2017 National Fundraising Conference and Directors Conference

Andy Goodman, Celinda Lake and much more…….Don’t miss the 2017 MIE Fundraising Conference and Directors Conference!

July 19 & 20 - Voices Media and Communication Training
July 20 & 21 - National Fundraising Conference and Directors Conference

Click Here to View the Conference Program.
Click Here to view the Agenda.

We are excited to announce the plans for the 2017 MIE Fundraising Conference.  We are combining it with the biennial Directors Conference and we are again partnering with Voices for Civil Justice to offer media and communications training.  Fundraising, communications, management - A great opportunity for intensive training in three topics of critical importance to legal aid leaders right now!

"Change the Story, Change the World" Our outstanding keynote speaker will appeal to executive directors, development staff, advocates and board members with stories to share.  You will not have another opportunity to see Andy Goodman in a legal aid context with a workshop just for us.

Andy Goodman, a nationally renowned speaker and consultant on storytelling and communications, will present a four-hour workshop to help us better engage people and raise funds for legal aid.  Andy is designing a program focused on effectively communicating the legal aid message to donors.

Andy's appearance is co-sponsored by Voices and MIE. His session, "Change the Story, Change the World", will be held jointly with attendees of the Voices' training and MIE's Fundraising and Directors conferences.

From Andy's website:
Since we first began talking to each other, telling stories has been a powerful way to capture attention, engage an audience, and motivate them to act. As we learn more about how our brains work, we’re also discovering that stories are intrinsic to decision-making and shape our view of the world. In “Change the Story, Change the World,” Andy Goodman will explain why storytelling remains the single most powerful communication tool you possess, and he will offer specific ways your organization can use stories to advance your mission.

Legal aid colleagues have seen Andy Goodman and have this to say:

"It's no secret that stories are elemental to the persuasion equation. When it comes to teaching us how to choose and use stories well, Andy Goodman is truly a master. Ever since experiencing his “Change the Story, Change the World” session last year, I’ve wanted civil legal aid advocates to benefit from Andy’s entertaining and practical approach to this essential topic -- hence, my excitement that he'll be with us in Washington this summer."

Martha Bergmark, Executive Director, Voices for Civil Justice

“The chance to be hear Andy Goodman’s session is worth attending the conference all by itself. His practical and engaging approach is informed by his high profile and very interesting career, and you’ll come away with a whole new lens on talking about the impact of your work.”
Bob Glaves, Executive Director, Chicago Bar Foundation

“Last year, I had the chance to hear Andy Goodman talk about effective story-telling.  I thought I knew how to do this, but I was wrong.   He’s a great trainer and his approach can make our work more accessible to folks outside the legal community.  I’d encourage everyone to attend this session!”
Nan Heald, Executive Director, Pine Tree Legal Assistance

“I found Andy Goodman’s workshop a worthwhile experience.  His advice on creating short, powerful narratives that connect with emotions to reset outdated perspectives was very valuable.  It has improved my ability to structure and develop high impact stories.”
Cynthia A. Cole, Director of Development and Communications, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati

We also are excited to welcome back Celinda Lake, of Lake Research Partners.  Celinda last presented to rave reviews at our 2014 conference.  She will share the findings of 2017 messaging research conducted for Voices for Civil Justice, and she will help us increase our fundraising by providing a better understanding of how to persuasively communicate with different audiences - the legal community, the philanthropic community, and the more general public - about legal aid. 

Of course, there will be a full range of breakout sessions that executive directors, development directors, communications directors and other legal aid leaders need to raise more money for and better manage their programs in 2017 and the years to come, including:

Breakout Session Topics

Fundraising Skill Building:

Major Gifts – Nuts and Bolts
Major Gifts – In Practice in Legal Aid
Brush Up Your Asking Skills and Encourage Volunteers to Do The Same
Starting a Private Fundraising Campaign
Identifying and Cultivating Individual Donors
Going Beyond the Legal Community
Pro Bono and Fundraising
Raising funds from Foundations
Non-LSC Federal Funding

Getting and Using Information:

Getting the Information You Need – Data Management 101
Using Your Data Results to Improve Effectiveness
Building an Effective Development Department – What Every Executive Director Needs to Know

Leadership Development:

Maximizing the Board’s Reach – What Executive Directors and Development Directors Need to Know and Do
Executive + Development Directors: Effective Partnerships Raise More Money
For Development Directors Who Are New to Legal Aid

Management:

Managing Multiple Funding Sources from Application to Audit:  You Want Me to Account for What??

Internal Communications, Roundtable and Best Practices

The Challenges of Working in Partnerships

Succession Planning – It Is Not Just About the Executive Director

Registration:

Fundraising Conference and Directors Conference:
$500 MIE Subscribers
$600 Non-Subscribers

Please email helpdesk@mielegalaid.org before choosing this option for placement on waiting list.
Voices Media and Communications Training: 
$375 MIE Subscribers
$450 Non-Subscribers

Please email helpdesk@mielegalaid.org before choosing this option for placement on waiting list.
All Three Days:  
$700 MIE Subscribers
$850 Non-Subscribers

See hotel information below.

Voices for Civil Justice 2017 National Communications Training
Wednesday, July 19th
 
Opening Plenary - New Research on Effective Messaging for Civil Legal Aid  
Voices for Civil Justice’s go-to pollster Celinda Lake and cognitive linguist Anat Shenker-Osorio will present the results of Voices’ new round of opinion research, scheduled for completion this summer, and discuss what it means for effectively messaging about civil legal aid and civil justice reform.
 

Concurrent Training:

Training Track 1: FUNDAMENTAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Participants in this track will learn essential building blocks of effective communications for civil legal aid, with sessions on

• Strategic Communications Planning – this session will teach participants how to develop and implement communications strategies that focus on concrete objectives and support their organizational goals.
• Persuasive Messaging for Civil Legal Aid – participants will learn an effective messaging model that can be easily adapted for a wide range of purposes, plus messaging tips specific to civil legal aid.

Training Track 2: ADVANCED MEDIA SKILLS: Note: Participation in this track is limited to those who have already completed Voices’ training in persuasive (“VPSA”) messaging and communications planning. See below for more information about this prerequisite.*  Participants in this advanced track will learn specific skills to build their capacity for media work with sessions on

• Writing Opinion Pieces – in this session participants will learn to apply their messaging skills to crafting persuasive op-eds.
• Pitching to Media – participants will learn what news values reporters look for, how to identify media outlets and reporters that may be interested in civil legal aid stories, and how to create a personalized “pitch” to a reporter.
   

Thursday, July 20th 
Plenary Session - Change the Story, Change the World
Nationally recognized non-profit communications expert Andy Goodman will lead a half-day storytelling workshop for both Voices training participants and attendees of the National Fundraisers and Directors Conference. In “Change the Story, Change the World,” Goodman will explain why storytelling remains the single most powerful communication tool you possess, and he will offer specific ways your organization can use stories to advance your mission.

Hotel:
Washington Court Hotel
525 New Jersey Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001-1527
202-628-2100
www.washingtoncourthotel.com
Reserve Your Room Here.
Guest Rooms - single $189 plus tax; double - $209 plus tax
Reserve your room now - the block is close to full. Tuesday night is not available. Email MIE at helpdesk@mielegalaid.org for additional hotel suggestions.