Your Nonprofit Hub

The 60-Second Story: Capturing Impact in a Scroll-First World

Date: Tuesday, August 25
Time: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Location: JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah, 11935 Abercorn St, Savannah, Georgia 31419
Facilitator(s): Kewaan Drayton, Founder of Red Eye Film Productions & Director of Operations at Startup Savannah
Audience: Program staff, outreach coordinators, social media managers, and emerging nonprofit professionals

Registration:
Pre-registration required due to space limitations.
United Way Learning Circle Workshop Registration Form

Description:
Nonprofits are doing incredible work every day—but too often, their stories go untold or unnoticed. In today’s fast-paced, scroll-driven world, capturing attention and communicating impact requires clarity, authenticity, and simplicity.

In this interactive workshop, The 60-Second Story: Capturing Impact in a Scroll-First World, participants will learn how to transform real moments from their work into compelling, short-form stories that connect with audiences and inspire action. Through a mix of live demonstration, guided exercises, and group discussion, attendees will walk away with a practical storytelling framework, tools they can use immediately, and a clear path to consistently sharing their impact.

Whether you have a marketing team or not, this session will show you how to start telling better stories—right away.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Identify compelling stories within their organization’s day-to-day work that resonate with donors, partners, and the community.

Key Outputs:

• Apply a simple 60-second storytelling framework to structure impactful, engaging content for social media and digital platforms.
• Capture high-quality photo and video content using accessible tools such as smartphones and low-cost equipment.
• Develop a practical, repeatable approach to storytelling that can be implemented immediately without requiring a full marketing team.

About Facilitator(s):
Kewaan Drayton is the founder of Red Eye Film Productions and Director of Operations at Startup Savannah. He works with nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and organizations to create compelling, story-driven content that highlights real impact. Kewaan specializes in helping teams simplify storytelling and produce high-quality content using accessible tools and practical strategies.

Impact with Intention: Evaluation Strategies for Nonprofits
Build nonprofit capacity to engage public policy ethically and effectively within legal guidelines.

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Facilitator: Dr. Erika Tate, Bluknowledge LLC

Location:
Hospice Savannah – Demere Center – Education Room
6000 Business Center Dr, Savannah, GA 31405

Registration:
Pre-registration required due to space limitations.
United Way Learning Circle Workshop Registration

Audience:

• Program Managers & Coordinators
• Executive Leadership
• M&E or Learning Staff
• Development/Grant Writers
• Operations or Strategy Leads

Description
Program evaluation is essential for understanding the impact of your organization, strengthening programs, and positioning yourself for sustainable growth. Yet many nonprofits struggle to know where to begin with limited time, staff, and resources. In this interactive session, participants will learn how to approach evaluation as an intentional, practical process that supports continuous improvement and funding readiness. The workshop focuses on helping organizations move beyond inconsistent or irrelevant data collection to meaningful evaluation strategies that align with their mission and goals. Through guided reflection, real-world examples, and hands-on activities, workshop participants will begin building a clear and actionable approach to measuring what matters most to the communities they serve.

Learning Objectives
Participants will:

• Understand program evaluation as a strategic tool for measuring impact and informing decision-making
• Learn key evaluation methods that align with organizational goals, capacity, and funder expectations
• Identify practical ways to collect and use data (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations) to demonstrate program effectiveness
• Begin developing an objective-based evaluation plan to support continuous improvement and growth

Key Outputs
Participants will leave with:

• A draft evaluation objective aligned with their program or organizational goals
• A simple, actionable plan for collecting and using data to monitor progress
• Increased clarity on how evaluation supports funding, program improvement, and impact storytelling
• A digital program evaluation starter kit with templates, tools, and next step

About Facilitator:

Dr. Erika D. Tate is the founder of Bluknowledge LLC, a social impact firm that advances equity in schools and communities through collaborative research, inclusive evaluation, and equity-driven professional and community learning. With more than 20 years of experience, she partners with nonprofits, educators, and community leaders to design and implement evidence-based evaluation strategies that measure impact, strengthen programs, and support sustainable growth. Her work centers equity and justice, and has focused on STEM and Arts education, public health (e.g., access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities) and community-level planning. Dr. Tate has led and supported projects that inform programming and policy at local and state levels. She has served as a research partner and evaluator on initiatives funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and numerous philanthropic organizations. A trusted advisor and expert facilitator, Dr. Tate equips mission-driven organizations and leaders with practical, responsive tools to turn data into insight and action. She holds a ScB in Electrical Engineering from Brown University and a PhD in Education from the University of California, Berkeley.

Financial Stewardship for Nonprofits: Interpreting Financials, Cash Flow Strategy & Scenario Planning

Date: Wednesday, October 14
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM *Refreshments served from 12:30 PM-1:00 PM*
Location: America’s Second Harvest,1380 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
Facilitator: Luella M. Sanders, AVP, VyStar Credit Union

Audience:

• Executive Directors / CEOs
• Board Members (especially Treasurers or Finance Committee members)
• Program Directors with budget responsibility
• Emerging nonprofit leaders without formal finance training

Registration:
Pre-registration required due to space limitations.
United Way Learning Circle Workshop Registration Form

Description:
In today’s unpredictable funding environment, nonprofit leaders must make informed financial decisions with limited resources and increasing demand for services. This hands-on workshop equips executive directors and board members, especially those without formal finance backgrounds—with practical tools to strengthen financial stewardship. Participants will review the three primary financial statements—income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement—and learn how to interpret them in real-world contexts. The session will also cover cash flow forecasting, helping leaders understand the timing of revenue and expenses and anticipating shortfalls before they become crises. Through guided exercises, participants will explore scenario planning techniques to navigate uncertainty, assess financial risks, and make strategic budgeting decisions with confidence. Emphasis is placed on practical monitoring tools that support transparency and accountability. By the end, participants will leave with customizable templates, stronger financial insight, and the confidence to lead with clarity, resilience, and foresight.

Learning Objectives:
Gain a clear understanding of the three primary financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement) and how to use them in decision-making

Key Outputs:

Participants will:

• Build practical skills in cash flow forecasting and managing revenue timing gaps
• Apply scenario planning techniques to prepare for financial uncertainty and shifting funding streams
• Strengthen board-level financial oversight and decision-making confidence, especially for non-financial leaders

About Facilitator(s):
Luella Sanders is an accomplished leader with more than 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, and community engagement. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Regional Community Engagement at VyStar Credit Union, where she oversees strategic philanthropic initiatives supporting Military, Youth, and Community programs, with a strong emphasis on advancing organizations that serve the ALICE population.

A dedicated advocate for education and nonprofit leadership, Luella has been an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College since 2007, shaping the next generation of business and community professionals. She also lends her expertise to numerous boards, including Over the Moon Diaper Bank, DEEP Center, the South Bryan Advisory Council for the Bryan County School System, and the United Way of South Bryan County Advisory Board.

Luella’s regional leadership extends to her roles as the 2026 American Heart Association Go Red for Women Program Chair and the 2026 Leadership Southeast Georgia Team Chatham Program Chair. She is also a proud 2025 graduate of Leadership Southeast Georgia.

Driven by service and a passion for strengthening communities, Luella Sanders is widely recognized as an influential educator, advocate, and regional leader across Southeast Georgia.

Sustaining the Mission by Supporting the People: Leadership in Times of Burnout and Change

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (Refreshments served from 8:30 AM-9:00 AM)
Location: America’s Second Harvest,1380 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
Facilitator: Gwendolyn A. Martin, Dr. Gwen’s Counselor Cafe LLC.

Audience:

• Executive Directors / CEOs
• Senior Leadership (COO, Program Directors, Department Heads)
• People Managers (those supervising staff or teams)
• HR / Talent / Organizational Development leads
• Emerging Leaders or Team Leads
• Board Members

Registration:
Pre-registration required due to space limitations.
United Way Learning Circle Workshop Registration Form

Description
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment, leaders are challenged to sustain both their people and their mission. Sustaining the Mission by Supporting the People: Leadership in Times of Burnout and Change equips leaders with the tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to burnout while maintaining operational effectiveness. This session explores the human side of leadership, helping participants build resilience, foster trust, and lead with empathy during times of uncertainty and transition. Through practical strategies and real-world insights, leaders will learn to intentionally develop a culture of care that prioritizes people, promotes psychological safety, and drives sustainable performance.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify early signs of burnout in themselves and their teams and assess the impact on mission effectiveness.
• Apply practical strategies to sustain resilience, engagement, and well-being during periods of change.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors that balance people care with mission demands in high-stress environments

Facilitator Bio

Gwendolyn Martin, widely known as Dr. Gwen, “The Helper’s Helper,” is a respected speaker, author, licensed professional counselor, and mental health consultant dedicated to strengthening individuals and organizations. With more than 30 years of clinical and educational experience, she brings deep expertise in leadership development, human-centered strategy, and workplace wellbeing. Dr. Gwen is the founder of Counselor’s Cafe LLC, where she provides training, tools, and practical solutions to help government agencies, schools, and nonprofit organizations mitigate burnout, reduce stress, enhance team engagement, and cultivate sustainable cultures of care. She is also the owner of Coastal Crossroads Counseling Solutions LLC, a private practice based in Savannah, Georgia. Known for her engaging and insightful approach, Dr. Gwen equips leaders with actionable strategies that promote resilience, empathy, and long-term organizational success.

From Data to Action: Using Community Needs Data to Strengthen Nonprofit Programs and Funding

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: United Way Effingham Service Center, 711 Zitterour Drive, Rincon, GA 31326
Facilitator: Holly Lang, Public Goods Group

Audience:

• Program Managers & Directors
• Development / Grant Writers
• Strategy, Impact, or Learning staff
• Executive Directors shaping programs and funding strategy

Registration:
Pre-registration required due to space limitations.
United Way Learning Circle Workshop Registration Form

Description:
Data about community needs is abundant, but for many nonprofits, knowing where to find it, how to interpret it, and how to put it to work is its own challenge. This session is designed to close that gap. Participants will learn how to identify and use publicly available data to tell a more compelling story about the communities they serve, with practical guidance on where local, state, and federal information lives. The session will also explore how organizations can strengthen their own internal data, build it into an ongoing program and funding strategy, and use it to measure and communicate impact over time. Whether you’re a data newcomer or a seasoned analyst, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of how community data can sharpen your programs, deepen your partnerships, and strengthen your case to funders.

Learning Objectives:
Understand how to find and interpret publicly available community needs data relevant to their organization’s work, including where federal data has limitations and how state and local sources can fill gaps

Key Outputs:

Participants will:

• Learn how to use community data to identify and communicate shared outcomes across housing, health, and basic needs
• Explore strategies for strengthening internal data and using it to track and demonstrate program impact over time
• Apply a practical framework for translating community needs data into stronger program design, partnership narratives, funding proposals, and impact reporting

About Facilitator(s):
Holly Lang is a health economist and the founder of Public Goods Group, a consultancy that helps government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies understand and respond to the needs of the communities they serve. With more than two decades of experience focused on low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations, she has authored more than 150 economic and community health needs assessments across diverse markets. Her partnership with Community Catalyst produced the nationally recognized model for conducting CHNAs through a health equity lens. A former federal policy advisor and consumer advocate, Lang brings a rare ability to make dense data legible and actionable for practitioners, policymakers, and communities. She holds a master’s in health economics, policy, and management from the London School of Economics, where she graduated with distinction and received the Brian Abel-Smith Prize for her work around poverty.