Arizona Nonprofit Conference 2022

Kristen Merrifield, CAE, CNAP, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

Laurie Liles, Chief Public Policy Officer, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and VP of Arizona Grantmakers Forum

Torrie Taj CFRE, CEO, Child Crisis Arizona

Liz Barker Alvarez, Chief Policy Advisor, First Things First

Dr. S. Atyia Martin, CEM, CEO & Founder – All Aces, Inc.

Participants will experience an engaging session on what a resilient and equitable organizational culture looks like. Dr. Martin will provide knowledge and tools for participants to play an active role in transforming their organizations. 

Sponsor: Phoenix Office of Arts + Culture

Maisha Hagan, CEO & Head Coach, Beauty & the Boss, LLC.

Visionary leaders are often focused on their mission and teams…sometimes to their own detriment. This inspirational keynote underscores seven important facets of personal leadership and why even the busiest leader needs to stop, take inventory and refocus. 

• What is a visionary and why do they experience unique pressure? 
• How does personal leadership inform decision-making? 
• Why is it important to define success on your own terms? 

Angela Palmer, Director of Events & Marketing, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

Change within any organization is difficult, especially when lower-level and C-Suite employees may not recognize the same challenges. Join for an interactive session on tips for driving inclusive change from the bottom up within your organization. Learn how to best approach DEI resistance from executive leadership and push aside hesitancies to drive change. 

Learning Objectives

• Analyze examples of issues that nonprofit employees face. 
• Determine how and when lower-level employees can enact change within their organization.
• Examine how C-Suite executives should handle such change requests. 
• Assess how middle managers can support their staff when a change should be enacted. 

Tom Evans, Partner, ON Advertising

We’ll discuss how to identify quality content for use in press releases, marketing materials, social media and other platforms, and how to ensure the content is used in the most effective and productive ways possible. 

Learning Objectives 

• Identify who your target audiences are for marketing and communications. 
• Identify which content is of interest to key target audiences. 
• Create a cadence and schedule of content sharing. 
• Create content that can be shared across multiple platforms and with a longer shelf life. 

Joan Hubele, Owner, Hubele Accounting and Consulting

Sound financial practices are critically important to the success of your nonprofit given the reality of stretched resources, the need for accountability to donors and institutional funding sources, and the uncertainties and fluctuations in funding. It is essential that your nonprofit Board be engaged in the health of your organization’s finances, but many Board members find financial processes confusing and challenging. This presentation will help you learn how to best present your finances and offer a concrete tool to increase your Board’s fiscal management knowledge and ease around nonprofit finances.  

Learning Objectives 

• Learn best practices around financial dashboards. 
• Learn the key financial components that a Nonprofit Board needs to know about finances, what Boards typically want to know about finances, and how to link the needs and wants for complete Board engagement. 
• Understand how financials can be used to guide critical conversations with your Board regarding their role in a nonprofit’s financial health.

This session is brought to you by ONE. 

Sue and Ron Rescigno, Owners, Rescigno’s Fundraising Professionals

If you are looking for a blueprint for annual fund success, this presentation is for you. Join Ron and Sue Rescigno as we guide you through the necessary steps it takes to create a comprehensive annual fund program that provides its donors and prospects with a continuous flow of communication throughout any given year. We will provide you with the tools you need to implement a revenue-generating machine for your annual fund. 

Learning Objectives 

• Learn “a new way” to think about and approach the annual fund. 
• Discover how the end result of a successful annual fund is deeper trust and more dollars and donors! 
• Learn how the annual fund is a key component to building a solid fundraising program. 

Facilitator: Erin Owen, Director of Member Engagement and Education, Arizona Grantmakers Forum

Panelists: Joyce Medina Harper, Executive Director, Dougherty Foundation 

Kelly Huber, Vice President for Philanthropy, Community Foundation of Southern Arizona 

Maria Echeveste, Senior Vice President, Community Relationship Manager II, Bank of America 

In this session focused primarily for funders (nonprofits also welcome), we’ll explore the hot topic of general operating support, why it’s an essential practice for nonprofits to thrive, and how funders can measure the impact of their giving while giving through a trust-based model. Attendees will hear from a panel of three-Arizona funders who are already engaging in general operating support and learn the how-to’s of implementing new grantmaking practices. 

Learning Objectives 

• Learn the meeting of “Trust-Based Philanthropy,” and how general operating support contributes to this work. 
• Explore how to measure the impact of general operating support. 
• Experience storytelling from other Arizona funders on lessons learned. 
• Identify specific practices and resources for funders to implement in their grantmaking practices. 

This session is brought to you by Arizona Grantmakers Forum.

Chloe Silva, Director of Operations, Boys to Men Tucson

How deeply are you engaging with the communities that you serve? In this session, we will reflect on how we create authentic, sustainable connections in order to center lived experience, enhance accountability, and share power. We will question the cultural practices that hold us back from advancing our racial equity goals, and practice different ways of engaging. This session will challenge you to go beyond the dollars to make a different kind of investment in your community. 

Learning Objectives 

• Reflect on your personal investment in the communities you serve. 
• Identify opportunities and barriers to community engagement. 
• Learn how White Dominant Culture impacts third sector relationships and try on alternative approaches. 
• Ideate ways to build and deepen meaningful connections and sustain hope. 

This session is brought to you by Arizona Grantmakers Forum. 

Everett Taylor, Leadership Coach & Consultant, Taylor Systems Executive Coaching 

This interactive session will stimulate leaders to think about the causes of, and solutions to, the great resignation… the unprecedented outflow of talent at a time of unequalled need. Fostering an engaged work force takes on extraordinary importance in these mind-blowing times of the COVID 19 pandemic. In the face of their own exhaustion and trauma, nonprofit leaders must apply or quickly acquire top-notch communication and interpersonally-caring skills and practices.  

Learning Objectives 

• Stimulate out-of-the-corner thinking. 
• Review 8 macro-causes of the great resignation. 
• Review systemic solutions: 8 ways to shift the employment paradigm; 8 ways to shift the rewards paradigm. 
• Examine three basic leadership competencies for immediate results in times of great change. 

Facilitator: Torrie Taj CFRE, CEO, Child Crisis Arizona 

Panelists: Dr. Tiffanie Dillard, Founder & CEO, Avenir Consulting Partners 

 Lori Howard, Sr. Consultant & OD Practice Lead, Avenir Consulting Partners 

 Liz Kinsfather MA, Senior Consultant of Board Governance & Operations Lead, Avenir Consulting Partners 

Employees expect more from organizations than ever before. Attracting and retaining the best talent is so much more than the recruitment process alone. Understanding what candidates want and need and providing the full picture when it comes to salary, benefits and equity can be the difference between a candidate choosing your organization over another.  

Learning Objectives 

• Understand the concepts of total compensation. 
• Discuss the importance of benchmarking and compensation philosophy. 
• Gain the tools to help your organization attract and retain top talent. 

This session is brought to you by ONE. 

Laurie Liles, President & CEO of Arizona Grant Makers Forum 

Join your philanthropic and nonprofit colleagues to explore the power—and challenges—of collective impact advocacy. Learn what’s possible when nonprofits and funders join forces to educate policymakers and shape policy and why it is sometimes challenging for nonprofits to secure grants for advocacy-related work. 

Learning Objectives 

• Understand the basic rules governing advocacy and lobbying for foundations and nonprofits. 
• Understand what is possible when nonprofits and funders work together to impact public policy. 
• Explore the different roles the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and its members can play in advocating for our sector. 

Joel Peabody, Director of Operations & Product, VOMO, Virtuous Software 

No matter what technologies you currently use at your organization, your team needs a strategy for realistically implementing your vision for how technology can aid in the objectives of your organization, specifically volunteer management. By looking at several real-world examples of organizations who have maximized their technology effectively in order to serve their organization’s mission. We will also use this time as a workshop to help identify your organization’s tech stack, understand technology gaps, and create a plan for how to move forward with evaluating and implementing volunteer engagement tools. 

Learning Objectives 

• Define your organization’s tech stack, and what components you currently have in place. 
• Identify gaps in technology so that you can better see where your need to grow. 
• Learn common steps in evaluating, planning, and implementing technology at your organization. 

Katee Van Horn, Chief People Officer, ChargeNet Stations 

We all know that diversity includes gender and race but what about the invisible aspects that impact your teams and their interactions with each other? We need to make sure we are connecting authentically. 

Learning Objectives 

• Define diversity dimensions, even the parts that are invisible. 
• Understand the impact of microaggressions, regardless of the intent.  
• Learn how to disrupt exclusion and oppression caused my microaggressions. 

Facilitator: David Martinez III, Director of Community Engagement, Vitalyst Health Foundation  

Panelists: John Amoroso, Executive Director, The David & Lura Lovell Foundation 

Andrea Moreno, Community Stewardship Manager, SRP 

Brad Richter, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Lead Guitar 

Carmen Heredia, Chief Executive Officer, Valle Del Sol 

How can funders work hand-in-hand with nonprofit partners to create a better Arizona? Join this session to hear from a dynamic panel of leaders from both sectors to learn how to break down the silos to build lasting partnerships and change. 

Learning Objectives 

• Learn What about the “gap” between funders and grantees, and why it often exists. 
• Hear insights from funders and nonprofits on building authentic and lasting partnerships. 
• Discuss your questions on what the other side might be thinking. 

This session is brought to you by Arizona Grantmakers Forum.

Jackie Lord, Founding Principal, Elevate Consulting Group LLC 

Employers and organizations across the country continue to be challenged in finding and retaining key talent. In Arizona, we are faced with disengaged employees, low productivity, employee retention challenges, and a greater competition for talent.  We have never been faced with this level of complexity. Without committed and qualified Leaders contributing to the organization, social impact will be reduced and business results will falter. During this presentation, we will explore insights and learn about tools for the most expensive and difficult decision non-profit businesses make every single day: Right People, Right Seats. By understanding yourself as a Leader, you can maximize your bottom line by optimizing your organization from the top down by utilizing data.  With proven success in the non-profit space, we teach leaders & managers how to be more effective, driving them to use analytics instead of instincts to scale and transform their teams and businesses. 

Learning Objectives 

• Explore best practices in hiring and managing talent. 
• Learn how to engage your team by utilizing data. 
• Learn the 5 ways to successfully navigate the era of “The Great Resignation” & “War on Talent.” 
• Explore the tools on how to strategically hire an A-player team. 
• Learn the impact and skillset to be an intentional and effective leader. 

This session is brought to you by ONE. 

Deanna Peterson, Market Leader, Your Part-Time Controller LLC  

Daniel Tritch, Manager, Your Part-Time Controller, LLC.

Fraud is a problem for nonprofits nationwide, so it is important to be familiar with the most common signs of fraud. Join YPTC for an illustrative session focused on identifying the areas of greatest risk within your organization. You will also learn how to remain “on alert” and identify the warning signs of fraud. 

Learning Objectives 

• Recognize the three elements that lead to fraudulent behavior. 
• Identify three high-risk areas for fraud in nonprofit organizations 
• Share tips for recognizing red flags that can indicate potentially fraudulent activity. 
• Review examples of past fraud scenarios – and what happened – to illustrate red flags that might have been missed. 

Sawyer Kilen CNP, Director of Volunteer Services, Make-A-Wish® Arizona 

The pandemic caused a shift in how volunteers at Make-A-Wish Arizona are used. Learn the challenges we faced, what we learned and the road to a volunteer program renovation. 

Learning Objectives 

• Understand when to make a change. 
• Use data to make informed decisions. 
• Learn to establish buy-in from your volunteer base when shifts your program occur. 
• Create a plan that is actionable, timely, measurable and specific. 

Matt Lehrman, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Social Prosperity Partners 

“The future is unknowable, but it’s incredibly malleable.” Join your fellow nonprofit leaders in an empowering exercise dedicated to exploring how you and your organization can emerge from the constraints and challenges of today. There’s no panel or presentation here; just a facilitated, immersive, and fast-connecting large group exercise designed to energize your responsibilities & aspirations with fresh ideas, resources and personal connections. In this 2-part exercise (you’re welcome to attend either or both), we are going to re-animate the Arizona nonprofit sector’s essential sense of connection and community spirit. 

Learning Objectives 

• Part 1. Discussion on whatever YOU see as shorter-term needs & imperatives (i.e., staffing & volunteers, donor & stakeholder engagement, board development, changed sensibilities for hosting events and activities, and much more). 
• Part 2. Discussion on whatever YOU see as longer-term opportunities & possibilities (i.e., strategic planning, creative partnerships, technological innovation, leadership succession, and much more). 

Sandra Searle CFRE, Chief Development Officer, Esperança  

Kristen J. Elnicky MBA, Senior Consultant, The Gobel Group 

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at capital campaigns! This lively and interactive session will give nonprofit professionals a deep dive into planning and managing a capital campaign that will create a positive, transformational experience for their organization. Attendees will leave with specific tools and strategic next steps that will guide them throughout the campaign process. You will hear firsthand accounts of campaign success stories as well as the pitfalls to avoid. 

Learning Objectives 

• Learn about the various phases and types of campaigns. 
• Create the beginnings of a campaign playbook for your organization. 
• Explore a guide for Go-To Campaign Resources and Best Practices.