You’re Invited: GiveOrcas Party + Fundraising Workshop for Boards

Please join your neighbors and friends at the GiveOrcas Kick-Off Party at Orcas Center on Tuesday, May 12 from 4-6pm. All ages are welcome to celebrate spring and meet the 31 nonprofits taking part in Spring GiveOrcas. Light bites, beverages, kids’ art activities, music, and lots of community joy will be provided. We even have fun games planned that will give you a chance to win additional funding for your favorite grantees!

Grow Local / Give Local / GiveOrcas.org
During May 12 – 21, you can help grow the programs that make Orcas a stronger and thriving community for all with your contribution of $10 or more. Head on over to www.giveorcas.org to preview the campaign and plan out your gifts. There are a few ways to give:

• Donate online by credit card at www.giveorcas.org
• Give through your OICF donor advised fund (DAF).
• Make checks out to OICF, and include a list of grantees you wish to support. Make sure to mail your check in advance so we receive it in time, or drop it by our office.
• Send funds from your external DAF, RMD or make a gift of stock. Include a list of grantees you wish to support. Make sure to initiate your gift as soon as possible so we can distribute funds during the campaign.

Businesses can join the fun too! By supporting GiveOrcas, local businesses can help strengthen the community, which in turn fuels economic vitality crucial to improving the quality of life for all. Businesses can participate in several ways, by helping to promote the campaign, making our kick-off party a success, or by making a meaningful contribution to support grantmaking. Learn more on our website and sign up online.

Fundraising for Boards and Volunteers: Bring Your Fundraising into Focus
Board members, volunteers, and staff focused on fundraising are invited to join us for the following free workshop. Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Date: Wednesday, June 3, from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Lunch will be provided.

Location: Emmanuel Church Parish Hall

Reserve Your Seat Today!

Board- and volunteer-driven fundraising remains one of the most persistent challenges for nonprofits, especially in small, interconnected communities where the same donors and volunteers are asked to show up again and again. This workshop brings board members, volunteers, and staff together to clarify what effective fundraising looks like today and how to align expectations with how people actually want to engage.

We will explore the evolving role of boards and volunteers in fundraising, focusing on practical, realistic approaches that reduce burnout and avoid duplicating efforts. Participants will examine how to engage board members and volunteers in ways that match their skills, networks, and capacity. We will also look at how to sustain our community’s culture of giving and cultivate the next generation and newcomers to be join up as volunteers and donors.

Grounded in examples from rural and island communities, this session will help you assess your current fundraising approach, identify where efforts may be out of focus, and define clear, actionable next steps. Whether you are refining board and volunteer roles or strengthening your overall fundraising strategy, you will leave with tools to bring greater clarity, alignment, and effectiveness to your work.

Presenter:
Julie Bianchi, CFRE (she/her)
Campaign Practice Director, Cloudbreak Collective

Julie Bianchi believes the sweet spot between big-picture thinking and the details is where successful fundraising strategy is born. Her experience in fundraising, programs, finance, and board leadership over the past decade is the underpinning for her practical consulting style. She is a writer by trade and specializes in helping organizations build their case for support. Julie leans on generative questions with her clients and students to help reveal new paths forward to long-term fundraising success. Julie has worked with more than 40 organizations across the country and has significant campaign experience, with goals ranging from $1 million to $300 million. She is a founding-Board member for the Advancement Northwest Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), earned a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington, and currently teaches as adjunct faculty in the nonprofit programs at Seattle University and University of Washington.

Reserve Your Seat Today!