Leveling Up Your Foundation: Strategic Planning for Maximizing Success

eLearning

October 2025 Learning Live

Description

Foundations can be a library’s secret asset – they can educate and advocate in the community differently than the library itself. As library challenges increase, these groups are being called upon to step up, but is yours ready? This session will cover how to evaluate and build capacity among your Foundation, from recruitment and communications, fundraising and donor relations, community partnerships, issues preparedness, and more. While designed especially with Foundations in mind, this session will also be useful for staff liaisons to such groups, Friends groups, and anyone interested in organizational design and strategy.

Speaker

Amanda ReCupido leads strategic planning efforts for nonprofit clients encompassing fundraising and communications, staff and board engagement, issues mitigation and more. Under her leadership, the Downers Grove Public Library Foundation has increased its fundraising and community awareness, including its first-ever signature event, matching donor and major grant. Amanda is a frequent speaker in the media and on podcasts about the importance of libraries as vital public institutions. Learn more at dgplfoundation.org and amandarecupido.com.

About Learning Live

United for Libraries Learning Live sessions take place on the second Tuesday of each month from September to May at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Each month’s session covers a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends, and/or Foundations, followed by Q&A and/or discussions. Sessions are open to all personal members of United for Libraries and those with statewide access.

How to Register

United for Libraries Personal Members & Statewide Partners

United for Libraries Personal Members

Statewide Partners (MA, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OR, SC, and VA)

Non-Members

Non-members may purchase a one-year subscription to Learning Live, which includes live attendance and on-demand access to nine webinars over a 12-month period beginning with the month of purchase.

Some Learning Live sessions are available for standalone purchase.

Event tags:

Academic Library

Administration & Leadership

Advocacy

Online

Public Library

Rural Library

School Library

Special Library

Tribal Library

Trustees, Friends & Foundations

Urban Library

eLearning

October 14, 2025

1:00 - 2:00pm CDT

Zoom

Learn More Register Now

Jan

Mar

eLearning

Fundamentals of Cataloging 2026 - Session 1.0

This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices.

Jan

Mar

eLearning

Fundamentals of Cataloging 2026 - Session 1.1

This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices.

Jan

eLearning

Best of Core Forum: Neurodiversity in the Academic Library

With higher rates of neurodivergent students approaching traditional college-age, it is more important than ever to embrace neurodivergence within the academic library.

Decorative image of anonymous person in dark shirt touching with their finger an icon representing AI on a transparent screen.

Jan

eLearning

Webinar

PLA Town Hall: Exploring an AI-assisted Future in Public Libraries

Join this broad-ranging conversation about the current state and future of public libraries and community engagement with artificial intelligence (AI).

Feb

eLearning

Transform and Thrive: Fostering Well-Being

Library staff and administration do more than point people toward books and information—we foster well-being for ourselves and others. Learn how to go beyond balancing too many projects with too little time.

Feb

Mar

eLearning

Fundamentals of Institutional Repositories 2026 - Session 1.0

This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts of institutional repositories (IR), including IR platforms, promoting the IR, faculty publications in the IR, IR metadata, and accessibility of IR content.

Decorative paper cutouts image of children dancing across an open book.

Feb

Mar

Sustainably Grow Your Summer Library Program

This course will help you rework your programming in accordance with ALA’s sustainability guidelines.

Feb

Mar

eLearning

Inside Interlibrary Loan: Basics for a New Millennium

A four-week asynchronous course on Inside Interlibrary Loan

Feb

eLearning

Build Your Brand, Build Your Community

Learn how you can build your library’s brand to increase loyalty and connection with your customers through simple yet impactful ways, like eye-catching displays, short surveys, and a simple style guide.

Feb

eLearning

Simplify communication to increase access, trust, and efficiency

A 60-minute discussion led by Lee Shainis, President of Simplify Language.

Feb

eLearning

Transforming LibGuides: A Case Study (February 2026)

Join a group of university professionals as they explore the technical and political processes of overhauling and streamlining their LibGuides and the A-Z database list.

Decorative image of a woman sitting behind a desk, smiling as she looks at a sheet of paper.

Feb

eLearning

Webinar

Career Connections at Your Library

Get program guidance and ways to expand career resources so your library can empower patrons to achieve their career goals.

Feb

Mar

eLearning

Design and Marketing for Libraries

A four-week asynchronous course to help students market their library to send positive messages, advocate, promote and engage with their audience.

Feb

Apr

eLearning

Fundamentals of Cataloging 2026 - Session 2.0

This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices.

Feb

Apr

eLearning

Fundamentals of Cataloging 2026 - Session 2.1

This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices.

Feb

eLearning

Challenges for Collecting Digital Games

This webinar addresses emerging challenges for both academic and public libraries interested in collecting, preserving, and providing access to digitally distributed video games.