Is your board looking to understand their roles better and to be more engaged? Is your staff looking to refresh on the fundamentals? Do you have the leadership in place to embrace change and take action? Then the BCBSNC Foundation's Healthy Community Institute for Nonprofit Excellence might just be the right place for you to hone your skills and advance your organization.

Organizational Change

Healthy Community Institute for Nonprofit Excellence (HCI) is a year-long organizational change process that is focused not only on the fundamentals of strategic planning including mission and vision, but also board development and engagement, fundraising and leveraging results to enhance your organization's effectiveness. 

The two days of onsite learning is just the beginning. The BCBSNC Foundation is committed to following up with each organization through phone calls and surveys. Ongoing technical assistance through webinars and selective group coaching will also be available to continue the learning process. Only organizations that are open to making changes and seriously dedicated to improving should consider participating in HCI.

Team-Based Approach

The team-based approach is an essential component of the Institute, and is critical to the progress your team can make. Each team must include the Executive Director and a Board member from your executive committee, such as a Board Chair or Vice Chair. Other senior leaders and/or Board members are appropriate to attend. Teams must be made up of a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 4 people. Each organization is highly encouraged to bring the maximum number of team members - especially Board members - with the "right" people in mind. Obtain the commitment from Board members who can benefit most from the principles taught and initiate the changes, drive the strategy and lead the action for the organization.

IF cancellations or changes occur with team members, it is up to the nonprofit organization to backfill the spaces to meet the minimum requirements as stated. 

Benefits

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. 
• Receive easy-to-use tools for initiating change in critical areas. 

In addition, the BCBSNC Foundation has a reciprocal partnership with the Duke University Nonprofit Management Program that allows HCI attendees to earn six credit hours ($120) toward the Duke Certificate in Nonprofit Management. To learn more, contact the Nonprofit Management Program at (919) 668-6742.

Expectations

HCI is not just a two-day training; it is a year-long capacity building partnership between your organization and the BCBSNC Foundation. Please take a few minutes to read the Participant's Guide to learn more about what you can expect from us and what we will expect from you during and after HCI.

Material

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 grantmaker’s perspective, selling the organization, 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.

In addition, online templates and tools will become available exclusively to all Institute participants after attending. All the online resources can be modified and saved for the nonprofit's use.

Faculty

The faculty is passionate about helping nonprofits reach their potential. With a wealth of hands-on experience, the faculty share time-tested tools and best practices for the highest achieving nonprofits. Faculty include:

• Bill Bennington, founder
• Beth Briggs
• Jim Cummings
• Toni Freeman

The faculty is hands-on and is available for one-on-one consulting sessions during HCI to talk through challenges your organization is facing and to provide solutions to your toughest issues.

Dates

Spring 2012 Healthy Community Institute - New Bern

• April 4-5, 2012

Fall 2012 Healthy Community Institute - Concord

• October 18-19, 2012
• Registration for the Fall HCI will open on August 1, 2012 and closes on Sept. 28, 2012 (if not before, depending on availability). 

Spring HCI Registration

Registration is a 3-step process. All 3 steps must be completed to reserve your space.

Registration for the Spring HCI is now open and will close on March 16, 2012 (or before, depending on availability).

• Space for this conference is limited; only 50 organizations will be accepted to the Institute on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Typically, the Institute fills up before the registration closing date. It is highly recommended that your team registers as soon as possible to reserve your spot.

1. Online registration form - all names of those attending must be included on the registration form. Minimum of 3 people and maximum of 4 people.
2. Pre-Assessment completed online via Survey Monkey.
3. $250 deposit check made payable to the BCBSNC Foundation. Mail check to: BCBSNC Foundation, c/o Healthy Community Institute, PO Box 2291, Durham, NC 27702.

• A $250 deposit check must be sent to reserve your space.
• The deposit will be returned on the 2^nd day after the minimum requirements of Institute participation have been met.
• There are no other charges for attending. Travel expenses and overnight stay are the responsibility of the nonprofit organization.

Once all registration items have been received by the BCBSNC Foundation - then and only then - will you be considered as confirmed to attend. If you fail to complete all 3 steps your organization will not be registered to attend.

If you have special requirements - including food allergies, the need for interpretation or accessibility services - please be sure to indicate all special needs on the online registration form so that accommodations can be made. Please be aware that not all requests can be accommodated.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellations of any kind must be made in writing to jill.mallatratt@bcbsncfoundation.org before March 16, 2012 for a full refund. No refunds will be issued after March 16.
• Any changes after March 16, including not bringing the minimum number of team members or the required team makeup, will result in a loss of the deposit.

Future Notifications

If you would like to be notified of upcoming training opportunities, please sign up for our email blasts.