We provide one-time workshops to help your team learn and build new skills.

Looking to invest in your skills and knowledge development? We offer workshops that help your team out.

Contact us to discuss. Workshops can be delivered in-person or virtually. For in-person workshops travel expenses may apply in addition to regular fees if held outside the Edmonton, Calgary, or Vancouver areas.

Our current offerings:

The Role of Board Members in Philanthropy

Board members, and non-profit staff, struggle to find the right role for board members to support their philanthropy. Board members’ minds often go to asking for money, and asking their friends, which can be uncomfortable and bring up resistance.

Philanthropy goes beyond asking for money, and in this workshop, your board will learn and discuss the different ways board members can support this area beyond making an ask as ambassadors, stewards, and advocates. Alex Abboud draws on his expertise as a board member who has been asked to raise money, and as a fundraising director, to work with your board to identify the ways they can collectively and individually support philanthropy and help your organization grow.

Time: 1 hour for delivery.

Meet the Millennials: Your Future (or Maybe Current) Key Supporters

Millennials, born 1981-1996 are now entering the prime years of their careers. Many have already ascended into leadership roles, and are making important philanthropic decisions and commitments individually as donors, for their companies, and at philanthropic foundations. Millennials are already the largest generation by size in Canada and the United States, and their influence will only grow as the large and prosperous Baby Boomers move on.

As an Elder Millennial, Alex has long been interested in his generation, and focused his Master’s degree dissertation research on Millennials and Corporate Social Responsibility. Building on that and research and industry data produced by others, he identifies the key factors that Millennials look for in supporting an organization, whether it’s a corporation or a charity. Through this workshop you will learn more about who the Millennials are, what they value, and what your organization needs to do to connect with them.

Time: 1 hour (overview), 3 hours (workshop)

Six Generations, Six Approaches to Philanthropy

From the Silent Generation (born 1945 or earlier) in their senior years, to young Generational Alphas (born 2012 or later) beginning to engage in philanthropy and advocacy, charities now encounter six distinct generations as donors, with the Baby Boomers (1945-1963), Generation X (1964-1980), Millennials (1981-1996), and Gen Y (1997-2011) all also exerting significant influence as donors, consumers, and volunteers or employees making key decisions about who to support. Each generation was shaped by unique circumstances and experiences, and has different values, priorities, and ways they communicate and consume information.

Drawing on his own experience as a development director who worked with donors from their early teen years all the way to their 90s, and drawing on research and industry data, Alex Abboud will introduce you to the six generations, and how they look to engage in philanthropy. This will orient your organization to the unique approaches needed to engage each one, and in a longer workshop will work with you to build a persona and profile of your target supporter in each generation.

Time: 1 hour (overview), 2 hours (deep dive), 5 hours (full workshop - in-person only)