Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/497617
B Grantees learn and network at first Elevate grant workshop by The end oF A TWo-dAy Workshop for Elevate grant- ees, many of those who took part had identified ways to strengthen their organizations and even formed partner- ships. Nonprofit industry expert Shannon Ammons, CEO of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, led the Feb. 11-12 workshop for staff and board members of organizations that received the Alabama Power Founda- tion's 2014 Elevate grants. The workshop was an introduction to Standards of Excellence training offered by Ammons and the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. That is, an introduction to an ethics and account- ability code for the nonprofit sector. Ammons explained Standards of Excellence as being like the nonprofit world's version of a "Good House- keeping" seal — it communicates to the public that an organization is certified. In two information-packed days, Ammons intro- duced grantees to Standards of Excellence's benchmarks that set a high standard of operation for nonprofit boards, staff and volunteers. The topics covered in the training included: mission, strategy and evaluation, lead- ership, legal compliance and ethics, finance and opera- tions, resource development, public awareness, engage- ment and advocacy. Understanding these benchmarks and making sure an organization meets them is, as Ammons likes to say, "how to stay out of hell and jail." One of the beneficial aspects of the workshop was the small size of the group. The organizations present were able to press pause on what Ammons was covering and ask questions relevant to their situations and challenges. The workshop was their chance to sit down with an ex- pert in nonprofit management and ask for the advice and insights they really need. Ammons' background as a nonprofit con- sultant added to this aspect of the workshop. Ammons told participants how the Alabama Association of Nonprofits and Standards of Ex- cellence would answer a question, and went a step further and gave advice from "Consultant Shannon's" perspective. Ammons went into great detail on many topics rang- ing from nonprofit boards and staff structure to phras- ing a nonprofit's mission, basic finance and fundraising. When asked after the workshop about what was most beneficial, many nonprofits cited Ammons' insights STORY BY ALLISON SWAGLER PHOTOS BY WYNTER BYRD 6 2014 Elevate grant recipients, pictured above, gathered in Montgomery for their first Elevate workshop earlier this year.