Minnesota Council
of Nonprofits
Annual Conference
October 2 - 3
Saint Paul

Examining how nonprofits and government form partnerships and policies to benefit the public.

7:15 a.m.

Registration and Exhibits Open

7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

Early Morning Breakout Sessions

Enjoy breakfast with your colleagues while learning more about a range of special opportunities for nonprofit
organizations and their leaders.

Governing Governance: The Charities Review Council Governance Standards

How does the sector tell the public about the quality of nonprofit governance? How can information about governance build public trust? Come learn from the Charities Review Council about the detailed application of the Governance section of the Accountability Standards. You will also hear from other experts about their own perceptions of the standards. Then help presenters design updated standards by providing your own feedback and knowledge of best practices. What indicators reflect accountable governance? And, of critical importance, do the current standards represent hidden (or not so hidden) cultural bias?

Chanda Smith, vice president of strategic partnerships, Pillsbury United Communities and Paul Verrette, Accountability Program manager, Charities Review Council

Who knew? Digging Deeper into Data about Nonprofits

Successful management always benefits from access to good information. Unfortunately, those in the nonprofit sector have long struggled with making decisions based on very limited data. A recent study by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the Humphrey Institute takes the sector one step further in gaining access to higher quality information. The Minnesota Nonprofit Study surveyed hundreds of organizations and collected valuable data on nonprofit management practices and financial issues. Join us for this interactive session where we will pore through the results and you can finally match up your nonprofit against similar organizations.

Ipyana Critton, research assistant, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; Steve Jenkins, project coordinator, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Jodi Sandfort, associate professor, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; and Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Project deputy director

Up, Up and Away! Jumpstart Your Nonprofit Career through Academic Programs

Looking for a way to jumpstart your nonprofit career? Attend this session to learn about the broad range of academic programs available to those interested in furthering their nonprofit academic development. You will hear an overview of the existing certificate and degree programs around the state and provide hints about which program might meet your interests. You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Save yourself some research time by attending this session.

Cathy Gustafson, assistant professor and program director, Master in Nonprofit Management, Hamline University; Sheryl Homan, program manager, Center for Continuing Education/Extension, University of Wisconsin-Superior; Jennifer Imsande, associate director, Masters Program in Advocacy and Political Leadership, University of Minnesota Duluth; Ann Johnson, director, Center for Nonprofit Management, Opus College of Business, University of St. Thomas; Gary Kelsey, director, master of arts in philanthropy and development, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Keith Luebke, director, Nonprofit Leadership Program, Minnesota State University Mankato; Frank Schweigert, assistant professor, Metropolitan State University - Master of Public & Nonprofit Administration; and Melissa Stone, director of the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Using Geographic Data for Community Analysis

This teaching session will provide an introduction to and demonstration of Minnesota 3D (M3D), a Web-based mapping application designed to provide non-analysts with a tool to map community and economic-related data for the seven county metro area. Unique to this application is the ability to map the home and work locations of a community along side affordable housing points, transportation networks, and a multitude of demographic, economic, and employment layers. Utilizing examples from the Harrison Neighborhood Association and Housing Link, this session will illustrate M3D's display, analysis and reporting features, as well as outline the various data layers available through M3D.

Larry Hiscock, executive director, Harrison Neighborhood Association and Jeff Matson, associate program director, MNIS/M3D, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs

Divided We Fail: Organizing a Nationwide Campaign

AARP’s Divided We Fail campaign is a national effort designed to engage the American people, elected officials and the business community to find broad-based, bi-partisan solutions to address health care and long-term financial security. Divided We Fail is a movement activating the American people to demand leadership and action from government, business and nonprofits, ultimately leading to solutions that will ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care and have peace of mind about their long-term financial security. Come learn how AARP is organizing this campaign and rallying individuals, lawmakers, and leaders of business and nonprofits.

Michele Kimball, state director, AARP Minnesota

Civic Networking Online: Solving Common Problems with CitiZing!

This session will explore the newly-launched online platform CitiZing!, a tool for collective problem solving. Following the lead of popular online social networks, CitiZing! combines the power of social networking with new decision-making processes. CitiZing! is a user-friendly Web platform that guides users through good public problem-solving practice, a structure to provide key missing ingredients from today’s civic problem-solving arena, and the opportunity to learn from one another through easy to use and fun tools. It offers citizens, nonprofits, public agencies and other organizations tools to create new, clearer roles and expectations, greater transparency, and ultimately better outcomes in citizen participation processes.

Erin Sapp, public policy consultant

MCN’s Leadership Institutes

Are you interested in building your networks? Are you looking for professional development that will improve the work that you do individually, organizationally, and community-wide? The Minnesota Council of Nonprofit’s Nonprofit Leadership Institute is an eight-month-long intensive learning experience that covers the topics that many organizations are grappling with today. The Nonprofit Leadership Institute will provide you with the tools and learning to help you and your organization work better with your community. Come learn more about MCN’s Nonprofit Leadership Institutes and meet with current participants and faculty to hear how this program will enrich your work, your organization and the community that you serve.

Roger Hagedorn, information systems director, DARTS and ‘08 Strategic Connector; Tami Lueck, executive director, Bridges of Hope and ’08 Senior Manager; Hua Moua, employment services manager, Hmong American Partnership and ‘08 Strategic Connector; Patty Schulz, vice president of resource development, Neighborhood House and '08 Senior Manager; Tom Snell, managing director, Bedlam Theater and ’08 Senior Manager; Bao Vang, leadership program coordinator, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; and Nicole Weiler, program coordinator, Free Store director, St. Stephen's Human Services and ‘08 Strategic Connector

Bush Leadership Program

The Bush Leadership Fellows Program provides accomplished, motivated individuals who are eager to prepare themselves for greater leadership responsibilities within their communities and professions with financial support for learning experiences. Learning experiences may include academic course work, internships and self-designed study programs. In this session, you will learn more about this program’s application process and selection criteria.

Martha Lee, assistant director, Bush Leadership Fellows Program, Bush Foundation

Onward! Public Policy for the Truly Intimidated

Does the idea of public policy advocacy scare you? Are you skeptical of the possible benefits of engaging your nonprofit in civic life? Join your peers for a casual conversation about getting started with public policy advocacy in your organization. Bring your questions – we’ll provide inspiration!

Marcia Avner, public policy director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Jeannie Fox, deputy public policy director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Invest in Minnesota Campaign

Are you tired of budget cuts? Have the people you serve suffered enough pain? Is it time to stop reducing community services and get back to building Minnesota? This session will review our state’s persistent revenue and budget shortfalls and focus on what concerned people can do to promote smart investment in Minnesota and renewed prosperity for all Minnesotans.

Nan Madden, director, Minnesota Budget Project; Bill Moore, coordinator, Invest in Minnesota Campaign; Brian Rusche, executive director, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition; and Dane Smith, executive director, Growth & Justice

Maximize Your MCN Membership

This session is an opportunity for you to learn more about the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and its member benefits, including great cost-saving partnerships. This session is for you if you are already a member but want to make sure you are taking full advantage of your MCN membership or if you are not a member and would like to know more about membership and how it could benefit you and your organization.

Ruth Duran Deffley, membership and chapter coordinator, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Jay Freeman, account manager, OfficeMax; Peg Hill, association sales manager, Stanton Group; Cheryl Jones, account executive, Unemployment Services Trust; Monivone Lamkhamphoui, corporate account manager, OfficeMax; and Andrew Morse, Monitor Liability Insurance

9 – 10:30 a.m.

Opening Plenary — Judge Pamela Alexander

Keynote speaker Judge Pamela Alexander, the newly-named president of the Council on Crime & Justice, will address the topic Stress, Budgets and Hope: Building Support for Public Service at the conference opening plenary on Friday, October 3.

After her remarks, Pamela will be joined by Sandra Vargas, president & CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation, and Armando Camacho, president of Neighborhood House, who will give brief responses and engage in dialogue with the audience.

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Choose from several breakout sessions offered in multiple formats including panel discussions, group discussions and formal presentations and focused on specific job functions including executive leadership, board governance, finance and management, marketing and communications, human resources, fundraising, and public policy and advocacy.

Collaborations Gone Wild...and How to Avoid Becoming One

Leadership

The current realities of funding are driving more nonprofits to collaborate in order to continue their programs. Yet collaborations and joint ventures are rife with competing interests and needs. Poor boundaries and other unanticipated problems often result from incomplete planning while the collaborative venture is in its early stages. During this session, facilitators will help your organization avoid collaborations gone wild by identifying the common pitfalls of poorly planned joint programs, helping you understand the legal considerations when creating effective collaborations and joint ventures, and providing a checklist of arenas which require early attention, including conflicts of interest, to realize the best possible outcome.

Eve Borenstein, attorney, Borenstein and McVeigh Law Office and Ellen McVeigh, attorney, Borenstein and McVeigh Law Office

Better Outcomes, Lower Costs: Score a Home Run with Advance Audit Preparation

Finance and Management

Yes, advance planning can make an audit go more smoothly, but which specific preparations will help your organization achieve the best possible results? In this session, our presenters – the CFO of a large nonprofit organization and its auditor – will describe how they worked together throughout the year to achieve the highest quality of audit outcomes with the lowest relative costs. Through their tips and tactics, you will learn how to improve your organization’s audit outcomes, strengthen its internal controls and reduce its audit costs. Our presenters will also highlight how your organization can efficiently and effectively prepare for the new audit risk standards.

Tom Hodnefield, CPA, officer, HLB Tautges Redpath, Ltd. and Mary Kinder, CFO, Minnesota AIDS Project

The Intersection Between Technology and the Workplace Practical and Legal Pointers

Human Resources

In this session you will get an in-depth look at workplace technology issues, including employee use and abuse of the Internet, email, cell phones, personal Web pages and blogs. We will also discuss employee privacy issues arising from the use of technology, as well as an employer's right to monitor and control an employee's use of technology in the workplace. The presenters will use real examples of use and misuse of technology and provide participants with practical and legal insight into how to benefit from use of technology while limiting risks created by abuse of technology.

Ingrid Culp, attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.; Norah Olson Bluvshtein, attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. and Teresa Thompson, attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Citizens, Nonprofits, and Government: Doing Together What We Cannot Do Alone

Public Policy

People and organizations interact with government in three primary ways: parallel work with no intersection, collaborative work, and adversarial interactions. This session will explore strategies for collaborative accomplishments and successful interactions. Three models will be presented to provoke ideas and discussion: the Citizen’s League model for citizen engagement, St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Initiative for Peaceful Families and Communities’ Family Violence Prevention Initiative, and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts’ relationship building strategies. We can do more! Learn about the possibilities!

Marcia Avner, public policy director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Don Gault, Healthy Communities section manager, Ramsey County Department of Public Health; Erin Sapp, Citizen’s League; and Sheila Smith, executive director, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts

Leveraging Leadership to End Homelessness

Public Policy

When tackling big issues like homelessness it is important to realize that no one sector can do it alone. One of the greatest strengths of a multi-sector partnership is that each sector can challenge the others, leveraging support and encouraging action. Yet multi-sector partnerships are not without their challenges. This session will offer insight into best practices for engaging multiple sectors in addressing community issues. Representatives from nonprofits, foundations and government will be featured in a moderated panel highlighting the strategies of the state's Heading Home initiatives that have as their goal ending long-term homelessness by 2010.

Cathy ten Broeke, regional coordinator, Heading Home Hennepin; Jim Frey, president, Frey Foundation; Tim Marx, commissioner, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency; Carleen Rhodes, president, St. Paul Foundation; and Tom Triplett, principal consultant, Fieldstone Alliance

Plan for Success through Public Relations

Marketing and Communications

Public relations can help your organization maximize its marketing efforts as well as help you effectively reach your key audiences including donors, stakeholders and media. It is important to develop a public relations strategy that combines media relations, marketing, messaging, a strong Web presence, grassroots strategies and events marketing. How can you weave all these elements into a comprehensive program? This session will take a detailed look at how to develop a public relations strategy that supports your marketing efforts, leverages your marketing resources and positions you as a leader in the marketplace, ultimately leading to measurable and sustainable goals that enable you to relate and to reach your key audiences.

Sandi Scott, senior account supervisor, Tunheim Partners

Spread Your Message Statewide

Marketing and Communications

Your nonprofit’s messages often need to be heard throughout Minnesota, not just in the metro areas. Yet it can often be difficult to build relationships in distant communities – including rural areas and tribal reservations. What strategies are effective when seeking statewide attention? And how can you effectively work with a large number of media contacts spread across a wide geographic region? Come learn how to better reach, engage and inform your constituencies across the state. This session will include strategies for increasing your contacts in both traditional and new media across Minnesota, and discuss specific ideas for building relationships with members of the media in Greater Minnesota.

Ginger Sisco, Sisco Public Relations and Glen Fladeboe, director of communications, MN 2020

Engaging Young Donors – Millennials, Micropayments and Social Giving

Fundraising

Young people, particularly those under 25, are the first generation in history to grow up online. This generation’s comfort and acumen with technology and the Internet presents both challenges and opportunities for nonprofits seeking to engage their next generation of donors. This session will address the cultural and historical factors that make the “Millennials” unique as well as their online behavior and hangouts in order to gain a clearer picture of how to groom them as financial contributors to your cause. If you’ve struggled to recruit and retain younger donors, you’ll leave this session with concrete ideas on how to grow donors from this group.

Eliza Appert, account executive, Tunheim Partners and David Erickson, director of e-Strategy, Tunheim Partners

Government and Faith Based Community Organizations: Working Effectively Together

Theme-Related

Faith Based and Community Organizations (FBCO) and government human and social services partnerships are essential to fulfilling human services needs in our community. During this session, FBCO leaders and government partners will share how they can work more effectively together to support the human and social services they provide. Best practices government funding models and partnerships will be presented and discussed as well as opportunities for resource sharing. Leaders in FBCOs, government and program managers who desire to work more closely with medium to small faith based and community organizations should attend this session.

Bruce Bjork, director of programs, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches; Lee Buckley, special advisor, Governor's Office on Faith and Community Service Initiatives; Rolf Hage, director, Aging and Adult Services Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services; and Julianne Leerssen, director, 1-Stop Family Support Center, Jordon New Life Community Church

Making the Case: Articulating the Common Good in Public and Nonprofit Programs

Theme-Related

To demonstrate accountability and attract scarce funding, nonprofit and government leaders need to show the far-reaching benefits of their programs. Therefore learning how to communicate a program’s public value – the benefit the community receives apart from the benefit participants receive – is a powerful tool. Designed to meet the needs of both government and nonprofit leaders, this session will help you learn how to define, describe and articulate the public value of your programs. Learn how to walk through questions designed to undercover public value, distill the answers into a succinct message and dig deeper to find the research to support it. In the end, you’ll discover how to effectively communicate to policymakers and the public how your programs contribute to the common good.

Laura Kalambokidis, associate professor, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota

Global Perspectives: Nonprofit-Government Relations Outside the U.S.

Theme-Related

Participants will have an opportunity to explore government relations in different political frameworks in different parts of the world. We'll explore common themes and issues including tensions between NGOs and national governments. For this session, anyone who has worked with organizations outside the U.S. is encouraged to bring their own experience to add to this analysis.

Luisa Fajer, conusl of Mexico, Mexican Consulate of St. Paul/Minneapolis; Ramon Leon, executive director, Latino Economic Development Center; Janet Lavoie, director, membership development, Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations; and Jon Pratt, executive director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

12:30 – 2 p.m.

Lunch and Awards Ceremony

The Nonprofit Mission and Excellence Awards emphasize the importance of nonprofits to the quality of life in Minnesota by recognizing achievements that make a significant impact in the areas of innovation, advocacy, anti-racism, responsive philanthropy and overall excellence.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will moderate the 2008 Awards Ceremony.

2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Choose from more valuable breakout sessions during this additional opportunity to learn new skills and improve
current ones.

Building a Nonprofit Social Enterprise

Leadership

The terms social enterprise, social venture and social entrepreneurship are everywhere right now. Nonprofits seeking to diversify funding are exploring opportunities to create a new stream of earned revenue by growing a business venture. This session will help you understand the terminology and essential questions to consider earned income opportunities for your organization that fits with your programs and strengthens your mission. Topics will include identifying opportunities, operational and financial considerations, mission fit, risks, and evaluation of impact.

Kate Barr, executive director, Nonprofits Assistance Fund and Mike Wynne, executive director, Emerge Community Development

The Topography of Executive Transition

Governance

Understanding the topography of the executive transition process is a prerequisite for an organization’s board of directors and its president to successfully lead an organization through a major leadership transition. Too often, executive changes are unplanned and organizational versus personal relationships and needs are unclear. In addition, the board is often handicapped when the executive transition is seen as a short-term priority as compared to a long-term strategic goal. This session will provide participants with a “topography map” and model for successful executive transition based on the working assumption that it is never too early to begin planning for this event in any organization.

Linda Ewing, partner, Cincinnatus, Inc.; Kent Eklund, chair, Cincinnatus, Inc.; and Sarah Strickland, senior consultant, Cincinnatus Inc.

Getting and Staying Compliant – Basics of Financial Management for Grants

Finance and Management

When it comes to managing a government grant, getting and staying compliant with appropriate regulations can make the difference between on-going funding and spending hours defending your actions, returning grant funds or even worse. This session will overview some of the federal Office of Management and Budget regulations (OMB Circulars) and suggest a budgetary process that will keep both nonprofit staff and government officials happy with the results and generate positive grantor/grantee relationships.

Reid Zimmerman, principal, Zimmerman Consulting

Minnesota's Changing Workforce: Implications for Your Organization

Human Resources

As Minnesota’s population continues to change, so too does the labor market. Several demographic factors play into the current and future labor market, including age and rural/urban migration, to name a few. Attend this session to learn about Minnesota’s changing population as well as impacts for nonprofit and government employers, including what you can expect as you consider your human capital needs now and in the years to come.

Tom Gillaspy, Minnesota State Demographer

Nonprofits and Advocacy Laws

Public Policy

Ever wonder what you can and can’t do as a nonprofit advocate? This session will review the rules relating to nonprofit advocacy, lobbying and election-related activities for 501(c)(3) organizations. Participants in this session will learn what lobbying is, how much a 501(c)(3) can lobby, the state rules and regulations regarding nonprofit advocacy and lobbying, and the types of election-related activity 501(c)(3)’s can engage in. Presenters will be able to address your specific questions as well.

David Arons, state government relations director, American Cancer Society and Jeannie Fox, public policy deputy director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Leveraging Your Leadership: Participation in Government Agencies, Boards and Commissions

Public Policy

Many nonprofit staff and board members are experts in what they do – but they don’t necessarily share their experience and expertise outside their core supporters. Participating as a community leader in government settings - civic boards or commissions, state agency boards or even elected office - can increase the visibility of nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Involvement in other civic organizations helps you achieve your organizational mission as you become a “go-to” community leader, interacting with civic and community leadership in new ways. Discover the benefits of participating in agencies, boards, and commissions; information about open service opportunities; how to apply for these positions; and how to be successful in obtaining competitive leadership positions in your community.

Steve Boland, executive director, Greater Frogtown Community Corporation; and Tarryl Clark, Minnesota State Senator, District 15

Building Participation through Social Networking

Marketing and Communications

Your intern won’t stop telling you that your organization needs to get online. “Make a MySpace page! Create a Flickr account!” Or maybe you have started social networking, but can’t help thinking “Why am I here? What do I do now? Is this helping my organization?” Welcome to the new communications landscape and the realities of building participation – from donors to clients to advocates – in the connected age. This session will explore social networking tools (including MySpace, Facebook, blogs and YouTube) that both enhance traditional forms of connection and information exchange, and create relationship-building opportunities that feel entirely new. Attendees can expect to leave this session armed with practical strategies and tactics about how to start using social networking tools to engage in a personal relationship with users by providing something of value.

Jono Smith, director of marketing, Network for Good

Thinking Outside of the Box: How to Build Relationships and Secure Funding from Cities, Watersheds, and Counties

Fundraising

Many units of government have pools of money budgeted each year for programming. What types of programming will they fund and how do you identify these cities, counties or watersheds for your organization? This session will give participants the tools to build relationships and secure funding from these new partners. Participants will be able to identify which partners to target, how to get in the door and how to tailor an ask to achieve results.

Kristen Denzer, principal, The Advancement Company

How to Get (and Keep) Government Funding

Fundraising

Accessing and keeping government funding has unique nuances that are different from foundation funding. Attend this session to get insights about how to get government funding, how government funding differs from foundation funding, and how government staff view successful grant proposals. Session panelists will discuss different aspects of successful grant applications and grant programs including the ability to track program income and expenses, labor costs, and outcomes; how to describe your programs clearly; how to submit successful progress reports; and how to communicate successfully with the funding agency throughout the grant period. This session is targeted to nonprofits that have no or little experience receiving government funding for their programs.

Kristin Batson, director, State of Minnesota Office of Grants Management; Japhet Nyakundi, program specialist, Minnesota Department of Health; and Elizabeth Stephens, supervisor, grant program accountability, Minnesota Department of Education

Influencing State Policy: Intercepting the Legislative Process through Specialty Councils

Public Policy

As nonprofit leaders, you understand the need to evolve into influencers of state policy and budget priority. By building strategic partnerships with state Councils chartered with providing legislative recommendations, you are able to intercept the legislative process and gain consistent access to state legislators and the governor's office. In this session, you will develop an understanding of the Councils' legislative cycle and how best to interject the work of Councils with your ideas and recommendations. Panel members will provide you with an understanding of how they gather the voice of the community, analyze data, and build their legislative recommendations. Learn to take your voice and that of your stakeholders to the state legislature.

Theresa Carufel, council chair, Minnesota State Advisory Council on Mental Health; Rita Garcia, CEO, Business Partners Plus, Inc.; Ilean Her, executive director, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans; and Rogelio Munoz, executive director, Chicano Latino Affairs Council

Partnership is a Verb, Not a Noun: The Journey of Kujichagulia Partnership

Theme-Related

The Kujichagulia (Self Determination) Project, a unique partnership between Ramsey County, the Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center (CWC), and the Ramsey County African American Community Project, was undertaken after Ramsey County identified significant disparities in outcomes for African Americans utilizing MFIP for income support. The County acknowledged that its traditional service model was not working for African American families, and it approached African American community elders for guidance. Their work resulted in the Kujichagulia Project, which places welfare reform inside the larger community goal of creating stable, strong, and self-determined families. Session presenters will share the struggles and stumbling blocks, as well as the hard earned successes, including those in systems changes and community impact. You will learn direct strategies for replication in your own community, including the to-do’s and not-to-do’s.

Atum Azzahir, executive director, Cultural Wellness Center; Mary Kay Boyd, elder/consultant; Bruce Casselton, supervisor, Ramsey County; and Catherine Eichers Penkert, Humphrey Institute analyst, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Conference Closing Reception

Join us for this final networking opportunity that marks the close of this year's nonprofit gathering.