First Business, its management, staff, and directors are dedicated to the nonprofits that serve our community.
Training Opportunities
Our First Businss Seminar Series includes training opportunities for nonprofit executive directors, associate directors, and board members. Ask your First Business representative to add you to our seminar invite list, and browse podcasts of past events:
Past Nonprofit Events - Now Available on Podcast
- Understanding Financials, a Bank View.
- Recruit and Retain Good Employees.
- Social Media for Not-For-Profit Organizations
- Main Street Banking and How it Impacts You
- Connecting for Impact
- Collaborative Grant Proposals: What to Embrace, What to Avoid
Funding Opportunities
In September of 2011, First Business Bank announced the first ever First Business Invitational for Charity golf event, where local business people will compete for a local charity of their choice. The event took place September 21 at Hawks Landing. The competitive event was designed with two person teams competing in a best ball format. Each two-some selected one local charity for which they played. First Business Bank committed to covering 100 percent of the event costs, which means the winning team would win over $35,000 for their chosen local charity.
And the winner is.... the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. The Boys & Girls Club took home $42,000 in winnings thanks to Mike Victorson and Sean LaBorde of M3 Insurance Solutions for Business who played in the "winner takes all" First Business Invitational for Charity golf event.
Check back early next week for the podcast.
May 12, 2010 - Credit. This word has dominated financial headlines for the past two years. Is credit more difficult to obtain now than it was three years ago? What does a bank look for when analyzing credit requests? Are the financials of nonprofit organizations viewed differently than those of “for profit” companies? First Business Financial Services’ CFO, Jim Ropella, and AVP of Credit, Ken James will present a comparative analysis and answer your questions.
See Jim’s LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-ropella/11/788/848. See Ken James at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjames1
Recruit and Retain Good Employees
No one goes into a hiring process thinking, “I want to hire an average performer that will only stick around for a few months.” We all want to hire the “A-Player” who’s in it for the long haul. But where do we find them, and how do we keep them? Emily Bradley of First Business will present useful tips and best practices that will help you recruit and retain your greatest asset…the “right” people. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Emily is the Recruiter and Human Resource Associate at First Business Financial Services. She is actively involved in WI-ACE (Wisconsin Association of Colleges & Employers) and is currently the President-Elect. She is also active in organizing corporate volunteer and fundraising efforts for First Business. See Emily’s LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyabradley.
Social Media for Not-For-Profit Organizations
It's Way More Than Facebook and Twitter: Top 10 Social Media Best Practices Every Not-For-Profit Organization Needs to Know
In a challenging economic environment, incorporating social media into the marketing mix can be a cost-effective way for not-for-profit organizations to communicate with and engage community stakeholders. Yet many organizations are paralyzed with inaction, struggling to understand why this emerging medium is relevant to their mission or how to best harness its near-limitless power. In this engaging and lively session, Nate Towne will illuminate the murky depths of social media, bringing to light the top ten social media best practices every not-for-profit organization can and should begin using today to help achieve its organizational goals.
Nate Towne is a social media and public relations counselor at Hiebing, Madison Wisconsin's largest integrated advertising and brand development agency. Passionate about social media and its role in thoughtful public relations, Nate uses his unique talents to help his clients interact with their publics through engaging, meaningful, and honest communication. Prior to joining Hiebing, Nate founded his own public relations and marketing communications business and was a syndicated freelance journalist writing for various entertainment, news, and business media.
