By Ashley Kasprzak, [Joining Vision and Action]

Partnerships can make our lives easier and extend the reach of our programs. One partnership that Joining Vision and Action values greatly is its partnership with the United Way of Weld County. United Way’s leaders have been excellent partners by encouraging organizations to look inward and increase their capacities. Training is a simple way that organizations can increase their ability to achieve their missions. For these very reasons, JVA is leading a fund development training in Greeley on October 12. Sponsored by United Way of Weld County, the training is called Ramp Up Your Fund Development.

JVA President Janine Vanderburg and I will be leading the training. I am excited about the training for a number of reasons. For one, I will get to introduce Janine to Jeannine Truswell and Susan Van Deren at United Way of Weld County. In addition to introducing Janine to local leaders, I am excited to meet two guest speakers who will participate in a panel discussion: Enita Kearns-Hout, regional director for Catholic Charities, and Chris Kiser, President of North Colorado Medical Center Foundation.

Enita recently led the effort to raise the final $1.2 million to make the Guadalupe Community Center and Shelter in Greeley a reality. The $4 million center opened in late August with 58 beds and has emergency shelter capacity for up to six families. I know that Enita must have incredible stories to share about how she and the community made the 12,500 square-foot center a reality.

Chris is new to the North Colorado Medical Center Foundation, but has tons of experience with fundraising. He previously led the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation and before that has his own consulting firm helping groups with fundraising. He has also helped elevate community support of The Ranch and Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. I can’t wait to hear his stories.

At JVA, we are always cognizant of making sure that trainees get the most possible out of our trainings and conversations, which is exactly why we have included speakers and panelists like Christ and Enita, who can give a real-world perspective to the concepts we talk about at this training. Attendees of Ramp Up Your Fund Development will walk away with not only an understanding of best practices in fundraising and tactical ways to improve their fund development efforts, but stories from people who have actually achieved success in these areas. With United Way of Weld County underwriting the training, the $25 all-day training can’t be beat. There’s even a half-day option ($15) if you can’t get away from work.