GREATER BIRMINGHAM CHAPTER: Making the Business Case for Simple Investments
SUMMARY: In response to a surplus reserve fund, the Greater Birmingham Chapter board decided to develop an investment strategy, aiming to generate passive income while minimizing risk. They evaluated a wide range of investment options, including mutual funds, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit, to determine which would be the best fit for the chapter. After researching each option and drafting competing proposals, the board chose to invest a significant amount of chapter funds into certificates of deposit. Throughout the process, the chapter demonstrated prudent stewardship of chapter funds and the importance of proactive financial planning, allowing them to increase their interest earnings and promote the chapter’s financial sustainability.
YEAR: 2024
CENTRAL IOWA CHAPTER: Maximizing Chapter Finances
SUMMARY: The Central Iowa Chapter developed a process to "put their reserves funds" to work.
YEAR: 2006
BATON ROUGE CHAPTER: Monthly Financial Reporting
SUMMARY: The Baton Rouge Chapter created a process to summarize and report chapter financial activities monthly for better reporting at board meetings. The ability to easily gauge progress made on the annual budget is key to effective and responsible management of chapter financial resources. The format used allows the board to review an overview of the budget monthly, provides an easy to understand breakdown of income and expenses, and makes note of the original budget drafted at the beginning of the calendar year to support chapter initiatives. The easy-to-read financial report helps the board stay on budget, provides an increased awareness of the state of chapter funds, and helps the board make responsible and informed decisions.
YEAR: 2017
PUERTO RICO CHAPTER: Establishing an Operational Budget
SUMMARY: An operational budget was established to help set realistic programming goals and avoid unexpected financial crises. The excel template has categories that relate to CARE. This system created an easy process for chapter leaders to be able to create an annual report for the chapter website, which will provide transparency of chapter spending and comply with tax, audit, and financial review requirements.
YEAR: 2017
NEBRASKA CHAPTER: Transparent Budget Reports
SUMMARY: The chapter board desired to increase its business acumen and develop solid, reputable business processes to govern the chapter. Prior to these reports, chapter budgeting was performed by copying the estimate from the previous year. For the 2015 budget, the board broke down chapter expenses into individual categories and added groupings for clarification. Having the board understand the financial aspects of running the chapter has increased awareness of the use of chapter funds and increased the ease in financial decision-making.
YEAR: 2015
PUGET SOUND CHAPTER: Chapter Financial Management
SUMMARY: The chapter shared best practices on how they successfully manage chapter finances and distribute that information to their board members. The chapter also addressed the importance of educating board members about prudent financial management.
YEAR: 2012
CASCADIA CHAPTER: Event Budget Form
SUMMARY: The Cascadia Chapter put together a budget form that they use when planning all their events and meetings.
YEAR: 2012
SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN: Reporting Financial Health Through E-Newsletter to Members
SUMMARY: The chapter makes its finances readily available to the board and chapter members to encourage more transparency and help the chapter understand the decisions being made. On a monthly basis the finance chair compiles a profit and loss statement that highlights the areas in green where the chapter is doing better than expected and in red to highlight the areas of concern. Following the chapter board’s review, the report is included in the chapter’s monthly e-newsletter, which shares insights into chapter operations with members.
Southeastern Wisconsin - SOS Submission Form
Southeastern Wisconsin - Income Report
Southeastern Wisconsin - Expense Report
Southeastern Wisconsin - Finance Report with Graphs Template
YEAR: 2020
BATON ROUGE CHAPTER: Integrated Payment Processes
SUMMARY: To improve the speed and efficiency of preparing the monthly financials, the chapter implemented Paymentech. The new financial processing system not only reduced the time to complete monthly financials, but provided a means for all financial systems to communicate electronically with one another, allowing for a simplified process of managing chapter financials and monthly reconciliations. Additionally, the implementation of Paymentech created an easier and more efficient way for members to access chapter services through a one-step login for registration and payment services. While chapter operations improved and board meeting preparation time decreased, members also benefited from the increased timeliness of charges and refunds when needed.
YEAR: 2018
PITTSBURGH CHAPTER: Financial Audit Through Universities
SUMMARY: The chapter reached out to a local university MBA program to have graduate students conduct a financial audit of chapter records. The students went through all of the chapter’s receipts, bank records, credit card statements, etc. Under the supervision of their professor, an accountant, the students performed a review and presentation of their findings to the chapter’s board. Not only was the chapter able to achieve one of their goals at no cost to the chapter, but the students were excited to receive “real world” experience.
YEAR: 2016
CASCADIA CHAPTER: Internal Review
SUMMARY: The Cascadia Chapter designed internal review templates to ensure that the internal financial review process is consistent and key financial issues are addressed in a timely manner to maintain a financially sound chapter.
YEAR: 2008
GREATER ATLANTA: Revamping Your Chapter Sponsorship Packet
The chapter needed to build upon its current sponsorship package by making it more structured. To do this, they tiered the sponsorships, added advertising rates, and included social media content curation. The key to the sponsorship package is identifying the chapter’s value proposition and aligning it with the sponsor value proposition. The chapter also developed a separate conference sponsorship packet to attract more vendors. The chapter has seen an increase in chapter sponsorships from one main sponsor at the beginning of 2021 to 10 sponsors across a variety of tiers by August 2021, with more pending.
YEAR: 2021
FORT WORTH/MID-CITIES: Securing Grants (and Matching Funds) From Employers
The chapter was looking into alternative approaches to procuring extra income to benefit the chapter. The chapter found that some companies provide grants to their employees based on their volunteerism. As a nonprofit, the chapter can accept volunteer grant funds. Board members reviewed their companies’ volunteer grant policies and if able to, submitted a volunteer grant from their companies. The chapter received $1,500 in volunteer grant money to go towards its member services.
** Please note, it is important to understand your chapter’s tax status and donation guidelines for you state. If you have any questions, contact your chapter relations manager.**
YEAR: 2021
GREATER CINCINNATI: Creating and Communicating a Holistic Chapter Sponsorship Program
The Greater Cincinnati Chapter created a sponsorship package that offers potential chapter sponsors exact options making it easy to solicit sponsorships. The chapter offers two levels of general chapter sponsorships. The first level offers marketing opportunities for chapter programs, while the other level offers opportunities for marketing and interaction with the chapter beyond general programming. The chapter also offers three sponsorship levels for the chapter conference. Chapter volunteers use email and call scripts to solicit potential sponsors. The sponsorship options are available via the chapter website for an easy sign-up and payment option for sponsors. The sponsorship program brought the chapter more than $13,500 of income in 2019.
YEAR: 2020
HAWKEYE CHAPTER: Building Value for Event Sponsors—Networking Triple Threat
SUMMARY: The Hawkeye Chapter desired to show the value of sponsorship for its two-day conference. The chapter created a multifaceted approach to networking that benefited the event sponsors and attendees. To start, attendees were given a conference gift of an empty clear container. Attendees were encouraged to visit sponsor tables and fill the container with candy and snacks located at the tables. Secondly, the chapter incorporated designated times during both days to have booth sponsors move through the participant tables to share a little bit about their organizations and answer questions. Finally, attendee ribbons were made available exclusively at sponsor tables, which encouraged attendee engagement with the sponsors. The three-pronged strategy made the networking between sponsors and attendees feel more approachable, fun, and engaging.
YEAR: 2020
KANSAS CITY CHAPTER: Sponsor Supported Regional Meetup at #ATD2019
SUMMARY: Leaders from the Kansas City chapter partnered with the Nebraska and St. Louis chapters to create an in-person opportunity to connect with members and prospective members at ATD 2019. The Midwest ATD Chapter Meetup was sponsored by SkillPath, who sponsored the Kansas City Chapter and ATD 2019. The event enabled ATD chapters to connect with current and prospective members, share the benefits of the Kansas City chapter’s strategic partnership, and further develop the relationships among ATD’s Midwest chapters.
YEAR: 2019
CENTRAL IOWA CHAPTER: Sponsorship Coffee Hour
SUMMARY: The Central Iowa Chapter Board wanted to gather potential sponsors in one location for a casual meet-and-greet. To align with the chapter’s networking culture, the chapter created a Sponsorship Coffee Hour to be attended by all board members. Through a review of past data, the chapter identified potential sponsors to include on the guest list for the event. The opportunity was also shared with chapter members to inquire if they were aware of potential sponsors that should be included. The board reviewed the chapter’s existing offerings and created a new sponsorship packet to provide to attendees. Through the coffee hour, the chapter secured a platinum-level sponsorship for its conference, an annual sponsorship, and it filled an open board position through one of the connections made at the event.
YEAR: 2018
CASCADIA CHAPTER: Conference Exhibitor Prework
SUMMARY: Working with UMU, the chapter developed a webpage that allowed visitors to review information about each of the vendors prior to the conference. The information included short product and service videos, examples of questions to ask the vendor, and who to contact. Providing vendors with a high-quality experience and a more productive interaction with conference participants led to validating the money exhibitors spent to participate. Out of 213 conference participants, 76 completed the raffle connected to the exhibitor site.
YEAR: 2018
METRO DC CHAPTER: Partnership Model
SUMMARY: The Metro DC Chapter created a partnership model that provides a framework to help the chapter become efficient and proactive at establishing partnerships and leveraging the chapter’s power to support its goals. The chapter also created a procedural document and agreement template that helped it quickly implement this model. As a result, the chapter has three confirmed partnerships and raised $6,000 in 2017 to support chapter goals.
Metro DC – SOS Submission Form
Metro DC – Partnership Agreement Template
Metro DC – Partnership Model
YEAR: 2018
PIKES PEAK CHAPTER: Process for Sponsorship/Partnership
SUMMARY: The chapter designed and implemented a process to increase sponsorships and partnerships. The board felt that developing relationships within the community would lead to increased visibility in the community and enhance the chapter’s overall success. As a result of the chapter’s focus on these relationships, the chapter acquired three sponsors, seven partnerships, and $900 in financial gains.
Pikes Peak - SOS Submission Form
Pikes Peak - Intro Letter
Pikes Peak - Sponsorship Tiers
YEAR: 2016
SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER: Conference Sponsorships
SUMMARY: In order to offer its members and the South Florida community a robust, full-day conference, the chapter found sponsorship revenue essential. The chapter formed an ad hoc committee to plan and coordinate the conference with a goal to break even. The committee used a “prospect list” that the chapter has maintained for several years, and divided the list to reach out to as many vendors and learning organizations as possible. With a goal of $6,000 in sponsorship revenue the chapter exceeded this goal by obtaining a record of 12 sponsors for $11,000, not including sponsors who donated AV equipment, promotional giveaways, and raffle prizes. Because the chapter surpassed its goal, it was able to spend more than budgeted to provide additional giveaways and speaker gifts while still making a profit of $5,000 on the event.
YEAR: 2016
CENTRAL OHIO CHAPTER: Annual WLP Conference Sponsorship Drive
SUMMARY: The Central Ohio Chapter put together an incentive program to increase volunteer engagement and sponsorships for their annual Workplace Learning Professionals conference. The multi-tiered incentive program provided the chapter with a mechanism to reward volunteers based on the number, and total amount, of sponsorships he or she was able to secure in advance of the conference.
Central Ohio - SOS Submission Form
Central Ohio - Sponsorship Drive Incentive Program
YEAR: 2012
GREATER ATLANTA CHAPTER: Sponsorship Sales
SUMMARY: The Greater Atlanta Chapter has increased sponsorship and advertising sales in support of its programs by outsourcing the sales portion of sponsorships to a specialized agency. This enables the chapter leaders to concentrate on delivering the service, branding, marketing for membership growth, and marketing programs for attendance. The salesperson works under the board’s supervision using approved materials. The contracted individual follows ATD branding guidelines and ensures the board approves everything first. Sales increased from $2,500 to $26,000.
Greater Atlanta - SOS Submission Form
YEAR: 2012
CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER: Sponsorship and Advertising Media Kit
SUMMARY: Several chapter leaders collaborated to create an online media kit that promotes the chapter, and outlines a menu of advertising and sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations.
Central Florida - SOS Submission Form
Central Florida - Published Media Kit
Central Florida - Writable Media Kit
YEAR: 2012
