February 1 Deadline for Nonprofit Learning Program

The South Berkshire County Fund is accepting applications through February 1 for participation in the 2010 Nonprofit Learning Program, which provides intensive training in management and governance to nonprofit organizations.

The South Berkshire County Fund, an endowment of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, will underwrite the cost of participation for one nonprofit group serving the south Berkshire County towns of Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge. Since 2005, the Nonprofit Learning Program has trained 140 board and staff leaders of 35 organizations from northwest Litchfield County in Connecticut, and northeast Dutchess County and Columbia County in New York. This is the first year that Berkshire County organizations have been invited to apply.

Organizations participating in the Nonprofit Learning Program create four-person teams of board and staff to work under the guidance of Simone Joyaux, a nationally-known consultant in nonprofit management. They receive four free training sessions and two private, full-day consultations for the organization’s board after the group training is completed, as well as donor communications training with communications expert, Tom Ahern. After successful completion of these components, each organization receives a $2,000 grant to help it move forward based on what the team members have learned.

The participants are chosen through a competitive application process. More information and applications for the Nonprofit Learning Program are available by contacting Berkshire Taconic at http://berkshiretaconic.org/nonprofits/NonprofitLearning.shtml or by calling 413-528-8039.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.