BCC's Nonprofit Institute Open for Registration

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Registration is open for Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Nonprofit Institute, an eight-part virtual workshop program dedicated to teaching essential functions for those involved in the nonprofit sector.
 
The workshops, available as an entire package or a la carte, will be held via Zoom on Thursdays, Sept. 30 through Nov. 18, from 5:30-7 pm.
 
Registration fees are $40 per workshop or $250 for all eight workshops. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/nonprofit-institute. Upon registration, links will be provided to each virtual session.
 
"We've designed these workshops for business professionals, board members and volunteers who are new to the nonprofit sector or who might need a refresher course, as well as students interested in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector," said Christina Wynn, Interim Dean of Business and Outreach. "It's like a bootcamp for nonprofits."
 
With a focus on real world needs and daily challenges, workshops will be led by Abbie J. von Schlegell, CFRE, FAFP. Schlegell has more than 40 years of nonprofit experience and is a Certified Governance Trainer with BoardSource, an organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting excellence in nonprofit governance. 
 
Sessions include:
  • Sept. 30: Basics of Development. Learn about different types of fundraising, government and infrastructure requirements for nonprofits, and how staff, board members and volunteers fit in the big picture.
  • Oct. 7:  Governance of Nonprofit Boards. Roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members will be discussed, as well as fundraising by board members; committees, task forces and other involvement; and the function of advisory, honorary and emeritus board members.
  • Oct. 14: Finances for Nonprofits. Learn about fund accounting as well as the roles of finance staff, the board and the treasurer.
  • Oct. 21: Volunteers. Learn how to recruit and retain volunteers, match their needs with yours and create meaningful volunteer jobs, as well as when not to use volunteers.
  • Oct. 28: Annual Fund/Annual Appeals. First, learn why you should have an annual appeal at all. Then, discuss how to best structure appeals, how to organize monthly giving, and when to use direct mail and/or volunteers.
  • Nov. 4: Major Gifts (from individuals). Explore the essentials of major gifts, including identifying what constitutes a major gift for your organization; why the focus should be on individuals; identifying, engaging, cultivating and asking for gifts; and the importance of stewardship.
  • Nov. 11: Corporations. Learn how to establish relationships with corporations by researching them, matching their interests with your needs, determining the best ways to approach them, and employing your board and volunteers to cultivate these relationships.
  • Nov. 18 : Foundations. Learn how to leverage the power of foundations by using skillful approaches, including letters of inquiry and detailed proposals.

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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