Sessions 2025
Check Out This Year’s Sessions.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
MIT D-Lab Co-Design, 1:15 pm – 5:00 pm
MIT D-Lab Co-Design Workshop
Facilitated by: Libby McDonald, MIT
Women’s organizations across the country are fighting battles in isolation. The MIT D-Lab Women and Democracy Project and PANO have come together to change that – with you.
Research shows coalitions achieve policy wins at 3x the rate of individual efforts.
What is co-design and why does it matter in coalition building? Co-design is a proven methodology used by MIT D-Lab with communities around the world to tackle complex technical and social challenges. Now, with support from a donor, we are using co-design to create a generative, bipartisan ecosystem of women’s organizations in the US to increase women’s equity, political empowerment, and self-determination.
Here’s how it works: We don’t identify predetermined challenges and solutions. Instead, you and other leaders identify the most pressing challenges and design solutions for meeting the needs of US women at this particular moment in history. This is the first step in building a lasting coalition of women’s organizations in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Together, we will:
- Identify shared challenges where coalition action could make a difference
- Co-design practical solutions to that shared challenge, using proven MIT D-Lab participatory design methods
- Build lasting partnerships that strengthen women’s organizations in Pennsylvania
- Create concrete action plans we can implement now
Who is this for? We’re specifically seeking organizations that are:
- Committed to women’s wellbeing and empowerment
- Ready to collaborate across different approaches and communities
- Excited about working together to tackle challenges none of us can solve alone
Your organization’s perspective, relationships, and expertise are essential to making this vision a reality.
This is the first step in building lasting change. MIT D-Lab and PANO aim to develop relationships and support strategies that emerge from the co-design session so that the coalition’s work will continue long after the workshop ends.
PEER DISCUSSIONS, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
ADVOCACY TRACK – Rooting Public Engagement in Community Wisdom: A Peer Exchange on Educating & Mobilizing the Public
Facilitated by: Linda Rentschler, Humanitarian Social Innovations
As nonprofits navigate increased demand, shifting policy landscapes, and growing public confusion, one thing is clear: educating and engaging the public must be core to our missions—not a communications afterthought. But how can we do this authentically and effectively, especially with limited resources?
This peer discussion brings together nonprofit leaders and practitioners to explore how we build trust, expand understanding, andinspire participation through public education and engagement strategies. Together, we’ll reflect on what’s working, what’s not, andwhat’s possible.
The session will begin with a brief framing by facilitator Linda Rentschler, who will offer insights from grassroots work in fiscalsponsorship, movement-building, and public messaging. Participants will then break into small groups to share stories, explorechallenges, and spark new thinking—guided by prompts and questions rooted in real-world experience.
This is a space for honest conversation, practical takeaways, and statewide solidarity. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer or a reluctant communicator, this dialogue will meet you where you are—and help you move forward.
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRACK – Building Imperfect, Impactful Boards
Facilitated by: Cheryl Brubaker, The Fund for Women & Girls
Join Cheryl as she reflects on 20+ years working with nonprofit boards from the position of executive management. Share your triumphs and struggles with your board, reflect on your board’s strengths and purpose, and examine what really matters when building an impactful board. Topics will include the executive’s relationship with the board; building trust with and among your board members; identifying and refining your board’s decision-making processes; and leading with your organization’s purpose.
There is no role so unique as that of a nonprofit board member. They are volunteers, eager to help, passionate about your mission and rarely prepared for this unpaid, legally-responsible, governance role. Board members draw on their supervisory experience (often contrary to the role of a board member), their expertise (which may be unrelated to your mission and constituents), and their life experiences (remember group projects in high school?!).
Despite ourselves, amazing work is somehow accomplished! This session will explore the human side of working with boards, what it means to embrace diversity in the most real sense, and applying the Purpose-Driven Board Leadership model to maximize your organization’s impact.
HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP TRACK – Culture by Design: Leading with Purpose, Trust, & Accountability
Facilitated by: Beck Moore, The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP)
Creating a thriving workplace doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional leadership that fosters trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose. In today’s dynamic and diverse workenvironments, employees rank psychological safety as the most important workplace trait—and for good reason. It’s the foundation of collaboration, innovation, and team performance.
In this interactive session, we’ll explore how leaders and managers can create an inclusive and supportive culture where everyone feels safe to take risks, offer ideas, and bring their full selves to work.Participants will engage in practical exercises and real-world scenarios designed to sharpen coaching and management skills that align with organizational mission, vision, and values.
Whether you lead a small team or an entire organization, this session will help you elevate your leadership approach and build a culture that fuels both people and results.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Identifying & Developing Your Personal, Professional, & Nonprofit “Social Capital”
Facilitated by: Jessica Whitmore, MA, PhD Candidate, & Jeanne Troy, MLS, CFRM, DAZA Development
Social capital is present across all levels and types of volunteers, executives, employees, and board members within a nonprofit (Saxton & Benson, 2005; Hwang & Young, 2022). However, socialcapital is not always acknowledged and developed effectively. This interactive presentation will focus on social capital as an integral part of fundraising plans and, furthermore, crucial within anonprofit’s organizational capacity framework (Bixler & Spring, 2018). Participants will leave the presentation with tips on identifying and building “the trust, norms, and networks” crucial to furtherorganizational and fundraising success (Bixler & Spring, 2018, paragraph 1).
Jessica and Jeanne will provide insight and prompts for consideration and conversation. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussion related to social capital and related topics. In a time when nonprofits are facing uncertainty, this session will provide a space to share insights and concerns as well as meet the moment directly through identifying and developing “social capital” on a personal, professional, and organizational level. This presentation and discussion aim to provide movement forward where nonprofit personnel can feel further empowered.
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – Calm Money: Transforming Financial Fear into Shared Empowerment
Facilitated by: Brenda Riehl, Thrive Fundraising
We rely on money for basic needs and to fuel our visions and impact, but it can also cause friction and strain in organizations.
The Trauma of MoneyTM (TOM) method explores the intricacies and complexities of our relationships with money. This session guides participants through TOM’s basics, with the goal of bringingclarity and calm to financial discussions.
Recognizing that each person is unique, the session invites participants to write about experiences and share as they are comfortable. Participants are asked to keep personal and organizationaldetails confidential.
The uncertainty of the time we live in can cause panic and negativity. The Trauma of MoneyTM method invites us to decrease shame and increase discernment. Together, we can find ways to listen,learn, and bring healing to our communities.
Knowing that we are stronger together, this session aims to be the groundwork for a statewide movement that honors each person’s unique money experience while building partnerships andencouraging mutual aid.
All are invited to join the Calm Money Club, where we bring light to the often-dark topic of money, support each other in growth and learning while offering and receiving mutual aid.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
TAPROOT TALKS, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm
ADVOCACY TRACK – What the Numbers Say about Pennsylvania Nonprofits
Facilitated by: Anne Gingerich, The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO)
Nonprofits provide much needed support for neighborhoods and communities and provide a place for community members to give back. And we are more than “just” a feel-good sector; we provide significant economic infrastructure for the Commonwealth. This Taproot Talk will lift up critical economic datapoints in the newly released 2025 Economic Impact of Pennsylvania’s Nonprofits Report that we can use to inform our conversations with our lawmakers, funders, and the public.
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRACK – Beyond the Big Picture: Agile Strategic Planning for a Fast-Changing World
Facilitated by: Mike Burns, StratSimple
Your strategic plan shouldn’t gather dust. If your team struggles to connect daily work to strategic impact, this 10-minute session introduces a practical alternative.
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a simple goal-setting framework where teams define ambitious Objectives (what we want to achieve) paired with measurable Key Results (how we’ll know we got there). Unlike traditional planning, OKRs bridge big-picture strategy with daily work, giving teams clarity on goals while preserving their autonomy on methods.
Organizations like Code for America and Wikimedia Foundation use this approach to maintain focus and adapt quickly when priorities shift. Through a Pennsylvania nonprofit example, you’ll see how annual and quarterly OKR cycles create accountability without adding bureaucracy. Perfect for nonprofit leaders ready to move beyond static plans to dynamic, mission-driven results.
COMMUNICATIONS TRACK – Trust takes Root: Why Nonprofits Need Storytelling Now
Facilitated by: Kelly Kostanesky, KMMK Communications
In a time when trust is fragile and support feels uncertain, storytelling is more than a communications tactic — it’s a lifeline. This Taproot Talk explores how nonprofits can move beyond transactional fundraising by using story to build lasting relationships rooted in trust, shared values, and community connection.
Grounded in the Aspen tree metaphor and inspired by real experiences, this talk offers a hopeful, human-centered vision for what’s possible when we stop trying to convince and start working toconnect. You’ll be introduced to the ROOTS framework — a simple yet powerful way to tell stories that reveal local needs, reflect lived experience, and shift the narrative in your community’s favor.
This is an invitation to rethink how we tell our stories — not just to raise money, but to strengthen movements, deepen belonging, and grow what’s next for our sector.
Because when trust takes root, nonprofits don’t just survive — they thrive.
And when we root together, we carry each other forward.
HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP TRACK – THE CEO OF YOU: Executive Leadership and Self Care
Facilitated by: Lawanda Horton Sauter, MS, Mission Incorporated
The CEO OF YOU examines the link between personal wellness and executive leadership in the nonprofit sector. The session covers the 8 dimensions of wellness from the perspective of a nonprofit leader. The session acknowledges that strong sustainable organizations thrive when leaders themselves are thriving. The workshop asks participants to engage in a series of exercises that provoke them to think about how their personal triumphs and challenges impact their world view and ultimately the people they serve.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Expanding the Pipeline: The Growing Market Shape, Size, and Donor Stewardship of the LGBTQ+ Community
Facilitated by: R Perry Monastero, Ed.D., RPM Consulting Group
This session presents data from donor surveys, case examples, and reliable research sources regardless of programmatic purpose or nonprofit size. Crafted to help attendees learn additional strategies and tactics to land gifts and donor loyalty, we explore tailoring your candidate prioritization. A dose of humor coupled with anecdotes and statistics provides a framework for attendees who desire relationships and funding among members of the community and their allies.
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – Cultivating Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression Data Practices & Technology Solutions for Nonprofit Impact
Facilitated by: Hec Maldonado-Reis, Tech Impact
With rising policy uncertainty for the LGBTQI2S+ “Queer” community, nonprofits
are building evidence to protect the communities’ well-being. This session explores
why & how collecting and using sexual orientation, gender identity, & expression
(SOGIE) data can:
- deepen our knowledge of Queer communities;
- elucidate intersectional inequities; and
- assist in designing high-impact programming and interventions relevant to Queer communities.
We will examine the trade-offs of building trust & generating inferences from SOGIE
data and explore leveraging analytics to design culturally relevant engagement strategies for nearly 10% of Pennsylvania’s residents. This session highlights scalable frameworks and tools supporting inclusive data and technology strategies specific to cultural, regional, and programming contexts.
Participants will gain a roadmap for adopting SOGIE data practices through intake forms, staff training, or Queer community engagement.
We invite participants to consider the breadth and depth of their Queer aligning programming, how collecting SOGIE data might improve programming reach and impact, and approaches to responsibly engage Queer communities in evaluating their assets and needs.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
WORKSHOPS, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm
ADVOCACY TRACK – Rooted in Power: A Relationship-Based Advocacy Strategy for PA’s Nonprofit Sector
Facilitated by: Darren Sudman, Villanova University
When it comes to advocacy, most nonprofits go it alone or build a small subject-matter coalition to respond to changes in funding or regulations. But this approach does very little to build power acrossthe sector.
What if we flipped the model?
This session will launch the framework for a statewide collective advocacy campaign based on one simple and transformational idea: every Pennsylvania lawmaker should have an authenticrelationship with at least one nonprofit.
We’ll present a strategy to build this map by identifying each state legislator’s areas of interest – whether it’s education, mental health, housing, food insecurity, or the arts – and matching them with anapplicable nonprofit.
The role of a coalition member (organization) is to foster that one relationship. Keep it warm. Show up with stories, not just asks. Then, when the sector needs support, we’re already connected. Almost magically, we appear as a forest and not as a few trees.
This is how we grow something bigger than a campaign. This is how we become rooted in trust, relationships, and create sector-wide strength.
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRACK – From Performative to Transformative: Embedding Equity in Nonprofit Governance
Facilitated by: Jamee E. Boone, Eddee Boone Consulting | Rosalind Spigel, Spigel Consulting
In a time of deep uncertainty and rising inequities, nonprofit leaders and board members are being called to lead with clarity, compassion, and courage. This interactive workshop invites participants to move beyond performative DEI statements and into the transformative practice of equity-rooted governance. Together, we will hold space for our shared humanity — acknowledging the lived experiences, fears, and hopes each person brings to the boardroom. Through real-world case studies grounded in the realities of Pennsylvania’s nonprofit sector, participants will examine barriers to equity, assess board readiness, and co-create practical tools for inclusive decision-making. This session meets the moment with actionable strategies that can be adapted and scaled across roles, regions, and organizations. Participants will leave with a personalized Equity Governance Action Plan and tools to cultivate shared leadership and accountability. More than a training, this session is an invitation: What will you plant in your organization today? What practices could grow into lasting change for our communities tomorrow? Together, we’ll build a more just, connected, and representative nonprofit movement—starting right where we lead.
COMMUNICATIONS TRACK – What AI Can ACTUALLY Do: Smarter Fundraising, Marketing, & Decision-Making for Nonprofits
Facilitated by: Amy Wong, Dot Org Solutions | Greg Wilson, Stick Figure Fundraising
Nonprofit leaders face growing pressure to do more with less, adapt to emerging technologies and stay mission-focused. Many are looking to AI for help.
This hands-on workshop is designed for those seeking clarity on how to use AI tools to support their teams through smarter fundraising, better communication and stronger decision-making.
Facilitators Amy Wong and Greg Wilson bring deep expertise in nonprofit marketing, fundraising, strategy and leadership. Theywill explore where AI is headed, how it is impacting nonprofit constituents, and what compliance considerations leaders must keepin mind. Participants will dive into practical, real-world uses of both popular and lesser-known tools.
This is more than a tech session. It is a space to lead with intention, connect with peers and join a growing movement of nonprofit professionals using AI to strengthen missions and increase impact. Participants will work in small groups, experiment with tools and engage in discussion about how to lead responsibly in the age of AI. The session includes tools and frameworks to apply right away.
HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP TRACK – Legos, Listening & Leadership: Rethinking the Manager’s Role in Uncertain Times
Facilitated by: Janet McNally, D.Ed., SPHR, Team Development Services
The last few years have seen a lot of changes in the workplace and smart nonprofits are now reconsidering the traditional employer-employee relationship in response.
Instead of thinking about employees as the nonprofit’s “direct reports,” the Standards for Excellence recommends that organizations think about the role of managers as “direct support,” suggesting that the manager’s primary focus should be what the organization can do to unlock employees’ innovation and creativity in a time when both are sorely needed.
The Standards suggest two methods of communicating with employees: listening two-way conversations and employee engagement surveys. These methods emphasize feedback: thinking about work that has already happened and ways to improve for future iterations of the same work.
However, if nonprofit managers are now in the role of “direct reports,” we need to go beyond the traditional ways of finding out what kinds of support employees need before work starts (feedforward control) and as work takes place (concurrent control) in addition to feedback.
This session will interactively explore how nonprofits can do this to move forward in times of uncertainty.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Radical Resilience: Evolving to Meet Funding Challenges
Facilitated by: Debra Thompson & Jacqui Catrabone, Strategy Solutions
Many nonprofit organizations today are facing the uncertainties of funding cuts. Some already know that federal funding has been taken away, others have been put on notice that it could happen atany time. Now is the time to really think through how your organization can ensure sustainability in the face of adversity.
This highly interactive workshop highlights the key elements of how to adapt in the face of funding cuts and provides concrete take-home tools and resources to help you navigate through these uncertain times and plan for the future including:
- Redesigning to continue the mission when funding is cut
- Forming collaborations to address gaps in programs/services
- Making a “case for support” for funding from new/different sources.
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – Reimagining Nonprofit Models: Collaboration that Grounds & Grows
Facilitated by: Lindsay Kijewski, SeaChange Partners & Nonprofit Repositioning Fund | Ariel Shelton, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia | Arun Prabhakaran, Urban Affairs Coalition
In a time of uncertainty, nonprofit leaders are being called to reimagine how their missions, assets, and programs can thrive. This session explores the power of collaboration and fiscal sponsorship astools for resilience, equity, and sustainability. Through stories from three distinct models—the Nonprofit Repositioning Fund’s work with strategic partnerships and mergers, CultureWorks’ values-drivenfiscal sponsorship, and Urban Affairs Coalition’s community-rooted initiatives—participants will consider how these approaches can shift power, reduce administrative burden, and expand impact.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, this interactive session speaks to the real decision points nonprofits face—during leadership changes, financial strain, or periods of growth—and the options available to navigate them. We’ll explore practical ways organizations have worked together to share resources and stay mission-focused. Attendees will leave with tools, examples, and conversation starters they can adapt to their own contexts—and a renewed invitation to strengthen our sector by working together.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
PEER DISCUSSIONS, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
ADVOCACY TRACK – A Focus on Community-Rooted Advocacy 101
Facilitated by: Adam Hosey, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates | Blake Emmanuel, The Fund for Women & Girls
Get ready to connect, learn, and take action! This session blends quick, powerful presentations with lively small-group conversations, giving you a supportive space to ask questions and discover how advocacy works through a nonprofit lens. Our presenters will help you build the confidence to begin, strengthen, or expand your own values-driven efforts to engage your community, influence policymakers, and connect with elected officials — all while staying grounded in the communities you serve.
Nonprofits know their communities best — and they should be bold, nonpartisan advocates driving civic participation and systems change. We invite you to show up with curiosity, courage, and a commitment to change. You’ll walk away with practical tools and fresh inspiration to jumpstart or grow your own advocacy journey!
Note: This session IS NOT for legal advice on nonprofit advocacy or lobbying as the presenters are not lawyers– our lawyers made us say this.
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRACK – Meeting this Moment: The Conversation Your Board Should Have NOW
Moderated by: Roshawnda Washington, The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University
How can your board turn today’s challenges into opportunities to deepen engagement, strengthen community connections, and lead with intention? Nonprofit boards are being called to show up in newand urgent ways, and how they respond in this moment matters.
This session will explore how boards and executive leadership can align around a shared vision and strategy for the future. We’ll discuss what makes board members effective and impactful, bothindividually and as a collective body, and how boards can be a driving force in building stronger, more equitable organizations.
Through an equity lens, we’ll examine the power dynamics between boards, staff, and communities and what it takes to balance governance with responsiveness to the people nonprofits exist to serve. Participants will leave with practical guidance for engaging their boards more deeply, setting intentional goals, and navigating this evolving landscape with clarity and purpose. Now is the time for nonprofit boards to not only support but shape the future of their organizations and the sector. Together, we’ll explore how boards can step into their full potential Now to help build the equitable, resilient nonprofit sector we need Next.
COMMUNICATIONS TRACK – ROOTED TOGETHER: Storytelling that Builds Trust, Community, & Contributions
Facilitated by: Kelly Kostanesky, KMMK Communications
In a time of increasing scrutiny, shrinking donations, and shifting public narratives, nonprofit organizations must become powerful storytellers — not just to raise money, but to build trust and deepencommunity connection. This session introduces the ROOTS storytelling framework, a relationship-centered approach designed to help you craft stories that reflect your organization’s values, clarifyyour local impact, and shift perceptions in your favor.
Grounded in the Aspen metaphor of deep, interconnected roots, this interactive session will equip you to tell the kind of stories that grow strong relationships with donors and community partners —even in uncertain times. Through real-world examples, peer learning, and a hands-on worksheet, you’ll walk away with practical tools to strengthen your messaging and inspire greater support.
HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP TRACK – Putting DEI into Practice in Your Nonprofit (While Calling it Whatever You Want)
Facilitated by: Susannah Morgan
We can and must continue to build systems, policies and practices at our organizations that promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) – while using whatever words make sense for your organization. This session is a collective brainstorm and peer-to-peer learning on how to practically weave DEI into daily nonprofit work. We will keep a running list of ideas – and end the session by asking each person to reflect on one action they will take in their organization based on this conversation. This discussion will be led by Susannah Morgan, former President of Oregon Food Bank, and a leader in integrating DEI into social services.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Assessing Your Fundraising Roots: A Hands-On Organizational Fundraising Assessment
Facilitated by: Dr. Ivy Buchan, Invoke Nonprofit Consulting
This interactive session invites nonprofit leaders to “meet the moment” by taking a clear-eyed, compassionate look at their organization’s fundraising practices. Acknowledging the anxieties and hopes that come with resource development, Dr. Buchan will guide attendees through a step-by-step fundraising assessment tailored to their unique context. Participants will reflect on what’s working, where challenges persist, and what opportunities are ready to take root. Through peer sharing, self-assessment tools, and facilitated discussion, each attendee will leave with concrete action items specific to their organization’s fundraising strengths and growth areas. This session is designed to build confidence, foster evaluation skills, and strengthen the collective sustainability of Pennsylvania’s nonprofit sector. What can you weed from your fundraising practices today that will make room for abundance tomorrow?
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – Developing Your Network for Resiliency and Mutual Support
Facilitated by: Katie Marshall, Penn State University | Nathaniel Rasmussen, Centre Foundation
In times of uncertain funding, shifting regulations, and diminishing political will, phrases like “hunkering down” and “circling the wagons” can come to mind as a wise course of action. It is only natural to start managing change from a place of mutual trust, understanding and support.
We invite you to dive deeper by exploring the following question: How do you identify, build, and strengthen networks of purpose in times of limited and/or uncertain resources? We’ll use a series of facilitation techniques designed to tap into the collective interest and insight of the group with the intention of unearthing the relationships you have with other like-minded organizations, and developing new pathways of mutual support and collaboration.
Audience
Any organization facing the need to do more with less, and looking to build partnerships that make your mission easier and/or better. Representatives of organizations charged with nonprofit capacity building and building better, more efficient support networks. The session capacity is limited by room constraints.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
TAPROOT TALKS, 11:05 am – 11:15 am
ADVOCACY TRACK – Grassroots Organizing in the Justice Reform Space
Facilitated by: Heather Lewis, Reuniting Family Bail Fund
Participants are introduced to the foundational understanding and shared learnings of Participatory Defense which provides the ground work for community organizing in the Justice Reform space. Foundational understandings are rooted in a trust based process that is non-judgmental, creates space for healing and prevents burn out. Shared learnings facilitate “Meeting the Moment” through storytelling by people directly impacted by the justice system. These stories help families manage expectations, vent their frustrations, and get positive feedback on case strategy and navigating the criminal legal system
BOARD DEVELOPMENT TRACK – 10 Steps to Creating a Board Development & Recruitment Program
Moderated by: Eddrick Martin, Elevated Momentum
This Taproot Talk will introduce a practical scoring rubric to help organizations assess board development efforts. Participants can review their rubric to help identify current scores in board development effectiveness. Rooted in our 10 Steps to Creating a True Board Development and Recruitment Program curriculum, there will be clear and actionable takeaways based on which categories they fall into. Some insights and take-aways can be immediately applied to enhance board impact and alignment. As a bonus, a straightforward outline with proven steps to accelerate board growth and effectiveness will be shared.
COMMUNICATIONS TRACK – Digital Calm: Building ‘Right-Fit’ Tools that Lighten the Load & Strengthen Connection
Facilitated by: Kelly McGinley, Function & Flow
Nonprofit leaders juggle a lot — full calendars, tight budgets, and a mission that never fits neatly into a 40-hour week. And while digital tools promise to help, they often end up adding more to our plates. In this talk, we’ll explore a different approach — one rooted in digital fit: choosing tech that actually fits your team, your values, and the way you work.
We’ll begin with common friction points and then shift toward practical, thoughtful solutions. By building only the tech that matters, we create systems that help us reclaim time and resources — so we can focus on the relationships and creativity that fuel our mission.
From basic automations that streamline communication to lightweight, custom tools that keep programs flowing and data organized, we’ll look at ways right-fit tech can restore a sense of digital calm to your world.
This is about designing tech with heart — purpose-driven, human-centered tech that lightens the load so you can do your best work.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Deep Roots Everywhere: How Fractional Expertise Levels the Playing Field
Facilitated by: Michele Walls, MW Strategies
Too many nonprofit leaders know the exhaustion of wearing countless hats. The frustration of needing expertise that feels financially out of reach. Talented executive directors burn out trying to befundraisers, communications specialists, and program managers all at once.
The expertise divide between well-resourced organizations and smaller nonprofits isn’t just about money—it’s about access, timing, and outdated thinking about staffing models.
Fractional staffing changes everything. Local food pantries can access seasoned development professionals for several focused hours each week. Small arts organizations get strategiccommunications support, not improvised solutions. This isn’t about doing more with less. It’s about accessing the right expertise at the right time. When smaller nonprofits gain the resources ofexperienced professionals, the entire movement strengthens.
What if budget and location stopped limiting access to talent? What conversations might that spark? What expertise could organizations finally afford? When every organization can access the professional support their mission deserves, the entire sector grows stronger together.
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – AI Without the Overwhelm: A Culture-First Framework for Sustainable Adoption in Nonprofits
Facilitated by: Remy Reya & Kristin McKenna, Compass Pro Bono
Nonprofits are facing a moment of significant change. As policies and funding priorities shift rapidly, mission-driven organizations need practical tools to free up staff bandwidth and navigate the road ahead. In this Taproot Talk, Kristin McKenna and Remy Reya will aim to present AI as a unique opportunity in this moment—not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a strategic asset that can help nonprofits sustain their impact and avoid staff burnout amid uncertainty.
To set the scene, Kristin and Remy will share how the Compass Pro Bono team went from skepticism to enthusiastic adoption, with 100% of individual staff now using AI to save an average of 10+ hours/week. They’ll discuss their evolution from basic prompting to custom GPTs—scaling efficiency in marketing, fundraising, programs, data analysis, and more—while keeping AI use sustainable and human-centered. Finally, they will discuss how AI can play a fundamental role in capacity-building and movement-building as the nonprofit sector evolves. Participants will walk away with concrete strategies to integrate AI in a way that supports (not replaces) your team, combats burnout, and supercharges your nonprofit’s mission for the decade ahead.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
WORKSHOPS, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm
ADVOCACY TRACK – Coalitions that Carry Us: Building Collective Advocacy Rooted in Community
Facilitated by: Alexia Doumbouya & LaKeisha Entsuah, CocoLife.Black
In a time when many leaders feel isolated, nonprofits are stretched thin, and the need for justice grows louder, collective advocacy offers both a path forward and a place to root down together. Thissession is designed to energize a statewide movement rooted in solidarity and community care.
Grounded in the metaphor of Aspen trees—interconnected, resilient, and interdependent—we’ll hold space for real talk about what it takes to build and sustain coalitions that move policy and power.Through storytelling, experiential activities, and cross-sector peer learning, participants will explore how grassroots and nonprofit leaders across rural and urban regions of Pennsylvania are organizingin ways that honor lived experience and cultivate shared action.
This session meets the moment by offering concrete tools and a framework that can be scaled and adapted across geography, sector, and size. It also centers joy, reflection, and human connection—because movement-building is not just strategic, it’s spiritual.
Our invitation: What conversations, coalitions, or commitments are you ready to seed? What will you nurture beyond this room?
Together, we can carry each other forward—rooted in possibility, collaboration, and collective advocacy.
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRACK – When to Comply & When to Resist: Strategic Decision-Making in a Time of Authoritarianism
Moderated by: Rebecca Subar, Dragonfly Partners
The Administration’s investigations, overreach, retaliation, and threats have called on nonprofits to make unprecedented organizational choices. As a result of these direct challenges, you may face excruciating internal choices. You have processes and principles for making strategic decisions in good times as well as in challenging times. But when you have to make wrenching choices in the face of new and vexing external forces, there is strategic as well as internal and relational complexity with high stakes. The consequence of failing to communicate, let alone coordinate strategies, across differences of opinion about approaches may be dangerous. When it occurs internally in an organization, especially among the decision-makers, it can be immobilizing.
We can expect that many organizations will succumb to the tumult in the months and years ahead. Without adapting our strategic and leadership processes to the moment we’re in, we risk falling behind or worse. This workshop will give you tools to navigate the moment with greater awareness and essential communication tools. It will help you balance a desire to resist unjust authority and a need to protect your individual and collective interests.
COMMUNICATIONS TRACK – People-Centered Communications: Multiple Pathways for Access + Trust
Facilitated by: Melinda Steffy, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia/Concentric Strategy LLC
As nonprofits face heightened challenges, being proactive about your communications planning can help to build resilience and nimble responsiveness — both within individual organizations andacross the sector. Whether you’re announcing a change or navigating a crisis, how you communicate with your stakeholders is essential for building trust, maintaining relationships, and ensuringsuccessful outcomes. In this hands-on session, we will collectively create a multi-layered communications plan, addressing “who, what, when, where, and how”: WHO your audiences are, WHAT your targeted messaging is, WHEN and WHERE to deliver the message, and HOW to engage thoughtfully with your communities. Drawing on principles of universal design, we will consider different ways people receive and process information, creating communications pathways that are accessible and inclusive for diverse audiences. Participants will leave with practical tools and templates for creating people-centered, trust-based communications plans within your own contexts.
HUMAN-CENTERED LEADERSHIP TRACK – Rooted in Play: Building Team Resilience when Stakes are High
Facilitated by: Trina Walker, TLW Strategy | Alex Suchman, Barometer XP
When nonprofits are stretched thin and communities face mounting pressures, how might we build the deep resilience needed to meet this moment? Through play!
Research shows that play stimulates the brain, improves communication, and sparks creative thinking. More importantly, when we play together we increase interdependence and foster solidarity – the very roots that help us weather uncertainty and change.
Yet most adult workplaces, especially in the nonprofit sector, sideline play as “frivolous.” This session challenges that assumption by exploring how intentional play can be your secret weapon for building team cultures where people stay fully engaged without burning out.
We’ll experience several types of play designed specifically for nonprofit teams, from trust-building activities that strengthen connections to problem-solving games that help teams practice navigating uncertainty together. Participants will leave with a toolkit of playful practices they can immediately implement, plus frameworks
for incorporating play into their organizational culture.
Come ready to explore, laugh, and discover how play might be the root system your organization needs to thrive in challenging times.
FUNDRAISING TRACK – Power to the People: Fundraising the Builds Community Resilience
Facilitated by: Veronica Adams, Veronica Anne Rae Consulting
This interactive session invites nonprofit leaders to reimagine fundraising as a form of organizing and power-building—not just a revenue task. Drawing from the principles of community-centricfundraising, we’ll explore how to mobilize resources in ways that prioritize transparency, equity, and community self-determination. Together, we’ll unpack how shifting from donor-centric models tocommunity-rooted strategies can reduce isolation, foster collaboration, and build deeper statewide resilience.
This moment asks us to do more than survive—it asks us to trust each other, to share what we have, and to root into purpose. Through reflection, discussion, and practical tools, participants willexplore how their values can align with how they resource their work. Whether you’re facing burnout, financial instability, or just craving a different way to do this work, this session holds space forhonesty and possibility.
Participants will leave with tangible strategies for applying community-first fundraising practices, plus a shared sense of hope and direction. What could grow if we resourced each other differently? Let’s find out—together.
PLANNING FOR FUNDING CUTS/DELAYS TRACK – Rooted in Financial Insight: Empowering Nonprofit Board Treasurers to Meet the Moment
Facilitated by: Cindy Bergvall, Bee Bergvall & Co.
An agile informed Board is equipped to help their nonprofit meet the moment by assessing the nonprofits current state and resources; the needs of their community; and how best to deploy those resources to meet those needs. With rapid community change and uncertainty this can be a challenging road to navigate. An informed Board Treasurer can assist their Board peers, the Executive Director, and the nonprofit CFO in assessing the current financial resources and identifying what the nonprofit can do in both the short term and the long term.
- Strengthen Financial Foundations:
Equip board members with the skills to interpret financial statements, enabling them to assess the organization’s financial health and resilience. - Align Finances with Community Needs:
Demonstrate how financial metrics can guide strategic decisions to better serve evolving community needs, ensuring the organization remains responsive and impactful. - Ensure Compliance and Transparency:
Provide an overview of essential compliance requirements, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within the organization.
Collaborative Conference Agenda.
At a time when nonprofits are stretched thin, communities are under pressure, and policy landscapes are shifting fast, the 2025 Collaborative Conference calls us to meet this moment — together. Be part of this moment!