More than 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses will attend a reception marking the official re-launch of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University from 5:30-7:30PM on Wednesday, September 7th.
The formal program featuring presentations by Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball, center Director Dena Jenson and center Advisory Committee member Doug Green will run from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
The event will take place at the Lundring Events Center, which is inside the Gilbert Sports and Fitness on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard. The university’s address is 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.
The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) ran the Center for Nonprofit Leadership for 24 years, serving more than 800 organizations annually before indefinitely suspending it a year ago. Cal Lutheran re-opened the center to again provide the training needed by the region’s charities. Jenson, who had led the VCCF center for a decade, was hired as the director.
Nonprofits constitute a vital segment of the community. In Ventura County alone, there are more than 3,300 registered nonprofits ranging from all-volunteer efforts to large organizations such as hospitals and universities. They account for $2.6 billion in annual revenue and $5 billion in assets.
The center’s primary focus will be affordable professional development workshops for nonprofit board members, staff and volunteers. More than a dozen sessions on leadership, grant writing, marketing, fundraising and board governance are already scheduled for the next few months at Cal Lutheran’s Oxnard Center. They include “Onboarding Your Board,” “Perfecting Your Pitch” and “Executive Director Essentials: What’s Keeping You Up at Night?” In addition to hands-on training, the workshops provide opportunities to network and collaborate with peers. Jenson and volunteers who are respected leaders in their fields will run the workshops.
The center provides additional resources for members online.
Funding comes from participation fees, memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants and donations.
For more information, go to callutheran.edu/cnl.
