Community Calendar

The Greenhouse Effect and its impact on Earth's surface temperature have been understood for over a century. Long before satellites, computer models or even computers existed, scientists recognized that the massive increase in fossil fuel combustion beginning with the Industrial Revolution would lead to a warming planet and a changing climate. This lecture reviews the evolution of climate change science from the early 1800s to the present, profiling 12 scientists—from Joseph Fourier to Klaus Hasselmann. Key scientific issues will be discussed in the context of these historical figures and their contributions to our understanding of climate change. In addition, the impacts of climate change on humankind and the measures that need to be taken to mitigate it will be discussed.

This lecture takes place virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Uncertainty is inevitable—but strategic action is a choice. Nonprofit leadership today requires navigating a world of constant change—shifting funding streams, political pressures, rising community needs, and managing agile teams. Too often, this means pressure to operate in constant rapid-response mode, leaving little time to step back and plan with intention.

This interactive workshop offers a practical real-time framework for strategic and scenario planning that helps you stay anchored in your mission and values, even when circumstances are uncertain. Together, we’ll explore:

-How to identify and fiercely protect your organization’s core work and values during times of uncertainty.
-Tools for mapping financial and programmatic scenarios—from best case to worst case—and planning clear -responses.
-Strategies for aligning executive staff and board members so efforts are aligned to core values and priorities.

Gain expert insight into leading through uncertainty and be equipped with scenario planning approaches and a template to focus you and your team's planning and strategic response.

Workshop with Julie Ha Truong.

With Katie Deutschman

Perfect for expanding your grant writing skills, this intermediate workshop dives into the art of proposal writing by exploring the planning phases and each component of a winning proposal. This hands-on workshop will give you the opportunity to learn about how proposals relate to strategic and program planning, grant writing terminology and the basic components of a proposal. You will apply your new knowledge right away as you develop a draft proposal.

Come prepared to write! Please bring copies of your organization’s mission statement, project descriptions, and background materials. Please also bring paper and pen/pencil or a laptop.

Note: This workshop is designed for individuals who have had at least some experience writing and submitting grant proposals. Please register here: https://www.callutheran.edu/centers/nonprofit/workshops/event/2026-01-20-intermediate-proposal-writing-three-module-series

Part I: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Part II: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Part III: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Hiring the right people—and helping them thrive—can make or break your nonprofit’s success. This interactive workshop series walks you through effective interviewing techniques, collaborative problem-solving around common hiring challenges, and proven onboarding strategies to set new staff up for long-term success. You’ll leave with practical tools to attract, select, and retain talent that strengthens your mission and culture. Join your peers in this hands-on learning experience to sharpen your hiring and onboarding practices from start to finish.

Workshop Design

Morning Session – Effective Interviewing

Who you hire is a direct reflection of you and your organization. During this portion of the workshop, we will explore and role-play helpful tips and tools to improve your interviewing skills and ensure you hire the right candidate that your budget can afford every time. Focus areas will include defining your ideal candidate, proper interview preparation, and proper interview execution.

Brainstorming Lunch – Recruitment Challenges

Leveraging the peer knowledge in the room, we will surface the key challenges we all face in recruiting and retaining talent in the nonprofit sector. We will then seek to brainstorm as a group around solutions and best practices for addressing these difficulties.

Afternoon Session – Effective Onboarding

Phasing new employees into their roles with structured onboarding to set them up for success has always proven to be more effective than the very common “throw them into the frying pan,” or “figure your own job out” schools of learning. During this section of the workshop, we will examine and discuss tips and best practices to help new employees assimilate quickly and accelerate their speed to proficiency resulting in more productive, satisfied, engaged, and tenured employees.

Who Should Attend:

Nonprofit leaders and managers charged with hiring and building high performing staff teams. Organizations are encouraged to attend as a leadership group.

Facilitator: Anne Freiermuth, CPA

Understanding the unique accounting principles and requirements that apply to nonprofits is critical for your mission to succeed. This four module seminar series will introduce students to the basic accounting concepts relevant to nonprofit organizations. Participants will be exposed to foundational accounting principles and their practical applications. This will include understanding cash vs. accrual basis, the matching principle, fund accounting, functional allocations, and how to read and prepare financial statements.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Series participants will be introduced to fundamental accounting rules (generally accepted accounting principles) and financial reports of nonprofit organizations.
Series participants will analyze which transactions get recorded in the accounting system and how.
Series participants will be able to recognize allocation methodologies and how they impact financial statements and external oversight.
Series participants will be able to record common accounting transactions.
MODULE OVERVIEW:

Module I: Introduction and Contributions Accounting
Wednesday, Mar 18 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module II: Internal Controls, Fixed Assets, Reading Financials, Allocating Expenses
Thursday, Mar 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module III: Putting it all Together: Case Study Year One
Wednesday, Mar 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module IV: Putting It All Together: Case Study Year Two
Thursday, Mar 26| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

LEVEL: Intro/Intermediate

TARGET AUDIENCE: Executive directors & CEOs, CFO’s, finance staff, Board treasurers and finance committees

Facilitator: Anne Freiermuth, CPA

Understanding the unique accounting principles and requirements that apply to nonprofits is critical for your mission to succeed. This four module seminar series will introduce students to the basic accounting concepts relevant to nonprofit organizations. Participants will be exposed to foundational accounting principles and their practical applications. This will include understanding cash vs. accrual basis, the matching principle, fund accounting, functional allocations, and how to read and prepare financial statements.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Series participants will be introduced to fundamental accounting rules (generally accepted accounting principles) and financial reports of nonprofit organizations.
Series participants will analyze which transactions get recorded in the accounting system and how.
Series participants will be able to recognize allocation methodologies and how they impact financial statements and external oversight.
Series participants will be able to record common accounting transactions.
MODULE OVERVIEW:

Module I: Introduction and Contributions Accounting
Wednesday, Mar 18 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module II: Internal Controls, Fixed Assets, Reading Financials, Allocating Expenses
Thursday, Mar 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module III: Putting it all Together: Case Study Year One
Wednesday, Mar 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module IV: Putting It All Together: Case Study Year Two
Thursday, Mar 26| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

LEVEL: Intro/Intermediate

TARGET AUDIENCE: Executive directors & CEOs, CFO’s, finance staff, Board treasurers and finance committees

Facilitator: Anne Freiermuth, CPA

Understanding the unique accounting principles and requirements that apply to nonprofits is critical for your mission to succeed. This four module seminar series will introduce students to the basic accounting concepts relevant to nonprofit organizations. Participants will be exposed to foundational accounting principles and their practical applications. This will include understanding cash vs. accrual basis, the matching principle, fund accounting, functional allocations, and how to read and prepare financial statements.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Series participants will be introduced to fundamental accounting rules (generally accepted accounting principles) and financial reports of nonprofit organizations.
Series participants will analyze which transactions get recorded in the accounting system and how.
Series participants will be able to recognize allocation methodologies and how they impact financial statements and external oversight.
Series participants will be able to record common accounting transactions.
MODULE OVERVIEW:

Module I: Introduction and Contributions Accounting
Wednesday, Mar 18 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module II: Internal Controls, Fixed Assets, Reading Financials, Allocating Expenses
Thursday, Mar 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module III: Putting it all Together: Case Study Year One
Wednesday, Mar 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module IV: Putting It All Together: Case Study Year Two
Thursday, Mar 26| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

LEVEL: Intro/Intermediate

TARGET AUDIENCE: Executive directors & CEOs, CFO’s, finance staff, Board treasurers and finance committees

Facilitator: Anne Freiermuth, CPA

Understanding the unique accounting principles and requirements that apply to nonprofits is critical for your mission to succeed. This four module seminar series will introduce students to the basic accounting concepts relevant to nonprofit organizations. Participants will be exposed to foundational accounting principles and their practical applications. This will include understanding cash vs. accrual basis, the matching principle, fund accounting, functional allocations, and how to read and prepare financial statements.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Series participants will be introduced to fundamental accounting rules (generally accepted accounting principles) and financial reports of nonprofit organizations.
Series participants will analyze which transactions get recorded in the accounting system and how.
Series participants will be able to recognize allocation methodologies and how they impact financial statements and external oversight.
Series participants will be able to record common accounting transactions.
MODULE OVERVIEW:

Module I: Introduction and Contributions Accounting
Wednesday, Mar 18 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module II: Internal Controls, Fixed Assets, Reading Financials, Allocating Expenses
Thursday, Mar 19 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module III: Putting it all Together: Case Study Year One
Wednesday, Mar 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Module IV: Putting It All Together: Case Study Year Two
Thursday, Mar 26| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

LEVEL: Intro/Intermediate

TARGET AUDIENCE: Executive directors & CEOs, CFO’s, finance staff, Board treasurers and finance committees

Is it time to develop the budget? The process of building and monitoring a budget is fundamental to an organization’s planning and financial oversight. It results in a useful tool -- one that can be used on an ongoing basis to anticipate problems and provide a baseline against which programmatic and financial performance can be assessed. In this course we will evaluate how to build a sound budget for managing your organization and explore examples on how this budget tool can be used to deal with multiple programs and multiple funding sources.

Learning Objectives:
-How to build a budget for sound nonprofit financial management
-How to utilize your budget to monitor actual performance

Audience: This workshop is great for Executive Directors, fund development professionals, program managers, board members, and anyone else doing budgeting for nonprofit organizations.

Will your organization have enough cash to cover payroll next month? How about an unbudgeted expense or a fabulous new opportunity? Financial statements are important for board members and leadership to analyze the organization’s historical performance, but cash management is critical for day-to-day financial operations. In this class, we will learn how to develop a cash projection spreadsheet that can be updated regularly so you can successfully plan ahead and avoid surprises. Learning about cash projections is also a wonderful method to get familiar and comfortable with financials, because cash projections tend to be a more intuitive way of looking at financial information.

Learning Objectives:
-Discover 3 methods of projecting future cash flows: mind dump, budget conversion, and hybrid
-Analyze common differences between an accrual-based budget and a cash projection
-Identity strategies for handling shortfall and windfalls

Audience: This workshop is great for Executive Directors, fund development professionals, program managers, board members, and anyone else doing budgeting for nonprofit organizations.