Zimmerman Lehman : Workshops

Zimmerman Lehman Workshops

Zimmerman Lehman's workshops focus on "how to" and use interactive settings and the most up-to-date techniques with professional, user-friendly materials. Effective training for the board of directors and staff keeps an organization on the leading edge of quality service. Our unique approach trains boards of directors, staff, and volunteers to solicit funds enthusiastically, effectively, and without fear. We combine our passion and can-do attitude with practical and straightforward methods.

Public Workshops by Zimmerman Lehman
These workshops are open to the public and hosted by different nonprofit resource centers. The fees are set by each center. Current workshops and details.

Testimonials
What others had to say about recent workshops and trainings.

Zimmerman Lehman's Private Nonprofit Workshops
Zimmerman Lehman's interactive sessions draw on our combined experience working in the nonprofit sector variously as staff, executive directors, board members, and consultants. Our insightful facilitation skills are joined with proven adult learning techniques. Professional materials tailored to your organization's specific needs are included with each training. Zimmerman Lehman has trained thousands of individuals in the art and science of fundraising and board development. For a sampling of our most popular workshops see below. To obtain more information about creating a workshop for your organization call (415) 986-8330 or email.

Fundraising campaigns

Capital CampaigCampaigns in the Plague Years
Campaigns in the Recession
How to Conduct a Successful Major Donor Campaign
Individual Solicitations, Annual Campaigns

Campaigns in the Plague Years
As Bob Zimmerman said at a recent workshop at the San Francisco Foundation Center, "The biggest problem in fundraising isn't getting people to give-it's getting people to ask." Even amidst the financial maelstrom, nonprofits can plan and execute successful campaigns. In this presentation, Bob Zimmerman demonstrates why this is an ideal time to cultivate relationships with major donor prospects. He discusses concepts that underlie all successful major donor campaigns, highlights the steps to take to ensure campaign success, and provides a snapshot of a campaign on which Zimmerman Lehman recently worked. Read ZimNotes article, Fundraising in the Plague Years: A Major Donor Case Study, about this topic.

Fundraising Day San Francisco June 16, 2010.
Fundraising Day Fundraising Day is the West Coast's premier fundraising training conference, produced by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter in collaboration with the Development Executives Roundtable. Bob Zimmerman is organizing the major donor track, and Ann Lehman will moderate a panel "Wisdom from the Trenches: The Role of Development Staff in Major Gifts Campaigns." While boards of directors and other volunteers are vitally important to the success of major gift campaigns, the "glue" that holds the campaign together is the development staff. Hear from three staff members of Bay Area nonprofits who have successfully planned and implemented major gift campaigns. For more information.

2010 NGO Global Forum for Women: Beijing +15
CEDAW Goes Local -- San Francisco Plus Ten Years. Ann Lehman will be presenting the 10-year history of implementing a human rights treaty for women in San Francisco at the NGO Forum Beijing +15. This is part of the United Nations review of progress since the Fourth World Conference on Women held Beijing, China in 1995. March 6, 2010, New York City, For more info. The International Press Service just highlighted Ann Lehman's human rights for women work with the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, see GENDER: For U.S., Lessons in CEDAW From San Francisco.

Boards That Love Fundraising Roundtable Fundraising Roundtable
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, CompassPoint, "CBO Center's recent survey on how the downturn in the economy is affecting East Bay nonprofits revealed that a majority of executive directors intend to step up their board's involvement in fundraising as a strategic response to the economy. There is no better voice on how to do that than Bob Zimmerman." Bring your questions, war stories, and ideas to a discussion on how you can lead your boards in transforming their ideas about “begging for money” into offering opportunities for individuals to invest in their communities. Robert M. Zimmerman is a fundraising specialist and president of Zimmerman Lehman. He has more than thirty years experience in the areas of fundraising, board and volunteer training and development, and executive search. He is co-author, with Ann Lehman, of Boards that Love Fundraising: A How-to Guide for Your Board.

Rethinking Conventional Wisdom
Thursday, October 29, 2009, Marin Center in San Rafael, CA Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership
Bob Zimmerman presented a "point-counterpoint" conversation on the role of the nonprofit board in fundraising. Conventional wisdom holds that the role of the nonprofit board includes fundraising. While this theory is held largely sacred in our sector, does it work for most of our organizations? Can the majority of volunteer boards be successful fundraisers? Is that the goal? Can nonprofits financially sustain themselves without the support of their volunteer leadership? Robert Zimmerman and Emily Hall took opposing viewpoints on Board Fundraising in a formal debate moderated by Mariana Moore. (Bob won but he did have the easier position.) To download handouts.

Creating a Culture of Transparency:
Establishing and Ensuring Integrity in Your Nonprofit
Part of the United Way 2009 Governance Series, speaker Ann Lehman from Zimmerman Lehman in San Francisco conducted this workshop. Lafayette, Indiana, 2009 Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network. Workshop included:

Accountability governance standards,
Transparency - what it means today,
What the watchdog groups look for,
Overhead expenses and the new IRS Form 990,
Value statements and code of ethics, and
Nonprofit conflict, whistleblower and document destruction policies.

Managing Volunteers During A Campaign: The Board, The Development Committee, The Campaign Committee
Bob Zimmerman was part of a panel at Fundraising Day, 2009, that explored: What do you expect of trustees, Development Committee and Campaign Committee members? How do you manage key volunteers during a campaign? What is the appropriate role for each group? Hear ideas for different volunteer structures that work for different campaigns and ways to keep volunteers focused and motivated. Fundraising Day For information.

Board Members Rule! - How to be a Strategic Advocate for Your Nonprofit
Being a truly effective board member requires time and effort - just showing up to meetings isn't enough. In Ann Lehman's new book, she explores how busy board members - or those considering joining a board - can make their board service experience more productive, meaningful, and enjoyable. In this workshop, Ann will touch on best practices she outlines in her new book on accountability, transparency, advocacy, and strategic governance. No more listening to boring reports! Come and learn how to engage in meaningful and strategic discussions that will help you and your fellow board members fulfill your organization's vision for the future.

Zimmerman Lehman E-mail Communication
E-mail communication quickly has become a staple of outreach for nonprofits, but do you know how effective your e-mail communication is? We've all had different experiences with e-mail newsletters, and this Zimmerman Lehman workshop will address some issues you may want to consider to improve your e-mail newsletters and e-solicitations. The format is highly interactive, using the foundation's own e-mail communication as case studies. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions and share successes and challenges about their own newsletters for what promises to be an invigorating discussion about what works - and what doesn't work - in the realm of e-mail communication.

TESTIMONIALS FROM RECENT WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS

"Dynamic, no-nonsense speaker. Very engaging – great for the first session of the morning. Bob’s enthusiasm for fundraising – and his no nonsense and humorous style – make him an excellent presenter."
- Comments from a recent AFP workshop

"Ann Lehman was an enthusiastic and amazing speaker."
-U.N. Conference Workshop

"I feel like I've been to a revival meeting."
- Overheard at a recent Bob Zimmerman training

"Bob Zimmerman is not only an industry leading fundraising expert, but an engaging, dynamic speaker to boot! Our audience of hundreds of nonprofit leaders consistently tells us that many of his ideas provide realistic solutions to the everyday problems associated with running and funding their organizations."

- Darian Heyman, Craigslist Foundation

"I engaged a professional fundraising trainer (Bob Zimmerman) with long time legal services experience to train board members and others to ask for donations from law firms as part of the annual campaign at Sonoma County Legal Aid. Our proceeds increased by 50% the first year."
- Andrea Agloro, former Executive Director of Sonoma County Legal Aid

Mr. Zimmerman is a very motivational & gifted speaker... I want Bob Zimmerman on my team. His experience and enthusiasm came through... wonderful, practical, down to earth, no nonsense advice... Inspiring, entertaining, and informative... Bravo! Very pertinent... fabulous and informative.... valuable and encouraging... Excellent Speaker! Highly motivational with a lot of good solid information... I felt that if Bob could tell the story of how he conducts individual fundraising so frankly, then it must be true... gave (us) confidence that the money could be raised, techniques did exist for accomplishing the impossible, and we were the people to do the fundraising... Bob was the most fluid, real presenter I've ever taken a workshop with... I learned to overcome my fear of asking and how to ask... This was the best class in your nonprofit curriculum... I thought the day (with Ann Lehman) was wonderfully productive and masterfully executed... definitely worth the price of admission...

Comments on what participants liked best at a BOARDS THAT LOVE FUNDRAISING workshop:

Trainer's (Bob Zimmerman) depth of knowledge and experience...Information given concisely and with examples...good give and take...relevance of information...Bob was realistic, offered applicable things to practice and has a sense of humor. (19/20 rated the workshop excellent or very good, 1 said good)

Comments on what participants liked best at the CONDUCTING A MAJOR DONOR CAMPAIGN workshop:

Specifics about setting up the meeting and the ask...Depth and breadth of knowledge...Made simple clear steps...Relaxed atmosphere...Workbook handouts....Very usable information for our organization. (10/10 rated the workshop excellent or very good).

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