Removing the Blinders – How Nonprofit Leaders Can Reality-check Organizational Goals and Initiatives

Kannah

Greg Soffe, Vantage Point Initiatives
Organizational leaders often launch well-intentioned new initiatives that quickly become under resourced and hit unexpected challenges. These surprises can slow progress, increase cost, demoralize teams, and derail buy-in to future efforts if they happen too frequently. This session teaches a practical way to reality-check new initiatives and goals BEFORE they begin. Participants learn an easy tool that explores six key factors impacting an organization’s ability to successfully achieve its goals – a strategy that can detect and address potential barriers to success early. This proactive approach helps uncover blind spots and ensure new initiatives are realistic, achievable, and impactful.

Endowments are for Everyone!

Kannah

Leah Goss, Good Cause Solutions

Are you a nonprofit organization without an endowment? Is establishing and growing an endowment something you aspire to, but think is beyond your capacity? Then this workshop is for you! Learn why endowments matter, how to make the case for them to your Board and to Donors and identify essential strategies to get started. Building on specific case studies, attendees will explore situational strategies and receive samples and worksheets to accelerate their efforts. (Note: this session is not about financial institutions or the technical aspects of investing but is designed for the fundraiser who wants a plan to get started.)

Financial Reports Challenge: Test Your Knowledge!

Whitewater

Nathan Oberle and Jennifer Dombek, Your Part-Time Controller

Ready to test your nonprofit financial report expertise? Join us for an engaging class that blends learning and fun! This session is designed as a quiz game to challenge your knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and best practices. Through questions posed, you’ll enhance your understanding of financial statement components, donor restrictions, and accounting compliance essentials. Whether you’re already a seasoned nonprofit professional or just getting started, this session will provide valuable insights and practical knowledge.

Navigating the Future of Nonprofits in Colorado

The nonprofit sector has always been resilient—navigating the unknown through economic downturns, global crises, and shifting policies. From the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits have adapted, innovated, and found ways to serve their communities despite uncertainty. Today, as organizations face new complexities—political shifts, economic pressures, and rising demand for services—leaders are once again being called to do more with less.

Join this dynamic plenary panel featuring trusted voices from across Colorado as they explore how nonprofits can sustain their missions and drive impact in an evolving landscape. From harnessing emerging technologies like AI to strengthening cross-sector partnerships, preparing for policy changes, and fostering innovation, this conversation will offer fresh perspectives and actionable strategies.

More than ever, nonprofits must lean on each other, share knowledge, and build collective resilience. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, or nonprofit professional shaping the future of your organization, this is an opportunity to engage in a vital discussion that will challenge, inspire, and equip you with the tools to lead with confidence. Together, we can strengthen our sector—and the communities we serve.

Town Hall Panelists

• Paul Lhevine, President & CEO, Colorado Nonprofit Association
• Matt Carpenter, Executive Vice President and COO, El Pomar Foundation
• Emily Orbanek, Director of Programs & Special Projects, Western Colorado Community Foundation
• Faith Rodriguez, Executive Director, United Way of Mesa County

Sponsored By

Marketing Matters: Taking stock and building your toolkit

Kannah

Katie O’Dell, Jennifer Gauerke, Jenny Mulligan, YellowDog Marketing

Feeling lost in the madness of marketing? Overwhelmed by changing definitions, new technology and the pressure to be everywhere? Ready to stop chasing squirrels and channel your efforts towards real impact? Then this interactive session is for you. The brand and marketing experts at YellowDog will guide participants through a high-level marketing audit, providing the blueprint for an effective, efficient marketing strategy. We will define the essential ingredients to help you make the most of your brand and budget.

Extreme Board Makeover: Your Blueprint for a High-Impact Board

Whitewater

Derik Timmerman, Valtas Group

Every board member has something valuable to offer—but not everyone is in the right role or stage of service to contribute meaningfully. This session is about creating a board where every member is engaged, energized, and using their unique strengths to advance the mission. We’ll explore strategies for activating underutilized talent, making the most of board meetings, setting clear expectations for participation, and having thoughtful, constructive conversations when it’s time for someone to transition off. Walk away with a blueprint for a high-energy board that thrives on collaboration, purpose, and shared leadership—where everyone has a passion to win and a role that truly fits. Because better boards mean a better world.

Crafting Compelling Stories of Impact that Resonate with Supporters

Whitewater

Julie Paynotta, Piñon Grant Solutions

This session will equip nonprofit development team members with the skills to tell compelling, data-driven stories of impact. Participants will learn to craft narratives that resonate emotionally, reflect diversity, and inspire action. The training covers storytelling for donors, grant proposals, and community engagement.

Stepping into State-level Advocacy: Building a Strategy that Advances your Mission and Balances your Capacity

Kannah

Jack Murphy, Colorado Nonprofit Association

Now more than ever, it is essential that nonprofit organizations engage in the legislative process to advance their missions, protect themselves from threats, and raise public awareness for our sector. Many organizations and nonprofit professionals are considering engaging in advocacy for the first time, but don’t know where to start. For those new to advocacy, engaging at the state-level is a great place to jump in – it’s more local and accessible, yet still has a significant impact on the work you and your organization do. This training provides a general overview of the state’s General Assembly, how laws are passed, and the tools and techniques needed to engage in the legislative process. Participants will leave this training understanding the state legislative process, how to monitor legislative activity for opportunities and threats, and how to work with their organizations to design practical and efficient strategies to advocate when needed.