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Keynote Address:
From 90‑Day Triage to 10‑Year Resilience:
Finance, Trust, and Strategy in Minnesota’s New Reality
Minnesota nonprofits are navigating an exceptionally unstable era—post‑pandemic recovery, the aftermath of the George Floyd murder, immigration enforcement pressure, federal scrutiny, rising costs, leadership transitions, and rapid technological change. Yet despite this pressure, our sector continues to deliver essential services while maintaining deep community trust.
In this keynote, we explore what it looks like to deliver speed with integrity, efficiency with rigor, and trust with accountability, while reopening a longer‑term view of financial resilience.
Keynote Speakers:
Sam Amundson Fiscal Controller of MAHUBE-OTWA and MCN Board Co-Chair
Sam Amundson is Controller at MAHUBE-OTWA, serving five northwest Minnesota counties. She oversees more than 60 federal, state, local, and philanthropic grants, collaborating with program leaders, administration, executives, and partners. A generative fiscal leader, she bridges program and finance and supports nonprofits as MCN Co-Board Chair and volunteers on boards locally.
Michelle Ness Executive Director of PRISM
Michelle Ness is the Executive Director at PRISM, a nonprofit social service agency in Golden Valley that provides food, housing, and basic needs services. She received her MSW from the University of Minnesota and previously worked at Neighborhood House and Tubman. She is committed to providing collaborative services that are responsive, dignified, and grounded in professionalism.
LeeAnn Rasachak CEO of WomenVenture
LeeAnn Rasachak is CEO of WomenVenture, a women-focused Community Development Financial Institution and SBA Women’s Business Center expanding training and capital access for entrepreneurs. A former Fortune 500 marketing transformation and strategy leader, she chairs the Minnesota CDFI Coalition and serves on multiple nonprofit boards advancing economic opportunity and resilience statewide.
Nelima Sitati Munene Executive Director of African Career Education and Resources, Inc.
Nelima Sitati Munene is Executive Director of ACER and a longtime advocate for racial and economic equity. With over 20 years of community organizing and policy experience, she builds bridges between government and African heritage communities, leading initiatives in housing, civic engagement, and leadership development across the region.
Nonoko Sato (moderator) President & CEO of Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Nonoko Sato serves as president & CEO of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), one of the largest state associations for nonprofits in the United States. In this role, she leads a talented team that works to strengthen the sector through capacity-building efforts and strategic advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, ensuring nonprofits can effectively serve their communities and advance the public good.
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