The 2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series is designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity, build community trust, and provide valuable insights into key topics identified by local organizations. Hosted by the Omaha Community Foundation in partnership with nonprofit experts, these workshops cover essential areas such as grant writing, financial management, strategic planning, and more. Whether you attended a session or want to catch up on what was covered, this page serves as a hub for presentations, key takeaways, and links to register for future sessions.
Register for Upcoming Workshops
Join us for the next sessions in the 2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series and continue building knowledge and connections to support your mission.
Strengthening Nonprofit Finance
September 23, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.
Exploring Nonprofit Business Models
October 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
In today’s rapidly changing landscape, nonprofit leaders must understand not only how to fulfill their mission but also how to sustain it. Join us for a dynamic, practical session led by Anne Meysenberg, Director of Community Investment at the Omaha Community Foundation. This workshop will explore the spectrum of nonprofit business models, from traditional funding strategies to innovative, revenue-generating approaches that are reshaping the sector.
Registration opens soon.
The Nonprofit Lifecycle
November 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Every nonprofit goes through predictable stages of development, from startup to maturity and beyond. Understanding where your organization stands on that journey can help you plan strategically and lead with clarity.
In this interactive workshop, nonprofit consultant Melanie Mitros will guide participants through the Nonprofit Lifecycle framework. You’ll explore the key phases of development and prepare for healthy transitions and long-term sustainability.
Registration opens soon.
Past Workshop Presentations & Recaps
OCF 101: Understanding the Omaha Community Foundation
This session introduced nonprofits, board members, and financial advisors to the Omaha Community Foundation’s role in supporting local organizations. Participants gained insights into available funding opportunities, donor-advised funds, and strategies to strengthen collaboration with OCF.
Agency Funding: Building Financial Stability
This workshop focused on equipping nonprofits with tools to strengthen financial stability through endowments, emergency funds, and strategic banking relationships. Participants learned how to prepare for future funding needs and explore OCF’s financial support options.
Fiscal Sponsorship Fundamentals
This workshop focused on helping nonprofit leaders, board members, and community groups understand the structure and benefits of fiscal sponsorship. Participants explored key elements such as roles, agreements, financial oversight, and how this model can support emerging projects or initiatives without 501(c)(3) status.
Winning Grants
This workshop provided a practical overview of fiscal sponsorship, including the roles, responsibilities, and agreements involved in the model. Led by One Omaha and The Foundry Community, the session helped attendees explore how fiscal sponsorship can support nonprofit growth, expand community impact, and provide financial and administrative structure for emerging projects.
Navigating Funder Relationships to Sustain Support
Strong relationships with funders are key to long-term sustainability and deeper impact. This interactive session, led by Tessa Barney, Director of Philanthropic Services at the Omaha Community Foundation, covered strategies for donor recognition, communicating outcomes effectively, framing operating support requests, and low-cost tools for prospect research.
Developing a Strategic Plan for Growth
Strategic planning is more than a document—it’s a powerful tool to align your organization’s mission, goals, and resources. This session explored the purpose of strategic planning, how it supports organizational success across departments, and how to get started or strengthen an existing plan.
Partnerships, Collaborations & Mergers
When does it make sense to formally join forces with another organization—and when is a strategic partnership the better path? How can nonprofits build toward long-term sustainability through collaboration? And what role can fundraising play in making these strategies a reality?
Anne Meysenburg, Director of Community Investment at the Omaha Community Foundation, and Sarah Sarah Sjolie, CEO of Meristem Consulting, drew on real-world case studies and local examples, and walked through the considerations, opportunities, and challenges nonprofits face when exploring strategic relationships—from informal partnerships to full-scale mergers and acquisitions.
More resources: Download the Memorandum of Understanding template, the partnership explorer tool, and the strategic alignment spectrum.