What Was It About?
Topics of the training included fundraising, communication, strategic planning and coalition building.
When and Where?
The Think Tank School took place on March 7-8, 2013 in Leuven (Belgium).
Program
Day 1, Thursday, March 7
9:00 – 10:00 Introduction session
10:00–13:00 Workshop: Methods and Means of a think tank
– 10:00-10:30 Can We Improve the Future of Europe / Pieter Cleppe, Open Europe (Belgium). The World We Work in. An Overview on Europe’s Current Problems. Tendencies of Federalization
– 10:30-11:00 Q&A
– 11:00-11:20 Break
– 11:20-13:00 Managing and Coordinating / Zilvinas Silenas, Lithuanian Free Market Institute. Importance of Strategic Planning
Managing People, Internal Communication
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00–18:00 Workshop: Developing a Communication Strategy
14:00-15:00 Developing a Communication Strategy /John O’Connell, Taxpayers Alliance (UK). How to Get Started on Communication Strategy. Key Elements of Communication Plan. How to Excel in Communicating
15:00-15:30 Developing a Communication Strategy. Experience of the ESFL / Wolf von Laer, ESFL
15:30-15:50 Break
15:50-17:00 Group working “Crafting Communication Strategy”
17:00-17:45 Discussion: Promoting the Message in Multilingual Europe
18:30 Dinner
Day 2, Friday, March 8
9:00–12:00 Workshop: Developing a Strategy for Fundraising
9:00-9:40 Selling to Sponsors: Faith, Fundraising and Techniques / Tim Evans, Cobden Centre, Adam Smith Institute (UK). Faith vs. techniques. Why do Commitment to Ideas of Liberty Matter. Characteristics of a Successful Sales Force. Personal experience
09:40-10:20 Developing Fundraising Strategy. Approaching Foundations / Tom Palmer, ATLAS Network (US)
10:20-10:40 Developing Fundraising Strategy. Experience of the SFL / Alexander McCobin, Students for Liberty (US)
10:40-11:30 Group work “Developing Fundraising Strategy”
11:30-12:00 Discussion: How to Raise Resources for Joint Projects
12:00-12:30 Evaluation Session
