Conference Description

PRE-CONFERENCE
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010
12:30 a.m.  – 4:30 p.m.  President’s Reception Immediately Following

As today’s economy places immense pressure on nonprofits, staff and volunteers must make tough decisions regarding programs, budgets, and funding while ensuring they continue to meet the needs of their communities. Pre-Summit workshop sessions are designed for nonprofit staff and volunteers to learn with colleagues and experts in one of five tracks:

• Finance
  Navigating Fiscal Health: Best Practices for an Uncertain Economy will provide CFO’s, Finance and Executive Staff time to explore key Form 990, Cash Management and Benchmarking topics in both presentation and panel discussions.
  
• Fund Development
  Now, more than ever before, nonprofits know and nurture their donor base. Sessions will explore donor communications and then provide for real time strategy and practical development of initiatives.
  
• Trustee and Board
  Paul Firstenburg will explore key concepts, accountability, transparency, and responsibility at the heart of effective governance and looks at the main challenges facing directors and managers of nonprofit organizations.
  
• Volunteerism & Civic Engagement
  It’s the people that deliver programs and services that transform lives. Two sessions will give voice to new trend in volunteerism, volunteer management and AmeriCorps programs.
  
• Sub-Sector Affinity
  Planned sessions will convene affinity groups to explore new ways of collaborating, funding and managing for change.

Each track provides a combination of critical issues and solutions-based dialogue with colleagues and national experts.

SUMMIT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Opening Plenary and Luncheon Keynote Address will evoke practical and innovative solutions for today’s challenges and opportunities. Experts will provide small and large workshop sessions following six key tracks:

• Social Enterprise
  Think transformation, bold new ideas that strategically position your organization for efficiency and innovation. Plot your course with bold action and understand how social innovation will change the way nonprofits do business.
  
• Philanthropy
  Beyond fundraising, we must continue to honor donors that support our work. From transformational giving to managing the gifts, participants will have the opportunity to hear first-hand how leaders and funders are managing in the new economy.
  
• Practitioners
  Your organization really matters to people, you make a difference to people’s lives and you must have the tools and resources to do it. A variety of topics will help participants gain knowledge.
  
• Trends & Issues
  Sessions will provide participants with sector trends and issues on the national and local agenda.
  
• Organizational Leadership & Development
  Professionals and volunteers in every nonprofit have a variety of roles and relationships that they develop and maintain in the context of their work.  This educational track focuses on specific issues and creates opportunities for people to learn together and learn from one another while leading in unprecedented times.
  
• Marketplace Solutions: One-to-One Consulting
  Individual and team consulting sessions with experts explore solutions-based strategies and ideas to support your mission.

Workshop Session formats will include instruction, practical applications and interactive dialogue. Full descriptions of each workshop session can be viewed on the website and are subject to last-minute changes or speaker substitutions.