a chicago cultural alliance webinar series
for A Strategic Future
Meeting the Moment Webinars: A Free Professional Development Series for Cultural Nonprofits
The Chicago Cultural Alliance presents Meeting the Moment, a dynamic free workshop series designed to equip cultural and heritage nonprofits with practical tools and strategic insights to navigate today’s challenging landscape for arts and community organizations. You can view the full schedule of sessions HERE. In an era of shifting funding environments, policy uncertainties, and evolving audience expectations, Meeting the Moment supports leaders and teams with focused sessions on essential nonprofit functions — from marketing and communications to fundraising, finance, operations, and collections.
Each free webinar session is led by experienced sector professionals who blend real-world expertise with actionable guidance. Participants will gain frameworks, best practices, and tactical approaches to strengthen their organizations and build resilience. Beyond the workshops, Meeting the Moment offers one-on-one consultation opportunities with session leaders, giving partner organizations individualized support tailored to their unique challenges and goals.
Whether you’re refining your fundraising strategy, telling your story more effectively, or improving organizational systems, Meeting the Moment provides the knowledge, community, and support cultural nonprofits need to adapt, thrive, and move forward with confidence.
Advisors
NEXT SESSION
We invite you to join us on March 12th for the next free webinar session of Meeting the Moment, Organizing Programs for Strategic Grant Writing: The Umbrella Approach.
Led by John Bateman, this session asks do you organize, plan, and budget every aspect of your nonprofit as a separate and distinct program? Take a step back and consider how this work can be organized into strategic, relatable groups. Coordinate efforts and seek one grant to cover more activities. The advantage? Larger grants, greater revenue, and streamlining reporting requirements.
Meeting the Moment is Proudly Sponsored by
Upcoming Sessions
The Illinois Arts & Culture Policy Landscape (IN-PERSON AT THE ACTIVATING HERITAGE CONFERENCE)
Tuesday, March 10th
Andrew Schneider, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Arts Alliance Illinois
Sasha Ongtenco, Program Director over Creative Workers, Arts Alliance Illinois
Register HERE
Financial Storytelling (WEBINAR)
Thursday, March 26th at 10:00 AM CT
Yvonne P. Afable, Managing Partner & Jill Villanueva, Senior Team Lead, Afable Consulting LLC
Register HERE
Social Media Strategy: Less Content, More Impact
Thursday, April 9th at 10:00 AM CT
Laura Herrera, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Register HERE
Data Security – Protecting your Digital Information (WEBINAR)
Thursday, April 30th at 10:00 AM CT
John Bragado, Senior Technology Associate, Afable Consulting
Register HERE
Crafting a Common Narrative (WEBINAR)
Thursday, May 14th at 10:00 AM CT
John Bateman, Founder Nonprofit Sanity, LLC
Register HERE
Budgeting for Grants
Thursday, May 28th at 10:00 AM CT
Yvonne P. Afable, Managing Partner & Jill Villanueva, Senior Team Lead, Afable Consulting; John Bateman, Founder, Nonprofit Sanity
Register HERE
Crisis Communications 101: Planning Before You Need It
Thursday, June 11th at 10:00 AM CT
Laura Herrera, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Register HERE
Getting Started with Fundraising: Software and Procedures (WEBINAR)
Thursday, June 25th at 10:00 AM CT
Facilitator Name & Title: TBD
Register HERE
Using a Simple Grant Strategy
Thursday, July 16th at 10:00 AM CT
John Bateman, Founder Nonprofit Sanity, LLC
Register HERE
Creating Cash Flows and Budgets
Thursday, July 30th at 10:00 AM CT
Yvonne P. Afable, Managing Partner & Jill Villanueva, Senior Team Lead, Afable Consulting LLC
Register HERE
Media Relations for Mission-Driven Organizations
Thursday, August 13th at 10:00 AM CT
Laura Herrera, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Register HERE
Diversifying Revenue (WEBINAR)
Thursday, August 27th at 10:00 AM CT
Facilitator Name & Title: TBD
Register HERE
PAST SESSIONS
Strengthening Physical Security:
Securing Your Building & Protecting Your Collection
Led by Jesse Wimberly, Security Professional
View the Session HERE
Telling Your Story: Building a Brand Narrative
Led by Laura Herrera, Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
View the Session HERE
Best Practices for the Small Team
Led by Yvonne P Afable & Jill P Villanueva, Afable Consulting
View the Session HERE
The Four Rs of Fundraising
Led by Colleen McGaughey, National Public Housing Museum
View the Session HERE
Know Your Rights Sessions
Led by the Chicago Culture Alliance & Presented by Fred Tsao, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
View the Session HERE
Within “Meeting the Moment”, we are offering special support programs along with a $5,000 microgrant that is available only to Core Members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance with budgets below $300,000 per year. This program within the Meeting the Moment series is titled Building for Impact. Organizations admitted to Building for Impact will benefit from one-on-one consultations and receive a grant at the end of the program. Please complete the following application for consideration.
Applications are now closed. Thank you to all who applied.
Staff & Board Talking Points
To equip internal stakeholders with consistent, clear messaging in the event of inquiries or uncertainty.
General Press Statement Template
Use this template when issuing a statement to the media following an incident or external concern involving immigration enforcement, safety threats, or misinformation.
Social Media Message Template
Use this format for Facebook, Instagram, or X/Twitter posts in the immediate aftermath of an incident, while more information is being gathered.
Safe Spaces, Strong Voices
This toolkit provides practical resources to help member organizations protect their communities, communicate effectively, and respond with confidence and care.
About Us
The Chicago Cultural Alliance’s mission is to connect, promote, and support centers of cultural heritage for a more inclusive Chicago. We are an active consortium of 50 cultural heritage museums, centers, and historical societies that span 23 neighborhoods and 11 suburbs in the Chicago area and represent over 30 different cultures. Our vision is a city where all communities have a voice, and cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration are an integral part of Chicago’s civic fabric.