


Nonprofit Managers and Board Members Are Invited to “Build Your Fundraising Toolkit”
Calling all Nonprofit Directors, Fundraisers, Development Chairs and Board Members May 24, 2023 from 8:30 to 10am at the Women’s Exchange in the Community House in Winnetka! Join this lively Panel Discussion lead by two distinguished fundraising professionals with a lot of valuable experience to share. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other Nonprofits facing the same challenges you are. Breakfast will be served.
Topics of discussion will include:
Fundraising
Grant Writing
Board Development
Special Events and Programs
Corporate Sponsorships and Funding


Nonprofit Alert: Save the Date!
Are you a nonprofit fundraising or development professional looking for new ways to make your fundraising programs more effective?
Then you won’t want to miss our next Nonprofit Training and Networking Event on May 24, 2023 in the Women’s Exchange in Room 102 at the Community House in Winnetka. This hands-on session titled “Fill Your Fundraising Toolkit” will be lead by a team of fundraising professionals, who promise to send you home with tips and strategies that will bring immediate results to your bottom line.
More details to come so watch this space — and mark your calendars now!

Register Now for our November 7th Nonprofit Workshop “Grow: How Organizations Can Use META to Build Communities, Raise Awareness and Fundraise”

The Volunteer Center invites all Nonprofit Executive Directors, Communications Managers and Development Chairs to a results-based workshop addressing all of your questions about social media and Meta
Lead by global brand professional Mack Reynolds, we’ll be exploring questions like “How can I build an active online community?”, “How can social media help me raise money?” “How can I find and work with social media creators and influencers to build my following?” “What exactly is Meta, and why do I care?”
Monday, November 7th
11:30 AM
Clarkson Lodge at Clarkson Park
1950 New Willow Road, Northfield
Box Lunch Included
Whether you’re already doing it — or don’t really understand why Meta matters to you — you’ll come away with hands-on strategies that will give you the tools and confidence you need to take maximum advantage of this business-building social media platform. This is a can’t miss opportunity for all nonprofit leaders who are looking to unlock the mystery of Meta!
Presenter Mack Reynolds leads team building strategies to help businesses, nonprofits and organizations of all sizes tap into their true creative potential across Meta’s platforms. He has been helping brands tell breakthrough stories for 15+ years. Before Meta he was at agencies in Texas and Chicago. Mack is a Winnetka native, and current residents of Northfield with his wife and three kids.
Please Click Here to Register
If you have questions, please email the Volunteer Center at info@volunteercenterhelps.org

The Volunteer Center Invites Nonprofits to a FREE Training Program: “The Basics of Board Governance” on June 15th
Program Agenda
- Objectives of the Governing Board
- Fiduciary & Legal Responsibilities of the Board
- The Pillars of Good Governance
- Legal Compliance and Public Disclosure
- Effective Governance
- Strong Financial Oversight
- Responsible Fundraising
Nancy’s Profile
25+ Years of Experience
Nancy has more than 25 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to starting her own firm, Nancy worked for many years as a consultant with a “Big Four” CPA firm. During her tenure she gained experience in both audit and tax departments of the firm’s Austin, Texas and Chicago, Illinois offices. Nancy also worked in a managerial capacity for a local and then a regional CPA firm serving Chicagoland. In February, 2008, Nancy organized a new kind of accounting firm, Nancy L. Gonsiorek, CPA, LLC, intent to serve nonprofit organizations. The firm currently serves nonprofit clients in Northeastern Illinois.
Nonprofit Specialty
Nancy has served nonprofit organizations of various sizes throughout her career, providing audit and other attest services, information return (form 990) preparation, and other business advisory services. The Firm practice is exclusive nonprofit organizations, currently serving approximately 60 organizations. The Firm library is well-equipped with nonprofit accounting and policy manuals and other specialized nonprofit practice aids to provide clients with exceptional business resources. Nancy has written a monthly column on nonprofit governance for a regional newspaper and serves on the Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee of the Illinois CPA Society, providing support to CPAs and nonprofit leaders throughout the state of Illinois. In 2018, The Illinois CPA Society Board of Directors presented Nancy with the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contributions to the Committee.
About Nancy
Nancy has resided in Crystal Lake for the past 25 years, along with her husband, John, where they raised their two children. Nancy is an avid community volunteer, having served two terms on the …
Volunteers Needed for Community-Wide Document Shredding Event Saturday, November 13th
The Volunteer Center and New Trier Township are sponsoring a free community-wide Document Shredding and Disposal Event — and we need volunteers!
WHEN: Saturday, November 13th from 8:30am-11:30am
WHERE: In the parking lot of Regina Dominican High School, at 701 Locust Road in Wilmette.
This safe, contactless, drive-through event is a great opportunity to protect your financial privacy and prevent identity theft by destroying financial and other private documents before you dispose of them.
We are looking for volunteers to help unload documents from donor’s cars and loading them into the shredding truck, and to help with cleanup.
To volunteer, or for more information, email Barb Tubekis at info@volunteercenterhelps.org
2019-2020 Networking and Training Events for VC Nonprofit Partners
STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ABOUT OUR UPCOMING NETWORKING AND TRAINING EVENTS
Planning is underway for this year’s Nonprofit training and networking events — and there are more to come! We’ll be tackling some important topics with this year’s programs, so you won’t want to miss these informative sessions that also offer a great opportunity to connect — and exchange ideas — with other Nonprofit professionals. Watch this website for more details to come.
FOR SCHOOL AND FAITH-BASED SERVICE COORDINATORS
November 6, 2019
9-10:30
Winnetka Park District Community Room
Click Here to Register
Join us for a networking event and discussion about service learning and how the Volunteer Center can help you build or enhance your school’s community service programming. We will provide new ideas to engage your youth in age-appropriate service activities that benefit nonprofits who will inspire them to a lifelong commitment to giving back. This is also a great opportunity to network with your colleagues and share ideas.
FOR NONPROFIT DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS
November 19, 2019
Marketing/Communications: New Strategies to Reach Your Nonprofit’s Audience!
Join the VC for breakfast and this special nonprofit training on building effective marketing and communications strategies, featuring Susan Noyes, Founder & Publisher of Make It Better Media Group, who will discuss “Activating Your Audience” and Chris Hogan, Managing Director of i3Insights and Executive Service Corps member who will cover “Marketing Your Nonprofit”. Comprehensive media contact list also provided attendees. REGISTRATION Required on VC website – VolunteerCenterHelps.org. Location: Community House, Winnetka, 620 Lincoln, Winnetka. Breakfast: 8:30 – 10:30am
February 12th, 2020
“How to Fully Fund Your Nonprofit Every Year”
Luncheon and Program co-sponsored by The Volunteer Center and Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce

An Engaged Group of Nonprofits Participated in a Thought-Provoking Workshop on the Challenges of Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers Over Lunch at the Winnetka Community House
Nonprofits Looking for the Secrets to Finding and Retaining Loyal Volunteers Enjoyed Lunch and a Stimulating Discussion on May 30th at the Winnetka Community House
Executive Directors and Volunteer Managers from a wide variety of Nonprofits came together for lunch and to learn best practices for recruiting and retaining volunteers for their organizations. Attendees gained tangible insights on volunteer recruitment, training and retention — how to provide a rewarding experience for those valuable volunteers who not only support you with extra hands but also provide valuable PR impact in the community. We also discussed the potential positive affects of utilizing individuals with disabilities in volunteer program!
Our Presenters
Ann Healing, Director of Volunteer and Church Engagement at Breakthrough. Ann leads their volunteer program consisting of over 2000 volunteers a year. Breakthrough is a nonprofit that serves youth and families who live in East Garfield Park, as well as adults who are experiencing homelessness. She has over 15 years of experience leading, managing, and training staff and volunteers in the non-profit sector.
Barbara Tubekis, Executive Director, The Volunteer Center (VC). Barb has been director since 1994 and in coordination with board and staff members of the VC, she has managed a full service volunteer program for over 15,000 individuals and service groups looking for meaningful opportunities with its growing list of nonprofit partners (currently 155+). Through its website, five annual Service Days, trainings and recognition of exceptional volunteers, the VC is a valuable resource that inspires volunteerism. Barb has lead workshops on volunteer management and served on the Serve Illinois Commission for eight years.
Tricia Luzadder, Ventures Program Manager, Search, Inc. Tricia oversees two social enterprises of Search, Inc, a long-standing service provider to adults with disabilities. No Boundaries, Train for Work/Train for Life, is a program designed to …
VC Hosts a Successful Training and Networking Event for Nonprofit Partners and Supporters
Nonprofit Executive Directors and Board Officers were invited to join the Volunteer Center for a discussion of one of the most critical challenges facing nonprofits today — Board Recruitment and Development. This turned out to be a can’t-miss opportunity to learn from the experts, and to share ideas with other nonprofits. The Volunteer Center is grateful to both of the “Mikes” and our nonprofit partners for generating such a stimulating conversation — and to Avli for providing such delicious fare!
When: June 10, 2016, 1-3PM
Where: Avli Estiatorio, 566 Chestnut Street (inside the Laundry Mall), Winnetka
Who: Two Executive Service Corps professionals with decades of experience in building, developing and leading Boards and recruiting and managing volunteers. Read their complete bios below
