Speak Now: Keynote/Plenary Session Descriptions
Opening
Business Not Battle for Nonprofits and Their Boards
Business Not Battle for Nonprofits and Their Boards
Elise Woodworth
We are all looking for the best way to make a nonprofit successful. That can be challenging. What I’ve found is that nonprofits often get stuck in the battles of everyday operation instead of running like a sustainable business. Staff are exhausted, people don’t want to volunteer, and donors aren’t confident in the organization. That’s a problem because nonprofits fill important gaps in our communities. Focusing on Business, not battle is the answer to creating a successful organization. For a nonprofit to be in business, it needs to get mission focused, gain awareness, and build an active network of advocates. Not only does this bring success to the organization, it also fuels passionate staff and avoid burn out. It helps engage volunteers who are ready to lend a helping hand. And it helps attract enthusiastic confident donors.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the how to identify common battles nonprofits face that hinder success
- Discover easy to implement strategies for creating mission focus
- Learn how to use advocacy for their nonprofit to build momentum
- Walk away with 4 thoughtful questions to ignite positive change
- Jump start change to create a mini culture shift
Plenary
Unlocking Potential: DEI in Nonprofit Organizations
Dr. Portia G. Smith
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are fundamental to the success and impact of nonprofit organizations. This session will highlight the importance of understanding DEI and how it applies to recruitment and retention of staff, board, volunteers, and community members. This session will also highlight the impact of prioritizing DEI principles in the overall structure of nonprofit organizations. Participants will gain practical insights and strategies to cultivate inclusive environments, diversify leadership, and amplify diverse voices within their organizations to better serve their communities.
Closing
Shifting Power, Strengthening Nonprofits
Aleda Gagarin
Today’s nonprofits—particularly fundraisers—don’t have it easy. The U.S. public’s trust in nonprofits dropped to a historic low in 2023. Once a reliable source of support, individual giving is also on the decline—decreasing by nearly 13.4% in 2022. Meanwhile, funders’ grant applications and reporting remain cumbersome—and often come with restrictive, program-specific strings attached. Not to mention, over the past five years, the overall percentage of funders providing general operating support continues to diminish. As the funding landscape evolves, many nonprofits are forced to focus even more attention on securing revenue—taking precious time away from their causes.
Left with less resources, time, and funding to advance their mission-driven work, societal demand for nonprofits’ services continues to skyrocket. The obvious question remains: how can nonprofits be expected to do more with less?
Candid’s VP of Influence Aleda Gagarin delves into these challenges and offers practical solutions nonprofits can implement now for immediate relief. She will highlight three main keys to combat these dynamics by 1. increasing resources, 2. decreasing funding burdens, and 3. ensuring equity in the nonprofit sector. Aleda will also share actionable takeaways, collaborative initiatives, and free resources to strengthen capacity, maximize fundraising revenue, and free up nonprofits’ time and resources to more fully focus on their missions.
Discover how—together—we can make our sector more efficient, effective, and equitable by ensuring nonprofits are resourced and positioned to meet ever-increasing needs.
