SACRAMENTO – The Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley has announced its slate of 2013 Growing Our Own Workshops, aimed at assisting grassroots organizers and community-based groups in honing their efforts and taking them to the next level.

The overarching mission and vision of the Growing Our Own: Nonprofit Development Initiative is to build, nurture, and sustain nonprofit organizations that in turn strengthen communities by becoming integral to local economies and social service networks.

The goals of the program are unique to the needs of communities challenged by economic, educational, political and social inequalities. These goals are to: stimulate new start-up nonprofits in diverse and disadvantaged communities, stimulate micro-nonprofits to serve local neighborhoods, promote practices necessary to move nonprofits from the start-up phase to long-term sustainability, raise awareness about the economic potential of a strong nonprofit sector in economically disadvantaged communities, and foster collaboration and partnership among grassroots nonprofit organizations.

Newly formed organizations that successfully complete the start-up phase will receive a mini-grant, opportunities for continued support from the program, and opportunities to network with other start-up groups.

Upcoming Growing Our Own Workshop Dates include:

  •  Monday, February 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Topic: Grassroots fundraising. This workshop covers 20 ways to build your organization’s bank account before staging a big fundraiser.
  •  Monday, April 1 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Topic: The ABCs of Creating a Nonprofit. This workshop, for beginners, provides an introduction to California state nonprofit requirements and what is needed to acquire tax exempt status from the federal government.
  •  Monday, June 3 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Topic: Developing A Committed Board. This workshop covers board development do’s and don’ts, board responsibilities and challenges as well as benefits and rewards.

The workshops will be held at the Black United Fund Office, located at 4104 44th Street. Sessions are limited to eight participants each. An RSVP is mandatory to attend. For more information, call (916) 484-3750.