see you soon, loveland!

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Embassy Suites Loveland, 4705 Clydesdale Pkwy, Loveland, CO 80538

Join us for Connecting Northern Colorado, where nonprofit professionals, leaders, and changemakers come together to network, learn, and grow. This year’s event promises dynamic sessions, inspiring speakers, and opportunities designed to empower you and your team.

EVENT AGENDA

details for this year’s event

Key Dates

Registration Opens: January 10, 2025
Early Bird Registration: January 10 – February 28, 2025
Registration Closes: April 14, 2025

Pricing

Member Pricing

Early Bird: $150
Regular: $200

Non-Member Pricing

Early Bird: $225
Regular: $275

Loveland Conference powered by

conference agenda

8:15-9:00 AM	Check-In, grab a coffee, and mingle
9:00-9:30 AM	Opening Remarks
9:30-9:40 AM	Transition Break
9:40-10:55 AM	Breakout Session 1
10:55-11:05 AM	Transition break
11:00-12:00 PM	Breakout Session 2
12:00-1:10 PM	Lunch
1:10-2:05 PM	Breakout Session 3
2:05-2:15 PM	Transition break
2:15-3:10 PM	Breakout Session 4
3:10-3:20 PM	Transition break
3:20-4:05 PM	Plenary in the Ballroom (New this year!)
4:05-4:30 PM	Closing Remarks

Conference Plenary: 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.

Partner In Education sponsors

session descriptions

Breakout Session 1

Bounce Back to Leap Forward: Tools for Resilience

Chalice Springfield, Unstoppable Curiosity

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about leaping forward! This interactive, high-energy workshop equips you with practical tools to navigate challenges, adapt to change, and turn setbacks into opportunities. Learn how to cultivate a resilient mindset that fuels growth, emotional strength, and lasting impact. Whether you’re facing workplace hurdles or personal struggles, resilience is the key to thriving. Join us for a fun and empowering session that will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to take on whatever comes next. A critical tool for non-profit teams…don’t just survive—thrive!

How to Ask: Language, Questions, Stories

Mike Gemm, Gemm Consulting
The key elements involved in this presentation are learning what specific tools will work to make fundraising asks for each participant’s organization. Participants will learn the language, the literal words to use on asks and practice using this language. Participants will walk away from the session with key questions and stories to share with donors to raise money. Finally, participants will start practicing using all of these tools in exercises with other participants. This session includes interactive activities, self-reflections, and thinking time.

Marketing Matters: Taking stock and building your toolkit

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.

State of Leadership: Strengthening Our Leadership Roots

Amy Humble & Kurt Wilson, White River Strategy in Partnership with the Boettcher Foundation Strong leadership is one of the most valuable assets a nonprofit can have—yet too often, leaders operate in silos. This exclusive, small-group session with Amy Humble and Kurt Wilson offers nonprofit leaders a chance to connect, reflect, and strengthen the leadership bonds that drive real impact. Through interactive discussions, you’ll explore the networks that shape our community, identify opportunities to increase your influence and effectiveness, and gain insights to help navigate today’s leadership challenges. Space is limited to the first 20 nonprofit leaders per session, but don’t worry, we will hold this session in each breakout to ensure everyone who wants to participate can do so.

Breakout Session 2

Using AI and other 21st Century Tools to Improve your Nonprofit’s ROI with Grants

Megan Ferry, Nonprofit Navigators

Do grants overwhelm you and your team, at times? Is your nonprofit’s Return-On-Investment (ROI) with grants not what you think it should be? In this session, participants will learn what foundations are looking for with grants today, including attachments. They’ll also see how 2-3 “real” nonprofit Case Studies used AI to improve their grant writing efforts and go through a prompt exercise to demonstrate how AI can be used to do free grant research. Participants will leave the session with real-life tools and how to use them to improve their nonprofit’s ROI with grant writing and grant-seeking.

The Profitable Gala Playbook

Dani Dotterosa, Auctions by Dani

Join us and walk away with your gala fundraising strategy ready-to-go! You’ll learn all about creating a winning strategy as we dive into how pricing your tickets correctly brings the resources you need to hit your goals and equations that help us make pure profit on event night. We’ll explore the mental reframe that will take your planning to the next level and the non-negotiable fundraising stream every event needs. Filled with pro tips, time for questions and a workbook, this session will give you the confidence to tackle your fundraising goals.

Strategic Planning in Unsettled Times: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity

Rachel Cohen, Aging Dynamics

Nonprofits are navigating an era of rapid change—shifting funding landscapes, leadership transitions, societal upheaval, and policy changes. In these uncertain times, strategic planning might feel impossible or even counterproductive. However, embracing a more flexible, iterative approach can help organizations not only survive but thrive. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to rethink traditional strategic planning by integrating multiple approaches, customizing the process to your nonprofit’s unique needs, and embracing adaptability. Participants will engage in real-world discussions, practice key skills, and leave with actionable tools to make strategic planning a dynamic and responsive process—even in the face of uncertainty.

State of Leadership: Strengthening Our Leadership Roots

Breakout Session 3

Building Your Roadmap to Success: Crafting a Multi-Faceted Annual Development Plan

Paul Morris, Auxilia

Colorado’s nonprofit sector is navigating financial challenges, donor fatigue, and increasing demand for services. This hands-on workshop equips nonprofit professionals with a proven, customizable annual development plan template to diversify revenue, integrate strategic fundraising trends, and ensure long-term sustainability. Attendees will explore key trends, including AI-driven donor engagement, social media strategies, and collective giving. Through interactive exercises, budgeting tools, and Moves Management techniques, participants will leave with actionable steps to enhance fundraising success. Perfect for development staff and nonprofit leaders, this session provides the roadmap to financial resilience in 2025.

Law & Order: Legal Duties Unit

Greg Corbin & Melissa Boucher, Werge & Corbin Law Group

This session equips nonprofit board members with essential legal guidance for effective governance. In this interactive session, experienced attorneys will outline the dos—such as ongoing training, clear conflict-of-interest policies, rigorous record-keeping, and proactive legal consultation—and the don’ts—including neglecting statutory obligations and bypassing due diligence—of non-profit governance. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for informed decision-making, mission alignment, and risk mitigation. This session demystifies legal duties, empowering board directors to avoid common pitfalls while fostering organizational success. Join us to transform governance challenges into strategic opportunities, ensuring your nonprofit remains resilient, compliant, and poised for sustainable, long-term growth.

Leverage AI in Your Digital Marketing

Nonprofit marketers are constantly juggling tight budgets and big expectations. In this session, we’ll explore how AI can simplify your marketing efforts, from creating content to managing campaigns. The focus? Saving time, stretching resources, and amplifying your message without losing sight of your mission. Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting, you’ll leave with practical strategies to streamline your approach and get better results—fast.

State of Leadership: Strengthening Our Leadership Roots

Breakout Session 4

Navigating Board Recruitment: Best Practices for Finding the Right Fit

Eloise Casdorph, Nonprofit Navigators

Join us for a workshop on board recruitment, where we explore strategies for attracting skilled, dedicated, and diverse board members. Participants will learn best practices for defining roles, selecting the right candidates, and ensuring effective governance. We’ll discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in building a vibrant board that reflects the communities it serves. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, board member, or volunteer, this session will provide the tools and insights to successfully recruit and retain top talent, driving success and growth for your nonprofit in the years ahead.

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

Greg Soffe, Vantage Point Initiatives, LLC

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.

Practical/Tactical Stress Management

Lindsey Carnick, Onward Psychological Services

For many competent and dedicated professionals, stress continues to be a significant barrier to personal and professional satisfaction, performance, and quality of life. Hard-earned “downtime” or “self-care” is still spent worrying about stressors, and finding the time and resources for self-care activities often becomes an additional source of stress. Many high performing professionals also experience guilt and frustration that they can’t seem to “fix” stressful experiences. In this high-energy, interactive, and truly fun experience, learn how individual stressors become chronic stress, and then observe, participate in, and practice practical/tactical stress management techniques for use anywhere, in two minutes or less.