ACN Chicago Northside Networking Breakfast

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
9:00 - 10:30 am CST

Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
4459 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL

Registered ACN Members Can Bring a Prospective Member Along

The event is co-hosted by ACN, Lidia Varesco Design, Allison Wong of ACG  Productions and Kelli Moore of Ando Advisors. Tables have been reserved, but attendees will purchase their own food & drinks. Please note that BMBC has two locations, and we’ll be meeting at the Belmont Gardens location. Please bring cash to facilitate the payment process.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Heffernan at execdirector@acnconsult.org. Look forward to seeing you there!

Overcoming Common Obstacles - 
Managing a Strategic Planning Engagement
Thursday, February 27, 2025
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm CT
Virtual Zoom Event

This is a Members Only Event

Strategic planning projects are not only complex. They are filled with unknowns, sudden scope changes, and potential pitfalls. Join ACN members Leslie Cain & Julie Simpson to learn best practices to keep your clients excited and motivated, deal with client challenges, and deliver the planning project on time, within scope, and within budget!

We are designing a brief multiple choice survey for distribution across the ACN consultant network to assess common challenges, strategies strategic planning consultants employ with their clients. We will share the results of the survey as part of the session.

Leslie Cain, MA, is the CEO and Strategic Operations Consultant at Bryn Mawr Institute (MWBE). We help organizations Build Better Strategic Operations and Productive Teams by aligning people, systems, and processes. Leslie is a proven innovator who strives to design high-impact solutions for the challenges our communities face. Her expertise spans operational design, product/service development, implementation project management and strategy planning. Leslie leverages over 20yrs as an independent consultant and private sector veteran founding Bryn Mawr Institute to empower clients to build strong operational strategies and high-performing teams. Visit https://brynmawrinstitute.com/capabilities for more information.

Julie F. Simpson, CEO and Founder of Scs, a national social-sector consulting firm, is a highly respected, transformational leader and change agent with more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, distinguished in her ability to connect complex ideas that have seemingly unrelated parts and order them in ways that help a wide range of stakeholders with diverse goals get on the same page. Her contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in collaboration inspires people to come to the table, engage in the conversation, and make meaningful contributions. Julie’s field-tested expertise in such areas as network and coalition strengthening, community partnership-building, education, arts and culture, economic and youth development, and environmental justice, as well as gender and health equity, has helped numerous nonprofits and foundations develop and implement strategic plans, design new business models, strengthen infrastructure, and evaluate programs. (For full bio, please see www.simpson-consulting-services.com)

Please contact ACN Association Manager, Jennifer Heffernan at 312-940-4008 if you have any questions.

ACN Chicago Western Suburban
Happy Hour

Thursday, February 27, 2025
4:30 - 6:30 pm CST

Miskatonic Craft Kitchen
47 E. Chicago Avenue, Ste. 120
Naperville, IL

The event is co-hosted by ACN, Tweed Thornton of Four Star Initiatives, and Paul Feith of Paul Gregory Media. Attendees will purchase their own food & drinks. Introductions will be made as members arrive. Conversation will be informal.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Heffernan at execdirector@acnconsult.org. Look forward to seeing you there!

Free Webinar - Registration Required

REGISTER HERE

This session aims to empower nonprofit professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to develop and implement effective public relations strategies. By leveraging PR, nonprofits can enhance their visibility, engage their audiences, and drive their missions forward.

Presenter:
Jessica Leving Siegel
Sing Creative Group

Jessica Leving Siegel (she/her) is an award-winning writer and communications specialist with experience spanning the newspaper and magazine industry, the nonprofit sector, and the disability community. Before launching Sing Creative Group, she got her start as a journalist, writing for publications such as USA Today, The Boston Globe, The Jerusalem Post and more. When she realized she wanted to use her storytelling skills to champion the causes she cared most about, she moved into the nonprofit world, and spent 10 years working on internal comms teams for organizations such as The Jewish United Fund, Spertus Institute, The American Lung Association, and Walder Group. Now, she uses her expertise to help other changemakers hone their messaging and amplify their impact. She is also the author of three children's books, host of The Special Siblings Podcast, and the founder of her own nonprofit organization, The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities. Recent client PR wins have included hits in The New York Times, USA Today, Parade, HuffPost, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, ABC7 News, and more.

ACN has partnered Nonprofit Learning Lab (NLL) to help serve the sector by providing quick, 30-minute webinars featuring ACN members. The Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national nonprofit that connects, supports and trains individuals in the nonprofit sector. NLL offers daily online nonprofit trainings. with workshops that focus on fundraising, board development, social media, marketing, volunteer management, and organizational leadership.

EMPOWER Group Working Parents Meeting

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm CST

ACN Members Only

Parents with kids still living at home, balancing work and life, and sharing experiences and perspectives about the unique challenges from peers who are “in the season with you.” Contact Lidia Varesco-Racoma for more information.

ACN EMPOWER Groups are intended to be forums for like or complementary groups of professionals to empower each other with a diversity of thinking, knowledge, shared experience, perspective, support, intentional networking, business development, and inspiration. The groups will be member-driven and self-directed in terms of content, frequency of meetings, duration, number of participants, and general meeting objectives. Participation in EMPOWER Groups is open to all ACN members, including organizational, individual, and associate members.

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN New Member Orientation
and Engagement Session

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 pm CST

For most people, we know that key reasons to join ACN are to build business and make connections. This session will begin with with introductions, allowing everyone a moment to tell others who you are and what you offer. We'll go over member benefits and give suggestions about how to best engage with ACN to meet your goals.

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

Communicating Your Value Proposition:
Selling Strategic Planning Services
Thursday, March 13, 2025
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm CT
Virtual Zoom Event

This is a Members Only Event

In a sea of nonprofit strategic planning consultants, being able to confidently communicate your company's Value Proposition is critical. In this session, you'll learn interesting client RFP trends, the most common scopes of work requested, and how to design your value proposition and pitch to position yourself as a go-to-strategic planning resource.

We are designing a brief multiple choice survey for distribution across the ACN consultant network to assess common challenges, strategies strategic planning consultants employ with their clients. We will share the results of the survey as part of the session.

Leslie Cain, MA, is the CEO and Strategic Operations Consultant at Bryn Mawr Institute (MWBE). We help organizations Build Better Strategic Operations and Productive Teams by aligning people, systems, and processes. Leslie is a proven innovator who strives to design high-impact solutions for the challenges our communities face. Her expertise spans operational design, product/service development, implementation project management and strategy planning. Leslie leverages over 20yrs as an independent consultant and private sector veteran founding Bryn Mawr Institute to empower clients to build strong operational strategies and high-performing teams. Visit https://brynmawrinstitute.com/capabilities for more information.

Julie F. Simpson, CEO and Founder of Scs, a national social-sector consulting firm, is a highly respected, transformational leader and change agent with more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, distinguished in her ability to connect complex ideas that have seemingly unrelated parts and order them in ways that help a wide range of stakeholders with diverse goals get on the same page. Her contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in collaboration inspires people to come to the table, engage in the conversation, and make meaningful contributions. Julie’s field-tested expertise in such areas as network and coalition strengthening, community partnership-building, education, arts and culture, economic and youth development, and environmental justice, as well as gender and health equity, has helped numerous nonprofits and foundations develop and implement strategic plans, design new business models, strengthen infrastructure, and evaluate programs. (For full bio, please see www.simpson-consulting-services.com)

Please contact ACN Association Manager, Jennifer Heffernan at 312-940-4008 if you have any questions.

EMPOWER Group Working Parents Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm CST

ACN Members Only

Parents with kids still living at home, balancing work and life, and sharing experiences and perspectives about the unique challenges from peers who are “in the season with you.” Contact Lidia Varesco-Racoma for more information.

ACN EMPOWER Groups are intended to be forums for like or complementary groups of professionals to empower each other with a diversity of thinking, knowledge, shared experience, perspective, support, intentional networking, business development, and inspiration. The groups will be member-driven and self-directed in terms of content, frequency of meetings, duration, number of participants, and general meeting objectives. Participation in EMPOWER Groups is open to all ACN members, including organizational, individual, and associate members.

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

Free Webinar - Registration Required

REGISTER HERE

The digital landscape is as crowded as ever, so how do mission-driven nonprofits stand out to reach new donors, volunteers, and other supporters? In this session, we will explore how nonprofits can develop and improve online communication plans that drive results.

Presenter:
Ben Becker
Hoan Marketing

Ben has spent over 15 years in both the nonprofit and marketing worlds. With HubSpot certificates in Social Media and Email Marketing, plus advanced experience in WordPress, he is proud to support projects ranging from activist groups to small businesses to national nonprofits. When the computer turns off, you can find Ben walking his fluffy dog, sprinting across the softball field, or digging in the dirt.

ACN has partnered Nonprofit Learning Lab (NLL) to help serve the sector by providing quick, 30-minute webinars featuring ACN members. The Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national nonprofit that connects, supports and trains individuals in the nonprofit sector. NLL offers daily online nonprofit trainings. with workshops that focus on fundraising, board development, social media, marketing, volunteer management, and organizational leadership.

EMPOWER Group Working Parents Meeting

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm CST

ACN Members Only

Parents with kids still living at home, balancing work and life, and sharing experiences and perspectives about the unique challenges from peers who are “in the season with you.” Contact Lidia Varesco-Racoma for more information.

ACN EMPOWER Groups are intended to be forums for like or complementary groups of professionals to empower each other with a diversity of thinking, knowledge, shared experience, perspective, support, intentional networking, business development, and inspiration. The groups will be member-driven and self-directed in terms of content, frequency of meetings, duration, number of participants, and general meeting objectives. Participation in EMPOWER Groups is open to all ACN members, including organizational, individual, and associate members.

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN New Member Orientation
and Engagement Session

Thursday, May 22, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 pm CST

For most people, we know that key reasons to join ACN are to build business and make connections. This session will begin with with introductions, allowing everyone a moment to tell others who you are and what you offer. We'll go over member benefits and give suggestions about how to best engage with ACN to meet your goals.

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.