Come Learn with Us!

In May, the Montana Community Foundation is hosting a series of Local Community Foundation convenings in Helena, Red Lodge, and Glasgow, facilitated in conjunction with MSU Extension, and we are inviting our nonprofit partners to join in on the fun.

We will kick off each convening with a Learning Luncheon on how endowments work followed by learning sessions that will offer the chance to connect with local community foundations and nonprofit organizations, understand trends in your area, and learn about new resources to support your work. See the full agenda below.

Click on a location below to RSVP.

Details and Registration;

Helena | May 8 at 11:30 am - 5:30 pm | Holter Museum of Art

Red Lodge | May 10 at 11:30 am - 5:30 pm | Roosevelt Center

Glasgow | May 18 at 11:30 am - 5:30 pm | Cottonwood Inn & Suite

Agenda:

Learning Luncheon:

11:30 – 1:00 pm How Endowments Work - Mary Rutherford, President and CEO, Join us for lunch and an overview of how endowments work. We will cover common questions on the topic and provide time to answer your questions too. Lunch will be provided.

Understanding Your Community to Maximize Impact

2:00 – 2:15 pm Welcome, Mary Rutherford - President and CEO

2:15 – 3:00 pm What Do Newcomers Say About Our Communities? - Tara Mastel, MSU Extension, People moving to Montana is not new, but our rapid population growth has received considerable attention in the past ten years. MSU Extension’s Montana Newcomer Study provides research-based information about our new neighbors. Community foundations and partners can use this information to understand the advantages of newcomers, what assets draw folks to move to their communities, and how to capitalize on these opportunities.

3:00 – 3:30 pm Using Data to Understand Our Present and Future - MCF Staff, Community foundations are critical in addressing needs in their cities, towns, and counties. During this session, we will explore how data – ranging from national data sets like the Prosperity Index to state data sets from Headwaters Economics – can inform the work you do in your community, as well as your grantmaking and other projects. With so much data, there is an opportunity for new insights about where your community is at and where it is headed!

3:30 – 3:45 pm Break

3:45 – 4:30 pm Discussion - Tara Mastel and Katie Weaver, MSU Extension; Taylor Crowl, LCF Program Officer - This is a chance to discuss the information and data provided. What rang true? What surprised you? What additional questions does this raise for you? How will you use this data to have informed discussions or tackle projects in your community?

4:30 – 5:30 pm Gracious Space: A Tool for Collaborative Leadership - Katie Weaver, MSU Extension, Community foundations and organizations often must have difficult conversations, whether that is within your community or amongst your board. In this session, MSU Extension will lead us through a Gracious Space training, a leadership model developed by the Center for Ethical Leadership to promote authentic and inclusive connection, dialogue, and collaboration.