Day 1 Schedule
Schedule at a Glance
8:00 AM - Opening Remarks from Deanna Kavanaugh, Director of Education of the People’s Nonprofit Accelerator
8:45 AM - Opening Keynote from Nancy Bales, Executive Director of Gray Family Foundation
9:45 AM - Break
10:00 AM - Accelerator Breakout 1 (view track details below)
12:30 PM - Lunch Break
1:00 PM - Accelerator Breakout 2 (view track details below)
3:30 PM - Break
3:45 PM - Closing Panel Discussion: Are Wages Suppressed in the Nonprofit Sector? Jim White and Phillip Kennedy-Wong presenting, Colin K Crader II moderating.
4:45 PM - Closing Remarks
Nancy Bales, Executive Director of the Gray Family Foundation
Nancy Bales brings a passion for reimaging the role philanthropy can play in building more equitable and just communities by building trust, listening, and actively working to shift power through her leadership at the Gray Family Foundation, a supporting organization of Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). Nancy came to this role after more than a decade with the Portland-based conservation organization Ecotrust, supporting their work to build a resilient economy as the Vice President of Development. Leading Gray Family Foundation since 2014, Nancy champions opportunities to help restore and deepen connections for all people in Oregon to our communities and the natural world. She believes that youth deserve the opportunity to learn in, thrive and appreciate the outdoors so they can grow to become informed and engaged champions for our natural environments.
In 2015, she advocated for the successful passage of the bill creating a statewide outdoor school education program for Oregon’s 5th/6th grade students and worked to secure public funding for the program through a ballot initiative in 2016. She continues to be an active champion of this program at the state and national level.
She was a founding board member of Blue Sky Funders Forum and currently chairs the Blue Sky Program Committee. She also served on the Governor’s Environmental Equity Committee of the Racial Justice Council and as the inaugural chair of the Oregon Outdoor School Advisory Committee at Oregon State University.
Accelerator Breakout 1
Develop Your Interpersonal Communication for Increased Impact and Reduced Misunderstandings presented by Tatiana Graham
Participants will explore the key elements that influence our communication and discover strategies to enhance clarity and effectiveness in their interactions. They will gain insights into different communication styles, preferences, and potential challenges. The session will focus on how to tailor messages to diverse audiences to maximize impact. Participants will have opportunities to practice these techniques in real-time, applying what they learn to refine their communication skills.
Learning Objectives:
Learn practical tools to enhance the quality of interpersonal communication.
Explore communication styles, understanding the preferences and dislikes of each style.
Learn the art of tailoring messages for clarity and impact.
About the Presenter - Tatiana Graham
Tatiana is a transformational coach and facilitator with extensive HR experience. She champions authenticity as the cornerstone of genuine connection and growth. Her approach begins with a focus on self-awareness, recognizing that understanding oneself is essential for presenting authentically to the world. From there, she emphasizes cultivating an awareness of others, acknowledging that authentic interactions necessitate understanding how individuals express themselves uniquely.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Grant Writing presented by Suzanne Raether
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Grant Writing is a 3-hour workshop designed to teach attendees how to narrate their organization’s efforts to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments and programs. We will investigate proven DEI practices and how to incorporate them into your organization and programming. We will also take a deep dive into how funders think about DEI and what they are looking for in proposals. Come ready to learn and participate in practical exercises that will help you adopt and use DEI in your grant proposals.
About the Presenter - Suzanne Raether
Suzanne Raether, Founder and CEO of Well Endowed Philanthropy, has over a decade of fundraising and nonprofit management experience. They have designed funds and programs for philanthropic institutions and worked with grassroots and large organizations to achieve financial sustainability. Raether has also worked with government agencies on public-private community projects and funds. Born Queer in rural Louisiana, they understand the destructive nature of white supremacy and have built community and facilitated programming that challenges and dismantles its power. They also provide training on dismantling white supremacy in fundraising and organizational practices.
Draft Your Next Fundraising Letter in One Day + in Community presented by Marina Muñoz de Martínez, MPA, CNP
Tell me if this sounds familiar. Your to-do list is spread over two pages, apps, and emails - and each task requires a totally different part of your brain. You’ve got to get back to your board chair about that data she requested, submit the grant application before the looming deadline, send out last week’s thank you notes, set up a meeting with a major donor, and convene your volunteer event committee. Oh, and you haven’t checked your voicemail in three days.
You know your year-end letter is the foundation of your grassroots fundraising program, but you can’t quite seem to make time for the creative process of writing an effective, joyful appeal. I get it. I’ve been there. And I’m here to help.
In this Accelerator, we’ll go over skills to apply to your next appeal writing process, work individually through writing prompts to start drafting your next appeal, and get a teaser of what the upcoming half-day Appeal Salons can offer to your team and creative process.
What’s an Appeal Salon?
Appeal Salons are intensive, collaborative, appeal writing workshops designed for busy nonprofit professionals. Participants are guided through creative brainstorming and writing exercises to help you uncover the most compelling way to tell your organization’s story. Then as a group, we work together, switching between drafting and critiquing. Participants leave with a strong draft of their next big appeal. Launching as an Accelerator in early 2025 - Appeal Salons have been empowering fundraisers for over 6 years, making space for fundraisers to hone in on timely, impactful messaging in a workshop that’s fun and fuels the creative process.
About the Presenter - Marina Muñoz de Martínez, MPA, CNP
Marina Muñoz de Martínez has worked and taught in the development community for over two decades. A passionate advocate and practitioner of equity and abolition in philanthropy, she most recently served the Director of Development and Partnerships at Race Forward - where she built comprehensive C3 individual and corporate giving programs, as well as C4 infrastructure, with an eye toward nurturing resource partnerships with long-term impact. Previously, she spent 6 years as a Major Gift Officer in small and large advancement offices in higher education. Prior to moving to the PNW, Marina managed direct mail, grants, donor communications, and community giving programs for Animal Humane New Mexico – the state's largest private nonprofit animal shelter. Marina also spent many years as a development officer for the Museum of New Mexico Foundation – where she worked with major donors for each of the state's four largest museums. Marina currently resides in the Pacific Northwest, where she gives her time among various BIPOC-led nonprofits to continue to build community around anti-racist and decolonial reforms within the industry. In her downtime, she is an avid yoga practitioner, gardener, cinephile, and seamstress for burlesque, wrestling, and drag performers. You can often find her at Portland's historic Hollywood Theatre enjoying the best popcorn in the state (and some movies). Marina shares life with a spouse and their beloved rescued pets.
Accelerator Breakout 2
Planned Giving and the Small Shop: How to Quick Start and Build a Successful Program presented by Brenda Ray Scott
The nonprofit sector has to be prepared to engage two of the oldest generations of donors, Baby Boomers and Generation X. It is estimated that out of all of the assets between them, an estimated $13.8 trillion will be dedicated to philanthropic purposes. The donations from these generations will arrive in the form of bequests, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), Gifts of Stock, and other planned gifts.
For this Accelerate Planned Giving and the Small Shop program, we will prepare nonprofits of any size to understand Planned Giving and how it can fit within your current fundraising activities. We will also go over the elements of successfully launching a Planned Giving program. Lastly, we will cover practical tips and pragmatic marketing approaches in engaging your donors.
This program is designed for nonprofits that have small shop Development teams (1-2 staff).
Learning Objectives:
This interactive and engaging session includes the following learning objectives:
Framework for successfully launching a Planned Giving program
Knowledge of planned giving trends and vehicles
Practical tips and tools for marketing Planned Giving to your donors
About the Presenter - Brenda Ray Scott, CFRE, Principal Adept Diva Consulting Fundraising and Public Relations
Brenda Ray Scott, CFRE brings savvy and expertise along with execution to strategically building and diversifying fundraising in her roles in development leadership, her work as Principal with Adept Diva Consulting. As a seasoned organization leader and fundraising professional, consultant, speaker, and a board member, Brenda has raised millions of dollars through consultant, staff, and volunteer roles.
Throughout her career, Brenda has worked as staff and consultant with organizations ranging from an emerging theatre company to an established multi-million-dollar human services organization. She is passionate about generating resources and creating opportunities for those moving out of experiencing homelessness, those working to escape domestic violence, and those who express themselves through the arts.
As a volunteer, Brenda is committed to her professional community. She served for several years as Education Chair and a member of the IDEA Committee for the AFP Oregon and SW Chapter and on conference committees for other professional organizations. Brenda served for five years as an official CFRE Ambassador and early in her career was a Subject Matter Expert for the CFRE written examination.
She engages in the community in other ways as a Board Member of two of Portland, Oregon’s most prominent arts and culture organizations. Brenda is a long-time board member – 17 years and counting - of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation where she chairs the Board Development Committee and participates on numerous others. She also serves on the board of the Portland Youth Philharmonic where she an officer – Recording Secretary - and chairs the Development Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Governance Committee.
In all her work, whether consulting or volunteering, Brenda focuses on creating and advocating for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).
Beyond Thank You – Retaining Donors Through Impact-Driven Stewardship presented by Laurel McCombs
For the last two years the nonprofit sector has seen a decline in both the number people donating and dollars raised. This is particularly true among younger donors. To address these trends, nonprofit organizations must effectively build trust and engagement with their donors while demonstrating impact. Stewardship is a critical to doing this making it more crucial than ever but must be more than saying thank you. Building a stewardship program that is based around demonstrating impact in personal, meaningful ways can significantly improve your donor partnerships resulting in increased retention and bigger gifts for your important work.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will gain knowledge around current philanthropic trends.
Participants will discover how impact-driven stewardship can support short- and long-term fundraising success.
Participants will create an action plan for implementing impact-driven stewardship practices in their organization.
About the Presenter - Laurel McCombs
Laurel brings over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector to her role as consultant and trainer with The Osborne Group. Laurel works with clients on topics including donor engagement, development operations, board development, and more. Current clients include the ACLU, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and Girls Inc. In addition to well-received workshops for national organizations, universities, and more, Laurel has presented at the AFP International Conference, CASE-NAIS, and AFP Congress.
Launching a Nonprofit Podcast: From Concept to Distribution presented by Ashlan Glazier-Anderson
Join us for an engaging workshop designed to equip nonprofit professionals with the essential skills to launch a successful podcast that amplifies their organization's mission. Participants will learn the basics of podcasting and discover successful examples that have made an impact. We'll explore how to identify relevant topics that resonate with your target audience and understand the equipment necessary for quality podcast production.
We’ll dive into the podcast production process, gaining insights into workflow management and effective distribution channels to reach their audience. Additionally, the workshop will cover various promotion strategies to boost visibility and engagement.
By the end of this workshop, you'll have the knowledge and tools to create a basic podcast plan tailored to your nonprofit, helping you share compelling stories and connect with your community like never before. Don't miss this opportunity to harness the power of podcasting to further your nonprofit's mission and engage with your supporters in a dynamic new way!
Learning Objectives:
Comprehend the basics of podcasting and recognize successful examples
Identify relevant topics that might resonate with the target audience for their podcast
Understand the equipment they may need for podcasting
Understand the production process and workflow for podcasting
Understand the various distribution channels for a podcast
Understand the various promotion strategies for a podcast
Create a basic plan for a podcast for their nonprofit
About the Presenter - Ashlan Glazier-Anderson
Ashlan Glazier-Anderson is the founder and CEO of AshbeanPDX Marketing, a digital marketing agency that works with small businesses and nonprofits to build their marketing foundations and scale. She is a Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) with over 15 years of experience in the field. Ashlan has worked in a variety of industries, from advertising agencies to corporate America to nonprofit organizations. She thrives on helping clients solve problems and create unique strategies to best reach their target audience, drive revenue, and grow their businesses at scale.
As an entrepreneur, she can help you build a strong marketing function, with the right systems to get more done with fewer resources. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing from Portland State University.
Panel: Are Wages Suppressed in the Nonprofit Sector?
About the Panel Discussion
There have been growing concerns over Oregon nonprofits’ ability to recruit and retain employees in critical need areas such as housing, behavioral health and other social services. Are these unfounded concerns or is there something to them? NAO commissioned EcoNorthwest to conduct an economic analysis of wages in the nonprofit sector in Oregon with a focus on social service nonprofits. The purpose of the analysis was to understand the depth of the nonprofit wage gap and determine whether it affects workforce turnover rates. The analysis will be used to inform our policymakers at state and local levels as they grapple with funding important social services in critical need areas. After a short presentation, we will have a lively discussion on what all of this means for the nonprofit sector and what we can do to improve wages.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the research methodology on wages in the behavior health and social services sector.
Discuss the suggested remedies and changes provided by EcoNorthwest to address wage disparities.
About the Presenters:
Jim White, Executive Director, Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Jim White joined the Nonprofit Association of Oregon as the Executive Director in October 2012. He is deeply committed to the social change through private action and has worked in the nonprofit sector both domestically and internationally for more than 25 years. Jim has a passion for affecting systemic change in the way that the public, private and nonprofit sectors work together to support and strengthen our communities and civil society. He believes that one of the purest democratic values is having private individuals identify needs and solutions, and lead change in their communities for the greater good. Through NAO, Jim is proud to help build the capacity, leadership and voice of Oregon’s vibrant nonprofit sector.
Phillip Kennedy-Wong, Public Policy Director, Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Phillip Kennedy-Wong is a public policy professional with over 20 years of experience lobbying at the state, local, and federal levels. He has worked for several nonprofit organizations throughout long his career and served on nonprofit boards. He brings a strong understanding of nonprofit lobbying and planning advocacy programs.
About the Moderator: Colin K. Crader II, Executive Director, The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator
Colin is the Executive Director of The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator, a nonprofit membership organization that provides affordable educational opportunities for nonprofit professionals to learn about institutional and interpersonal philanthropy and fundraising, ethical marketing and storytelling, board development and executive leadership. Prior to his leadership at The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator, Colin raised funds for culturally specific and social justice organizations involved with policy advocacy such as APANO, Basic Rights Oregon, and Seeding Justice. At his core, Colin’s theory of change is to build power for communities so they have the capacity, resources, and voice to determine their own futures and to work in solidarity to drive political, social, economic and cultural change.