2024 Conference Agenda
The 2024 UNA Annual Conference took place from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Thursday, October 10 at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Breakout Session Speakers for sharing their expertise, insights, and time at the 2024 UNA Annual Conference. Your contributions made the sessions engaging, informative, and inspiring, offering valuable takeaways for all attendees.
Detailed Conference Schedule
Learn more about Breakout Sessions.
Breakfast and Check In
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Welcome, Awards, and Morning Keynote
9:00 - 10:30 AM
Brief Welcome Message from UNA
2024 Outstanding Nonprofit Leader Awards
2024 Hall of Fame Spotlight Recognitions
Morning Keynote: Donna Murray-Brown
In today's evolving landscape of social change, nonprofits stand as beacons of hope and catalysts for transformation. Beyond Empowerment: Embracing Our Power, Impacting Our Communities dives deep into the heart of nonprofit work from its beginning and today, celebrating the profound impact of embracing our inherent strengths and values. Donna Murray-Brown explores how embracing inclusivity, dignity, and humanity within our organizations not only emboldens but also amplifies our collective ability to effect meaningful change. She'll uncover strategies to move beyond conventional notions of empowerment, towards a paradigm that nurtures resilience and fosters sustainable impact. Join us as we embark on a journey to embolden our communities, ignite passion, and unleash the full potential of nonprofits in shaping a better tomorrow for all. Learn more.
Break/Exhibitor Hall
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Breakout Session 1
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Community Activation: Cultivating a Volunteer Culture that Reflects CommUNITY
Track: Volunteer Management
To truly reflect the communities they serve, nonprofits must go beyond traditional methods of volunteer engagement. This session will explore innovative strategies for fostering a safe, inviting culture in your volunteer programs and how connecting with underrepresented community members can broaden opportunities for volunteer recruitment. We’ll share practical tools and inspiring examples of how to build a volunteer base that authentically connects volunteers with your mission, demonstrates the impact of their support, and encourages volunteer retention.
Speakers: Karina Lugo Villalba and Maddie Judge, Wasatch Community Gardens
Improve Your Organization's Strategic Planning with Futures Thinking Tools
Track: Leadership
Futures thinking is a key leadership skill that can be integrated into strategic planning. Participants will be invited to collaborate in imagining future possibilities that could affect their organization, both positively and negatively. You will be led through a specific futures thinking exercise to utilize with strategic planning teams to generate genuine organizational engagement and better preparation for the future.
Speakers: Peggy Cain, Westminster University; Alexx Goeller, Discovery Gateway
Donations of Complex Assets to Charities
Track: Finance and Legal
Learn about the benefits, strategies, and requirements for your charitable organization to accept complex assets as charitable donations. Leave with a better understanding of what complex asset donations are and how doing so can increase your pool of donors, help your organization grow, and help you fund your charitable mission and activities. We’ll also cover the regulations and laws regarding the making and receiving of complex assets, as well as the potential pitfalls to avoid.
Speakers: Brent Andrewsen and John Nash, Holland & Hart LLP
Embrace or Abandon? Considering Fundraising Events in 2025 and Beyond
Track: Fundraising
Special events have reputations for being labor-intensive, high cost, and high-burnout activities. These factors (and more!) have many organizations questioning the long-term viability of their signature event. In this interactive workshop, participants will be asked to consider their fundraising events through a strategic framework that includes overall development program goals, available resources, maximizing revenue opportunities, and more before making the call to embrace or abandon!
Speakers: Amberlie Phillips and Joelle Kanshepolsky, Pathway Group
The Team That Plays Together Stays Together: Embracing Games at Work
Track: Human Resources/Organizational Culture
Nonprofit work is serious business, but it doesn't have to be all work and no play! Embracing a team culture that includes games is a simple but effective strategy for tapping into the brain's limbic system where exchanges of smiles, laughter, positive emotions, and hormones can create feelings of closeness and trust, leading to more effective work outcomes and longer-term retention.
Speaker: Michael Babcock, Shriner's Hospital
Earned Media: How to Get It and Why It's Priceless
Track: Marketing/PR/Communications
Solutions journalism is trending in the industry. That means reporters want to do more than shine a light on problems in our communities, they want to highlight solutions and those who are working for a better community. This doesn’t necessarily mean rah-rah feel-good stories, but real people coming together to address real problems and how that plays out. This is the type of story they not only want to tell but will continue to follow over time.
Panelists:
- Palak Jayswal, Culture and Music Reporter, The Salt Lake Tribune
- Benjamin Wood, News Editor, City Weekly
- Ben Winslow, Coverer of News, Fox 13
- Lara Jones, RadioACTive Producer & Host, KRCL 90.9fm
Workspace/Quiet Room
Lunch and Afternoon Keynote
12:00 - 1:20 PM
Afternoon Keynote: Dr. Timothy Shriver
Dr. Timothy Shriver is a University of Utah Impact Scholar at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, the Chairman of Special Olympics International, founder and current CEO of UNITE, and co-creator of the Dignity Index – a tool designed to ease divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems. He was named a University of Utah Impact Scholar in 2023, where he engages with and informs local policymakers, consults with university leadership on societal impact, and contributes to an exceptional student experience.
Dr. Shriver’s experience in promoting social and emotional learning and challenging societal divides offers valuable insights for empowering communities to embrace diversity and take bold action. Dr. Shriver brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and inspiration to the conference. Learn more.
Break/Exhibitor Hall
1:20 - 1:45 PM
Breakout Session 2
1:45 - 2:45 PM
Navigating New Terrain: Nonprofit Employee Classification and Overtime Rules
Track: Human Resources
As the regulatory landscape evolves, nonprofits must stay informed about the latest changes in employee classification and overtime rules. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the recent updates to how independent contractors vs. employees are classified, as well as the new overtime regulations. Learn the complexities of these updates, the implications of misclassification for nonprofits, and best practices for ensuring your nonprofit is prepared and protected.
Speaker: Kathleen Weron, Ogletree Deakins
Emerging Trends in Fundraising: Adapting to the Changing Philanthropic Landscape
Track: Funding
Philanthropy is evolving at a dizzying rate, and the nonprofit sector must keep pace. Major shifts in the nation’s demographics, technology, and the economy are driving donor behaviors and approaches. This rapidly evolving landscape presents major problems or possibilities—depending on the organization’s approach. Using results from Forvis Mazars and national sources, this session examines major trends in fundraising, the implications for nonprofit organizations, and steps they can take to evolve.
Speaker: Dan Prater, Forvis Mazars
Beyond Likes & Shares: Cultivating Influencers for Your Nonprofit
Track: Advocacy
Is your message failing to reach its full potential through social media? Envision a network of supporters, amplifying your voice and extending your reach. Discover the impact of brand ambassadors and how they can advance your mission. This session will empower you with the tools to establish a brand ambassador program, converting influencers and volunteers into influential advocates for your cause.
Speaker: Guinnevere Shuster, Humane Society of Utah
Incorporating Belonging to Advance Your Mission
Track: DEIB/Organizational Culture
The term belonging has gained popularity in the past year. However, there is a lack of a shared definition and framework. This session will help nonprofit leaders gain a deeper understanding of belonging, its principles, and, more specifically, how bridging can be used as a tool to overcome othering and further your work in new and unexpected ways.
Speakers: Ze Min Xiao and Bailey Rivera-Wymes, Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging
Practical Use Cases for AI in the Nonprofit Space
Track: AI/Operations
In this panel session, industry experts will delve into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for nonprofits. Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing AI solutions, overcoming common challenges, and leveraging AI to amplify their mission and reach. Join us to discover how your nonprofit can harness the power of AI to enhance operational efficiency, drive impactful decision-making, and make a greater difference in the communities you serve.
Panelists:
- Sunny Washington, OrcaPanda.com (formerly Seer AI)
- Br33 Jon3s (Bree Jones), c3ntric
- Lindsey Henderson, ExcelinEd
If Not You, Then Who? Amplifying Your Nonprofit’s Voice Through Advocacy
Track: Advocacy
Advocacy is a vital responsibility for nonprofits to effectively represent the communities they serve. In this session, we will delve into the different forms of advocacy, the barriers that can prevent us from stepping up, and strategies for becoming a more effective advocate to advance your organization’s mission and shape public policy. Remember that advocacy is often a marathon, not a sprint—persistence, adaptability, and strong relationships are crucial to success.
Speakers: Martín C. Muñoz and Jenna Williams, Voices for Utah Children
Workspace/Quiet Room
Break/Exhibitor Hall
2:45 - 3:15 PM
Beverages, cookies, and brownies will be provided.
Breakout Session 3
3:15 - 4:15 PM
Embodied Leadership: Building Presence, Power, and Compassion as a Leader
Track: Personal Growth/Wellness, Leadership
The superpower of great leaders is self awareness. Self awareness, when coupled with clear intention, creates authentic action and outcomes. In this interactive—and active—session we will practice listening to and learning from our bodies. We will explore the nature of power to better understand ourselves and each other, allowing us to be better, more grounded, compassionate leaders and stewards of our organizations and the communities we serve.
Speakers: Dana Levy, Survivor Wellness; Zach Smith, Kizuki, LLC
The Future of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising and Its Impact on Next-Gen Giving
Track: Fundraising
Gain valuable insights into creating and maintaining a strong online supporter community to raise unrestricted funds for their organizations. The session will explore practical and cutting-edge approaches to engaging donors through peer-to-peer fundraising tactics, utilizing incentives, social media content, and AI technology.
Speaker: Bruno Borges, Good Ask
Communicating Across Language Barriers: Strategies for Success
Track: Finance and Legal
Whether you've been a language learner communicating in a new environment or working with English language learners locally, you've probably been on one side of the awkward "smile and nod" exchange when you didn't understand or weren't understood. We'll offer a few simple changes you can make to your own speech for more successful communication in English, especially with English language learners.
Speaker: Jessica Hercules, English Skills Learning Center
Fraud Prevention for Nonprofits
Track: Finance and Legal
Fraud can strike any organization, but nonprofits are particularly vulnerable due to their mission-driven focus and often limited resources. In this session, we'll dive into the key areas to monitor in order to best prevent fraud in your organization. We will explore key financial policies, oversight mechanisms, and internal controls that safeguard your organization’s integrity and assets. Through real-world case studies, you'll learn how fraud occurs, what warning signs to watch for, and the best practices to build a strong defense. Equip your nonprofit with the tools to protect against financial misconduct and keep your mission on track.
Speakers: Richard Scoresby and Kyle Robbins, Larson and Company
Embracing Lived Experience: Elevate Your Nonprofit with Inclusive Hiring
Track: Human Resources
In today's evolving nonprofit landscape, the most profound impacts are made when we embrace the full humanity of those we serve. We’ll explore how hiring individuals who have directly benefitted from your program or have lived experience can transform and strengthen your mission, and foster a deep sense of belonging, dignity, and humanity. By providing meaningful employment opportunities, we not only empower and embolden these individuals but also enrich our organizations with their unique perspectives and experiences.
Speaker: Jillian Holmstead and Kellie Mieremet, The INN Between
Facilitated Networking
Connect and Collaborate
Workspace/Quiet Room
Opportunity Drawing/Closing
4:25 PM
Join us upstairs in the Great Hall for our Exhibitor Passport Contest Opportunity Drawing!
Thank You to Our 2024 Conference Sponsors!
Partner Sponsors
Connector Sponsors
Conference Coffee Sponsor
