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This month's Connector is a Special Edition focused on the 2021 Washington State Nonprofit Conference!
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"We are not alone—others are working for the common good and collectively we are making progress."
Laura Pierce
Executive Director, Washington Nonprofits
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Letter from our Executive Director
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Dear Friends,
This special edition of the Connector focuses on our big upcoming event, the Washington State Nonprofit Conference. The conference is multifaceted enough to justify it, and we want to extend a warm invitation to you to CONNECT at this great event.
I’ve been involved in planning the three plenary sessions, and I’m not sure which will be my favorite. I can’t wait to be in conversation with Jan Masaoka, co-author of Nonprofit Sustainability, and Jon Pratt, co-founder of Grant Advisor. I’m a fan of the podcast The Ethical Rainmaker, so seeing Michelle Shireen Muri, co-founder of Community-Centric Fundraising, record a live episode will be great fun! And many of you may remember Akaya Windwood, who spoke at the Central Washington Conference for the Greater Good a few years ago. She will be in conversation with Lili Navarrete, a fabulous nonprofit leader from Spokane.
Last year, my highlights included listening to the insightful keynote speakers and being in community with other nonprofit leaders in intimate groups of less than 10 people. This year, there will be big plenaries, small groups and interactive learning—something for everyone. You can choose the sessions that speak to you.
We all need to know that we are not alone—that others are working for the common good and collectively we are making progress. This conference invites you to come and get the inspiration and tools you need to keep up your important work. I hope to see you there!
In Solidarity,
Laura
 Laura Pierce
Executive Director
Washington Nonprofits
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Start the Conversation - Plenary Sessions
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This year's Washington State Nonprofit Conference will focus on the key issues for the nonprofit sector. Below are our plenaries focused on starting the difficult conversations.
The Racist Roots of Nonprofits and Philanthropy
A live podcast with host Michelle Shireen Muri and Christina Shimizu
Centering equity and anti-racism is a must. But what does that mean for nonprofits? Before we can move forward, we must understand our history.
Finding Our Way Forward
Akaya Windwood and Lili Navarrete
Explore how the crises of 2020 have impacted nonprofits, and how we can adapt our strategies for collaboration and community building in light of all we have learned.
The Place of Nonprofits
Jan Masaoka, Jon Pratt, and Laura Pierce
This special conversation brings together the leaders from three state nonprofit associations to discuss where nonprofits are today and where nonprofits may go in the future.
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Learning Log: What Will You Learn?
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The Washington State Nonprofit Conference strengthens the sector in Washington by bringing together the nonprofit community to learn, connect, and inspire. At this year’s conference, we have over 25 interactive, informative, and memorable workshops lined up! Explore the live workshops—offered May 18, 19, & 20—across five tracks that include communication, equity, fundraising, leadership, and working with people.
Check out the agenda for a full list of workshop offerings including:
- Integrating Accessibility into Your Organization: Including & Welcoming People with Disabilities in Your Programs, Spaces, & Events – Steps you can take now to plan accessibility in your programs, communications, and fundraising efforts.
- The Power of Culturally Responsive Placemaking: Foregrounding Race, Place, & Identity in Equitable Community Development – Practical strategies to deliberately practice equitable community development and inclusivity.
- Photography for Good: Visual Storytelling for Social Impact – Today’s digital world requires us to tell stories that are visually compelling. Learn to create powerful images and effectively tell your story with high-impact photography.
Visit our full conference agenda, to see all our workshops with descriptions & speakers. By using our virtual Conference platform you can create your own personalized agenda of the all workshops, keynote plenaries, and special features!
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What this Conference Means to Us
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Over the last year, what places and spaces have been important to you, your nonprofit, and the communities you serve? I am excited to hear about these important places and spaces, learn from each other, and come together in the shared space of the Washington State Nonprofit Conference. I hope the Conference pushes our thinking and creativity around how we engage as a nonprofit community. Through the tools available on our virtual platform, I invite you to not just attend, but be part of creating an active conference community that shares and embraces our collective knowledge, wisdom, and expertise.
See you there!
-Jennifer
 Jennifer Chang
Director of Learning
Washington Nonprofits
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 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every part of our work, and the policy world has changed drastically. Our conference this year will help shed light on the massive policy changes over the past year and what those mean for the years ahead. The CARES Act started us on a number of efforts towards COVID Relief. What happened and what do these mean for the future of nonprofits in 2021 and beyond? What did the Legislative Session in Washington change for nonprofits?
In addition, we have a session to provide you with an update about the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act. These are the statutes that govern all nonprofits in Washington, and they have not been updated in 50 years. SB 5034 was introduced this legislative session to provide for a total overhaul of these statutes, modernizing them based on 21st century best practices. Join us to learn more about what these changes will mean for nonprofits in Washington.
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We’re excited to introduce a new feature at the 2021 virtual Washington State Nonprofit Conference: Ask Me Anything (AMA) with nonprofit experts!
Washington Nonprofits business members will be on hand to share their expertise on topics ranging from boards to fundraising to technology.
Through the conference app (Whova), attendees will be able to submit their questions through the community message board. There will be a pre-set 3 hour period when the AMA experts will respond and the AMA will be viewable throughout the rest of conference week (May 17 - 21, 2021). And there will be even more opportunities to connect and network through the conference app.
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"The virus has created Its own clock, and in coronatime, there Is less demarcation between a day and a week, a weekday and a weekend, the morning and night, the present and the recent past."
- Arielle Padres, Wired
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"Patterns of the past echo in the present and resound through the future."
- Dhyani Ywahoo
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What Attendees Said Last Year
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"So impressed with the diversity of leadership represented and the depth of knowledge from each presenter.” -Mary Broussard
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"I LOVE the fact that I am learning at my desk the information I need for our Foundation and not traveling to Seattle for conferences. Your classes have been very valuable to me and I would recommend them to everyone!”
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A Confer ence Haiku by Jennifer Chang
Time is relative
An instantaneous flash
Bolting across years
What is your haiku? We'd love to hear your take on Rethinking Place, Space, and Time! Need a refresher on haikus?
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A special thank you to the sponsors that have made this year's conference possible.
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