Startup Nanaimo hosts ‘Profits for Non-Profits unConference’ at VIU March 29

March 17, 2015 - 9:00am

Nanaimo’s more than 800 non-profit organizations are doing their good work in an increasingly difficult funding environment. With reduced government funding for nonprofits, and increased competition for available funds, organizations are being pushed to become more financially self-sufficient and sustainable


Startup Nanaimo’s Profit for Non-Profits unConference Sunday, March 29 will inspire non-profits and other organizations to build revenue generation capacity, including a greater understanding of social enterprise.


“These organizations play an extremely important role in creating and adding social value to our community,” says Ken Hammer, Startup Nanaimo facilitator and professor in Vancouver Island University (VIU) Faculty of Management programs. “In order to ensure their long term sustainability, we need to help them look at profit generation and new revenue, which is exactly what will happen at the Profit for Non-Profits unConference."


Lee Herrin, executive director of Fernwood NRG (Neighbourhood Resource Group) in Victoria, will be the featured guest speaker, sharing the story and the lessons he has learned since his organization made the shift to being enterprising more than 10 years ago. Fernwood NRG operates two licensed daycares, manages 10 three-bedroom affordable housing units, publishes the Village Vibe community newspaper, holds two annual neighbourhood festivals, and runs the Cornerstone Café.


Startup Nanaimo will host the Profit for Non-Profit unConference from 11 am to 3 pm March 29 at VIU in Building 250. Registrants are invited to arrive early for a coffee networking session at 10 am. The unconference aims to bring together some of the area’s brightest minds from across a variety of sectors, social enterprises, and nonprofits to discuss, influence, and inspire revenue generation capacity in our city. The format of the unConference is designed to facilitate conversation and collaboration amongst participants with the goal of developing definitive ‘next steps’, as opposed to a traditional conference structure where participants attend to listen to speakers. 


To learn more about the unconference, or to purchase tickets to attend, please visit: www.picatic.com/profitfornonprofits


-30-


Media Contact


Kelsey Wolff, Startup Nanaimo Lead


Phone: 250.802.3175


Email: startupnanaimo@gmail.com



Tags: In the Community


Sign up for our VIU news and experts email