Dr. David E. Fraser leads engaging, practical sessions for professionals in government, nonprofit leadership, and healthcare administration. Whether in-person or online, each event offers actionable tools, strategic insights, and real-world case examples grounded in decades of cross-sector experience.
Browse upcoming seminars and register to attend. Most events are open to the public and hosted in partnership with mission-aligned organizations.
🟣 Interested in booking Dr. Fraser to speak or facilitate a session for your organization?
Explore upcoming sessions led by Dr. Fraser, generally open to students, professionals, and the public. Topics include grant strategy, leadership development, and academic skills-building. Registration is free or low-cost unless otherwise noted.

Promoted into Incompetence: Why Good Workers Become Poor Leaders—and How Organizations Can Change That
Part 1: Thursday, April 30, 2026
10:00–11:00 AM PDT (Virtual)
Part 2: Thursday, May 7, 2026
10:00–11:00 AM PDT (Virtual)
Presenter:
Dr. David E. Fraser
Hosted by CSU’s Got Talent!, this special two-part webinar series is organized by Systemwide Learning & Development, Talent Development for the California State University system. Drawing on research and real-world experience across government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector, Dr. Fraser examines why technically skilled employees often struggle after being promoted into leadership roles—and what organizations can do differently.
Session One explores the structural and cultural drivers of promotion-based incompetence. Session Two focuses on practical, evidence-based solutions, including leadership readiness, mentoring pipelines, and promotion reform. The series is based on Dr. Fraser’s recently published book, Promoted into Incompetence.
This event is restricted to CSU employees only.
Participants are strongly encouraged to register for both sessions. The sessions are virtual and presented on the Zoom platform.
Registration link (please register for both dates):
https://events.zoom.us/e/view/tJ0UJQv7QyG2hBDINudLQg/purchase
Accessibility:
Zoom closed captions and transcripts will be available.
For accommodation requests, contact ldstudio@calstate.edu.
📽️ Full-Length Session I Now Available
Session I: Feasibility, Philanthropy & Grantors
Watch the complete 1 hour 47 minute recording of Session I, including the seminar introduction, participant introductions, remarks by Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, and core instruction on conducting a feasibility study, understanding the state of philanthropy, and getting acquainted with potential grantors.
▶️ Watch the full session on the Dr. David E. Fraser (FLG) YouTube Channel
Hosted by the City of Walnut Creek Arts + Recreation Department
October 9, 2025 – Shadelands Auditorium, Walnut Creek, CA
This full-day seminar brought together nonprofit, healthcare, and public sector professionals for a deep dive into the grant development process.
Led by Dr. David E. Fraser, author of Grantcraft, the session introduced a new ethics module focused on transparency and mission alignment.
🎥 Watch the 1:50 preview below.
Webinar Recording: APA 7 Simplified – A Practical Guide to Academic Formatting
Hosted September 26, 2025, this 90-minute live webinar provided graduate students, faculty, and professionals with a clear, accessible walkthrough of APA 7th edition.
Dr. David E. Fraser guided participants through paper structure, headings, citations, references, and common mistakes, with strategies and templates to make APA compliance easier and less stressful.
Webinar Recording: Promoted into Incompetence?
Hosted by the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA) with co-sponsors from NCCU and ASPA Research Triangle, this national webinar drew over 100 participants. Dr. David E. Fraser explores the risks of promoting high performers into leadership without preparation. Topics include leadership gaps, budgeting pitfalls, and ethics.
The session previews themes from his forthcoming book, Promoted into Incompetence.

On September 13, 2025, Dr. David E. Fraser was featured in a live podcast-style conversation and audience Q&A with Diana Cantu-Reyna, RN, a holistic nurse coach and trauma-informed systems educator.
This session explored the cultural, structural, and financial challenges facing professionals working in public health, healthcare administration, and nonprofit leadership — with a special focus on sustainable funding, values-based care, and burnout among mission-driven professionals.
The conversation was recorded live and has since been published as a featured episode on the Reimagining Healthcare podcast.
Watch a full-length recording of Dr. Fraser’s recent seminar, “How to Write a Winning Grant Proposal,” hosted by Contra Costa County.
Dr. Fraser regularly designs and delivers customized sessions for public agencies, nonprofits, universities, and community-based organizations. If you’re interested in hosting a workshop, webinar, or guest presentation, we’d love to hear from you.
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