Atlanta Nonprofit Leaders Planning for Week of Professional Development "Field Trips"

ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Georgia students go back to school, Atlanta nonprofit professionals are preparing to take part in their own version of a time-honored school tradition: the field trip.

Field Trips 2014 is a new professional development concept from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. Field Trips engage nonprofit staff, board members, volunteers, and students in a weeklong learning experience throughout the week of September 15-19. Participants choose from 15 Field Trip outings —each held on site at leading nonprofit, foundation, or corporate headquarters. At each of these small-group sessions, participants have a unique opportunity to experience some of the most innovative and proven methods to advance the mission impact.

"We are excited to introduce a totally new kind of learning experience for the sector, where we encourage moving out of the office and into the field to experience strategy in action," said Karen Beavor, president and CEO of GCN.

Among the 15 Field Trips are visits to the newly-opened National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta BeltLine, and Atlanta Community Food Bank. At the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, CEO Doug Shipman will speak about how his organization galvanized stakeholders around a common vision, which transformed an idea to a world-class facility, even through a sharp economic downturn. The Atlanta BeltLine program director will explain how to navigate public-private partnerships for exponential change initiatives. And the Atlanta Community Food Bank will demonstrate their tried-and-true method of stewarding volunteers to become donors and lifelong advocates.

Corporate and foundation leaders hosting trips include The Home Depot Foundation, Edelman, and 11Alive. Gaven Gregory, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation, will host a trip focused on building a culture of committed partnerships. Patty Tucker, executive vice president of Edelman, will lead a discussion from their Midtown offices on how nonprofits can build engagement and trust with corporations. And 11Alive President and General Manager John Deushane will lead a panel discussion on how to pitch compelling stories to the media, following tours of their studios.

As an added highlight, all Field Trip participants are invited to a keynote conversation titled "A View of Philanthropy's Future," presented by Eileen Heisman, president and CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust. The Trust is one of the largest fundraising and grantmaking institutions in the U.S., raising more than $4 billion in contributions, making more than 90,000 grants to charities in 57 different countries.

Registration is still open for Field Trips 2014, but individual trips are filling up quickly. To register and learn more, visit www.gcn.org/FieldTrips. 

About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits builds thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed.  Through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia. Learn more at GCN.org, follow us on Twitter @GAnonprofits, and like us on Facebook.

CONTACT:
Tom Zimmerman 
678-916-3090 
[email protected]

SOURCE Georgia Center for Nonprofits