Greater Minnesota Nonprofit Summit – Schedule & Sessions

Create Efficiencies in Your Daily Work to Expand Your Impact
Nonprofit leaders are always being asked to do more with less, but rarely given the tools to make that happen. Join us for this introduction to continuous improvement to explore how an intentional focus on your processes and procedures can help remove waste, standardize workflow, and increase the value of your work. Hear from other small nonprofits regarding how they used the tools of continuous improvement to save time and money.  This session will give you ideas on where to start and how to weave these tools into your day-to-day work. 
Zach Tabatt, Initiative Foundation and Tammy Filippi, Sourcewell

How to promote DEI-Accessibility and Belonging Work in More Homogenous Communities
This session will focus on the challenges of and opportunities for DEI work in rural communities where even getting community members to acknowledge racism/bigotry exists is a barrier. We often hear, “We don’t have that issue here” while also hearing how people of color, Indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community have faced discrimination, fear and lack of felt safety in our communities. We will focus on self- and organizational- awareness to truly align our missions with this urgent need.
Amy Gray, Initiative Foundation and Mary Sam, Central Lakes College

Psychological Safety in the Workplace
Psychological safety is the belief that you won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. It’s about creating a work environment where team members feel free to brainstorm out loud, voice half-finished thoughts, and challenge the status quo, knowing they won’t face embarrassment or rejection. This workshop will explore the importance of psychological safety for a healthy, productive workplace and provide strategies to foster a culture of connection and trust.
Terri Allred, Allred Consulting

Abundance Amplified: Moving beyond Sponsorship to Solidarity
Minnesota is one of the most generous states in the nation, and we come together each November to celebrate giving of all kinds. Yet only 5 percent of philanthropic dollars make their way into rural places. That’s why West Central Initiative (WCI) and GiveMN came together during Give to the Max Day 2023 to support the long-term success of Greater Minnesota nonprofits — moving beyond traditional sponsorship packages and logo placement to working in alignment toward shared goals of adequately resourcing rural people and communities. Sarah Casey and Jenna Ray will share learnings and tangible takeaways from the process, helping attendees to build their own skills in fundraising, relationship building, storytelling, and more. Attendees will take part in a fundraising coaching exercise and leave the session prepared to secure their own mutually beneficial sponsorships. After attending, you will tell stronger impact stories and engage donors in place-based fundraising campaigns. 
Sarah Casey, West Central Initiative Foundation; Nancy Fasching, Southwest Initiative Foundation; and Jenna Ray, GiveMN

Nonprofit Compensation Trends
Nonprofit staff are arguably an organization’s most important asset and often the largest annual expense. Join this session to learn about some of the latest trends and laws regarding nonprofit compensation. The session will cover variety of topics including the new state law mandating pay transparency going into effect on January 1, 2025, and what employers should be thinking about in advance, overall trends in nonprofit salaries and benefits based on data from MCN’s biennial Minnesota Nonprofit Salary & Benefits Survey, and more!
Kari Aanestad and Shonni Krengel Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Heather Eastman, Gallagher

Systems Thinking + Nonprofits + Equity: Let’s Talk About It
Come learn about key approaches and concepts that create equitable outcomes for all. In this session we will share concepts to use when making decisions about policies, practices, and programs to work towards equitable systems in nonprofit work.
Linsey McMurrin and Keila McCracken, Peacemaker Resources

Ethics is a Team Sport
Organizations can unintentionally act unethically when decisions in different departments combine to create unhealthy outcomes. Even though no one person acts unethically, the organization falls short of its own ethical standards. This session will use case studies and tools available to every nonprofit to show how all employees can guard against and address unethical outcomes. Objectives include developing vocabulary around unethical organization and highlighting tools to prevent unethical situations from occurring.
Marti Maltby, Peace House Communities

How Can Rural Nonprofits Thrive?
Nonprofit organizations operating in rural Minnesota encounter distinct hurdles in their endeavors. In this session, I aim to delve into these challenges and equip attendees with strategies to overcome them effectively. Participants will gain insights into enhancing advocacy efforts, expanding their organization’s reach, navigating daily challenges, and fostering stability within their operations.
Ashley Hall

Intro to Generative AI
You’ve probably heard about ChatGPT and other forms of AI. Perhaps you’ve dabbled with these tools a bit. In this session we will explore real-world applications about how AI can help you accomplish more. We will work through real world examples related to fundraising, financial analysis and strategic planning to help you see how AI might benefit your organization and magnify your impact. After completing this session you’ll be able to use ChatGPT more effectively and have an action plan for using it in the future.
Eric Molho, Bon Partners