Nonprofit Network upcoming events

Capital Campaign Planning Institute - Fall 2026 (October 22, 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Planning Institute
Design it well. Lead it boldly. Fund the future with confidence.

A capital campaign is more than a fundraising effort. It is a defining leadership moment. Done well, it clarifies your vision, strengthens community trust, and secures the long-term future of your organization. Done poorly, it can strain relationships and stall momentum. There is no substitute for disciplined planning.

A capital campaign - defined as an intensive, time-bound effort to raise significant philanthropic investment is typically launched to fund a new or renovated facility, expand programs, or build endowment reserves. But at its core, a campaign is about readiness: organizational clarity, fundraising infrastructure, board alignment, and a compelling case for why now.

A capital campaign is not simply about raising money. It is about leading with clarity, aligning stakeholders, and demonstrating that your organization is worthy of transformational investment.

If your organization is considering a campaign within the next 18–36 months, this course will help you truly prepare and align what it will take to succeed.

We recommend completing our Bootcamp prior to enrolling in this course to help ensure you have the foundational knowledge and preparation needed to be successful. However, if you are confident that you are ready to move forward you are welcome to enroll. Please consider your readiness carefully, as the course is designed for participants with a strong understanding of the fundamentals.

Ready to approach this work with discipline and confidence? We invite you to join us!

Session Dates: 7 Sessions on Zoom

1. October 22, 2026 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
2. November 05, 2026 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
3. November 19, 2026 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
4. December 03, 2026 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
5. December 17, 2026 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
6. January 07, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
7. January 21, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM (Wrap-up)

This option provides steady progression over four months, allowing participants to apply learning in real time between sessions while building discipline and campaign readiness.

Structured assignments between sessions
Templates, tools, and planning materials provided

Sessions are scheduled based on participant availability. Registration closes one week prior to the first session to allow for preparation and cohort alignment.

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she leads the team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She has served in that role since 2018.

Prior to joining the foundation, Cindy spent 18 years as a fundraiser working in higher education and healthcare, where she participated in multimillion-dollar campaigns. She strongly believes that successful fundraising requires good planning, thoughtful strategy, and genuine commitment to helping donors fulfill their charitable interests.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy is eagerly planning out the details of her Fall 2026 safari to Tanzania.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that
all people can thrive.

Please Note: Nonprofit Network may record, video or photograph public events. Recordings, videos and photos are used solely for the promotional purposes of Nonprofit Network. Nonprofit Network will regard as confidential all non-public information obtained during the course of its professional assignments. Information given in a public setting has no expectation of confidentiality.

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive (Spring 2027) (February 17, 2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 14:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Bootcamp: A Foundational Intensive

The 3-hour virtual Bootcamp is a high-impact introductory intensive designed to give nonprofit leaders a clear, practical understanding of what a capital campaign truly requires. This is not a sales pitch or surface overview. It is a candid, strategic examination of readiness, risk, infrastructure, leadership expectations, and the disciplined planning necessary to execute a successful campaign.

All are welcome to attend this introductory intensive to gain a grounded understanding of capital campaign fundamentals—whether your organization is actively considering a campaign or simply exploring long-term growth strategies. Participants will leave with a realistic picture of timelines, board responsibilities, major gift expectations, case development, feasibility considerations, and the structure of a quiet phase.

For organizations interested in enrolling in the full Capital Campaign Planning Institute Course, attendance at the Bootcamp is recomended. The intensive establishes a shared baseline of knowledge and ensures that cohort participants enter the extended course prepared for advanced, application-based work rather than introductory discussion.

A capital campaign is a defining organizational moment. The Bootcamp helps you determine whether you are ready—and what must be strengthened before moving forward.

When: Wed. Feb. 24th, 2027 (recorded and shared)
Where: on Zoom (each participant must register)
Cost: $75 for members ($50 for guests) and $125 for non-members

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Cindy Hales, Ed.D. is the retired Vice President of Community Investment at the Capital Region Community Foundation. There she lead a team responsible for the foundation’s grant making, nonprofit capacity building, and scholarship coordination. She served in that role since 2018 through 2026.

Cindy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University. She has also served on countless nonprofit boards. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid reader who currently leads her women’s book club and loves tending to her backyard garden. But her passion is travel! Cindy recently travled to Tanzania and is eagerly planning out additional travel details.

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that all people can thrive.

Capital Campaign Planning Institute - Fall 2027 (September 29, 2027)

Wed, 29 Sep 2027 13:30:00 GMT

Capital Campaign Planning Institute
Design it well. Lead it boldly. Fund the future with confidence.

A capital campaign is not simply about raising money. It is about leading with clarity, aligning stakeholders, and demonstrating that your organization is worthy of transformational investment.

If your organization is considering a campaign within the next 18–36 months, this course will help you truly prepare and align what it will take to succeed.

Ready to approach this work with discipline and confidence? We invite you to join us!

Session Dates: 7 Sessions on Zoom (TBD) approximately every 2-weeks

1. Session 1 | Sept. 29, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
2. Session 2 | Oct. 13, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
3. Session 3 | Oct. 27, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
4. Session 4 | Nov. 10, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
5. Session 5 | Nov. 24, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
6. Session 6 | Dec. 8, 2027 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM
7. Session 7 | Jan. 5, 2028 | 9:30 to 11:30 AM (Wrap-up)

This option provides steady progression over four months, allowing participants to apply learning in real time between sessions while building discipline and campaign readiness.

Structured assignments between sessions
Templates, tools, and planning materials provided

Sessions are scheduled based on participant availability. Registration closes one week prior to the first session to allow for preparation and cohort alignment.

Course Instructor and Facilitator:

Nonprofit Network's vision is to be a valued partner working alongside nonprofits and their leaders to transform communities so that
all people can thrive.