Conference Overview
The world has changed dramatically in recent years, posing new opportunities and challenges for nonprofit organizations. Racial reckoning has created new pathways for some of our most important work, and asks us to rethink hiring, governance, and conflict resolution. Digital outlets strengthen community voices, calling for greater transparency and accountability. Technology creates more efficient ways of working, but threatens our very livelihood as workers. And of course, COVID changed everything, forever upending office culture and inspiring experiments like the four-day work week.
It's a lot to manage.
In addition to time and activities for networking, NMI this year will cover topics like:
- Lessons in Intersectional Leadership – Is leadership a common code? Or can we draw lessons from styles informed by gender, race, and life experience to create a modern model?
- The Future of Work – From a four-day work week to all remote staff to leadership sabbaticals, find a model that works for your organization.
- Justice for Nonprofit Workers – A look at trends in unionization and worker cooperatives, and how nonprofits might be impacted.
- The New Fundraising – What’s changed in philanthropy and grant making, and how to adapt.
- Workplace Wellbeing – What do workers want now, and how to be a great place to work.
- It's Not Just AI – How to effectively use data, AI, and new tools for nonprofit good and workplace satisfaction.
- Decolonizing The Nonprofit Board – Institute a board recruiting process that intentionally seeks out the wisdom, experience, and expertise of the communities you serve.
This year’s NMI will leverage our shared experience and knowledge, as we learn together in workshops, presentations, and panel discussions from our speakers and from one another. We encourage you to be a part of the discussions taking place in-person and online September 13-14, 2023.
For more information and to register, please visit our NMI 2023 website.
Sessions
"What’s Next for Nonprofits After the Affirmative Action Ban?"
In this timely and thought-provoking kickoff session, attendees will explore the Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action, the broader landscape of racial justice, and the impending impacts on nonprofit organizations. This session will provide valuable insights into proactive strategies that organizations can adopt to promote diversity and to ensure equal opportunities for underrepresented communities, even in the absence of affirmative action policies. With her vast experience in the nonprofit sector, Akilah Watkins, president and CEO of Independent Sector, will guide a discussion about how the court’s decision could affect diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within nonprofits, alongside next steps for the sector. Attendees will leave the discussion with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, empowering them to navigate changes with resilience and a renewed commitment to social justice.
"The New Nonprofit Workday"
The future of work is rapidly evolving, and like all organizations, nonprofits must embrace new models to optimize productivity and wellbeing. We’re all now acquainted with hybrid work, but evolving ideas, like a four-day work week, are gaining traction, potentially offering a better path to work-life balance and boosting employee morale. But what is the impact on organizations and individuals of these new paradigms? During this session, moderated by Stanford Social Innovation Review editor Barbara Wheeler-Bride, we will examine the pros and cons of new models of work with Banks Benitez, founder, Smart Workweek; Jennifer Njuguna, co-CEO, Common Future; and Marina Gorbis, executive director, Institute for the Future.
"Wellbeing in the Workplace"
Join us for a workshop on strategies to enhance employee wellbeing in the nonprofit workplace. Discover tools you may not have considered that foster a positive work environment and techniques for addressing burnout and stress in the workplace. Learn how to support mental health, improve communication, and build resilience. Don’t miss this opportunity to prioritize wellbeing and thrive together in a workshop led by Alda Merino-Caan, lead strategist, Center for Nonprofit Management.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: "A Fresh Look at Fundraising: Adjusting Strategies to Today’s Reality"
Seismic shifts in society abound: America’s racial reckoning, rapidly evolving technology, the rise of trust-based philanthropy, and changes in the workplace. These shifts have myriad implications for resource development. Given competing demands on time and attention, how can nonprofit organizations take stock of these trends and determine how to most effectively leverage them in their fundraising activities? Join Darian Rodriguez Heyman, founder and CEO, Helping People Help People, to explore a range of transformational changes, with a focus on how each can be harnessed to provide more financial support for your organization. Introduction by Aaron Bady, editor for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: "Leadership Transitions Rock Organizations to Their Core"
The stress of change can cause upheaval and unexpected departures, leaving organizations vulnerable and scrambling for executive replacements. Planning for leadership transitions in nonprofits is crucial for continuity and success. Organizations can prepare by encouraging transparent workplace communications and cultivating a leadership pipeline. And once a dynamic new leader is chosen, the hard work is not done. Organizations need a plan for coaching and empowering new leaders in a way that maintains stability and ensures that their mission continues to thrive without interruption. Join Joan Garry, founder, Nonprofit Leadership Lab, for this engaging session, as she uses real examples from her coaching practice to provide a practical guide to the transition journey, outlining blindspots and explaining the vital role of the board in these transitions. Introduction by Marcie Bianco, editor for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
"What AI Can (and Can’t) Do to Create Human-Centered Work"
How do we design AI products that are human-centered? How do we use AI as a design material, without overreaching what we assume it can do? Michael Bernstein, associate professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, and Rishi Bommasani, Society Lead at the Stanford Center for Research on Foundation Models at Stanford University will discuss examples of cutting-edge human-AI interaction systems, intelligence augmentation, and AI prototyping techniques.
"Lessons in Intersectional Leadership"
To effectively navigate the diverse and interconnected challenges society faces, nonprofit leaders need to embrace the principles of intersectional leadership. That means creating inclusive environments that value and respect diverse voices, and understanding the interplay between race, gender, sexuality, and other intersecting identities. By using differences as a strength, leaders can develop comprehensive strategies that address systemic inequities. Join Dr. Raina Awaad, director, Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab; Efrain Escobedo, president and CEO, Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management; Kelly Burton, founder and CEO, Black Innovation Alliance; and Alivelu Ramisetty, Chief Gender Justice and Inclusion Officer, Oxfam America.
"How U.S. Nonprofits Get Really Big"
Bridgespan recently revisited research captured in the widely read 2007 SSIR article, “How Nonprofits Get Really Big,” to explore what—if anything—has changed about how the largest U.S. nonprofits are funded. While it is common practice among most nonprofits to seek funding from multiple sources, the 2007 research showed that 90 percent of the largest U.S. nonprofits ($50M+) embraced funding models built around a primary source of revenue—such as government, program revenue, corporations, or individual donors. Much has changed over the last fifteen years and though some things have remained fundamentally true, an emergent funding source has entered the scene in a meaningful way: philanthropy. Bridgespan partner Ali Kelley and manager Analia Cuevas-Ferreras, the authors of the updated research on “How U.S. Nonprofit Get Really Big” will explore funding patterns of large nonprofits and the rising importance of philanthropy as an anchor funding source. They will share guidance and watch outs for those aiming to get bigger and illuminate the experiences of BIPOC leaders in their research set—representing a quarter of the leaders of the large nonprofits founded since 1990.
"Unionization: The New Justice for Nonprofit Workers"
In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward unionization and calls for worker justice in the nonprofit sector. Employees are recognizing the importance of collective bargaining and organizing to address workplace issues. They are demanding fair wages, equitable benefits, and improved working conditions. Nonprofit organizations are increasingly acknowledging these concerns and engaging in dialogue with their staff to ensure a healthy and supportive work environment. Join Esteban Gil, a member of Washington Baltimore News Guild Local 32035 TNG-CWA; Liba Rubenstein, fellow, Economic Opportunities Program at The Aspen Institute, and Christy Yoshitomi, mediator, National Projects office for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for this engaging discussion, moderated by Bryan Maygers, deputy editor digital for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: "Creating the Physical Workspace for the Future"
Discover innovative approaches to creating adaptable and inspiring work environments that incorporate new technology and design that will help to foster workplace collaboration. From flexible layouts to sustainable design, Francis Court, founder and CEO of Wondersphere, will guide you in creating inspiring spaces that promote productivity and connection where your team can thrive. Introduction by Aaron Bady, editor for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: "When Social Media Changes, Change Your Strategy"
GivingTuesday has successfully rallied social media to create a global giving phenomenon. In this session, GivingTuesday’s director of communications, Kathleen Murphy Toms, shares the insights and approach that GivingTuesday has used to grow and engage their audience, and that your organization can apply to your own social media storytelling. Murphy Toms is a frequent international speaker and the digital trailblazer behind the world’s largest philanthropic social movement. Join her as she shares her knowledge about what mobilizes online movements that create systemic change. Introduction by Marcie Bianco, editor for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
"The Future of Philanthropic Giving"
The Monitor Institute by Deloitte has spent 20+ years studying the future of philanthropy, most recently publishing What’s Next for Philanthropy in the 2020s. This effort engaged more than 200 philanthropy executives, professionals, donors, board members, experts, and grantees to understand the “Big Shifts” that are changing the world and how they are influencing the leading “Edges” that are emerging in philanthropic practice. In this session, we will reflect on where philanthropy may be headed and what that may mean for the future of nonprofit leadership. Join us to discuss the findings of the report with one of the authors, Gabriel Kasper, managing director, Monitor Institute by Deloitte.
"Decolonize Your Board"
There is growing demand for the boards of nonprofit organizations to better reflect the makeup of society and the people the organizations are serving. To achieve this, organizations need to actively seek board members from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, including those historically marginalized. By championing these changes, nonprofits will create culturally responsive governance and leadership structures that better reflect the communities they serve, dismantling privileged legacies and powerfully advancing social change. To learn strategies for creating board diversity, join Renee Rubin Ross, founder, The Ross Collective and director of Cal State University East Bay Nonprofit Management Certificate Program; Jill LaLonde, executive director of OneVillage Partners; Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits; and Natalie Walrond, director of Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities content area at WestEd and author of an SSIR cover story on this topic.
"AI for Social Good"
In this insightful and inspiring closing session about ‘AI for Social Good,’ attendees will delve into the transformative potential of AI, when applied responsibly and ethically, to address global and local challenges and create positive social impact. With a focus on the work of Google.org’s grantees, participants will explore the stimulating real-world applications of AI in areas like education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. Through thought-provoking examples and practical case studies, Google.org’s director of Product Impact, Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, in conversation with Misan Rewane, executive director of Stanford Impact Labs, will show attendees how to harness AI’s capabilities to build a better future for all.