What is the Network?
The Network is a regionally-based service providing affordable, accessible, and high quality public and private workshops, board retreats, and consultant referral. Services are designed to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations anywhere in the state. Topics
range from cutting edge to basic content.

A Network of Partners
The Network is coordinated by the Indiana Association of United Ways and has received generous support from the Lilly Endowment since 1994. The Network works as a team with Indiana United Ways and many other nonprofit partners to meet nonprofit training and development needs and implement innovative programs.

Core Services

• Workshops in your community, designed for nonprofits, at your request
• Custom workshops for your board or staff
• Consultant referral
• Library referral
• In-depth series

Core Topics

• Governance and Board Development
• Leadership Development
• Strategic Planning
• Outcomes: 4-module series
• Grantwriting: 1-day workshop
• Change Management
• Voluntarism (recruitment, retention, recognition)
• Marketing

Other Popular Topics

• Collaboration
• Community Building
• Fund Development
• Special Events
• Financial Management
• Nonprofit Management Skills
• Creative Problem Solving
• Presentation Skills
• Time, Stress Management
• And more, your choice!

Accomplishments and Milestones!
In the fall of 2004, INRN was 10 years old! The Network started in one county, as the United Way of Delaware County’s Resource Center, thanks to generous funding from the Lilly Endowment through the Indiana Association of United Ways. Their work was evaluated and determined to be performing a critical service that should be expanded statewide. The first resource center expanded into a 17-county “Eastern Region” during the fall of 1994. They were joined by three other regions who began seeking partners, recruiting speakers, developing curriculum, and engaging clients, bringing the 4-region total-served to 1131 in 1995.

By all counts, the INRN has been an unqualified success. The original and unique vision has remained the same, still vital and necessary, by taking public workshops and custom private events and services anywhere in the state, upon request. The Network maintains close contacts in every county/community in which a need and desire exists serving the “most-in-need” as one of its highest priorities. It continues to keep workshop costs affordable, locations accessible, speakers and consultants of high quality bringing nonprofit experience, and topics both at the beginner and cutting edge range.

By October 1, 2005, the INRN had served an impressive 44,000 customers. The mission is still relevant and strong: To provide leadership in creating dynamic learning experiences for Indiana nonprofit organizations.

• In addition to serving 44,000 nonprofit staff and volunteers, INRN has consistently served customers from over 90% of the state, in their areas of work or home, every year. This deep and successful “serve where you are” commitment, along with “serving most-in-need,” sets INRN apart.
• The INRN served an estimated 10,000 nonprofit organizations in its first 10 years. All types of nonprofits benefit from INRN’s workshops and custom board workshops including nationally-supported organizations such as the Girl Scouts, YMCA, and Habitat for Humanity to local neighborhood groups and more grassroots organizations.
• Board Development continues to rank number one or two in workshop topics attended and always number one in custom services provided, after a few initial years of ranking Leadership and Management number one.
• The top three customer types have been from Human Service, Youth and/or Recreation, and Education and Leadership organizations. Other frequent customer categories include Faith-based, Philanthropic, Arts, Government, Health Care, and Economic Development organizations.

Key Milestones

• Indiana Academy for Nonprofit Excellence began in 1996 after a year-long development led by the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, and in partnership with The Fund Raising School.
• National Center for Nonprofit Boards (now BoardSource) partnership began in 1999. Dozens of workshops were provided on Governance Trends and Board Effectiveness. Trainer Training was provided to INRN and its consultants in 2002 creating the foundation for INRN’s high quality board development workshops.
• Custom (private) Board Retreats are the fastest growing service, eclipsing public workshops requests in 2001 and 2002 and ever since.
• In 2000 to meet a growing need, INRN became a key provider of Grantwriting workshops in every region at the request of the Indiana Grantmaker’s Alliance.

Service Milestones

• 5000 clients served by mid-1996
• 10,000+ served by 1998
• 500 events held and services provided by 1999
• Served 84 counties in one year in 1999 and an average of 90 participants per week
• More than 20,000 served by 2000
• 44,000+ served by 2005; an estimated 10,000 organizations served