Fundraising Conference – Keynote

Keynote Speaker: Michelle Maryns, President of the Minnesota Council on Foundations

Philanthropy is shifting – in how decisions are made, how relationships are built, and how technology is reshaping the landscape. 

In her role as President of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, Michelle Maryns is engaging directly with funders and communities across the state. Drawing on insights from her statewide listening tour and conversations across the philanthropic sector, Michelle will share what funders are thinking about right now, how expectations are evolving, where trust, equity, and accountability are showing up in new ways, and how emerging technologies like AI may influence philanthropy in the years ahead. 

For nonprofit fundraisers, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the philanthropic field and gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate what comes next. Following the keynote, Michelle will be joined by John Williams, Vice President of Development at Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), for a candid conversation that explores these themes through the lens of nonprofit fundraising.