Just Ask...

 We can’t afford much in the way of professional development. Are there options available aside from attending a 2 or 3-day course?
Professional development can be challenging for many nonprofits, especially for small ones with limited budgets and one to two-person development shops. The good news is there are plethora of free and low-cost options available, if you just know where to look. 
We at HPS Chicago highly recommend Forefront for high quality, affordable professional development opportunities. Forefront is Illinois’ statewide association representing both grantmakers and nonprofits, as well as their advisors and allies. Its mission is to build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of Illinois by providing education, advocacy, thought leadership, and facilitate collective action around issues important to our Members and to the sector. Joining Forefront gives an organization access to numerous professional development opportunities thought the year including “Ask the Consultant” and other webinars, peer networks, a Library, and more. Check Forefront out here: www.forefront.org.
 
Another great resource is the American Association of Fundraising Professionals which offers a wide range of professional development opportunities from webinars to in-person courses to blogs on a variety of topics. Many of these are free, made possible by AFP partner organizations and sponsors. More information is available here: www.afpglobal.org.
 
Finally, you should know that HPS Chicago consultants are available for free consultations to help answer a pressing question or help solve a problem. And, our weekly blog is a great resource: submit your question and we’ll be happy to answer it in an upcoming post. Email us with your question or to schedule a consultation at hpshelp@hpschicago.com.