Non-profit Workshops
The Trust is hosting a series of free in-person workshops in April 2026 that will help build the knowledge and capacity of non-profits. These workshops are for Basin non-profits and their staff and volunteers.
In addition to these in-person workshops, the Trust hosts a series of webinars, learn about upcoming webinars here.
Current Workshops – Nelson, April 18
Grant Writing – Nelson
Learn the basics of preparing grant applications or sharpen your skills through a step-by-step approach to the process. From developing the project idea to completing the details of the budget, this workshop will provide an outline to use to prepare clear, concise, comprehensive, and competitive grant applications.
Lynda Lafluer has had a variety of community-focused roles with her last position as a Community Liaison with Columbia Basin Trust. She has been on both sides of grant applications – the nervous grant writer and the adjudicator. This has given her a unique perspective on successful applications as well as those that were not selected for funding. She likes to share what she has learned in order that more people understand the application process better.
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 10:00 am PT- 12:00 pm PT
Location: Best Western Plus (153 Baker Street, Nelson BC V1L 4H1) Instructor: Lynda Lafleur
Register here: Note that this workshop is currently full. If you would like to add yourself to the waitlist, visit the link below.
Are You Covered? Risk Management for Non-profits – Nelson
Risk management means taking the time to think about what kinds of episodes could happen and taking the steps needed to prevent them from happening or to reduce their impact if they do. This workshop covers a systematic process that organizations can use to identify, evaluate and control risks. A good risk management strategy can save a lot of grief, anxiety and problems.
Val Mayes is an experienced consultant and instructor with a depth of non-profit experience. She was involved with the Insurance Bureau of Canada in the development of risk management resources for non-profits and has helped dozens of organizations understand the how-and-why of planning for safe and successful programs.
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 10:00 am PT- 12:00 pm PT
Location: Best Western Plus (153 Baker Street, Nelson BC V1L 4H1) Instructor: Val Mayes
Register here: Note that this workshop is currently full. If you would like to add yourself to the waitlist, visit the link below.
Running Effective Meetings – Nelson
Board members typically spend a lot of their limited time in meetings, so it’s important to make the best use of that time together. This session covers the basics– the role of the chair, agenda building, taking minutes, understanding parliamentary procedure & when to use it, and dealing with challenging behaviours.
Val Mayes has been working in the field of community development for over 40 years. She has a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta and has worked with a wide range of organizations, teaching sessions on leadership, risk management, board development, working with volunteers, and other topics relevant to nonprofit and community-based groups. Through her consulting business Building Connections Training and Consulting (established 2001) Val has helped multiple groups with planning, decision-making and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm PT – 3:00 pm PT
Location: Best Western Plus (153 Baker Street, Nelson BC V1L 4H1) Instructor: Val Mayes
Register here: Nelson Workshop NPA Registration
Financial Management – Building Budgets & Financial Statements – Nelson
This workshop helps non-profit staff and board members understand their roles in bookkeeping, financial reporting, and financial oversight. Participants will learn how to prepare and interpret key financial statements and use them to build realistic and effective operating budgets. We will cover how to create, manage, and monitor budgets for overall operations, projects, and grant-funded activities. The session emphasizes why well-built budgets are essential for accountability, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
Joleen is based in Nakusp, British Columbia, and has over 20 years of professional experience providing bookkeeping services to small businesses, non-profit organizations, and registered charities. Over the course of her career, she has developed comprehensive expertise in payroll administration, financial reporting, and grant reporting. In addition to Joleen’s professional practice, she has held multiple roles within the non-profit sector, including director, treasurer, employee, and contracted service provider. These experiences have provided her with a thorough understanding of both organizational operations and governance responsibilities.
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm PT- 3:00 pm PT
Location: Best Western Plus (153 Baker Street, Nelson) Instructor: Joleen Minchin
Register here: Note that this workshop is currently full. If you would like to add yourself to the waitlist, visit the link below.
Current Workshops – Cranbrook, April 25
Grant Writing – Cranbrook
Learn the basics of preparing grant applications or sharpen your skills through a step-by-step approach to the process. From developing the project idea to completing the details of the budget, this workshop will provide an outline to use to prepare clear, concise, comprehensive, and competitive grant applications.
Lynda Lafluer has had a variety of community-focused roles with her last position as a Community Liaison with Columbia Basin Trust. She has been on both sides of grant applications – the nervous grant writer and the adjudicator. This has given her a unique perspective on successful applications as well as those that were not selected for funding. She likes to share what she has learned in order that more people understand the application process better.
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 am MT- 12:00 pm MT
Location: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort Cranbrook (209 Van Horne Street South Cranbrook, BC V1C 6R9) Instructor: Lynda Lafleur
Register here: Note that this workshop is currently full. If you would like to add yourself to the waitlist, visit the link below.
Are You Covered? Risk Management for Non-profits – Cranbrook
Risk management means taking the time to think about what kinds of episodes could happen and taking the steps needed to prevent them from happening or to reduce their impact if they do. This workshop covers a systematic process that organizations can use to identify, evaluate and control risks. A good risk management strategy can save a lot of grief, anxiety and problems.
Val Mayes is an experienced consultant and instructor with a depth of non-profit experience. She was involved with the Insurance Bureau of Canada in the development of risk management resources for non-profits and has helped dozens of organizations understand the how-and-why of planning for safe and successful programs.
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 am MT- 12:00 pm MT
Location: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort Cranbrook (209 Van Horne Street South Cranbrook, BC V1C 6R9) Instructor: Val Mayes
Register here:Cranbrook Workshop NPA Registration
Running Effective Meetings – Cranbrook
Board members typically spend a lot of their limited time in meetings, so it’s important to make the best use of that time together.
This session covers the basics– the role of the chair, agenda building, taking minutes, understanding parliamentary procedure & when to use it, and dealing with challenging behaviours.
Val Mayes has been working in the field of community development for over 40 years. She has a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta and has worked with a wide range of organizations, teaching sessions on leadership, risk management, board development, working with volunteers, and other topics relevant to nonprofit and community-based groups. Through her consulting business Building Connections Training and Consulting (established 2001) Val has helped multiple groups with planning, decision-making and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm MT- 3:00 pm MT
Location: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort Cranbrook (209 Van Horne Street South Cranbrook, BC V1C 6R9) Instructor: Val Mayes
Register here: Cranbrook Workshop NPA Registration
Financial Management – Building Budgets & Financial Statements – Cranbrook
This workshop helps non-profit staff and board members understand their roles in bookkeeping, financial reporting, and financial oversight. Participants will learn how to prepare and interpret key financial statements and use them to build realistic and effective operating budgets. We will cover how to create, manage, and monitor budgets for overall operations, projects, and grant-funded activities. The session emphasizes why well-built budgets are essential for accountability, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
Joleen is based in Nakusp, British Columbia, and has over 20 years of professional experience providing bookkeeping services to small businesses, non-profit organizations, and registered charities. Over the course of her career, she has developed comprehensive expertise in payroll administration, financial reporting, and grant reporting. In addition to Joleen’s professional practice, she has held multiple roles within the non-profit sector, including director, treasurer, employee, and contracted service provider. These experiences have provided her with a thorough understanding of both organizational operations and governance responsibilities.
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm MT- 3:00 pm MT
Location: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort Cranbrook (209 Van Horne Street South Cranbrook, BC V1C 6R9) Instructor: Joleen Minchin
Register here: Cranbrook Workshop NPA Registration
Past Workshops
Recruiting and Retaining Great Volunteers: Strategies That Work – Nakusp
This interactive, in-person workshop offers practical strategies and proven practices to strengthen your volunteer program. Whether you’re building your volunteer base or looking to energize your existing team, you’ll walk away with practical tools and new ideas that can take your volunteer engagement to the next level. While this workshop is focused on volunteerism, we will also discuss how many of these practices apply to recruiting and retaining staff. Ideal for: Non-profit staff, volunteer coordinators, board members, and community organizers.
Kelvin Saldern has spent over 25 years working with nonprofits, local governments, and grassroots groups all across BC. He’s a community development consultant and effective facilitator (and an active volunteer board member) who’s passionate about helping organizations thrive, especially when it comes to things like strategic planning, board development and volunteer engagement. Kelvin brings a practical, hands-on approach to his workshops, along with a friendly and inclusive style that makes it easy to learn and participate.
This workshop was on September 17, 2025.
Ten Steps to Successful Strategic Planning – Creston
This session will cover tips for preparing to plan, setting achievable goals, and involving the right people in the planning process. Examples and planning tools will be included. Participants are encouraged to bring their organization’s plan to the session for feedback.
Val Mayes has been working in the field of community development for over 40 years. She has a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta and has worked with a wide range of organizations, teaching sessions on leadership, risk management, board development, working with volunteers, and other topics relevant to nonprofit and community-based groups. Through her consulting business Building Connections Training and Consulting (established 2001) Val has helped multiple groups with planning, decision-making and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
This workshop was on September 23, 2025.
Ten Steps to Successful Strategic Planning – Taghum
This session will cover tips for preparing to plan, setting achievable goals, and involving the right people in the planning process. Examples and planning tools will be included. Participants are encouraged to bring their organization’s plan to the session for feedback.
Val Mayes has been working in the field of community development for over 40 years. She has a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Alberta and has worked with a wide range of organizations, teaching sessions on leadership, risk management, board development, working with volunteers, and other topics relevant to nonprofit and community-based groups. Through her consulting business Building Connections Training and Consulting (established 2001) Val has helped multiple groups with planning, decision-making and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
This workshop was on September 24, 2025.
Recruiting and Retaining Great Volunteers: Strategies That Work – Sparwood
This interactive, in-person workshop offers practical strategies and proven practices to strengthen your volunteer program. Whether you’re building your volunteer base or looking to energize your existing team, you’ll walk away with practical tools and new ideas that can take your volunteer engagement to the next level. While this workshop is focused on volunteerism, we will also discuss how many of these practices apply to recruiting and retaining staff. Ideal for: Non-profit staff, volunteer coordinators, board members, and community organizers.
Kelvin Saldern has spent over 25 years working with nonprofits, local governments, and grassroots groups all across BC. He’s a community development consultant and effective facilitator (and an active volunteer board member) who’s passionate about helping organizations thrive, especially when it comes to things like strategic planning, board development and volunteer engagement. Kelvin brings a practical, hands-on approach to his workshops, along with a friendly and inclusive style that makes it easy to learn and participate.
This workshop was on October 2, 2025.
Non-Profit Board Success – Genelle
A strong board is essential to nonprofit effectiveness. This workshop will provide practical tools and guidance to help board members and nonprofit leaders strengthen governance, clarify roles and responsibilities, and increase board engagement.
Margaret Sutherland has worked with non-profit organizations for the past 25 years- as an employee and board member. She retired as executive director from Decoda Literacy Solutions, B.C.’s provincial literacy organization, in 2022. She is currently the board chair of the Selkirk College Board of Governors.
This workshop was on October 7, 2025.
Non-Profit Board Success – Kimberley
A strong board is essential to nonprofit effectiveness. This workshop will provide practical tools and guidance to help board members and nonprofit leaders strengthen governance, clarify roles and responsibilities, and increase board engagement.
Margaret Sutherland has worked with non-profit organizations for the past 25 years- as an employee and board member. She retired as executive director from Decoda Literacy Solutions, B.C.’s provincial literacy organization, in 2022. She is currently the board chair of the Selkirk College Board of Governors.
This workshop was on October 8, 2025.
