Grow is a capacity building platform

SAVI Data Literacy – Visualizing Data with Charts
2026-06-01 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Online
Charts are a powerful tool for analyzing and communicating information through tables, graphs or diagrams. This workshop provides you with the skills you need to get the most value from charts. Hands-on activities show you how to apply several types of charts for static and interactive data visualizations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This workshop would be valuable to anyone interested in using charts to address a research question or communicate data findings. Even if you already know how to make charts, this workshop can improve your ability to design charts that can do the best job of depicting your data.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

The fundamentals: what to think about before making a chart

Principles for choosing and designing a chart

How to create static data visualizations with Microsoft Excel and a demonstration of other interactive visualization tools such as Datawrapper

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE BEFORE ATTENDING
No prior knowledge is required, but you may also want to consider attending the SAVI Data, Tools, and Other Resources workshop which explores where to find existing data in SAVI.

Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing Workshop Vanderburgh County (Day 1 of 2)
2026-06-03 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Pudue Extension Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Rd, Suite A, Evansville, IN, 47725, United States
The two-day Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program is a great skill-builder for the beginner or intermediate grant writer. Whatever your skill level, come with an idea and be ready to write. At the end of Day One, you will have a proposal outline and all of the resources you need to expand it into a full proposal.
Return on Day Two (June 24, 2026, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm CT) with your full proposal, and we will put you into the role of a reviewer, teach you strategies for finding funding, and provide you with an opportunity to polish your proposal and send it in for a strong professional review.
Whether your project is big or small, this workshop will give you the information you need to submit proposals confidently.
The cost of the 2-day workshop is $225.00 and includes lunch and materials on both days. You will receive the manual on Day One of the workshop. The workshop will be held at Purdue Extension Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Road, Suite A, Evansville, IN 47725.

Registration will open soon.

Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.
If you are in need of accommodations to attend this program, please contact Meagan Salomon prior to the meeting at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 20, 2026.
For special dietary needs contact Meagan Salomon at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 27, 2026.
If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact Meagan Salomon prior to the meeting at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 20, 2026.

Unlocking the Power of Online GIS: Integrating Data and Creating Multimedia Stories
2026-06-08 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | IN
This session will explore how GIS technology can help you bring data to life. Learn how to integrate data from multiple sources—including SAVI—create interactive maps and multimedia stories and uncover patterns and relationships through spatial analysis. If you’re curious about how tools like ArcGIS Online can support your organization’s storytelling and data-driven decision making, this workshop is for you. Live demonstrations of ArcGIS Online’s capabilities will be included.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This webinar is intended for anyone that wants to know how GIS can help them serve communities.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Mapping, analysis, and data sharing capabilities of geographic information systems tools such as ArcGIS Online.

How to obtain access to GIS tools such as ArcGIS Online.

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE BEFORE ATTENDING
No prior knowledge is required.

Community Leadership Program
2026-06-09 - 2026-06-11, 2026-10-27 - 2026-10-29 | The Barn Abbey, 504 North St, New Harmony, IN, 47631, United States
Servant leadership is ideology upon which Leadership Everyone was built. Each program offered by our staff is specifically designed to develop the servant leader that lies within each of the participants. Offering varying structures of the Community Leadership Program, Leadership Everyone wishes to help you find your servant leadership potential. With the guidance of our staff and the retrospective insight from class members, you will partake in an immersive experience.
The Leadership Everyone staff encourages you to explore the various program options and dates. If any questions arise, please feel free to contact our office.

Driving Impact Through Governance: Strategies for Sustainable Success
2026-06-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Online
Effective governance is the bridge between strong leadership and meaningful, measurable outcomes for an organization’s mission. This session explores how boards can move beyond policies and procedures to actively shape long-term impact. Participants will learn how to translate governance principles into strategic action, ensuring decisions at the board table ripple through programs, partnerships, and community results. Through discussion and applied examples, attendees will consider how to align governance practices with organizational values, performance indicators, and sustainability goals.
Learning Objectives

Connect board governance practices to organizational outcomes and community impact
Use data and evaluation to inform governance decisions and measure progress
Identify strategies for aligning board work with mission, vision, and strategic priorities

Speaker
Vernetta Walker
CEO, Vernetta Walker and Associates

Unlocking Evaluation Success with Program Theory & Logic Models
2026-06-10 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
Program theory provides a roadmap for understanding how programs are supposed to work and how activities should lead to intended outcomes. Conversely, when program theory is not well-defined, problems will inevitably emerge that weaken both the program and its evaluation. This session provides an opportunity to dig deeper into program theory and strengthening evaluation efforts through helping clients identify, clarify, and communicate program theory. In this workshop session, we’ll explore:
· What program theory is and how clearly articulating it can strengthen program delivery and management practices.
· How to communicate program theory through several strategies including basic and detailed logic models.
· Tools and templates that can be used to help staff and leaders develop, revise, and articulate program theory.

SAVI Data Literacy Skills Training – Tell Stories with Data
2026-06-22 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Online
This workshop teaches the next steps of persuasively communicating what you have learned after gaining initial insight from data. You will learn the skills to put your analysis in the context of a compelling narrative and to build your argument logically and convincingly. Whatever your audience, weaving the data into a story is what communicates your findings to others, whether it be a small data set, large data set, or multiple data sets.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone interested in taking the next step from understanding their data and visualizing it, to telling a cohesive story to others about their data.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

To find the compelling narrative in your data
To connect facts that build a compelling argument
To use compelling graphics to communicate your point
To tailor your delivery to your audiences needs

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE BEFORE ATTENDING
No prior knowledge is required, but you may find it useful to attend the Module 1A: Framing the Problem workshop prior to this one. In that workshop you learn how to frame problems so that you have specific and measurable questions that can help you meet your goals. You may also want to consider attending the SAVI Data, Tools, and Other Resources workshop which explores where and how to find data in SAVI.
This offering is hosted by The Polis Center, the creators of SAVI. Through this offering, they will use the Central Indiana map, but the lessons remain the same for Southern Indiana region.

Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing Workshop Vanderburgh County (Day 2 of 2)
2026-06-24 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Pudue Extension Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Rd, Suite A, Evansville, IN, 47725, United States
The two-day Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program is a great skill-builder for the beginner or intermediate grant writer. Whatever your skill level, come with an idea and be ready to write. At the end of Day One, you will have a proposal outline and all of the resources you need to expand it into a full proposal.
Return on Day Two (June 24, 2026, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm CT) with your full proposal, and we will put you into the role of a reviewer, teach you strategies for finding funding, and provide you with an opportunity to polish your proposal and send it in for a strong professional review.
Whether your project is big or small, this workshop will give you the information you need to submit proposals confidently.
The cost of the 2-day workshop is $225.00 and includes lunch and materials on both days. You will receive the manual on Day One of the workshop. The workshop will be held at Purdue Extension Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Road, Suite A, Evansville, IN 47725.

Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.
If you are in need of accommodations to attend this program, please contact Meagan Salomon prior to the meeting at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 20, 2026.
For special dietary needs contact Meagan Salomon at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 27, 2026.
If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact Meagan Salomon prior to the meeting at 812-435-5287 or brotherm@purdue.edu by May 20, 2026.

Financial Management for Nonprofit Leaders and Board Members: A Financial Literacy Series
2026-08-11 08:30 - 11:00, 2026-09-21 10:15 - 12:00, 2026-10-27 08:30 - 11:00, 2026-11-02 10:15 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
This training series on financial management is designed to equip individuals and organizations with the necessary skills to understand, interpret and navigate financial reports and processes. The series covers a wide range of topics including financial statements, budgeting, financial planning, and sustainability. Participants will learn about the roles and responsibilities of board members, executive directors, and other leaders in the budgeting process. The training will also provide insights into financial literacy and how to prevent fiscal fraud, which are critical for any nonprofit organization’s success. With a focus on practical and applicable knowledge, the training series aims to empower nonprofits with the tools they need to make informed financial decisions, ensure financial stability, and maximize their impact. By the end of the series, participants will have a solid foundation in financial management, enabling them to better understand their organization’s financial health, identify areas for improvement, and take appropriate actions to achieve their financial goals. This training series will be presented by Fiscalign.
Series Dates and Locations:

8/11/2026, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM , In-person at the Welborn Baptist Foundation in the Welborn Community Room
9/21/2026, 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM, Virtual, a Zoom link will be shared
10/27/2026, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM , In-person at the Welborn Baptist Foundation in the Welborn Community Room
11/2/2026, 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM, Virtual, a Zoom link will be shared

Board Champions 101
2026-08-26 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
The Board Champions ™ 101-level program provides a critical overview of nonprofit leadership and Board governance. Leaders will explore the vital tactical elements of roles of the Board in nonprofit leadership as well as specific responsibilities of governance. The program provides participants with leading practices in Board excellence along with practical application and understanding of the realities of nonprofit governance. Participants leave prepared and inspired to assume a greater leadership role in helping build a flourishing community. Specific topics covered include but are not limited to: 4 vital roles of the Board; The nonprofit lifecycle; Lanes of success – boundaries between Board and staff; Traditional Board leadership structures and decision making; Fiduciary duties of Board members; How to evaluate potential Board service opportunities. This will be offered as an open offering. Seating will be limited. Contracted consultant partner, Greg Nielsen of Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC.

Evaluation 101
2026-09-09 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
Overview
This training will review the competencies and elements to introduce participants to evaluation concepts. Our Evaluation 101 training covers implementing systems and a structure to set an organization up for success and embed evaluation into their organizational practices. We will highlight the steps involved in creating an evaluation system and prepare participants to begin similar processes in their own organizations that are aligned to their data management plans. This workshop introduces the concept of logic models, SMART outcomes, and an organizational learning culture. This half-day session will dive into the importance of data systems and procedures and how to develop them. We will share examples of how to develop processes to ensure consistency in how data is collected, stored, and analyzed. We will also cover the implications of when organizations do not have these procedures. Participants will walk about with concrete action steps they can carry out!

Workshop Objectives:

Participants will understand basic evaluation terms and processes, including the four steps of program evaluation.
Participants will gain skills to establish clear outcomes and outputs, collect clean data, analyze data, and implement evaluation procedures.
Participants will understand the goals of process evaluations and outcome evaluations.
Participants will identify successes and challenges with the procedures used to collect, store, and analyze the data.

Who should attend?
Ideal participants are those that are looking to learn how to build a compelling grant narrative using data and relevant information, primarily using or leaning into the Grow/SAVI data tool for data usage.
* Following each session, attendees will be asked to complete a brief survey.
Instructed by: Transform Consulting Group

Using Data in Grant Writing
2026-09-30 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Using Data in Grant Writing will help participants understand how to identify, gather, and use relevant data to support a successful grant application. Publicly available secondary data can help nonprofit organizations show the need for their programs and services. Data that organizations collect on their program implementation can help demonstrate how effectively they can meet the community need. We will give examples of how organizations can use data in the narrative of their grant application. Participants will learn how using data can help them make a successful case for funding. This training will be presented by Transform Consulting Group.

SAVI Super User Data Literacy Series 2026
2026-10-22 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
Empower yourself to turn data into insight with confidence. In this dynamic workshop, participants will learn how to use SAVI effectively – building the skills needed not only to navigate the platform with ease, but also to support others with basic technical guidance and data questions. You’ll gain practical experience designing measurable questions, avoiding common data pitfalls, uncovering and applying qualitative insights, and creating clear, compelling charts. Through a high-impact mix of hands-on practice and live demonstrations, this workshop equips you with the tools, confidence, and data literacy that can help you to make smarter, data-informed decisions.
Who should attend?
Ideal participants are those that are looking to have a more in-depth understanding of SAVI mechanics, basics of data literacy, pitfalls, sensemaking, storytelling and informed decision making.
What do I need for the training?
We will ask that you bring your own laptop to the training, this will be required. If this is an issue, please reach out to the Grow Team for assistance. Wifi and access to power will be provided.
Lunch will be provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, please indicate these details in the registration form.
Useful knowledge before attending
Some experience working with data and familiarity with SAVI is helpful. If you are interested in scheduling a SAVI 101, please contact us.

2026 Nonprofit Excellence Symposium
2026-10-23 08:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Blvd, Evansville, IN, 47712, United States
The Nonprofit Excellence Symposium brings together professionals from local businesses and nonprofits for a half-day of workshops, presentations, idea sharing, and networking open to USI students and anyone who works in or is interested in the nonprofit sector.

Board Champions 201
2026-10-26 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Welborn Community Room, 20 NW Third St., Suite 1500, Evansville, 47708, United States
201 Level Training: Habits and Practices of Healthy Boards
*Training for those serving as board members who want to expand their understanding*
The Board Champions ™ 201-level program allows Board members to explore the habits and practices of effective governance, reflect on their strengths, and emerge more energized, engaged, and prepared to excel. Board members will explore practical and refreshingly unique ways to establish the habits and practices necessary for effective governance capable of translating bold vision into reality. Moving beyond a simple review of Board roles and responsibilities, members will dive deep into the key practices of dynamic nonprofit Boards and the lines of authority between Board and staff—potential pitfalls to avoid, as well as current trends and hot topics. Board members will sharpen their skills and leave prepared to embody excellence in nonprofit governance. Specific topics covered include but are not limited to: 5 Habits of Healthy Boards; DEI and Governance; Ethics in governance; Reimagining the traditional Board meeting; Cultivating productive committees; Addressing conflict productively. This will be offered as an open offering. Seating will be limited. Contracted consultant partner Greg Nielsen of Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC.

2027 Nonprofit Excellence Symposium
2027-10-22 08:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Blvd, Evansville, IN, 47712, United States
