Breakout Sessions

The breakout information listed below is subject to change.

Thursday, October 10

Breakout Sessions, Round I: 10 - 11 a.m.

Boards & CEOs: Together Advancing Justice and Equity (Room 7)
Track: Leadership & Governance | This session is sponsored by Lathrop GPM LLP
Two foundations endowed by descendants of railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill—Jerome Foundation and Northwest Area Foundation—are working to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in their organizations and beyond through grantmaking, investing and standing alongside changemakers. Authentic partnership between the board and CEO has been crucial for both organizations in their respective journeys. Join a conversation with leaders of these foundations to explore: aligning all aspects of your organization’s work with its values; strengthening your board’s culture through JEDI learning, sharing and implementing; normalizing the discomfort needed for growth; working through your institutional and personal fears and lived experiences; reckoning with the origins of a foundation’s wealth and partnering with stakeholders on a path forward.
Kevin Walker, president and CEO, Northwest Area Foundation; Eleanor Savage, president and CEO, Jerome Foundation; Kate Barr, board chair, Jerome Foundation; Duane Carter, board chair, Northwest Area Foundation

Creating a Culture of Radical Self-Care in Your Organization (Room 11)
Track: Leadership & Governance
In the nonprofit sector, the wellbeing of our people has too often been relegated to a secondary priority. Resources are stretched thin and the dedication to the mission is put first. St. Paul Youth Services has adopted a different approach, rooted in the vision of radical self-care articulated by Audre Lorde. In this session, we will ground ourselves in the importance and implications of radical self-care, especially for BIPOC-led organizations, discuss strategies for creating a culture of self-care in organizations, identify tactics for embedding self-care across all levels of nonprofits, and ways for engaging partners and funders in support of organizational self-care. Organization leaders, program teams, and human resources professionals will come away from this session with an understanding of why radical self-care is critical for the nonprofit sector, and concrete ideas for how to incorporate it into their organizations.
Tracine Asberry, executive director, St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS); Julia Moffit, youth programs & resource development plan manager, SPYS

Expanding Your Data Toolbox: MN Compass and ALICE (Room 4)
Track: Evaluation & Planning | This session is sponsored by Thrivent
MN Compass has been a pillar in the state for many years, developing the data you need to share Minnesota’s future. This year, the United Ways of Minnesota are bringing ALICE data to the state to understand more about community members who are above the Federal Poverty Guidelines, but do not earn enough to meet everyday expenses. MN Compass and United Way will come together to talk about the ways in which we can collectively use these two data sets to grow our understanding of our community and identify how and where we can create change in our state. By the end of this session, learners will understand statewide data used to shape Minnesota's future in several ways. Learners will find data relevant to their neighborhood/communities and develop strategies for using this data to advocate for systems change.
Kelli Nelson, ALICE project manager, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Allison Liuzzi, Minnesota Compass project director, Wilder Research

Landing the Whale: Scaling after Large Program Investments (Room 3)
Track: Operations | This session is sponsored by Stonebridge Capital Advisors
Many nonprofits take the shot at much larger funding to do more mission work, and some of those moonshots are orders of magnitude in growth. This case study from Harm Reduction Sisters (based in Duluth, but serving a large portion of northeastern Minnesota) covers what to learn from a single program grant growing the organization 5x in a single year. Topics include governance changes, scaling HR in program-specific budgets and allocating administrative budgets, sustaining work after the big grant, and more. Participants will learn about managing multiple project objectives, using allocations from programs to support administrative expenses, and tactics to shift governance from working boards to governing to generative.
Steve Boland, managing consultant, Next in Nonprofits; Sue Purchase, executive director, Harm Reduction Sisters; Keren Gudeman, consultant, Next in Nonprofits

A New Leadership Imperative: The Role of Psychological Safety (Room 1 & 2)
Track: Human Resources & Supervision
Put simply, psychological safety is implicit permission to speak with candor without fear of repercussion. Fostering an environment of psychological safety in the workplace has been proven to positively impact productivity, safety, error rates, employee mental health, and employee attraction, engagement, and retention. Join this session to deepen your understanding of the changing workforce and related evolution of employee expectations and leadership imperatives that are foundational to ensuring psychological safety and explore practical ways you can boost your organization's ability to adapt for the long term in meaningful and healthy ways.
Heather Eastman, vice president, HR & compensation consulting, Gallagher; Jessica Nikunen, area vice president, Gallagher

Planned Gift Matchmaking: Crafting Gifts that Meet Your Donors' Objectives (Room 10)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking | This session is sponsored by Lathrop GPM
This lively, hands-on discussion will enhance attendees' understanding of planned gifts. They will learn how to identify what planned gifts will work for donors based on a donor's objectives and assets. The course will use lecture and case studies with discussion and questions along the way. We will cover beneficiary designations, testamentary gifts, life estates with remainders, charitable remainder trusts, and more.
Sheryl Morrison, partner, Lathrop GPM

Promoting Liberation: Social Justice, STEAM, Philanthropy, and Joy (Room 13 & 14)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
Promoting social justice, through a community based, culturally relevant STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education lens is a powerful way for historically marginalized groups to leverage the power and brilliance of their communities, to foster inclusivity, and dismantle systemic barriers. This session will bridge silos between STEAM education, workforce development, social justice, and activism. The workshop format creates the space for networking, personal reflection, and transformation, and provides tangible tools and activities that can be used in education practice. Whether you’re a youth, an educator, a scientist, a philanthropist, or an activist, this workshop will challenge you to redefine STEAM as a tool for addressing systems of oppression and achieving collective liberation.
Steven Walvig, community impact program officer, Greater Twin Cities United Way; Joseph Adamji, director of the Center for Equity and Systems Change, Science Museum of Minnesota; Emily Saed, director, The MN STEM Ecosystem; Kari Denissen Cunnien, executive director, Ignite Afterschool

Successful Policy Engagement for Mission-Driven Organizations (Room 5 & 6)
Track: Advocacy & Public Policy
The goal of this session is to provide a foundation for people working at all levels of nonprofit organizations and foundations to better understand the public policymaking process and how they can engage to advance their missions and advocate for their goals. The session will be facilitated by Citizens League, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers people to engage in civic life and public policy to make Minnesota a better place to live and work for everyone. We will provide an overview of Minnesota’s legislative process and discuss opportunities for individuals and organizations to engage and make an impact. In the fall of 2024, a significant Election Day will be approaching, and it is important for people to understand the role they can play in the policymaking process and how to engage with elected officials to advocate for policy solutions to issues they care about.
Jacob Loesch, executive director, Citizens League; Kalia Xiong, program director, Citizens League; Luna Allen-Bakerian, policy director, Citizens League

Taking Action and Making Changes: Advancing Equity and Justice Through Organizational Changes in Policy and Practice (Room 8 & 9)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
The death of George Floyd ignited a shift in the national landscape. Non-profit and foundation leaders have publicly pledged a greater commitment to dismantling systems of oppression that perpetuate racial disparities. Four years later, it seems the call to justice has been muted. In the midst of this decline, and building on years of internal work, Wilder Research formally operationalized efforts focused on community engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This session will share how we arrived at this critical moment in our journey, including decisions we made and their impact, strategies we used, and challenges we faced along the way. In this interactive session, attendees will connect with colleagues to build community, reflect on how the session relates to their organization's work, and gather resources to consider action steps to advance equity and justice in their own institutions.
Briellen Griffin, community engagement and partnership manager, Wilder Research, part of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; Anne Li, research associate, Wilder Research; Jessica Tokunaga, research associate, Wilder Research

That’s Not Pay Transparency! (Room 12)
Track: Human Resources & Supervision | This session is sponsored by Gallagher
In this presentation, we’ll dive into the evolving landscape of pay transparency, challenging the common belief that disclosing salary ranges equates to equitable practices. We’ll uncover the limitations of superficial pay transparency laws in the US and explore what true pay equity looks like. By examining Buffer’s comprehensive approach and learning from the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive and similar global initiatives, we’ll discover how genuine transparency goes beyond mere numbers. We’ll discuss the importance of considering all aspects of compensation and how these comprehensive models can more effectively promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Joelle Allen, CEO, Interaction Traction Inc.

Transformation v. Transaction: Giving and Getting Meaningfully (Room 15)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking | This session is sponsored by Creative Fundraising Advisors
Whether you’re a grantseeker or a grantmaker, it’s likely you’re involved in this work because you want to make a difference. Yet, oftentimes, the structures we create are failing us. Whether you’re setting up a grant program, sponsorship benefits package, or gala agenda, it takes time to determine how (and whether) to make the cash transaction more meaningful. You may have asked: Do the funders really want to sit at a gala table all night? Do we really need a written report to assess a grant? How can I tell if this grant (or grantee partner) is a good fit for my organization? Join this session to ask, “What do you really need?” We’ll focus on listening rather than assuming. We will give voice to both sides of the gift transaction. For funders: what are you looking to do, give, and help with (especially, corporate volunteers)? For nonprofits: what are you hoping to receive in time, talent, and treasure?
Allie Krug, program manager, Patterson Foundation

Breakout Sessions, Round II: 2:45 - 4 p.m.

Beyond the AI Buzz: Practical Generative AI Applications for Nonprofit Leaders (Room 15)
Track: Communications & Technology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools such as ChatGPT offer opportunities to help you do more than get better search results. This highly interactive session will demonstrate how AI is making real-world impacts in crucial areas like grant reporting, financial oversight, strategic planning, data analysis, and anticipating potential roadblocks to success. Participants will learn how nonprofits have leveraged the power of AI to create key questions for deeper insights, greater efficiencies, and enhanced financial oversight. This session will include time to practice using tools to address the specific needs of their organization. Learners will leave with a deeper understanding of how AI can help achieve their mission and with the skills necessary to use AI to meet their immediate, individual challenges.
Eric Molho, Bon Partners; Lori Ryan, Lorignites; John Stanton, vice president for growth strategy, Accord

Data Justice: An Equity Lens for Nonprofits and Philanthropy (Room 7)
Track: Evaluation & Planning
Funders and human service nonprofits rely on participant data for accountability, case management, compliance, and decision-making. How often are community members involved in decisions about what data are collected, how it’s used, and the resulting impact? What are the costs of collecting data without considering its implications? What are the opportunities missed when we continue with "the way things have always been done"? The Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities offers an equity lens for nonprofits to consider when designing their evaluation plans or data strategies. Attendees, including front line staff, managers, directors, and philanthropic leaders, will come away understanding what data justice is, its costs and impact, and steps they can take to put data justice in practice at their organization.
Alicia Ranney, vice president of data and evaluation, Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC); Lucy Geach, data network lead, MACC; Emily Barter, data consultant, MACC

EDs Only: A Cross-Sector Conversation Among Staff Leaders (Room 12)
Track: Leadership & Governance
Whether you carry the title of executive director, CEO, president, or artistic director – you know what it’s like to carry the responsibility of leading an organization. Join this session with other nonprofit and foundation leaders as we engage in discussion of leading organizations now, in these complex times. Through this conversation, you will meet other leaders and discover what leadership challenges and opportunities we all have, across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. This conversation is designed specifically for those who are the top staff leader in their nonprofit or foundation. If that is not your role, please do not attend.
Susie Brown, president, Minnesota Council on Foundations and Nonoko Sato, executive director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Empowering Collaboration – Carlson Family Foundation’s Journey to Strengthen Grantee Partnerships (Room 11)
Track: Evaluation & Planning
Two years ago, the Carlson Family Foundation embarked on a journey to integrate learning and evaluation into its new grantmaking strategies, placing equity and community voice at the center. Working with evaluation consultants, the foundation co-designed an evaluation and learning framework with grantee partners that was heavily influenced by youth and community voices. One of the foundation's goals was to move away from traditional static evaluation reporting that is focused on output, numbers, and prescribed outcomes, and to move toward actively learning with grantees and supporting them in building more equitable and actionable learning that will help nonprofits and their fields produce greater connections and impact. In this session, participants will be introduced to the framework and tools used to facilitate this work.
Aretha Green-Rupert, program director, Carlson Family Foundtion; Dana Jensen, program director, Carlson Family Foundation; Stephany Aguirre Lopez, youth leadership program manager, Saint Paul Youth Commission & Youth on Boards

Fraud 101: Real Cases, Unreal Tales (Room 5 & 6)
Track: Leadership & Governance
Nonprofit organizations are generally more susceptible to fraud than other organizations. As a result, fraud training for nonprofit board members, management level, or finance employees is extremely important to help them remain vigilant in protecting their organization from becoming a victim. In this session, we will walk through fraud risk factors and fraud statistics related to nonprofit organizations and discuss common red flags to watch for in your organization. We will also look at real-life fraud stories from nonprofit organizations, discuss what went wrong, why the fraud happened, and lessons learned to help prevent similar frauds from occurring in your organization. Attendees will be able to take this information back to their office, have discussions about their fraud risks, and consider internal control improvements or new anti-fraud controls.
Michael Bosl, senior manager, fraud and forensic services, Creative Planning

Impactful State Grantmaking: A Conversation (Room 8 & 9)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
This session will be a facilitated discussion with representatives from the State of Minnesota. Discussion will center the Impactful Grantmaking Roadmap and the ongoing efforts of the state to improve equity in the grantmaking process. The state’s new Office of Equity in Grants and Minnesota Management and Budget will share steps the state has taken and is planning to take to address feedback already received from current and potential grantees, including plans for the upcoming equity in grants baseline study. This session is intended as an opportunity for the state to seek feedback and learn from the nonprofit community, particularly those who have less financial capital and grant experience, to inform these efforts.
Anastasia Polda, results manager, Minnesota Management and Budget; Nancy Lee, equity in grants supervisor, Office of Grants Management, Department of Administration

Learning from Place Design Workshop (Room 13 & 14)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
In today's increasingly diverse Minnesota, understanding culture's impact on people and communities is crucial for businesses and institutions. Reading about cultural differences only scratches the surface. Organizations like education, government, foundations, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses seek more immersive learning opportunities. The Minnesota Humanities Center's Learning from Place program goes beyond theory, taking participants on learning journeys into cultural corridors and sacred places. These experiences open minds and hearts, fostering connections across differences with compassion and curiosity. In this session, discover how you can create your own learning journey. We provide supporting materials to help you engage with culture that is honoring to them. Join us in enhancing your organization's cultural understanding and strengthening your community connections. The first 60 people to enter this breakout room will be invited to join an extension of the session, Learning from Place: Ȟaȟáwakpa (Mississippi River), which will take place during breakout round 3. Experience an immersive Learning from Place session that centers Dakota voices at the Ȟaȟáwakpa (Mississippi River). Guided by Dakota community members Ramona Kitto Stately and Tara Perron, participants will hear stories and histories often omitted from Minnesota's narrative. We will walk together across the street to a nearby overlook area. There will not be seating during this outdoor session.
MayKao Fredericks, chief humanities officer, Minnesota Humanities Center; Eden Bart, humanities officer, Minnesota Humanities Center; Ramona Kitto Stately; Tara Perron

Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, and Donors: Policy and Practice (Room 3)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
Nonprofit institutions risk litigation, negative media, loss of reputation among donors and the community, and other exposure, unless they have sound policies, procedures, and a trained professional staff who are prepared for the inevitable conversation with a donor or prospect that seems to be experiencing confusion, has difficulty communicating, or may be exhibiting poor judgment. The presenters, who have spoken at many conferences on the topic of dementia and philanthropy, will provide attendees an update on the dementia crisis and treatments, and discuss their work to increase awareness of this critical challenge facing fundraisers. Attendees will be invited to review situational case studies and develop recommendations they can use at their organizations to mitigate these challenges.
Rob Hofmann, philanthropy consultant; Stu Silberman, philanthropy consultant

Radical Inclusion in Hiring: Future Forward Hiring (Room 4)
Track: Human Resources & Supervision
This session will explore areas of inclusion that are often overlooked in the hiring process. The presenters will share their insights from decades of experience on the front lines of hiring and DEI hiring strategy. They will invite you to explore how you and your organization can go deeper and be more thorough in defining diversity in your recruitment practices. Attendees will leave this session with a greater understanding of the biases we don’t often talk about, how to recognize when bias is influencing a recruiting strategy, and actionable takeaways to consider before you make your next hire.
Terra Carbert, kpCompanies; Chetna Tandon, director of people & culture, Northwest Area Foundation

Strategies for Full Spectrum Operational Resilience (Room 1 & 2)
Track: Operations
Effectively navigating change will always be a hot topic. Traditionally, operational resiliency has been focused on narrow spaces in organizations and with boards and/or executive leadership, often resulting in limited short-term impact. This session will use specific scenarios from 2021- 2023, a time of frequent and large change at Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, to show how a full-spectrum view of cultural, philosophical, and operational actions and decisions combine to reinforce or inhibit resilience. Using the examples, participants will break into small groups or work independently to think through how each area of an organization could contribute to, or possibly hinder, the resilience of an organization
Jenny Perona, director of operations, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Where Does Your Cash Sleep at Night? (Room 10)
Track: Finance, Legal, or Stewardship
Please note: this will be be hosted as a peer conversation and not as a workshop. Every nonprofit, no matter how big or small, has at least a little cash tucked away at a bank, credit union, or other financial institution. Do you know what kind of impact your cash is making with your chosen institution? Are they lending it out to the community, providing mortgages so people can afford homes? Are they investing in local small businesses? Or, are they simply taking your hard earned cash out of the community and moving it to Wall Street? This session will explore the ways your cash can make a difference and help further your mission. The learning objectives are to begin to think about money in a different way, explore ways your organization's cash can be used to further your mission, and hear from peers active in this journey.
Susan Hammel, executive in residence, MCF; David Reiling, president, Sunrise Banks; Patrick Garay-Heelan, wealth advisor, SVP Old National Bank; Joel Braun, president, Woodlands National Bank

BREAKOUT SESSIONS, ROUND III: 4:15 - 5:15 P.M.

A Decade of Data: Status of MN Women+ (Room 13 & 14)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
Studies show that investing in women, girls, and gender equality benefits everyone in the community in terms of economic, health, and public safety indicators. Learn about the current progress and remaining gaps for women and girls+ in Minnesota based on research conducted over the past decade by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. We will be sharing both our research and our policy recommendations related to the status of women and girls+ in economic, safety, health, and leadership areas. While we have many wins to celebrate (such as the passing of the 2023 Paid Family & Medical Leave Act) there are still drastic inequities (such as the continuing wage gap) that we must overcome—especially when we disaggregate the data by gender, race, place, age, LGBT+, and disability.
Gloria Perez, president & CEO, Women's Foundation of Minnesota; Michelle Maryns, vice president of communications, Women's Foundation of Minnesota; Dr. Christina Ewig, professor of public affairs and faculty director, Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota

Advancing Equity Through Operations (Room 4)
Track: Operations
As nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, many of us (and our organizations) have deeply held values. We are driven to advance equity in our work and have made public statements about it. Many of us clearly live those values and drive towards our commitments in our program strategies. But what about the choices we make about how we run our programs, build culture, hire and treat our staff, select vendors, manage our finances, and invest our assets? With each of these choices, we can live into our values or we can undermine the very values that we champion in our programs. Join us to hear from a panel of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders whose organizations consciously work on advancing equity through their operations.
Molly Matheson Gruen, founder and principal consultant, dawn:dusk; Stephanie Andrews, talent, learning and evaluation director, Bush Foundation; Jun-Li Wang, associate director, Springboard for the Arts; Chalonne Faleke, vice president of operations, Nexus Community Partners

Birth Justice: Native and Black Led Collaborative Solutions (Room 8 & 9)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
Birth Justice Collaborative is a Minnesota-based, community-led initiative advancing maternal health and birth justice in Black and American Indian communities. Participants will come away with tools and insights around building community-led collective action that fosters strategic alliances cross-culturally and with government and health systems. BJC seeks to address the shocking inequities in maternal health by elevating cultural solutions through various strategic actions. We will focus on one BJC priority initiative providing cultural home-visiting with income supplements during and after pregnancy. The goal is to inspire authentic partnerships and enduring relationships across sectors that can advance community led solutions to entrenched, complex problems and advance equity.
Corenia Smith Kunuku, director, Birth Justice Collaborative; Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra, chief family development officer, Cultural Wellness Center; Shashana Skippingday, director of programs, Division of Indian Work; Cyreta Oduniyi, chief operating officer, Liberty Community Church

Cyber Security Incident Response: Are You Ready? (Room 1 & 2)
Track: Communications & Technology
When the unexpected happens, a preparedness plan can prevent an unfortunate event from becoming a mission-critical disaster. Nonprofits of all sizes can benefit from taking a few key steps to educate staff and board, develop a plan, and avoid a cyber security meltdown. Malware and hacks can lead to data breaches, lost revenue, and even the loss of your reputation. Join this session to get a useful cyber security checklist and take the first actions toward cyber preparedness.
Joel Barker, president & CEO, Brave North Technology

Diagnosing Grant Readiness: A Hands-On Workshop (Room 11)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking | This session is sponsored by MyTech Partners
During this information-packed workshop, we'll explore seven crucial areas to grant readiness: assessing the clarity of your logic model; using quantitative data; sharing impactful qualitative stories; communicating the power of your network; articulating a fundable need; defining a value proposition; and evaluating reporting capabilities to gain repeat funding. After the workshop, learners will be able to conduct the grant-readiness analysis with their teams, extending the session’s insights beyond the conference. The intended audience includes nonprofit professionals and funders seeking an easy-to-use framework.
Allan Martinez Venegas, senior project manager, AmplifyDMC; Sue Speakman-Gomez, executive director, HousingLink; José Antonio Zayas Cabán, executive director, Our Streets

Financially Healthy Nonprofits: Insights from Grantors and Grantees Alike (Room 15)
Track: Finance, Legal, or Stewardship
Many (most?) funders are interested in knowing if the nonprofits they invest in are financially healthy. But how do we really measure the strength of a balance sheet (er- statement of financial position)? Do funders like to see a "breakeven budget" or does that raise flags? Does an organization with a large surplus or reserves signal strength or that you don't need help? How do large one-time gifts skew the financials and how can nonprofits best explain that to a funder? Join this panel to learn from some local funders and grantees about how they evaluate and report on nonprofit financial health.
Kelsey Vatsaas, managing principal, nonprofit practice, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA); Daniel Lemm, chief financial officer, Blandin Foundation; Kizzy Downie, chief executive officer, Model Cities

The Interwoven Landscape: Appreciating Rural-Urban Interdependence (Room 7)
Track: Leadership & Governance
The “rural-urban divide,” whether real or perceived, is a narrative of difference, mistrust, and competitiveness among both rural and urban residents in Minnesota and beyond. When communities buy into the rural versus urban narrative, it becomes more difficult to conduct essential work that rural and urban areas need to do together—to collaborate in decision-making, to act together, to share resources, and to create thriving towns and regions. In this session, participants will learn how rural and urban spaces are interdependent communities that need each other to function and prosper, and are in many ways, navigating similar challenges and opportunities. In addition, participants will learn ways to engage in a more productive conversation about rural and urban spaces by asking different questions about this complex and necessary relationship.
Ellen Wolter, extension educator, University of Minnesota Extension

Making 1+1=3 in Nonprofit Partnerships, Collaborations, and Mergers (Room 5 & 6)
Track: Evaluation & Planning
When nonprofits come together, incredible things can happen. What makes for a great strategic collaboration, and what tools can smooth out the process? In this session, we will share personal lessons learned while leading, consulting, and coaching partnerships and mergers between nonprofits. Reflecting on case studies from Compass’ 20+ years of pro bono consulting projects and insight from Bremer’s nonprofit practice, the group will discuss key questions to ask when exploring partnership or integration; tools for evaluation and analysis; and common challenges that arise when nonprofits unite forces. Participants will walk away ready to deploy new strategies to keep their organizations’ goals and values at the center of systematic evaluation and decision-making around strategic collaboration opportunities.
Mary Uran, managing director - Twin Cities, Compass Pro Bono; Aaron Engler, vice president, commercial & nonprofit banking, Bremer Bank; Remy Reya, deputy chief of staff, Compass Pro Bono

Public Policy Pop-up: Top 3 Advocacy Things Nonprofits Need to Know (Room 12)
Track: Advocacy & Public Policy
Nonprofit voices are essential to shape the public policies that impact our communities, but how and when do you engage? In the complex world of advocacy, sometimes it’s helpful to just hear the three most important things you need to know or do. We’ve got the perfect public policy pop-up session: (1) you’ll learn about the upcoming 2024 election cycle and what you can and cannot do; (2) you’ll get an overview of how to plan for engagement in the 2025 Legislative Session; and (3) you’ll learn how the federal tax debate in 2025 will impact the future of essential public services and why nonprofits should participate in calls to action.
Laura Mortenson, communications director, Minnesota Budget Project; Nan Madden, director, Minnesota Budget Project; Bailey Sutter, public policy manager, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Radical Imagining for Our Organizations (Room 3)
Track: Values, Vision, & Mission
Radical imagining encourages leaders and team members to create the organization, community, and world they dream of by first envisioning the future they want to live in, and second determining the actions and tools that will lead them there. In this session, participants will explore how they and their organizations can move from “where we are” to “where we want to be.” Learners will walk away from this session with a refresh of their own vision, hopes and dreams, and specific, doable next steps for making them a reality. Drawing from grassroots organizing and futurism tools, this session is sure to inspire and activate!
Kelli Nelson, social impact consultant; Beth Mammenga, executive director, Catalyst Music

Sharing Power to Increase Equity (Room 10)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
True racial justice requires shifting power to BIPOC communities and dismantling the systems of oppression that uphold racism and white supremacy. This session will be an inspiring discussion with Foundation, community and nonprofit leaders working to advance racial and housing justice. We’ll share our successes and setbacks on how sharing power has informed our goals, improved our decision making, and ultimately increased our impact. In partnership with community members, nonprofit colleagues, and other funders, the Pohlad Family Foundation actively works to include the expertise of people most impacted by an issue to help design solutions. Our intended audience for this session includes funders and nonprofit partners working to increase racial equity and ready to take a critical look at their engagement of people impacted in their decision-making. Participants will have deepened understanding and opportunity for self-reflection on sharing and growing powering with community, tangible ways to authentically engage people impacted in decision-making, and resources to assess levels of engagement that have been helpful in our pursuits.
Susan Bass Roberts, president, Pohlad Family Foundation; Dr. Brittany Lewis, founder and CEO, Research in Action; Elizer Darris, Darris Consulting and Pohlad Family Foundation Racial Justice Grants Committee; James Lewis, chief program officer, The Link

Friday, October 11

BREAKOUT SESSIONS, ROUND IV: 10:45 - 11:45 A.M.

Building Meaningful Partnerships with Native Nations and Organizations (Room 8 & 9)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
Do you want to strengthen your relationships with Native nations, organizations, and people but don’t know where to start? Or, are you hesitant to start building relationships with Native communities out of fear of causing harm? This session will help participants move beyond good excuses and toward steps for becoming good relatives to Indian Country. In addition to featuring examples showcasing best practices for collaboration drawn from presenters’ deep experience working in Indian Country, the session will also highlight the relationship between presenters as an example of a positive partnership. Blandin Foundation and Native Governance Center have a multi-year history of collaboration and power-sharing that illuminates strategies for breaking the mold of “traditional” philanthropic thinking. Come prepared to participate in live polling along with small- and large-group discussion.
Cree Rose Dueker, program coordinator, movement building, Native Governance Center; Kyle Erickson, grants program officer, community wealth building, Blandin Foundation; Sage Phillips, program coordinator, community engagement, Native Governance Center

Consulting on Consultants (Room 1 & 2)
Track: Evaluation & Planning
This presentation guides small and medium-sized nonprofits through finding the right consultant and making the most of a consultant engagement. Through an alignment with their current position in the Nonprofit Lifecycle, operational values, and desired outcomes, this session will empower organizations to accurately define consulting needs, with a focus on engaging smaller consulting firms led by women and BIPOC practitioners. It emphasizes the benefits of diversity in consulting partnerships. This session will include a decision matrix developed to assist with this determination. Attendees will leave with tools to leverage their need for external support for greater social impact.
Paul May-Kramer, capacity building consultant, Propel Nonprofits; Amanda Ziebell Mawanda, senior strategic services consultant, Propel Nonprofits

Designing Meaningful Assessments in Grants and Scholarships (Room 12)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
When creating scholarships and grants that are trying to close the opportunity gap, we have to look at more meaningful ways to assess recipients. Getting away from GPAs, standardized tests, quantitative data and other more traditional criteria helps us create more equitable opportunities. However, what criteria do we assess? How do we evaluate applications in a fair and consistent way while also being equitable and aware of the realities of today’s students, individuals, and organizations? In this session we will cover topics such as: aligning your applications with your evaluations and organizations core values; guiding and training committee reviewers to have a more humanizing lens; implementing equity-driven strategies; creating evaluations that look beyond traditional criteria; and navigating challenges of bringing donors along.
Amber Burns, community impact specialist, Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation; Jessica Peterson, development director, Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

Elevate Your Finance Department to Focus More on Mission (Room 15)
Track: Finance, Legal, or Stewardship
Nonprofit organizations are experiencing more challenges than ever as we balance increasing costs and demand for services with uncertainty in funding. How can we best manage our organizations to allow more time to focus on what is really important? How can we deliver accurate, timely financial and program outcome information that is so desperately needed when our resources are already stretched? The answer lies with our systems and processes and savvy finance leaders are utilizing technology solutions to address these challenges. These solutions provide strong financial management and controls, grant management and program reporting, real time visibility and self-service access to reports, dashboards and outcome metrics, automation of key processes, and integration between systems to reduce manual effort, opportunity for error and increase efficiency. Leveraging innovative technology solutions can be a key to securing mission success and making significant impacts within our communities.
Geniene Scherer, CPA, senior manager, Abdo; Jackie Reckmann, manager, Abdo; Brad Fitzgerald, chief financial officer, Occupational Development Center

Minnesota's Charitable Gambling: You Should Know About This (Room 11)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
Last year, there was $4.6 billion of charitable gambling in Minnesota, and it provided $157 million to support community needs across the state. This session will be a practical introduction to this often-misunderstood industry. We'll talk about what is (and isn't) charitable gambling. We'll learn about some of the common dos and don'ts as you explore whether it might be a fit with your organization's fundraising philosophy. And we'll answer the age-old question: "Is our quilt raffle legal?" You'll also learn about — and leave with instructions for — two programs for beginners: the Start Simple raffle (the simplest, yet still fully legal, approach to charitable gambling in Minnesota), and Start Simple B (a tool for finding sources of charitable gambling funds already in your community).
Evan Johnson, communications specialist, MN Gambling Control Board; Chris Mau, communications manager, MN Gambling Control Board

Operationalizing Equity into Human Resources (Room 4)
Track: Human Resources & Supervision
Human resources & people operations are integral parts of our organizations and can be better leveraged as a driver of organizational growth, health and joy. In this workshop we will share best practices from working in the field and what it means to center diversity, equity, justice and inclusion in your operations work. Come to this workshop if you are interested in exploring: how human resources and operations intersect with diversity, equity, justice and inclusion; strategizing with other human resources and people operations folks around challenges you are experiencing; sharing resources, support and best practices; are interested in operationalizing DEI into your organization, specifically in people policies and procedures.
Rhonda Cox, vice president of people & culture, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Marvin Webb, fractional CFO/CHRO, MW Micro Consulting; Ollin Rodriguez-Lopez, consultant, Human Resources and People Operations; Stephen Switzer, director of finance & admin, Funders for LGBTQ Issues

Organizing Ecosystem: How an Alignment is Shaping Infrastructure (Room 3)
Track: Values, Vision, & Mission
After policy victories at the Minnesota legislature in 2023, the work of organizations like CTUL, Workers Confluence Fund, and Tending the Soil continues together because the sources of disparity in the state adapt quickly to worker victories. This session is designed with both MCN and MCF audiences in mind who may not know why renter justice is directly linked to the broader labor movement and why immigrant communities still function independently of broader worker and justice movements. Participants will be able to remember key elements of immigrant construction workers organizing objectives, organized renter strategies and victories in the last nine years, and how organized labor’s DEI efforts are bearing fruit.
Alfred Walking Bull, development director, Tending the Soil; Rebecca Song, Inquilinxs Unidxs; Wendy Darst, fundraising director, CTUL; and Kevin Skrip, development associate, Unidos MN

Supporting a Strong and Welcoming Rural Democracy (Room 10)
Track: Advocacy & Public Policy
West Central Initiative (WCI) launched the Rural Democracy Program in 2023 to address unique barriers in civic leadership and participation in rural areas. In this session, WCI staff and partners will provide an overview of the nonpartisan programs created to support of a welcoming, responsive democracy. Partners from CFLeads’ Connecting Communities in the Americas (CCA) and Metro State’s Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) program will share opportunities to shape local initiatives through state and global partnerships based on the experience of the Rural Democracy Program. Workshop participants will leave with specific examples of how to engage in democracy work and the networks and organizations they can tap into for guidance and peer support to ensure impactful, meaningful work.
Celeste Koppe, rural strategist, West Central Initiative; Lisa Schalla, program director, CFLeads; Adrienne Falcón, co-director of the master of advocacy and political leadership, Metro State University

Relational Philanthropy: Trusting "Trust-based Philanthropy" Approaches (Room 7)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
This session focuses on philanthropic procedures in community that align with 'trust-based' philanthropy, providing insight around the elements of trust-based philanthropy and detailing how these techniques lead to an increase in trust between philanthropy and various communities. Learners will be able to identify techniques to change, improve or add to their current practices and learn more about what "trust-based" philanthropy means and how it is impacting philanthropic practices locally and nation-wide.
DeSeandra Sheppheard, vice president, COO, The Graves Foundation

Workplace Cultures of Belonging as a Key Employee Retention Strategy (Room 13 & 14)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
A sense of connection and belonging is a basic human need, and a lack of belonging is a key reason why employees leave their places of employment, even if they enjoy the work they do. This workshop for organizational leaders, managers, and supervisors will explore the significance of workplace cultures of belonging that are rooted in trust and collaboration, leveraging insights from a successful partnership. We will introduce a tool for examining workplace relationships and team dynamics that inhibit or contribute to belonging. Participants will gain practical tools, strategies, and real-life examples to enhance employee well-being and retention in your workplace.
Melissa Andersen, education director, AmazeWorks; Andrew Zhao, director of programs and partners, AmazeWorks; Priya Narula, co-founder, Keyhubs

BREAKOUT SESSIONS, ROUND V: 1:45 - 2:45 P.M.

Affirmative Action and Your Nonprofit’s Mission (Room 10)
Track: Finance, Legal, or Stewardship | This session is sponsored by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
After a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June of 2023, the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors have been left with questions about how (and whether) to maintain a strategic focus on affirmative action programs. Join this session to hear what the SCOTUS decision means for the nonprofit sector, learn how litigation is playing out across the country, and discuss how to adapt and keep moving forward. Armed with knowledge, attendees will gain confidence to build programs that meet your mission, advance DEIJ objectives, and help to build a better Minnesota for future generations.
Elizabeth Borer, general counsel, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies; Lulete Mola, president & co-founder, Black Collective Foundation MN; Leah Leyendecker, partner, Saul Ewing; Angela Fogt, counsel, Faegre Drinker

Bridging Philanthropy & Community: A Collaborative Approach (Room 11)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion | This session is sponsored by Best Buy
Philanthropy is rooted within an inherent power imbalance. There are those who have resources and those who have to ask for them. Many funders are exploring ways to address this inequity through an analysis of power, trust-based philanthropy practices, participatory grantmaking, and other means. This space is for stakeholders in both community organizations and foundations interested in moving toward equitable ways of doing the work. Join two program officers and two nonprofit leaders in a conversation about these efforts. How are we challenging power structures to build stronger relationships and foster trust? What are strategies and practices to address inequitable power dynamics and create a more liberatory world?
Sharon DeMark, program officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Kedar Hickman, program officer, St Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Meena Natarajan, artistic and executive director, Pangea World Theater; Johnny Allen, Jr., founder, The JK Movement

Centering Equity & Community in Strategic Planning (Room 1 & 2)
Track: Evaluation & Planning
Strategic planning at nonprofits and philanthropic organizations is too often led only by an executive or leadership team, detached or isolated from communities, even when community engagement is a core part of your work. In 2022, the Ann Bancroft Foundation (ABF) partnered with Seiche, a social impact strategy & communications firm, to honor the vision and lived experiences of their community in charting the organization’s future. Seiche designed a strategic planning process centered on trust, transparency and equity. By bringing systems change and communications lenses to the process, ABF and Seiche navigated internal and external impact and created a plan that felt authentic, vibrant and adaptive for the future of ABF while honoring the 25 year legacy of the organization, including foundational efforts and relationships. Session attendees will leave with an expanded set of resources and best practices relating to strategic planning that honors the past while focusing on the future.
Amber Collett Terway, director, Seiche; Ethelind B. Kaba, executive director, Ann Bancroft Foundation

Cultivating Empathy with Emotive Storytelling (Room 15)
Track: Communications & Technology
In this session, we explore how crafting emotive stories can empower the way organizations communicate their mission and impact. Through interactive exercises and engaging discussions, participants will learn to craft narratives that resonate deeply with their audience, driving empathy and action. Whether you're a seasoned communicator or new to the field, this workshop offers valuable insights into the art of storytelling with heart. You'll learn the role of emotion in storytelling, identify and articulate the emotional journey associated with stories, and apply emotive storytelling techniques in your organization's communication strategies.
Danami-Maurice Champion, co-founder & story director, BairStories

Demystifying Program Evaluation for Grantmakers and Grantseekers (Room 12)
Track: Fundraising, Grantseeking, or Grantmaking
The purpose of this session is to demystify the increasingly common evaluation questions in grant proposals, why they are confusing, and how we can bridge the gap. Grantseekers will learn the functional definitions of common evaluation terms (objective vs. goal vs outcome), strategies for using evaluation science to improve grant proposals, and what the funder wants to see. Grantmakers will learn strategies for writing stronger proposal questions that result in better and more diverse submissions from prospective grantees. Finally, all attendees will learn how to use evaluation questions as a launchpad for improving program design and improving internal evaluation capacity. Presenters will provide concurrent activities to target both grantseekers and grantmakers, including a breakout discussion about ways to improve the proposal writing from both sides of the process. Grantseekers are encouraged to come to the session with an existing grant proposal. Grantmakers should bring in proposal questions that they would like to workshop.
Nicole Conti, associate director of grants, Rise, Incorporated; Kelsey McKenna, grants manager, Shavlik Family Foundation

Disability Through the Lens of Intersectionality (Room 8 & 9)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
Disability is an intersectional identity, and this training dives deeper into this concept by discussing the meaning and history of intersectionality, how systems of inequity create compounding barriers for people with disabilities with intersectional identities, and how to best support people with disabilities with various identities, all while acknowledging that our communities are not currently accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities. This session is recommended for anyone who knows someone with a disability at work, in the community, or identifies as having a disability themselves. By attending this training, you can gain knowledge and take specific actions to create a more inclusive environment and enact change.
Keeri Tramm, director of disability initiatives, Lifeworks Services, Inc.

Indigenous Voices: Unveiling Stories from Minnesota's Land (Room 13 & 14)
Track: Equity, Justice, & Inclusion
At MPR News, Native journalists are taking the lead in amplifying stories from Minnesota’s Native communities, delivering culturally anchored news across broadcast, digital, and social platforms (including video). The Native News initiative emphasizes cultural understanding and connection-building in hopes of educating audiences, bridging divides, and fostering thriving communities across the region. We’ll share insights from our inaugural year as our newsroom works to address the scarcity of clear and important reporting on Native communities. We’ll also showcase recent work on pressing topics like environmental and economic sustainability and tribal land rights. Audience engagement will involve shared conversations to help identify information needs and discuss strategies for building relationships with Native-led organizations statewide.
Duchesne Drew, president, Minnesota Public Radio; Jane Helmke, executive editor, MPR News; Leah Lemm, senior editor, MPR News; Melissa Olson, reporter, MPR News

Leading Together: Strategies for Alternative Board Governance (Room 5 & 6)
Track: Leadership & Governance
Have you been looking for ways to structure or engage your board governance differently? Are you interested in piloting board leadership models that center cultural values and equity? Do you have something you’ve learned along the way that will benefit other boards? If so, this session is for you. Propel consultants will facilitate peer learning and coaching sessions related to emerging governance strategies. We will share what we are learning from the field and will foster a community of practice environment where participants share ideas and discuss strategies. Bring your questions, ideas, or dilemmas you want to workshop with us! Key themes of the session include Alternative Governance Models, Board Member Engagement, and Board Leadership.
Sindiswa Georgiades, strategic services consultant, Propel Nonprofits; Mario Hernández, chief program officer, Propel Nonprofits; Amanda Ziebell Mawanda, senior strategic services consultant, Propel Nonprofits

Public Charities Can Lobby: Influencing Policy for the Greater Good (Room 4)
Track: Advocacy & Public Policy
When our laws and policies work for us, our communities win. Nonprofits have a close-up view of community needs and can and should take advantage of their right to influence law and policy. After this workshop, you will have a clear understanding of what advocacy activities your 501(c)(3) can engage in, what communications count as lobbying, and how to maximize your non-lobbying advocacy. Participants will learn how federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined; one easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying; yearly lobbying limits for charities; tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and how to apply these rules to legislatively referred constitutional amendments or local ballot measure activities. 
Tim Mooney, senior counsel, Alliance for Justice

Shifting Organizational Culture Orientation from Perfection to Growth (Room 3)
Track: Values, Vision, & Mission
This session will explore one organization’s shift from a culture of perfection to one oriented toward learning and growth. Frameworks for organizational messaging and practices will be shared on how to holistically shift individuals and teams, as well as systems and processes. The development of consistent structures for formative and summative feedback at the individual, team, and project levels will be presented, focusing on how these changes make space for contributions from those with more lived experience but less technical knowledge. Participants will learn to develop feedback structures for their own organizations that are asset and growth framed, to recognize and honor lived experiences and connected roots within community, while still nurturing growth.
Ananya Matewos, research manager, Wilder Research; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; Heather Britt, executive director, Wilder Research, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation