On the Ground
About the program
In 2024, the Learning Hub is proud to offer educational opportunities in the rural communities we serve to help even the smallest nonprofits network and learn. Join us for upcoming events in San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba, and Taos. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
Additional Information
We are looking forward to adding more "On the Ground" offerings across northern New Mexico! To receive the latest information on this Learning Hub program and others, we invite you to join our mailing list!
Meet the people leading the conversation
Roger Gullickson
Roger Gullickson
Roger Gullickson worked in the business world for over 40 years including owning an experiential marketing company before coming to Santa Fe. Both before and after moving he served on numerous nonprofit boards and is currently on the board of The Mountain Center. He is passionately interested in making a difference in the lives of youth both in his work with the center and with his Alma Mater as well as having taught entrepreneurship here in Santa Fe. He has been a SCORE Volunteer for eight years.
Sheetal Prajapati
Sheetal Prajapati
Sheetal Prajapati is an arts professional with over 20 years of experience in the creative and cultural sectors. Trained as an arts administrator and practicing as an educator and artist, Sheetal brings both a creative and strategic approach to advising with a focus on fostering a collaborative process with clients. Sheetal works with arts and cultural organizations to lead vision and strategy planning, develop public engagement initiatives, and support growth or change. Sheetal also spends time with creative people and artists at all stages in their careers as a mentor, advisor, and professor. Sheetal loves working with people, learning together, and bringing creative ideas to life.
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW leads c3 Perspectives Consulting, LLC. As consultant to philanthropy and nonprofits she applies her many years of organizational ,grantmaking, leadership, programmatic, and equity-focused experience to expand the potential of the sector’s impact. Nelsy was the Program Director at Con Alma Health Foundation, a statewide health-conversion foundation and was integral to the New Mexico Community Foundation becoming a leading transformative statewide funder, executing place-based equity-driven capacity-building initiatives, and partnering with national and local foundations and grant recipients.
Areas of expertise and experience:
· Grants & Program Development
· Proposal Reviewer, Writer, Editor & Evaluator
· Collaborative Strategic Planning
· Equity Focused Solutions
· Creative Thought Partner
· Moderator and Facilitator
· NGO Board &Staff Teambuilder, Motivational Coach, and Recruitment
· Event Planning
· Administrative & Organizational Restructure
· Alignment of Mission, Values and Action
· Formulation ,Creation & Refinement of Policies, Procedure Manuals, Processes & Timelines
· Budget Development, Management & Financial Oversight
· Interpersonal Supervision
· Fund & Donor Development
· Assessment & Support of Organizational Cultural Sensitivities
Drew Tulchin
Drew Tulchin
Drew Tulchin has over 30 years of professional experience with mission-driven organizations. He has helped raise more than $400 million and counting with nonprofits, for-profits, foundations, and governments in Indian Country, in New Mexico, throughout the US, and internationally. For more information on Drew and Upspring, check out www.upspringassociates.com.
Dr. J. Rocky Romero
Dr. J. Rocky Romero
Dr. J Rocky Romero, LMSW is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of JR Romero & Associates, which began in 2003 with a focus on behavioral health program development, program evaluation, consultation, and specialized training. Dr. Romero completed his doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies (LLSS) with a focus on analyzing legal discourse related so Spanish colonization while applying a critical race theory lens. Dr. Romero was a doctoral fellow for El Centro de la Raza at the University of New Mexico during his doctoral studies where he also served as the President of the College of Education’s student Graduate Association in LLSS. Dr. Romero is a former Assistant Professor for New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work in Albuquerque, NM. He served as the co-chair for Governor Richardson’s New Mexico Higher Education Cultural Competency Taskforce. Dr. Romero has also served as an Executive Council member for the NM-Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research to include many other boards and committees. Dr. Romero has been a trainer and consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funded National Hispanic; Latino-Mental Health Technology Transfer Center for the last 13 years. In his role as a Technical Assistance expert for the NHL-MHTTC he has recently helped plan, develop, solicit local and national funding for the Northeast Regional Crisis and Treatment Center developed by San Miguel County in Las Vegas, NM. Also, the NHL-MHTTC has contracted with Dr. Romero and a co-author to create a prevention curriculum on: Latino Youth GangInvolvement: The Impact of Trauma, the Social Determinants of Health, and the School to Prison Pipeline.
Dr. Monique Anair
Dr. Monique Anair
I have worked as a filmmaker, and taught multimedia content creation and communication studies since the 1990’s. My research and consulting services are designed to help individuals and organizations create and tell their unique story. Since 2005, I have worked with students, business owners, and corporations to design open innovation research methodologies that leverage community voices through current and emerging technology. I have over 20 years experience working alongside New Mexico community leaders and I am constantly learning new ways to observe our world and tell the stories that inspire us. You can find out more about my work at www.moniqueanair.com
Marcia Swain
Marcia Swain
Marcia Swain retired from her practice as a lawyer and mediator in2010, having spent her career in Colorado. Throughout her career, she served on boards of directors of numerous community-based nonprofit organizations with diverse missions. She joined SCORE Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico in 2012, where she mentored both small businesses and nonprofits and served the chapter in a leadership capacity. Believing passionately in the power and potential of nonprofit organizations to deliver programs that benefit all people and the planet we share, she withdrew from active SCORE mentoring in 2020 to found her own business, Social Profit Advisors, whose mission is to provide information, inspiration, and support to nonprofit organizations and their leaders through education, mentoring, and consulting.
Meet the people leading the conversation
Meet the people leading the conversation
Roger Gullickson
Roger Gullickson
Roger Gullickson worked in the business world for over 40 years including owning an experiential marketing company before coming to Santa Fe. Both before and after moving he served on numerous nonprofit boards and is currently on the board of The Mountain Center. He is passionately interested in making a difference in the lives of youth both in his work with the center and with his Alma Mater as well as having taught entrepreneurship here in Santa Fe. He has been a SCORE Volunteer for eight years.
Sheetal Prajapati
Sheetal Prajapati
Sheetal Prajapati is an arts professional with over 20 years of experience in the creative and cultural sectors. Trained as an arts administrator and practicing as an educator and artist, Sheetal brings both a creative and strategic approach to advising with a focus on fostering a collaborative process with clients. Sheetal works with arts and cultural organizations to lead vision and strategy planning, develop public engagement initiatives, and support growth or change. Sheetal also spends time with creative people and artists at all stages in their careers as a mentor, advisor, and professor. Sheetal loves working with people, learning together, and bringing creative ideas to life.
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW
Nelsy Domínguez, MSW leads c3 Perspectives Consulting, LLC. As consultant to philanthropy and nonprofits she applies her many years of organizational ,grantmaking, leadership, programmatic, and equity-focused experience to expand the potential of the sector’s impact. Nelsy was the Program Director at Con Alma Health Foundation, a statewide health-conversion foundation and was integral to the New Mexico Community Foundation becoming a leading transformative statewide funder, executing place-based equity-driven capacity-building initiatives, and partnering with national and local foundations and grant recipients.
Areas of expertise and experience:
· Grants & Program Development
· Proposal Reviewer, Writer, Editor & Evaluator
· Collaborative Strategic Planning
· Equity Focused Solutions
· Creative Thought Partner
· Moderator and Facilitator
· NGO Board &Staff Teambuilder, Motivational Coach, and Recruitment
· Event Planning
· Administrative & Organizational Restructure
· Alignment of Mission, Values and Action
· Formulation ,Creation & Refinement of Policies, Procedure Manuals, Processes & Timelines
· Budget Development, Management & Financial Oversight
· Interpersonal Supervision
· Fund & Donor Development
· Assessment & Support of Organizational Cultural Sensitivities
Drew Tulchin
Drew Tulchin
Drew Tulchin has over 30 years of professional experience with mission-driven organizations. He has helped raise more than $400 million and counting with nonprofits, for-profits, foundations, and governments in Indian Country, in New Mexico, throughout the US, and internationally. For more information on Drew and Upspring, check out www.upspringassociates.com.
Dr. J. Rocky Romero
Dr. J. Rocky Romero
Dr. J Rocky Romero, LMSW is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of JR Romero & Associates, which began in 2003 with a focus on behavioral health program development, program evaluation, consultation, and specialized training. Dr. Romero completed his doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies (LLSS) with a focus on analyzing legal discourse related so Spanish colonization while applying a critical race theory lens. Dr. Romero was a doctoral fellow for El Centro de la Raza at the University of New Mexico during his doctoral studies where he also served as the President of the College of Education’s student Graduate Association in LLSS. Dr. Romero is a former Assistant Professor for New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work in Albuquerque, NM. He served as the co-chair for Governor Richardson’s New Mexico Higher Education Cultural Competency Taskforce. Dr. Romero has also served as an Executive Council member for the NM-Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research to include many other boards and committees. Dr. Romero has been a trainer and consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funded National Hispanic; Latino-Mental Health Technology Transfer Center for the last 13 years. In his role as a Technical Assistance expert for the NHL-MHTTC he has recently helped plan, develop, solicit local and national funding for the Northeast Regional Crisis and Treatment Center developed by San Miguel County in Las Vegas, NM. Also, the NHL-MHTTC has contracted with Dr. Romero and a co-author to create a prevention curriculum on: Latino Youth GangInvolvement: The Impact of Trauma, the Social Determinants of Health, and the School to Prison Pipeline.
Dr. Monique Anair
Dr. Monique Anair
I have worked as a filmmaker, and taught multimedia content creation and communication studies since the 1990’s. My research and consulting services are designed to help individuals and organizations create and tell their unique story. Since 2005, I have worked with students, business owners, and corporations to design open innovation research methodologies that leverage community voices through current and emerging technology. I have over 20 years experience working alongside New Mexico community leaders and I am constantly learning new ways to observe our world and tell the stories that inspire us. You can find out more about my work at www.moniqueanair.com
Marcia Swain
Marcia Swain
Marcia Swain retired from her practice as a lawyer and mediator in2010, having spent her career in Colorado. Throughout her career, she served on boards of directors of numerous community-based nonprofit organizations with diverse missions. She joined SCORE Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico in 2012, where she mentored both small businesses and nonprofits and served the chapter in a leadership capacity. Believing passionately in the power and potential of nonprofit organizations to deliver programs that benefit all people and the planet we share, she withdrew from active SCORE mentoring in 2020 to found her own business, Social Profit Advisors, whose mission is to provide information, inspiration, and support to nonprofit organizations and their leaders through education, mentoring, and consulting.
Insights From a Funder Panel
Our northern New Mexico nonprofit sector is dynamic and relies on the work of both funders and nonprofits to thrive. Forging and nurturing connections is more crucial than ever. This panel brings funders to you, offering an opportunity for you to interact directly with them. The funder panel will provide insights about what funders consider when selecting grantees. This is also your chance to ask your burning questions and find out what resonates with those who decide where philanthropic dollars flow. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
Maximizing Your Impact: Diversifying Fundraising Strategies Workshop
with Drew Tulchin
This dynamic workshop designed to expand your organization's fundraising strategies. In this interactive session, you will learn how to diversify your fundraising strategies to build a more resilient and robust financial foundation. Our expert facilitators will guide you through a varied fundraising portfolio, including planned giving.
The Board Governance Role – Helping Your Nonprofit Thrive
with Roger Gullickson
Board members are the trusted guardians navigating the nonprofit toward enduring success. They embrace robust, principled, and lawful strategies in governance and fiscal oversight while ensuring the organization is well-equipped to drive its mission forward. In order to fulfill this role, board members must be well-prepared and aware of their roles and responsibilities. This session will help clarify the board member role. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
Accessing Government Funds
with Tsiporah Nephesh & Greg Knadle
In this session, we invite you to learn about ways nonprofits can access Federal, State, County, and municipal funding; understand the Anti-Donation Clause and the effects of the continuing resolution at the federal level; and hear about upcoming changes that will make federal grants easier to get and be more equitable.
Grant Writing Strategies for Success
with Dr. J. Rocky Romero
Designed specifically for nonprofit professionals, this workshop will help you learn to craft compelling grant proposals that stand out. Dr. J. Rocky Romero will guide you through vital techniques for narrative clarity, budget accuracy, and identifying funders whose priorities align with those of your organization. Gain insights into the review process and discover how to avoid common pitfalls. Network with peer leaders in the sector and boost your grant writing knowledge for a greater impact.
Fundraising with Your Board
with Beverly Post
Securing vital resources is an important duty of nonprofit boards. It can also be one of the top challenges. In this enlightening session, we will dive into dynamic approaches that make it easier for board members to get involved. When a board informs and supports the organization’s development strategies, they can assist with realizing the fundraising goals. Beverly has worked with volunteers involved with the fundraising process and understands how breaking down the activities, helps build success. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
Human Resources - Centering Equity and Managing Risk
with Sheetal Prajapati
Executive directors and managers can spend so much time putting out fires and addressing daily activities, that it can be difficult to focus on your organization’s policies and procedures. Creating equitable HR policies can help retain staff and protect your organization from legal risk. Learn more about when to seek external support, such as through an HR consultant or attorney, and what questions you should be asking with your team and board. This interactive session will create a space for everyone in the room to share and learn from one another. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
Developing a Social Media Plan for Your Nonprofit Organization
with Dr. Monique Anair
This interactive workshop is designed for organizations seeking to leverage popular social media platforms to showcase their unique story, communicate their community impact, and aid fundraising efforts. In this session, you will learn how to identify your target audience, create and organize multimedia content, choose the best online platform, and design a social media management plan that fits your schedule, budget, and technical skill-level.
Understanding the Legal Responsibilities of Nonprofit Board Members
with Marcia Swain
As a nonprofit board member, you play a vital role in your organization's success. But are you aware of the legal obligations that come with your position? Understanding your duties is essential to protecting yourself and your organization.
Recruiting and Retaining Board Members
with Nelsy Dominguez
Recruiting new board members can be challenging in small communities. It is important that you are thinking of the skills and voices needed to help your board succeed. There are strategies you can use to build a diverse board with people who are passionate about your cause and can bring specific skills to the table. Hear how term limits can help you strengthen your board and ways to keep board members who “time off” your board engaged. Taos programs are presented in partnership with the Taos Community Foundation.
