Conference Overview
At this year’s Nonprofit Management Institute, hosted annually by the Stanford Social Innovation Review, we’ll provide you with the tools and tips — and facilitate deeper connections with a diverse group of colleagues from around the world — that you’ll need to navigate four areas that are sure to disproportionately affect leaders across all sectors of society in the years ahead. From a rapidly evolving workforce to the deployment of AI, the influence of politics on the culture to a changing climate, we’ll focus on areas all decisionmakers in our sector need to address. By doing so, we’ll better support our people, strengthen our programs, and have a positive impact on the society at large.
Some of the topics we’re considering addressing include:
- Building a New Generation of Leaders: A discussion dedicated to surfacing effective strategies for recruiting, developing, and managing early career and emerging talent.
- Using AI for Nonprofit Fundraising: A how-to guide for leveraging generative AI to optimize an organization’s bottom line, ensuring substantial growth in an increasingly digital world.
- The Effect of Climate Change on Our Work: An exploration of adaptive strategies and resilience-building measures as nonprofit groups increasingly face frontline environmental challenges.
- The Ethics of AI in the Workplace: A practical session tacking the nuanced considerations surrounding AI implementation in the workplace, emphasizing responsible practices that will increase capacity and productivity, while maintaining trust with all stakeholders.
- DEI Programs Under Threat: How to maintain the gains of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives while continuing to build organizations that are welcoming to all.
- Taking Action: Nonprofit Advocacy in Uncertain Times: Getting out the vote and lobbying for good to increase awareness of and support for your organization’s primary cause.
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. Mark your calendars and plan to join SSIR and your nonprofit colleagues from around the world in person or virtually for the Nonprofit Management Institute 2024, “What’s Next for the Social Sector? Strategies and Tactics for Today’s Agile Leaders,” on September 17-18, 2024 at Stanford University.
For more information and to register, please visit our NMI 2024 website.
Sessions
What’s Next for Nonprofits? Futurecasting Key Issues in 2024
Trista Harris is a renowned philanthropic futurist who advocates for the use of futurism to address critical community challenges worldwide. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in Forbes, CNN, The New York Times, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and many social sector blogs. Harris is the president of FutureGood, a consultancy that helps visionaries create a better future. She has authored two books – How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar and Future Good. Harris has dedicated her entire career to the social sector, starting at the age of 15 as a summer parks assistant. Prior to her work at FutureGood, she served as president of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, a thriving grant-making community that awards over $1.5 billion annually. She was also the executive director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice and a program officer at Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. A strategic foresight expert certified by Oxford University, Harris holds a master of public policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of arts from Howard University. Harris is a board member of Tides, a philanthropic partner and nonprofit accelerator focused on creating a world of shared prosperity and social justice. She is also a corporate board member for Arts + Rec, a creative entertainment venue that showcases local creatives. Harris has served on the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and the Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Community Relations, which was established following the police shooting of Philando Castile.
Navigating DEI Backlash
The quest for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is under threat and nonprofit and philanthropic sectors are at heightened risk for lawsuits challenging DEI measures. This session will probe what nonprofit leadership can do to retain gains, address challenges proactively and reassure their broad constituencies including staff, grantees, and others in their ecosystems that their commitment to DEI is unwavering. Join Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, Joe Sciortino, executive director of The Schmidt Family Foundation, Marilee Fiebig, chief diversity officer of Save the Children, and Lynda Gonzales-Chavez, senior vice president and chief global diversity, equity & inclusion officer at YMCA of the USA in an open dialogue addressing setbacks and sharing strategies for dismantling barriers to DEI. Learn how your organization and community can continue to work towards creating environments where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.
How to Recruit and Retain a New Generation of Nonprofit Leaders
Having a plan for mentoring talented team members into key leadership roles is more important than ever given the looming leadership deficit, with studies indicating that 75% of current nonprofit leaders plan to leave their positions within the next five to ten years while only 30% of these organizations say that have a strategy in place to address transitions. The generational gap adds another layer of complexity, as emerging leaders seek different organizational cultures and leadership styles compared to their predecessors. In a special presentation prepared specifically for this 2024 NMI event, respected strategist and thought leader Joan Garry, principal of Joan Garry Consulting, shares a roadmap of comprehensive strategies for cultivating committed future leaders including enhanced support for professional growth, competitive compensation, and deliberate efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in leadership roles.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: Managing Up, Down and Across
Managing up, down, and across in the nonprofit workplace is crucial for fostering a cohesive organization. Effective management in all directions ensures that leaders are well-informed to make efficient decisions, board members are equipped to provide necessary strategic guidance or funding, and teams are well supported and clear about their roles and objectives. Additionally, collaborating across departments breaks down silos and promotes organizational synergy. Nita Singh Kaushal is the founder of Miss CEO, a lecturer in the School of Engineering at Stanford University, and an instructor at Stanford in Continuing Studies where she teaches a leadership course about the strategies outlined in this session. In this breakout session Kaushal will provide meaningful and results-focused guidance about leveling up organizationally to get the most out of stakeholders at every level.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: AI Advancing Social Change
By now, most nonprofit organizations have leveraged ChatGPT to build much needed and meaningful capacity, employing it to craft newsletters, donor communications and annual reports. But what’s next—how can organizations and AI co-create systemic and strategic change, and how can AI be used to build coalitions and partnerships to amplify collective impact? Join Lauren Woodman, CEO of DataKind, a nonprofit leveraging data science and AI in the service of humanity, as she discusses ways organizations can integrate AI technologies to enhance decision-making and optimize resource allocation. Additionally, Woodman will share knowledge about how AI can help nonprofits identify emerging trends and issues, enabling proactive rather than reactive strategies that will drive impact.
Issue Politics in 2024
In this engaging panel discussion, leaders of organizations that promote policy change in vital areas – gun safety, climate action, and reproductive rights – will share their secrets for sustained and effective civic engagement in an unpredictable election cycle. Attendees will learn proven techniques for mobilizing support and driving meaningful change. Moderator Keecha Harris, president and CEO of Keecha Harris and Associates – an organization that advises nonprofits on all of these issues and more – will be joined by Sam Daley-Harris, activist and author empowering citizen action around the issue of climate change, Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, and Gilda Gonzales, CEO of Planned Parenthood Northern California. Discover tactical strategies for building broad-based coalitions and finding common ground on contentious issues. This session is a must-attend for anyone looking to make a tangible impact through informed and unified efforts.
Funder Perspectives: Trends and Priorities
The social sector is wrestling with a myriad of questions—from uncertainties related to the U.S. elections to returning equity challenges and the evolution of funding models. Donors and nonprofit leaders alike are navigating these tensions while trying to build more effective and trusting partnerships with one another. In this session, we’ll hear what’s top of mind for several funders—the challenges their organizations are facing and observing, and where they are seeing the greatest opportunities and risks for their nonprofit partners. Moderated by Preeta Nayak, partner and head of leadership & community services at The Bridgespan Group, who will be joined by Anne Marie Burgoyne, managing director of philanthropy at the Emerson Collective, Frances Messano, CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, and don Gips, CEO of the Skoll Foundation, this session will provide attendees with greater insight on how donors are experiencing the current environment and the lessons they are gleaning across the communities with whom they work.
How to Lead Winning Teams
Unlike many successful coaches, she had more than a lucky streak but was ‘winning’ at basketball until her retirement. So, who better to provide inspiration and strategy about what it takes to lead winning teams than longtime basketball coach at Stanford University, Tara VanDerveer – who on January 21, 2024, became the head coach with the most wins in men’s and women’s NCAA basketball history. In this pre-taped interview with Stanford Social Innovation Review’s Deputy Editor, David V. Johnson, VanDerveer shares insights about nurturing talent, planning for contingencies, building a deep talent bench and much more. Her guidance offers invaluable ‘aha’ moments for NMI attendees and any organization looking to excel.
Opening Keynote with Cynthia Bissett Germanotta
Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, president and co-founder of Born This Way Foundation, will kick-off day two with an uplifting keynote address. Germanotta co-founded Born This Way Foundation with her daughter, Lady Gaga, in 2012 to empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health and wellbeing. Germanotta will share how Born This Way Foundation’s collaborative strategy and youth-driven approach to research, programs, and partnerships align with the foundation’s values and mission. In a conversation and Q&A moderated by Priya Shanker, executive director of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, Germanotta will discuss how the nonprofit has, for over a decade, worked collaboratively with young people, corporations, grassroots organizations, and its community to meet the emerging, diverse needs of young people to support their whole wellbeing. Join the discussion to learn more about innovative programs including the Kindness in Community Fund grant, Youth Advisory Board, and Be There Certificate.
Shared Leadership in the C-Suite: What You Should Know About Co-Executive Leadership Trends
As the workplace continues to evolve since Covid, some nonprofit organizations are experimenting with a co-chief executive officer leadership structure. Two talented leaders bringing complementary skill sets to the top job can lead to more effective management and growth. Moderator, Matthew Nash, director of the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, will be joined by panelists Hayley Roffey, co-CEO of the Global Fund for Children, Jess Yupanqui Feingold, co-CEO of CommonFuture, Kelly Verel, co-executive director of Project for Public Spaces, and Chantal Hildebrand, co-executive director of Alliance for Girls. The four will share background about their respective organizations and discuss how their joint leadership positions can be leveraged to increase capacity for stakeholder engagement, enhance innovation, mitigate risks around bold decision making and provide greater opportunity for multiple leaders with different backgrounds to focus on the professional lanes most aligned with their skills and background. Attendees are invited to this timely session to explore the takeaways from this model which may potentially benefit their own organizations.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: The Ethics of Workplace AI
Research shows that AI is driving real gains in productivity for the social sector, alleviating cognitive overload and freeing up time for important and strategic tasks. However, there are some limitations that leaders and staff need to understand as they continue to adopt more tools. Join Beth Kanter, founder of Beth Kanter Consulting, and co-author of “The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World,” who will provide expert guidance on how to craft an acceptable use policy and protocols for continued training as artificial intelligence technology evolves. Drawing on real-world examples, Kanter will delve into how AI can be harnessed to address societal challenges while prioritizing values such as empathy, morality, and inclusivity. Through insightful analyses and practical strategies, the session will advocate for a collaborative approach that empowers individuals and communities in the age of AI advancement.
In-Person Only Breakout Session: Making Sense of Uncertainty: Nonprofit Scenario Planning in an Election Year
As we approach the November election, every nonprofit leader is dealing with some level of uncertainty about their programs, strategies and funding allocations. Scenario planning provides a structured process that nonprofits can use to identify potential future scenarios and their implications in order to proactively prepare for key strategic decisions and actions. In this session, join Bridgespan (San Francisco) partners, Laura Lazerotti and Willa Seldon as they walk attendees through a scenario planning tool that can help nonprofit leaders navigate the unknowns of this election cycle. Lazerotti and Seldon will also share insights from Bridgespan’s experience supporting organizations in this work and will introduce examples that illustrate how organizations have used scenario planning to prepare for election-related implications in their varied fields.
Should You Bring Your Authentic Self To Work?
Permission to bring your authentic self to work has been shown to enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates. However, around 40% of nonprofit employees still grapple with this question and doubt whether they can show their true selves at the office, highlighting a significant area for potential improvement in workplace culture. In this session, Jodi-Ann Burey, who provided a TEDx talk titled “The Myth of Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work” and author of the forthcoming book ‘Authentic’, and Leilani Lewis, senior director of DEIB at the University of Washington Advancement Organization, will address the underlying issues that fuel differing perspectives on the topic of workplace authenticity.
The Burnout Epidemic and Self-Care Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders
Burnout can impact retention rates, morale, and productivity. According to a recent study by Stanford Social Innovation Review, approximately 50% of nonprofit employees experience high levels of burnout, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention strategies. Join moderator Sara Ellis Conant, co-Founder of a)plan Coaching, for this much anticipated session, featuring Cathleen Clerkin, associate vice president of research at Candid, and Theo Ellington, a longtime activist and founder of Black Citizen. The panel will provide strategic and concrete recommendations for leadership self-care and alleviating toxic workplace burnout among teams.
Every Nonprofit Needs a Climate Plan: Learn How to Craft Yours
Climate change will impact everyone, so it’s important that forward thinking leaders prioritize climate action as part of their strategic plan now, even if climate is not their organization’s core mission. Climate-related extreme weather events are already directly affecting many organizations: impacting the vulnerable populations they serve, disrupting their important work, and posing threats to their physical locations. Join moderator Barbara Wheeler-Bride, editor, digital at Stanford Social Innovation Review and featured panelists Keesha Gaskins Nathan, Esq., director of the United States Democratic Practice Program at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Gene Takagi, managing attorney at NEO Law Group, Judith LeBlanc, executive director of Native Organizers Alliance and for a session discussing immediate and long-term climate strategies.