2020 Virtual Nonprofit Leadership Conference
Friday, October 30, 2020
“Nonprofits Navigating Change: Finding the New North.”
The 2020 Drury University Nonprofit Leadership Virtual Conference is scheduled for Friday, October 30. In anticipation of restrictions on large group gatherings due to COVID-19, this year’s conference will be a highly engaging virtual experience from 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
The impact of COVID-19 on our communities, particularly nonprofit organizations, has been staggering. We have designed this conference to provide focused support to the following audiences:
- Track 1:
Nonprofit leaders who seek innovative solutions to operational challenges - Track 2:
Board members and directors who aspire to deepen their understanding of governance as well as their roles and responsibilities - Track 3:
Development and fundraising leaders who must re-think their approach to financial growth and sustainability.
Call for Presentation Proposals - Now Open
We are expecting more than 200 participants in this half-day conference.
We are interested in proposals which will serve the needs of the three distinct target audiences identified above, and that will help organizations address pressing issues related to diversity and inclusion as well as those that share solutions to challenges presented as a result of the pandemic. The sessions will be 40 minutes in length (approximately 25 minutes for the presentation followed by 15 minutes of Q & A). Sessions should provide a concrete take-away or tool for session participants.
Deadline for proposal submission is Monday, July 6, 2020.
2020 Presenting Sponsor
2020 Keynote Sponsor
Keynote Speaker
Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield, Mo.
Presentation: “Staying Connected While Standing Apart”
As Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield, Missouri, Cora Scott is responsible for communications for Missouri’s third largest city, acting as chief spokesperson and overseeing communication strategy and media relations for the local government, its various service lines and its outreach initiatives and events.
Since joining the City of Springfield in 2012, Cora has been instrumental in transforming the Department of Public Information & Civic Engagement to adapt to emerging opportunities, changing technology and best practices. In addition to serving as a trusted counselor to appointed and elected leadership on strategic communications and issues management, she also leads proactive communications an operational strategy for high-profile community events and initiatives, such as the 50th Anniversary “I Have a Dream Speech” March and Rally; the Impacting Poverty Commission and its Call to Action Report; the City’s Zone Blitz Initiative; the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival; Give 5, a “Civic Matchmaking Program”; Prosper Springfield, an initiative to increase decrease poverty and increase educational attainment; and most recently is co-leading a multi-departmental joint communications center during the 2020 pandemic.
This presentation aims to help nonprofits effectively communicate during crises, while adapting policies and operations, keeping donors close despite social distancing, and ultimately courageously serving the community during difficult times.
The Drury Nonprofit Leadership Conference is hosted by the Drury University Leadership Collaborative, formerly the Center for Nonprofit Leadership.
Previous Nonprofit Conference Archives
Keynote Presentation
Passion is Not Compensation: Why we must professionalize the nonprofit sector and how your organization can lead the charge
Professionalizing the nonprofit sector starts with examining the reasons why the sector doesn’t adhere to higher standards of practice with talent recruitment and development, organizational culture, and strategy. This presentation will discuss the three key mindset shifts organizations must take in order to achieve this, giving applicable strategies for nonprofit leaders, board members, and funders.
Keynote presenter: Meg Myers Morgan, Ph.D., MPA
Dr. Meg Myers Morgan is an expert nonprofit professional development and management. She is an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma and leads the graduate programs in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management on the OU-Tulsa campus. She is also a certified Executive and Leadership coach who works exclusively with nonprofit leaders. Dr. Morgan holds a Ph.D. and an MPA from the University of Oklahoma, certification in Executive and Leadership Coaching from Columbia University, and a degree in English and Creative Writing with honors from Drury University. Her latest book, Everything is Negotiable (Seal Press, 2018), offer tactics to help women negotiate for more in work and life. In its first week, the book is a best-seller and has now been translated in multiple languages. Meg gave a TED Talk, "Negotiating for Your Life", for TEDxOU in 2016. She was honored as a 2018 Distinguished Alumni from Drury University. She lives in Tulsa with her husband and their two young daughters.
Dr. Morgan's keynote will be discussed by a panel featuring Amy Amason, Brian Fogle, Ryan Hale and Erin K. Risner.
Breakout Sessions
Governance and Leadership, Funding Track
- There's Gold In Them There Hills - Wealth in the Ozarks (Brian Fogle)
- Making Sense of Financial Reports (Laura Knese and Krystal Creach)
- What Funders Want You to Know (Crystal Mapp, Winter Kinne, Sarah Morrow, Heather Zoromski)
- Lessons Learned from the Capital Campaign Trenches (Lisa Farmer, Bruce Nasby)
Strategic Planning and Vision Track
- Theory of Change - for impacting investment and measuring outcomes (Ryan Hale)
- Using Data/Info for Decision Making (Erin K. Risner)
- Collecting What Counts (Cassidy Miller)
- Scaling Up with Intention (Leadership Springfield: Mike Brothers, Katie Davis, Don Harkey, Caitlin Kissee, Carrie Richardson)
Internal and External Communication Track
- Building Transparent Partnerships to Drive Impact (Erin Gollhofer)
- Harnessing Volunteer Engagement (Ellen Herbig)
- Using Emotional Data as a Differentiator (Grant Gooding and Katie Lord)
- Leveraging Communication Audit Results (Cindy Beecher, Cassie Binkley, Jerrod Ellis, Kathryn Flores)
Win a Free Professional Video from Clear Point Video
Nonprofit Leadership Conference attendees will have the opportunity to win a free professional video shoot produced and edited by Clear Point Video! This prize is valued at $1,500. To Enter
- Post on Facebook in 100 words or less why your nonprofit needs the video and how you will use it
- You must include a photo of yourself somewhere at the conference
- You must also use the hashtag #NLC2019
- Only one entry per nonprofit organization
- Must be posted by 1 p.m. on Friday, October 11
Friday, October 5
Oasis Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri
The 2018 Nonprofit Leadership Conference brings together industry leaders for one of the largest gatherings of nonprofit professionals in the state.
This year we will be focusing on Building a Strong Foundation, ensuring that every aspect of our work is supported by a healthy organization and inspired by our mission.
You'll hear from industry experts on meaningful topics and issues facing all types of organizations. Engage with a diverse group of your peers from a variety of nonprofits including foundations, charities, faith-based, health care, education, museums, associations, and government agencies.
Conference Agenda
7:45 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration, coffee and Krispy Kreme treats8:45 - 9:45 a.m.
Opening Keynote
Scott Crabtree, Happy Brain Science
Breakout Sessions
10 - 11:15 a.m.
Scott Crabtree
Gamifying Engagement: What We Can Learn from Video GamesMaster of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership Panel
Millennials and Nonprofits: Do they Mix?John Zietlow
The Board's Role in Proficient Financial ManagementJackie Hancock
When the Leopard Needs to Change its Spots12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Bernie Dana
Stop Wasting Time: Develop Effective Team Meeting SkillsPatrick Walker
Awakening the SOUL: Practices for Diversity, Equity & InclusionSteve Burnich
Producing Videos on a Shoestring BudgetKimberly Aaron
Building the Road to the Emerald City: Vision Setting2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Jessica Macy
No More Gold Watches: CEO Succession PlanningKerry Miller
Impacting Your CommunityCarolyn Sullivan
Coaching Your Team from Good to AwesomeEmilia Brown
The Secret Formula for Risk Management3:45 p.m.
Innovative Ideas That Will Inspire You (PechaKucha style)
Presenting Sponsor
Keynote Sponsors
Champion Sponsor
Advocate Sponsors
October 6, 2017
Oasis Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, MO
The 2017 Nonprofit Communication Conference brought together industry leaders for one of the largest gatherings of nonprofit professionals in the state.
This year focused on going 'Back to Basics,' drawing on aspects that initially inspired our work and helped launch our organizations.
Industry experts spoke on meaningful topics and issues facing all types of organizations. A diverse group of peers engaged from a variety of nonprofits including foundations, charities, faith-based, health care, education, museums, associations, and government agencies.
Conference Agenda
7:45 - 8:30 Registration | Coffee | Networking 8:30 - 8:40 Welcome
Dan Prater (Drury University)
Greeting from Presenting Sponsor
Thrivent Financial8:45 - 9:20 Keynote
Ian Adair9:30 - 10:30 Breakout Session #1
The Power of Social Media
Tara Rawlins (RAW Marketing)
Strategic Planning for Your Brand
Angela Winschel and Nate Sprehe (Almanac, Inc.)
Achieving Fundraising Freedom
Mary Valloni (Mary Valloni Consulting)
Project Management in the Nonprofit World
Cristy Gies (417 Project Management)10:45 - 11:45 Breakout Session #2
Everyone Communicates but Few Connect
James Bonds (Well Driven Life LLC)
Telling Your Story Through Financial Statements
Barb Houser & Associates (KPM CPAs)
Leading From Your Strengths
Alia Stowers (Stowers Consulting)11:50 - 12:45 Lunch 12:45 - 2:00 Breakout Session #3
Engagement in Fundraising
Ryan Owen (Children International)
Get Your Story in the Media
Cheryl Whitsitt (Springfield News-Leader), Ethan Forhetz (KY3/KSPR)
Enhancing Accountability and Engagement with the Great Game
Katie Davis (Dream Big Consulting
Learn How Attention-Focused Fundraising Can Work for You!
Ian Adair (Gracepoint Foundation & Strategy 27)2:00 - 2:30
Refreshments 2:30 - 3:30 Breakout Session #4
Frameworks & Tools for Defining Desired Impact
Sarah Buek (Insight Partners Consulting, LLC)
Connecting Board and Staff Meetings to Strategic Outcomes
Russ White (The South Cabin Group)
Improving Engagement Through Internal Communication
Don Harkey (People Centric Consulting Group)3:45 - 4:20 Ending Session 4:20 - 4:30 Closing Remarks and Giveaways Speaker Breakout Session Presentations
Ian Adair: “Winning Donor Attention is Now the Variable of Success in Fundraising”
James Bonds: “Everyone Communicates But Few Connect”
Sarah Buek: “Reconnecting with Your Purpose”
Greg Burris: “Give 5: Preparing for the Great Convergence”
Katie Davis: “Enhancing Accountability & Engagement With the Great Game”
Ethan Forhetz and Cheryl Whitsitt: “Get Your Story in the Media”
Cristy Gies: “Project Management in the Nonprofit World”
Don Harkey: “Improving Engagement Through Internal Communication”
Barb Houser and Associates: “Telling Your Story Through Financial Statements”
Ryan Owen: “Engagement in Fundraising”
Alia Stowers: “Leading From Your Strengths”
Mary Valloni: “Achieving Fundraising Freedom”
Russ White: “Connecting Board & Staff Meetings to Strategic Outcomes”
For More Information
Contact us at (417) 873-7443 or dprater@drury.edu
Presenting Sponsor
Champion Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
