic planning and fundraising to diversity and board development. A sample of planned workshops include:

  • Creating a Diverse Board of Directors with Gail Fortes, YWCA of Southeastern MA
  • Courageous Conversations with Jermaine Moore, The Mars Hill Group
  • Same Storm, Different Boats: Navigating Financial Concerns in a Post-COVID World with James Matzdorff, Cohn Reznick LLP
  • Mapping the future: Equitable and Inclusive Strategic Planning with Molly Penn and Marita Phelps, PENN Creative Strategy
  • How to be a Supportive Leader in a Difficult Time with Sarah Carlan, MSW, SWC Consulting
  • Funders are Evolving Too: How Can You Meet Them Where They Are? with Phyllis Corkum and Alex McCray, Philanthropy Massachusetts

“Over the last two years, the health crisis, economic crisis and national racial reckoning have profoundly impacted every aspect of our nonprofit community,” said Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. “Advancing equity, stabilizing organizations and re-imagining approaches to leadership and community are stretching us all in new ways. The workshops offered through IFT encourage the learning necessary to transform and improve the ways we interact and work together, the groundwork that leads to more equity.”

Sarah Rose, director of engagement at SouthCoast Community Foundation said her organization is committed to providing nonprofit leaders and board members from the region with professional development opportunities that enhance their understanding of key issues important to all nonprofits.

“The Institute for Trustees gives participants the opportunity to develop skills to address complex issues and find solutions to formidable challenges from peers and colleagues from across the state,” Rose said. “We are excited to offer these workshops in collaboration with other community foundations to help build strong and sustainable nonprofits.”

Early bird registration for the 2022 IFT is $110 and runs through March 11. After March 11, the fee is $130. Full board registration is available for $500. To register, and for more information about our keynote speaker and workshops, please visit eccf.org/ift.

About ECCF

The mission of Essex County Community Foundation is to inspire philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County. We do this by managing charitable assets, strengthening and supporting nonprofits and engaging in strategic community leadership. Since 1998, ECCF and its growing family of nearly 260 charitable funds have granted $106 million to nonprofits, schools and students in Essex County and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to have 34 thriving cities and towns in Essex County and to improve the quality of life for the region’s nearly 800,000 residents. Learn more at eccf.org.

 

 

 

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