Video: Healthy Community Institute

Purpose:

The purpose of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Healthy Community Institute for Nonprofit Excellence(HCI) is to provide training to strengthen the organizational capacity of the nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. HCI is a special two-day intensive course that engages three- to four-person teams from nonprofit organizations in a comprehensive board and staff-training curriculum. Each team must include the organization's executive director and at least one board member. HCI is offered free of charge to participating nonprofits. To date, more than 2,000 individuals, representing over 600 nonprofits have attended.

Faculty:

The faculty selected for HCI has helped more than 5,000 charitable organizations worldwide gain strength, momentum, and stature in the eyes of those who support them. In designing the Institute's curriculum, the faculty has created strategic planning and management tools. The faculty devotes time to assist each organization individually during the Institute in utilizing these tools and in applying them to various organizational structures.

Curriculum:

Each attending organization is guided through a process that combines lectures with team-based work beginning with clarification of mission, strategic planning and then on to addressing agency-specific issues. Presentations provide practical insight into solving operational problems, understanding board roles and responsibilities, creating effective annual appeal campaigns, understanding giving criteria from the grant-maker’s perspective, selling the organization, and much more. Review a sample agenda from a recent Institute.

Benefits:

Attendees are provided with a comprehensive workbook, free planning materials, and a compact disc with useful tools for better managing their organization. Benefits of the Institute include:

• A greater understanding of the value and techniques of strategic planning. All attendees will leave with a detailed action plan upon which a strategic plan for the future can be built.
• Identification and understanding of key problems affecting the organization as well as answers about to how to address those problems.
• An understanding of the importance of a strong board of directors and the tools and knowledge to recruit and maintain the most appropriate board members.
• A clearer picture of North Carolina grant making.
• Easy to use tools for initiating change in critical areas.
• HCI participants can earn five credit hours toward the Duke University Center for Continuing Education's Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management.
• Interpretation services available upon request.

Next Sessions:

New Bern Convention Center in New Bern, NC:

• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 (8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, April 17, 2008 (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

The following items are needed for registration:

• Application and Registration Form
• $150 registration check made payable to BCBSNC Foundation Healthy Community Institute. (Note: the check simply holds your space and will be returned to you after your team completes the Institute.) Mail your check to:
  
  BCBSNC Foundation / Attn: HCI Registration
  P.O. Box 2291
  Durham, North Carolina 27702

Only 50 organizations are accepted into each Institute and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Institutes tend to fill up very quickly and, therefore, organizations are encouraged to register well before the registration deadline.