Friday Morning Coffee Chats

Grab some coffee and rotate through three ten-minute information sessions that will wake up your brain pronto! These informal chats will introduce new research and resources, as well as connect you with other inquisitive philanthropic and nonprofit leaders. You’ll get a quick snapshot of a concrete tool, a strategic idea or a specific set of data that can support your work in your organization and community.

Each session will repeat three times so you can pick-and-choose your favorite three. You and other participants will be invited to stand during the sessions to get your blood flowing for an invigorating day of learning. Sessions start at 7:45, 8:05 and 8:25 a.m.

Consent Agendas and Other Easy Tricks to Increase Time for Important Board Discussions        
It’s common knowledge that boards need to raise their conversations to the strategic and generative levels, but how do you do that in an already full board meeting?  Come to learn some easy tactics that can create more space for substantive conversation about mission-based issues such as consent agendas, pre-work, framing board agenda topics and brain-teasers for the board.               
Judy Sharken Simon, manager, board & volunteer services, MAP for Nonprofits

FormHelper: An Easy Way for Low-Income Minnesotans to Complete Common Legal Forms       
This session will offer an in-depth demonstration of FormHelper, a new feature of LawHelpMN.org, the statewide website for low-income Minnesotans with civil legal needs. The session will demonstrate how FormHelper can be used to produce and understand legal documents through interactive online interviews.                       
Patrick Noonan, technology program specialist, Legal Services State Support

From Margin to Center: Engaging Cultural Communities to Advance Justice and Equity   
In America, we have created a vibrant independent sector to address social issues. However, as our communities become increasingly diverse, ensuring that our work is inclusive and relevant to cultural communities is integral to truly achieving justice and equity for everyone. Come hear about Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy’s (AAPIP) margin-to-center approach to engaging cultural communities to advance justice and equity.            
Bo Thao-Urabe, senior director, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy 

Grantmakers at the Capitol                    
Minnesota Council on Foundations is making some strategic service changes intended to amplify our voice on statewide public policy issues that affect disparities and that correspond to our members’ top grantmaking areas.  We have some ideas about how to do this, but since this is a new initiative, we are also very interested in hearing your ideas.  What do you think MCF can do to make a difference as an ally for action on state public policy issues?                  
Bob Tracy, director of government relations and public policy, Minnesota Council on Foundations

High-Power Grantseeking With the NEW Minnesota Grantmakers Online (MGO)
The Minnesota Council on Foundations has upgraded Minnesota Grantmakers Online! MGO helps you target prime funding prospects, understand what grantmakers want and research past grant activity. This helps you save time and money, write stronger grant proposals and be more strategic! Get information 24/7 on more than 1,400 Minnesota foundations and corporate grantmakers and on more than 150,000 past grants. Come for a tour of this new grantseeking tool! And remember, conference attendees get $50 OFF their MGO subscription!                    
Anne Bauers, research manager, Minnesota Council on Foundations

Human Rights Monitoring: Building Community and Advocating for Change                    
Human rights monitoring helps uncover human rights violations and their causes. Plus, it has the potential to empower marginalized groups by providing a way to name their experiences as human rights violations and to identify solutions. This session helps advocates, funders and activists understand how human rights fact-finding and documentation can be used as a tool to analyze community issues, build community and change policy.                       
Madeline Lohman, program associate, research, education and advocacy, The Advocates for Human Rights

Is Your Volunteer Program Cool or Old School?            
Get some quick tips about how volunteers are different today than yesterday and what your volunteer program should do about it. We’re not just dealing with “nice” ladies who lunch any more.
Virginia Brown, director of volunteer services, Animal Humane Society

Mobilize the Power of Youth to Enliven, Expand and Transform Your Organization and Programs!
Learn how young people can play an important role in advancing your organization’s mission and vision. Participants will complete a self-assessment to better understand where you and your organization fall on the youth-engagement continuum. You'll leave with strategies and tips for authentically engaging young people and increasing your youth voice.                 
Libby Rau, director of youth engagement,Youthprise and Kori Redepenning, director of engagement & policy, Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Native American Nonprofit Economy Report       
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Native Americans in Philanthropy, with support from the Northwest Area Foundation, will share information about Native American-led nonprofits in Minnesota. You will learn about the size, scope and opportunities of these nonprofits. Join this session to hear preliminary data from a new report that examines the impact of this important segment of Minnesota’s nonprofit sector.             
Martin Jennings, program officer, Northwest Area Foundation and Jane Harstad, researcher, Native American Nonprofit Economy Report, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

There's Still Time to Get Ready for Give to the Max Day             
Join the GiveMN team for this invigorating chat about getting ready for Give to the Max Day, including the top-five things you can do between now and November 15 to raise more money. It’s Give to the Max Day planning with a double shot of espresso!                    
Jeff Achen, digital strategist, and Dana Nelson, executive director, GiveMN

Walking the Chaordic Path: A Tool for Creating Conditions for Wise Action in the Face of Complex Challenges
Chaos. Not knowing. Confusion. Uncertainty. These are not words that we typically use to describe  the environment we want to create to solve problems. And yet, it’s at the edge of chaos and order that innovation emerges. Participants will be introduced to the art of walking the Chaordic Path and the Chaordic Stepping Stones, two of the core patterns, or "mental models," called out in the "Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter" facilitation practice. These models are powerful tools, easily grasped and retained, for helping leaders and groups respond to complex challenges with innovation and sustained wise action.      
Bernadine Joselyn, director of public policy and engagement, Blandin Foundation and Danette Olsen, consulting executive director, Festival Theatre and board chair, ArtReach St. Croix   

This is THE conference to attend in Minnesota. The people you meet, the new ideas and information not only help to make your organization stronger, but make the whole sector stronger.

-Mary Hartnett, Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans