Rally with nonprofits from across Minnesota to show our collective power, reclaim our positive narrative, and ensure our voices are heard in the halls of power.
MCN’s inaugural Nonprofit Day at the Capitol, Monday, February 22, 2027, is free to attend and includes a rally showing the strength of Minnesota’s nonprofit sector, plus legislator meetings promoting sector-wide and organization-specific advocacy priorities.
Nonprofit Day at the Capitol is free. All you need is bring your passion for our sector and your nonprofit. Participants will have their nonprofits’ logo featured on event materials, and be provided advocacy prep support, day-of talking points, water, snacks, and fun swag.
To help empower your advocacy and give you confidence to meet with legislators, attendees are required to attend one virtual preparation meeting, either February 10 or 11.
Questions? Contact MCN’s team at [email protected].
2027 Nonprofit Day at the Capitol
Monday, February 22, 2027
12:45 pm – 5 pm
State Capitol Rotunda
75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd Saint Paul, MN 55155
2027 Nonprofit Day at the Capitol is hosted by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Date: Monday, February 22, 2027
Location: State Capitol Rotunda | 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd Saint Paul, MN 55155
Schedule:
- Registration: opens at 12:45 pm
- Participants are welcome to arrive at the Capitol before the event and attend committee meetings or have lunch at the Rathskeller or Centennial Cafe.
- Event registration is limited to 150 people. If capacity has not been met prior to the day, on-site registration will be available beginning at 12:45 pm.
- Program & Rally: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
- Group photo immediately following the Rally.
- Legislator Meetings: 2:30 pm – 5 pm
Cost: Free
Registration Waitlist: Space is limited at the event. If registration is full, please add your name to the waitlist registration form.
Questions? Contact MCN’s team at [email protected].
Rallying around our theme, Nonprofit Get It Done, we’ll kick off our advocacy with an excitement-filled program featuring lawmakers and nonprofit leaders. The list of speakers will be shared as they are confirmed.
Immediately following the rally, we will take a group photo in the rotunda.
ASL interpreters will be translating at the rally.
Nonprofit Day at the Capitol provides you a unique opportunity to advocate for both the legislative priorities of the entire Minnesota nonprofit sector AND for your specific nonprofit.
MCN will book legislator meetings for attendees, and provide sector-wide advocacy talking points and handouts. You should prepare a handout about your organization’s legislative priorities and a succinct 30-second elevator pitch about your work for legislator meetings. Make sure you attend one of the required virtual advocacy prep calls to learn more!
Because multiple nonprofits may be at each legislator meeting, we highly recommend that your nonprofit follow up with legislators after Nonprofit Day at the Capitol to share your priorities more in depth.
MCN staff will be available in the Ladyslipper Room (located on the main floor of the Centennial Building by the elevators) to provide support, have extra meeting materials on hand, and offer snacks and water. Your team is welcome to use the space as a home base during the day.
To help empower your advocacy and give you confidence to meet with legislators, participants are required to attend one virtual Nonprofit Day at the Capitol Preparation Meeting via Zoom:
- Wednesday, February 10, 2027, from 10:00am – 11:00am CT OR
- Thursday, February 11, 2027, from 2:00pm – 3:00pm CT
Click here to register for one of the prep meetings.
Human connection is the most important part of grassroots advocacy work. A good story can impact a lawmaker much more than lots of statistics. Advocacy at Nonprofit Day at the Capitol is your opportunity to share why you are passionate about the nonprofit sector and your own nonprofit.
MCN will prepare advocacy priorities, talking points, and handouts regarding sector-wide advocacy. You should prepare a handout about your organization’s legislative priorities and a succinct 30-second elevator pitch about your work for legislator meetings.
Resources to support your nonprofit’s advocacy story:
- Find your nonprofit’s district and legislators using the Secretary of State’s Precinct Finder.
- 2026 MCN Nonprofit Economy Report features both statewide and regional statistics on what our sector looks like, with three main findings.
- Taking back the narrative: nonprofit talking points
- Where fraud has actually occurred + state recommendations
What can I expect at Nonprofit Day at the Capitol?
- Expect an excitement-filled afternoon with your fellow nonprofit advocates to engage lawmakers regarding the critical role our sector plays across communities in Minnesota.
- Event check-in opens at 12:45 pm in the Capitol Rotunda. Visit the MCN table to get event materials and swag! At approximately 1:30 pm, the rally will begin, and we will hear from lawmakers and nonprofit leaders. After the rally, we will take a group photo in the rotunda. ASL interpreters will be translating at the rally.
- Following the rally are legislator meetings. Your legislator meeting group may be large or just yourself depending on who is attending from your district. A more detailed schedule of legislator meetings will be available closer to the event date. If you have any questions, MCN staff will be available as support at the event.
What are we advocating for?
- Nonprofit Day at the Capitol provides you a unique opportunity to advocate for both the legislative priorities of the entire Minnesota nonprofit sector AND for your specific nonprofit.
- MCN will prepare advocacy priorities, talking points, and handouts regarding sector-wide advocacy. You should prepare a handout about your organization’s legislative priorities and a succinct 30-second elevator pitch about your work for legislator meetings. Make sure you attend one of the required virtual advocacy prep calls to learn more!
How can I represent my nonprofit’s advocacy priorities?
The purpose of Nonprofit Day at the Capitol is to represent both the sector as a whole, as well as your specific nonprofit. You can represent your nonprofit in a few ways:
- During legislator meetings, share your organization’s priorities – just keep in mind there may be a number of nonprofit orgs in each meeting! You can bring your own one-pager with your nonprofit’s advocacy priorities, including staff contact information.
- We highly recommend scheduling a follow up meeting with legislators following the event to dive deeper on your organization’s advocacy priorities.
- Upload your organization’s logo to the registration form and we will include it in event materials, such as leave behinds for legislators.
- Wear your organization’s t-shirt at the event for increased name recognition.
What can I expect during legislator meetings?
While meeting with elected officials can feel nerve-wracking, remember that they are regular people working for you and your community! Legislator meetings are typically 15 minutes or less.
- We recommend a short introduction to why nonprofits are gathering today; these talking points and materials will be provided by MCN.
- Following, one person from each organization can share their elevator pitch and priorities for their nonprofit. You are not expected to be an expert – just remember you are bringing important information legislators need to know to do their job.
- If you get asked a question and don’t know the answer to a question, that’s okay! Share what you know, then after you can say you will follow up with the answer (this provides a great additional connection point!) or you can connect with MCN to follow up.
- Lastly, always thank them for their time and attention.
How do I prepare for Nonprofit Day at the Capitol?
This event is meant to empower our sector and your nonprofit’s advocacy efforts – MCN is here to help!
- Make sure you register for the event and mark your calendar – invite members of your team or community to join you!
- Register for one of the required advocacy prep calls, virtual February 10 or 11, to boost your confidence and prepare for legislator meetings.
- MCN will provide sector-wide advocacy priority handouts to share during legislator meetings. But to highlight your own nonprofit’s specific advocacy priorities, prepare and print handouts or information you want to share about your organization.
- Prepare a 30 second elevator pitch about your organization and priorities to share at legislator meetings (attend the prep call to learn more!)
- Make a plan with your team to get to the Capitol day-of.
- Register for these upcoming MCN events and trainings for extra advocacy prep:
- Advocacy 201 Strategic Advocacy (November 24, 2026): hone your advocacy skills and learn about how strategic advocacy can further your organization’s mission and the nonprofit sector as a whole.
- 2027 Session Line Up (January 22, 2027): One of MCN’s flagship policy events, gain valuable context about the 2027 legislative session, and hear from elected officials and nonprofit leaders about session priorities.
How do I get to the event?
- Capitol Building: To enter the Minnesota State Capitol Building, we recommend the entrance underneath the large front steps on the south ground/street level. Plan to give yourself an extra few minutes to enter the Capitol to go through security screening then head to the Capitol Rotunda.
- Legislator Meetings will take place across various buildings including the Capitol Building, the Senate Building, and the Centennial Building (where House members are temporarily housed during construction).
- Accessibility: The Minnesota Historical Society provides specific accessibility directions and guidance navigating the Capitol.
- Parking: Drive and park at multiple pay lots or street parking available near the Capitol including public lots: Lot C, Lot H, Lot K, and Lot Q. Lot AA is not available due to construction. Find Capitol Complex Parking information here.
- Public Transit: The Metro Transit Green line stops at the Capitol/Rice Street Station. Busses stop at Rice Street and University Avenue.
- Rideshare: Use Lyft or Uber to drop you in front of the Capitol Building.
- Carpool: Groups are welcome to park for free at MCN’s St. Paul Office (2314 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55114) and carpool, or take the Green Line to the event.
Registration is full – is there a waitlist?
Space is limited at the event. If registration is full, please add your name to the waitlist registration form.
If space becomes available, we will reach out to folks on the waitlist; we will hold your spot for 48 hours and will proceed to the next person on the list if we do not hear from you in that 48-hour window. If you do not hear from us by January 15, it means that we unfortunately do not have a space available for you to join us.
Please do not contact us regarding your waitlist status unless you hear from us first or need to make changes to your waitlist submission.
What if I registered but can no longer attend?
We understand plans change. Please email [email protected] to unregister. Space is limited, and your spot can be used for someone else to participate. We appreciate you taking the time to notify us in a timely manner.