Annual Conference – Schedule

Happening: Throughout entire conference

Visit with over 70 conference sponsors and exhibitors, each providing expertise, services, and/or products designed to help nonprofits advance their missions. From banking, insurance, and accounting services to leadership development, fundraising consulting, and web design (and everything in between), odds are our resources exhibitors can help.

Interested in becoming a conference sponsor or exhibitor?

Happening: Friday, October 10 @ 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

While you get to know your nonprofit colleagues over lunch, you will be treated to the goosebump-inducing presentation of the 2025 Minnesota Nonprofit Mission Awards. These awards emphasize the importance of inspiring nonprofits to the quality of life in Minnesota by recognizing achievements that make a significant impact in the categories of:

• Advocacy
• Anti-Racism Initiative
• Innovation

Happening: Thursday, October 9 @ 4:45 pm – 6pm

Get ready for something a little different — and a lot of fun! The Danger Boat Quiz Show puts your smarts
— and your sense of humor — to the test. In this fast-paced, fully interactive event, contestants tackle
trivia questions inspired by real-world issues, history, culture, and a few delightfully unexpected twists.
With improvisers providing commentary, curveballs, and comedic surprises along the way, the Quiz Show
blends competition and camaraderie into a one-of-a-kind experience where learning and laughter go hand
in hand. And guess what? The real-world topics will all be nonprofit themed! The program will include drinks
and appetizers.

Danger Boat Productions is a Minneapolis-based creative studio that uses improvisational theater to
illuminate complex topics, inspire meaningful conversation, and build stronger communities. With a
signature blend of insight, humor, and empathy, they bring public policy, leadership, and civic life to the
stage in unforgettable ways.

Happening: Throughout entire conference

Join the artists and editors of Minneapolis-based Paranoid Tree Press to create your very own zine
(pronounced “zeen”). Zines are self-published, non-commercial print-work that can be about anything
you want! They can be produced simply and are an artform with great flexibility and accessibility. What
do you have to say? Write, draw, express yourself – no experience required, just an openness to learning
something new.

Happening: Throughout entire conference

Thomasina Topbear, a self-taught artist, muralist, illustrator, and organizer from the Oglala Lakota and
Santee Dakota Nations interpreted this year’s conference theme through an original design. Interact
with Thomasina’s Dakhota drawing by adding color and marks of your own on the pages found on pages
50-51 in the back of your program that feature the artist’s creations. You’ll find coloring pencils to share
throughout the conference spaces.

Happening: Throughout entire conference

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, with the guidance of the Autism Society of Minnesota
(AuSM) is now offering sensory rooms at our conferences. Sensory rooms are spaces for taking
a break from high levels of activity and are designed to provide calm, focus, and comfort. In the
sensory room one will find a range of tools to assist with sensory sensitivities, lighting that is soft,
and a mixture of seating. The Sensory Room is located in Room 15.