Foundation Provides UT-Caliber Training to Local Nonprofit Leaders

Curriculum Tailored to Key Needs and Focused on Practical Skills 

Leaders working for nonprofits in North Texas have added new skills to their fundraising efforts, thanks to a custom workshop designed by UT’s Extended Campus Custom Training (ECCT) for the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT).

Helping fundraising professionals build and nurture trusted relationships for their nonprofits made a lot of sense to incoming Chief Relationships Officer Calvert Collins-Bratton at CFT. "Knowing your audience, storytelling skills, networking and other tips and tricks: these are ways to help our leaders flourish," Collins-Bratton said.

Traditionally, professional development for nonprofits is scarce, but she knew exactly where to turn for help. She had experience with UT Austin’s professional training workshop The Art of Business Relationships and worked with ECCT to have it customized to serve nonprofit fundraisers and other staff supported by CFT.

Co-instructors Rodney Schlosser, a successful business executive and trainer, and Moody College of Communication distinguished professor Keri D. Stephens, Ph.D., retooled their well-received UT open-enrollment course to meet the needs of CFT’s community.

Approaching donors, recruiting volunteers, explaining needs to communities and government officials are critical interpersonal skills for fundraisers and they were a primary focus of the workshop.

“We couldn't have done it without UT. We just did not have the bandwidth or staffing to handle the logistics and the registration,” Collins-Bratton said. “UT made it delightfully easy. We’d be happy to do it again.”

Support from Attendees

"Each presenter was engaging in their own way - which kept the course very interesting."

Jennifer Farrell McGranaghan, Donor Engagement Officer, Development SPCA of Texas