Presented by: Elena Harman, Vantage Evaluation

Evaluation needs a rebrand. Evaluation and measurement are integral parts of an organization’s ability to improve the quality and impact of its work. But for many nonprofit professionals, evaluation has become a thorn in the side: a lot of work, with limited benefits, and alternatively too basic to provide insights or too complex to understand. And he evaluation field does not make it easy on them. We take words that mean something in English, like impact and outcomes, give them different jargon-y definitions and then beat organizations over the head with them until they give up. Somehow, over the years, evaluation has become about the data and not about the organizations they serve. It’s time to change the conversation. It’s time to put evaluation back in it’s proper place: as a means to an end not an end in and of itself. Evaluation can and should be framed as a thought process, where organizations systematically ask questions about how their work is doing, use evaluation to answer those questions, and have the space to digest and interpret the answers so that they can inform adjustments, pivots, and flexibility in their programming. Evaluation is not about the data, it’s about information, and about learning, and about having one more tool that we can mobilize to make a bigger difference in the world.

Focusing Your Evaluation So you want to do an evaluation, but don’t know where to start? There are two critical things you have to know before starting an evaluation: (1) what is your program? and (2) what do you want to know? In this interactive session, you will learn how to focus your evaluation by defining your program and developing key evaluation questions that get at what you really want to know. Both of these will help define the scope of your evaluation. The intended audience is anyone looking to start – or improve – their organization’s evaluation strategy and activities. Participants will be guided through interactive sessions to help practice and hone their skills.

Presented by: Laura Sundstrom, Vantage Evaluation

This breakout session is powered by UCCS School of Public Affairs

Fundraising – a word that strikes panic into the hearts of nonprofit professionals and board members. In this interactive and engaging session you’ll learn about the cycle of development and how to ask for money while keeping your donor at the center of the process and your fear at a minimum. By making your donor the star, you’ll discover how to stand out among the organizations in your community.

Presented by: Erica Oakley-Courage, Development Director at Palmer Land Trust

How do nonprofit boards and staff embrace the rapid changes in the nonprofit world and set a course that leads to financial sustainability, program excellence and measurable impact? In this session you will develop an action plan based on Real-Time Strategic Planning, a methodology developed by La Piana Consulting, but adapted to today’s challenges. We will focus on developing a new understanding of your organizational identity in the current environment, examine whether your scope of work continues to be appropriate, assess the economic logic behind your business model and evaluate your organizational capacity to meet current needs. In particular, we will explore how to weave partnership considerations into your organizational strategy so that your organization is ready for in-depth collaboration opportunities when they arise. Your organization is adapting every day to new realities - join us to learn how your Board and staff can together, think systematically and agree on the best approach for tackling the new challenges facing nonprofits.

Presented by: Lara Jakubowski,
La Piana Consulting

Nonprofit professionals will walk away with a better understanding of the evolution that is community-driven impact and a few tools to put community-voice first; strengthen your organization’s impact by asking the people in your communities to inform, guide and drive your work. Learn about community organizing from resident-leaders and the organizations that work in their neighborhoods to create lasting positive change. • Beginning community-organizing efforts • Mobilizing: Finding and engaging resident-leaders • Hear about how the funding environment is shifting to community-driven initiatives

Panelists: Joyce Salazar (RISE), Jeannie Orozco (RISE/CONO), Victoria Stone (Hillside/Justice & Peace Commission), Terrell Brown (Hillside Connection/SE Colorado Springs Project/El Pomar), Jamie Muth (Independence Center)

Facilitated by: Mina Liebert (El Paso County Health/ RISE)

The Tao of Duh is what some call it. That moment when you realize that something seemingly difficult really can be fixed with just a little tweaking. This workshop is designed for board members and CEOs who are excited, motivated, and eager to level up the board’s performance, not because something is woefully wrong, but because they know they can do better. And, by doing better they know the mission gets served. In this fast-paced workshop, you will learn about six easily implementable changes to increase board engagement and effectiveness.

Presented by: Kimberley Sherwood, Third Sector Group

You’re doing amazing work, but does anyone know about it?
In this breakout session, you will learn various strategies and best practices to tell your story, communicate your impact, and grow your nonprofit.

Presented by: Jesse Marble, Chief Marketing Officer at Magneti Marketing

Is your nonprofit aware of the tax implications of its activities? Join BKD, LLP for an informative session with practical tips you can in your nonprofit.

Presented by: Steve Sauer and Lea Geiser Hayler of BKD, LLP

Learn best practices around employee performance management, implementing formal employee improvement plans, plus the legal ins and outs of terminations.

Presented by Renee Smit, Employers Council

This breakout session is powered by Employers Council

Presented by: Cindy Grubenhoff, In The Know

Have you always known that you should have a strategic annual fundraising plan, but you’re not sure where to start? Or maybe you have a process to create your fundraising plan, but it’s time consuming and cumbersome.

In this interactive session, you will learn how to make a fundraising plan that is approachable, easy to use, and actually works to keep you focused and achieve your goals. Once you know this step-by-step approach, you’ll want to repeat these steps every year.

The employee experience is all about connection, which includes the emotional and behavioral connections that arise from being a part of something bigger. Learn strategies to design an environment where employees feel valued and your organization wins both financially and culturally.

Topics covered include:
• How do you support your employees that lead to them delivering a higher level of results for the organization and your stakeholders?
• Benefit strategies that specifically meet your employees’ needs and your financial bottom line.
• Wellbeing that supports the whole employee who comes to work every day. A recent national study shows that there is a positive relationship between engaged employees and their perceptions of their own well-being.

Presented by: Saralyn Crock, Gallagher, and Deanna Hunt, CPS HR Consulting

Nonprofits have been talking about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for a long time. But how do you actually do the things your organization needs to perform at its best, especially in these times in which we find ourselves? Almost everything related to DEI has become politicized. There is an unprecedented level of politics-related conflict in the workplace. Tension and anxiety are heightened for everyone. How can you encourage people to take the steps required and avoid the landmines in this landscape?

One local nonprofit (or, The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival) has had unusual success with DEI after years of falling short. What changed? Come learn from the leaders who went beyond lip service and are making it happen, and from the consultant who guides the process. Identify the steps you can take to make true inclusion and its extraordinary benefits the reality in your organization.

Presented by: Jody Alyn, Alyn Consulting, Linda Broker, Michelle Blessing, Birdie Miller, and Stephany Spaulding

Powered by the Strub Heer Fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation.

How do you write questions for your surveys and focus groups/interviews that get at what you really want to know? In this session, you will learn how to take your information needs (or key evaluation questions) and turn them into effective survey questions and focus group or interview questions. This session will cover when it is appropriate to use quantitative or qualitative methods based on your information needs, and how to draft effective questions for each method.

Presented by: Laura Sundstrom,  Vantage Evaluation

This breakout session is powered by UCCS School of Public Affairs

Join Howard Brooks (Energy Resource Center), Daniel Byrd (Kids on Bikes), Jake Eyermann (Mountain Equipment Recyclers), Ted Stolberg (Beanstalk Foundation) in a panel discussion around unique approaches to nonprofit sustainability and diversifying revenue streams. You’ll learn about Beanstalk Foundation’s community wealth program and their team based approach to alternative funding sources. You’ll hear from the Foundation along with both business and nonprofit leaders involved, will hear lessons learned and how these strategies may inform your own funding strategies.

Panel Discussion

You will learn, in understandable terms, the key aspects of the world economy and financial markets, especially looking forward the next five to 10 years. What are the most important economic and investment factors that a foundation’s leadership should consider for the long term? What are the implications of current valuations (equities, fixed income, and other investments) on portfolio diversification, future returns, and cash flows? What should institutional fundraising professionals be proactively discussing with major donors in light of the outlook for the economy and markets?

Presented by: Scott Middleton, Innovest Portfolio Solutions

Join seasoned fundraisers and consultants for a lively roundtable conversation about the realities of fundraising and talent development in the Pikes Peak Region. This conversation is not for the faint of heart, but promises to shed light on the myths we tell ourselves about how things work in our little corner of the universe. Our aim is to create a forum to help deepen understanding about the real challenges our community faces when it comes to effective fundraising and finding the right kind of talent to ensure success.

Panel Discussion featuring Kimberley Sherwood, Third Sector Group, Jessica Gemm, The Suddes Group | For Impact and Katie Willemark, United States Olympic Committee

In today’s dubious economic climate, many nonprofits are struggling to do more with less. There is one resource, however, that is abundantly available to any organization with the know-how to recognize it: Volunteers. Volunteers can dramatically increase your capacity to deliver on your mission.

Presented by: Trudy Strewler Hodges

“In my experience, achieving social change is not a linear process but a complex one. It is neither top-down nor bottom-up, but takes diverse networks where all kinds of leaders step up and take responsibility for their contributions to common goals”

Paul is the CEO at Leading Inside Out, a Senior Advisor with Collective Impact Forum, author of Everyone Leads.

Join our keynote speaker in a more intimate setting after lunch. Limited availability.

Presented by: Paul Schmitz, Leading Inside Out

Presented by: Renny Fagan, Colorado Nonprofit Association
& Maria Fabula, Community Resource Center

Have a burning question related to your HR policies, staff management, or talent development? Join us for an informal Q&A session to discuss the HR issues you are facing.

Presented by Michelle Jacobsen, Esq., SPHR, Employers Council and Tina Neuendorf, SVP Client Services, NFP

This breakout session is powered by Employers Council

Low overhead is not the way the world gets changed, The percent of charity expenses that go to administrative and fundraising costs—commonly referred to as “overhead”—is a poor measure of a charity’s performance. We ask you to pay attention to other factors of nonprofit performance: transparency, governance, leadership, and results

Presented by: Kim Whisenhunt and Haley Chapin of Tri-Lakes Care

Our sector is on the brink of change (again). Organizations of all shapes and sizes will be challenged to find new pathways for getting work done. Leaders at all levels of the organization need to know how to manage transitions. Transitions whether ignited from strategic planning, succession plans, strategic alliances/restructuring, or mergers can be thorny even with the best of intentions and support.

Join three sector veterans: David Dahlin (former CEO of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and EVP/COO at Compassion International) , Erin Hannan (Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and former Chief Communications Officer at the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and Kimberley Sherwood (Consultant, former Treasurer Colorado Springs Arts Center and Vice President Development at Junior Achievement, Inc.) as they team up to share perspective from the field. Each brings real-world transition experiences as well as their shared experience collaborating at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Participants will glean plenty of tips and sound advice to help carry out the change effectively. Our panel will share their experiences coupled with the latest research about how to navigate the realities of a transition from three different vantage points: CEO, Board, and Staff. Participants will then engage in small group discussions based on their role and function.

Presented by: Kimberly Sherwood, Third Sector Group

In this session, Dr. Stephon Ryan and Ms. Regina Winters, faculty members of UCCS School of Public Affairs, will offer you a series of ways to maximize your evaluation experience. Through a frank discussion about setting evaluation expectations, collaborating identifying your evaluation needs, and learn about methods to create a process or outcome evaluation with the skills, budget, and quality that you want.

Presented by: Regina Winters, UCCS School of Public Affairs

This breakout session is powered by UCCS School of Public Affairs

Fundraising, financial reports, and fiduciary oversight are just some of the “F” words of nonprofit governance that most board members resist. In this session, join in a discussion about fundraising and the board’s role in that process. Learn about how to engage in ambassadorship for your organization, beyond begging for money.

In this break out session, participants will:
• Learn the board’s role in ensuring necessary financial resources
• Understand the fundraising process
• Shift their perspective from begging for the mission to investing in it

Presented by: Emily Davis, Emily Davis Consulting

Skilled Volunteers including Baby Boomers, are looking to volunteer, but is your organization REALLY ready for them? If you’re using the same approach that you use with your other volunteers, you may be missing the boat; their needs and expectations are different. Objectives for this session will be to: Understand what a skilled volunteering is, Understand who wants to volunteer with skills, Identify 1 skilled volunteer project and Understand best practices for engaging Skilled Volunteers.

Presented by: Kristy Judd, Metro Volunteers

Mingle with fellow attendees, sponsors, volunteers and speakers.