Learning Circles: Capacity Building Self-Assessment Form

Program Overview

Learning Circles is an intensive capacity building initiative supporting nonprofits as they navigate the volatility of the current moment. This pilot initiative aims to move participating nonprofits from learning to application and runs from May 2025 to December 2025. It integrates the following modalities:

Expert-led in-person and virtual sessions
Individual organizational coaching
Peer collaboration

Our initial offerings include:

Legal Compliance: Legal Risk Management in a Time of Change
Data Security: Shoring Up Your Nonprofit Security Practices
Organizational Communications: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Important Dates: Mark Your Calendars

Below is the in person schedule for each Learning Circle.

Legal Compliance: Legal Risk Management in a Time of Change

Friday June 6, 2025 (Sign up by Tuesday June 3, 2025)

Data Security: Shoring Up Nonprofit Security Practices

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 (Sign up by Friday, June 13, 2025)

Organizational Communications: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Monday, June 23, 2025 (Sign up by Wednesday, June 18, 2025)

Program Requirements

To participate in this program, each organization is required to:

Complete and submit the following self-assessment. Upon completion, you will receive an Eventbrite link to register
Register for your selected Learning Circle(s)

$30 for Nonprofit New York Members
$50 for Non-members

Commit to completing the entire program
Send two staff persons to each learning circle selected

Yes, I read and agree to the program requirements above.

Organization Information

Organization Name

Please select your organization's NTEE category/primary activity:

Enter your organization's annual expenses (i.e. operating budget size):

How many full time staff are employed by your organization? (Include only full-time, paid staff. Do not include volunteers, board members, or open positions).

How many part-time staff or volunteers work at your organization?

Please select the Learning Circle for which you would like to register. To participate, each organization is required to register two staff members per Learning Circle.

Data Security: Shoring Up Your Nonprofit Security PracticesLegal Compliance: Legal Risk Management in a Time of ChangeOrganizational Communications: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Public Funding Access Learning Circle: Unlocking New York City Council Discretionary Funding

Contact Information for First Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

Contact Information for Second Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

Have you applied to the NYC Council for funding this fiscal year for the first time?

YesNo

Have you received funding from the NYC Council in any fiscal year?

YesNo

Would you like to apply for discretionary funding from the New York City Council in the Future?

YesNo

If you've received NYC Council allocations in previous fiscal years, have there been challenges to drawing down the funds?

YesNo

When it comes to discretionary fundraising, what challenges are you most interested in addressing at your organization? (212 word limit)

Organizational Communications Learning Circle: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Contact Information for First Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

Contact Information for Second Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

How many people are on your communications team? (Select one)

Which of the following best describes the status of your nonprofit's communications plan (select one)

We don't have a current communications plan that supports navigating the challenges posed by the current political climate.We have a communications plan but it has not been updated to support navigating the challenges posed by the current political climate.We have a communications plan that supports navigating the challenges posed by the current political climate.We have a current communications plan and don't plan to update it based on the current political climate.

On a scale of 1-5 where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree, to what extent do you agree with each of the following statements:

	1	2	3	4	5
We have an up-to-date set of messages that our team uses to write and speak about our work.
We have identified goals and objectives that guide our communications.
We have identified audiences to prioritize in our communications.
We know which channels to use to reach and engage our priority audiences.
We have effective processes for making decisions regarding messaging and communications

How interested are you in learning about the following topics?

	Very interested	Somewhat interested	Not interested at all
Clarifying or updating our messaging
Clarifying or modifying our approach to visuals (e.g. logo, photos, illustration, etc.)
Managing our internal communications with staff
Managing our internal communications with board members
Managing our internal communications with donors/funders
Managing our internal communications with community members
Developing or updating a communications plan that supports navigating the challenges posed by the current political climate
Creating strong internal systems to support our communications effort

Are there additional topics that you would like to learn about and/or discuss with other nonprofit communicators?

Data Security Learning Circle: Shoring Up Your Nonprofit Security Practices

Contact Information for First Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

Contact Information for Second Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Email

Phone Number

On a scale of 1-5 where 1 is not interested at all and 5 is very interested, rate the following topics

	1	2	3	4	5
Digital Hygiene: Practical tools and best practices to protect sensitive data and organizational assets
Personal Security: How to safeguard personal and professional digital identities and sensitive personal data
Physical Security: Everyday measures to improve workplace safety and resilience

What challenges are you most interested in addressing at your organization? (212 word limit)

Closing

What do you hope to get out of this program? (check all that apply)

Develop a community with other nonprofit professionalsEnhance my expertise in a select areaExpand my network of nonprofit professionals with similar positionsGain insight on how other nonprofits are managedObtain support and guidance in working through issues specific to my organizationOther

If other, please explain (212 words max)

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your organization?

Thank you for completing the Learning Circles Capacity Building Self Assessment form.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to programs@nonprofitnewyork.org with the subject line "Learning Circles".