Big Duck’s team of experts regularly offers workshops and trainings and speaks at conferences. Our topics are always focused on nonprofit communications. If you’d like to arrange a workshop or training, please contact us here. Where possible, the workshops listed below include links that will allow you to register directly through the organization hosting the event.


Brandraising: One organization, many channels

Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
As you expand the tools you use to communicate online and off and staff's roles change, how do you ensure you're all speaking with one voice? Based on Sarah Durham's book "Brandraising: How to Raise Money and Increase Visibility through Smart Communications", (Jossey-Bass, 2010) this session will link vision, mission, branding and beyond, with a particular focus on websites, social media, and other online channels. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, positioning, Sarah Durham

Brandraising: Getting started, and messaging

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Is your organization considering a rebrand? How do you know if it’s the right time, where to begin, or how to proceed? How do you approach it strategically and cost-effectively? This webinar, led by Big Duck’s Principal + Founder Sarah Durham and Director of Copywriting Dan Gunderman will give you an overview of what’s involved in an effective nonprofit branding process. In particular, we’ll focus on messaging and how to use it to advance your fundraising, advocacy and programs objectives. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, copywriting, Sarah Durham

Brandraising

September 23, 2010
Fundraisers are front-line communicators in most organizations. They help set and steer the organization's communications materials, speak on its behalf, and manage all sorts of perceptions and misperceptions that donors and prospects have. But most fundraisers don't fully embrace this aspect of their role. In the quest for support, key communications elements like the organization's branding, the tools and technologies it uses to build relationships, even the mission can be overlooked, or worse, thrown under the bus. In her keynote presentation, Sarah Durham, author of "Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money through Smart Communications" (Jossey-Bass, 2010), will inspire you to embrace your inner (and outer) communicator- and use it as a powerful tool to reinvigorate your fundraising. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, fundraising, Sarah Durham

Brandraising: Visual work through a strategic lens

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Thinking about a new logo or designing a new website? Before you put pen to paper, have you thought about how it should reflect the tone and style of your organization? In the second of this three-part webinar series, Big Duck Principal + Founder Sarah Durham and Design Director Sonny Mui will discuss how to think strategically before you dive into a major redesign of your logo, website, or other key communications. You’ll get tips about how to make the process work so that you end up with something smart that sticks. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, design, Sarah Durham

Brandraising: Digging out of the trenches of daily communications

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Are you so busy with your day-to-day tasks that you haven’t stopped to take the time to look at the bigger picture? It’s time to get out of the trenches- or, at least, make sure you’re digging effectively toward results. In the final part of the brandraising webinar series, Big Duck Principal + Founder Sarah Durham and VP of Strategy and Client Relationships Farra Trompeter will explain how to create and implement a communications plan and strategy. Based on Sarah’s book Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communication (Jossey-Bass, 2010). (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, communications strategy, Sarah Durham

Brandraising

Thursday, October 7, 2010 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
As you expand the tools you use to communicate online and off and staff's roles change, how do you ensure you're all speaking with one voice? Based on Sarah Durham's book "Brandraising: How to Raise Money and Increase Visibility through Smart Communications", (Jossey-Bass, 2010) this session will introduce nonprofits to the concepts of Brandraising that can help you improve your fundraising, outreach and relationship-building communications. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, marketing, Sarah Durham

Managing Your Personal and Professional Brand in Social Media

October 8, 2010, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Who are you and how do you represent yourself online? It’s not enough to have Facebook and Twitter accounts—you need to understand the changes these tools represent in the ways we communicate. As our personal and professional lives blend together, Farra Trompeter will help you explore the big idea you want associated with your own brand and how can you shape that online. As the communications landscape changes, everyone on staff serves at the organization's spokesperson--not just the executive director or board chair. How you and your colleagues use social media can greatly impact your organization's reputation with key stakeholders. In this workshop, we'll also review all the major social media channels and discuss how you can use them to build relationships. Finally, we'll look at some guidelines you might set for your organization to help set policies for everyone who works for (and therefore represents) you online. (More)
branding, capacity-building, Farra Trompeter, social media

Brandraising: An Integrated Approach to Nonprofit Communications

Friday, October 8, 2010, 9 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Nonprofits must communicate effectively with clients, policymakers, and other key audiences in order to 'move the needle' and create social change, yet most nonprofit staff have limited experience with marketing or communications. Learn how to use research to inform communications strategies, the role and impact of branding, and how to leverage newer online tools and technologies. (More)
brandraising, capacity-building, communications strategy, Sarah Durham

Business Success

October 13, 2010, 3:45 p.m. -5:00 p.m.

In partnership with noted consultant David C. Baker, the 2010 MYOB Conference presents a program packed with expert speakers who know first-hand the challenges design firms face; thought-provoking sessions to help you improve your bottom line; and the rare opportunity to network with other creative firm principals.

It’s 3 days of close-up, nuts-and-bolts problem solving combined with big-picture, long-term planning. You’ll look at your work, your clients and your marketing from a whole new angle— and find solutions to some of your toughest business problems.

(More)
capacity-building, entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, Sarah Durham

Managing Your Personal and Professional Brand in Social Media

October 21, 2010, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

You. Your professional life. Your personal life. Social Media. It’s not enough to have Facebook and Twitter accounts—you need to understand the changes these tools represent in the ways we communicate. As our personal and professional lives blend together, we’ll explore such questions as:

  • How can you leverage the power of social media to build relationships with colleagues, clients, potential employers and the like?
  • How can you harness the conversations that are happening about you and our issues – conversations that we don’t control – to build awareness for your brands and your work?
  • How do you represent yourself while also serving as spokesperson for your organization?
  • What is the big idea you want associated with your own brand and how can you shape that online?
  • Is the online ‘you’ different from the offline/real ‘you?’

    • (More)
    branding, capacity-building, Farra Trompeter, social media

    Past Workshops

    2010
    2009
    2008
    2007
    2006
    2005
    2004