Purpose:

What is Healthy Community Institute?  Watch the video to find out more.

The purpose of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Healthy Community Institute for Nonprofit Excellence (HCI) is to provide training to strengthen the organizational capacity of the nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. HCI is a special two-day intensive course that engages three- to four-person teams from nonprofit organizations in a comprehensive board and staff training curriculum. Each team must include three people (but no more than four) including the organization's executive director and at least one board member.

Faculty:

The faculty selected for HCI has helped more than 5,000 charitable organizations worldwide gain strength, momentum, and stature in the eyes of those who support them. In designing the Institute's curriculum, the faculty has created strategic planning and management tools. The faculty devotes time to assist each organization individually during the Institute in utilizing these tools and in applying them to various organizational structures.

Curriculum:

Each attending organization is guided through a process that combines lectures with team-based work beginning with clarification of mission, strategic planning and then on to addressing agency-specific issues. Presentations provide practical insight into solving operational problems, understanding board roles and responsibilities, creating effective annual appeal campaigns, understanding giving criteria from the grant-maker’s perspective, selling the organization, and much more.

Benefits:

Each attending organization is guided through a process that combines lectures with team-based exercises including clarification of mission, strategic planning and addressing agency-specific issues. Interconnected presentations provide practical insight into solving operational problems, understanding board roles and responsibilities, evaluating board performance, creating effective annual appeal campaigns, understanding giving criteria from the grant maker’s perspective, selling the organization, managing finances, and much more. Participants are asked to bring copies of their strategic plan, mission statement, and any other materials that would be helpful in the planning sessions.

Attendees are provided with a comprehensive workbook, free planning materials, and access to a secure Web site with useful tools for creating a stronger nonprofit. Participants in the Institute experience the following benefits:

• Acquire greater understanding of the value and techniques of strategic planning. All attendees will leave with a detailed action plan to begin a strategic plan.
• Identify key problems affecting the agency, and solutions to address those problems. 
• Develop an understanding of the importance of a strong board of directors and the tools and knowledge to create a strong board. 
• Gain a clearer picture of the North Carolina grant-making environment. 
•  Receive easy to use tools for initiating change in critical areas. 
•  Opportunity to earn five credit hours toward the Duke University Center for Continuing Education’s Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management.
• If you have special requirements such as the need for interpretation or accessibility services, please be sure to indicate in the online registration form so that we may make accommodations.

Free for Your Organization:

The estimated value of this training is in excess of $2,500 per organization; however, all training costs for seminar participants, lunch, continental breakfast, and materials are free. There is no charge for attending!

Space for this conference is limited; only 50 organizations will be accepted to the Institute on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to attend the Institute, registering organizations must be committed to making a change in how they are currently operating in order to improve the agency’s effectiveness. Please do not reserve a slot unless every member of your team is dedicated to improving the management of your organization.

Registration:

Mark your calendar for our two HCI sessions in 2010:

• May 5-6, New Bern
  • Registration is now closed due to the session being full.
• Oct. 12-13, Concord
  • Registration opens Aug. 9 and closes Sept. 24