CORE Learning Lab Series Cohort (Oct. 2025 – Mar. 2026)
Are you a new or growing nonprofit? Build. Strengthen. Grow. Our CORE Learning Lab Series Cohort is created especially for new or early-stage and developing organizations like yours! If you are focused on building a strong foundation, ensuring sustainability, and preparing for growth, learn more about the series and register below.
What You’ll Learn:
- Nonprofit management best practices
- Board development & governance guidance
- Fundraising fundamentals
- Strategic planning and communication strategies
- Operational and measurement tools for long-term success
Who This Series Is for:
- New Affiliates (joined HFNY in the last 2 years)
- Nonprofits founded in the last 10 years
- Annual budget under $500,000
- Staff size fewer than 10 people
UPCOMING SESSIONS
Session 4: Board Governance 101: How to Level Up your Board’s Performance
Thursday, February 12, 2026
1:00pm-3:00pm
Facilitator: Kevin Gosa and Bryan Horvath, Nonprofit Velocity
Date/Time/Location: Virtually via Zoom
Session Description: Explore how you can build your board or help your board move beyond simply attending board meetings to engagement, leadership, and decision-making that makes a difference. This session will help you to better understand the roles and responsibilities of an effective board and to engage your board in advancing the mission of your organization.
Session 5: Strategic Volunteer Engagement 101
Thursday, February, 26, 2026
1:00pm-3:00pm
Facilitator: Betsy McFarland, ADISA Group
Date/Time/Location: Virtually via Zoom
Session Description: Learn the essential building blocks for engaging your volunteers in a way that is intentional, impactful and sustainable! Identify your organization’s strengths and growth opportunities in volunteer strategy, align volunteer roles with organizational priorities to maximize impact, avoid common pitfalls, and create practical next steps tailored to your organization.
Session 6: Outcome Measurement Essentials: 5 Steps for Success
March 11, 2026
9:45am-12:00pm (networking lunch 12-1pm)
Facilitator: Laurel Molloy, Innovations Quantified
Date/Time/Location: in person at HFNY office
Session Description: Ever feel lost when trying to measure your program’s impact? You’re not alone! Outcome measurement can be tricky. It’s hard to know where to start. And when things go wrong, it can be costly and frustrating. Gain a step-by-step approach to help you track, report, and use your data effectively. Great for anyone starting out or ready to take their measurement strategy to the next level.
Learning Lab FAQs
Registration/Cost: If you or your organization needs financial assistance to cover the cost, please indicate under the payment method on the registration form.
- Emerging Organizations: $75 per person (budget under $250,000)
- Established Organizations: $150 per person (budget over $250,000)
Attendance: Registration is limited to 2 people per organization per session. Executive directors and senior leaders are especially recommended to attend. An organization must RSVP for all sessions, but different team members may attend each session. Please have each person register individually.
If you have any questions, please email Judy Ha Kim, Director of Grants and Capacity Building Programs: judy.kim@hfny.org.
PAST SESSIONS
Session 1: Organizational Strategy in a Modern World: Alignment to Action
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Facilitator: Kevin Gosa and Bryan Horvath, Nonprofit Velocity
Session Description: This two-part session will help you design or refresh your organizational strategy for success and greater impact. Through focused exploration of core purpose and communication, strategic planning, and actionable next steps, you’ll gain tools to strengthen alignment and mission implementation across your organization.
Part 1: Mission, Vision, and Values as Anchors in a Dynamic World: Learn how to clearly articulate and communicate your core purpose and direction—internally and externally. We’ll explore practical tools for aligning your narrative with funders, staff, board members, and partners, ensuring your mission isn’t just stated but actually drives strategic decisions.
Part 2: Adaptive Planning for Short- and Long-Term Goals: Explore how to identify and address pressing operational or capacity gaps that are right in front of you, while laying the groundwork for longer-term growth. We’ll lean into how to map actionable next steps that solve for key needs in order to build a more resilient organization.
Session 2: Fundraising Foundations: Unlocking Your Fundraising Potential
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Facilitator: Leya Petrovani Miller, LPM Consulting
Session Description: Lay the groundwork for successful and confident fundraising by developing the right mindset, busting common myths, and gaining practical tools to build momentum. Whether you’re new to fundraising or seeking to strengthen your skills, this session will provide clarity, structure, and motivation.
Session 3: Managing Financial Data to Drive Strategy & Sustainability
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Facilitator: Mark and Ashley Thorne, M&A Consultants and Advisors, LLC.
Session Description: Learn how nonprofit financial data can drive program operations, build donor and board trust, and strengthen organizational stewardship. This session covers key financial documents and metrics, equipping participants to prepare or improve financial reporting—including dashboard creation—to support smarter, data-informed decision-making and stronger financial management.
