Wisconsin Nonprofit Summit 2026

Rising Together: Renewal Through Community

This year’s theme, Rising Together: Renewal Through Community, focuses on what it takes to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships and create real solutions through coalition building and shared leadership. Join peers from across Wisconsin for practical learning, fresh ideas and the kind of conversations that turn into collaboration after the conference ends.

Breakout Sessions Topics

Fundraising

• Grant Go or No-Go: A Practical Tool for Smarter Grant Decisions — presented by Amanda Aliperta
• Open Hearts Lead To Open Minds: Taking Your Fundraising To The Next Level With Human Stories — presented by Brian Artka
• Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time? Focus Your Fundraising Strategy — presented by Jackie Mauer
• Stop Apologizing for Your Budget — presented by Adele Gambardella

Programming

• From Transaction to Transformation: Reimagining Community Engagement — presented by Rashidah Butler-Jackson
• Making the Most of Your Evaluation — presented by Angelika Gulbis
• Getting Inclusive Language Right — presented by Kim Walters
• From Purpose to Practice: Aligning People, Policy, Programs ad Places for Real Community Impact — presented by Dan Schiller

Executive

• Actions You Can Take to Build a Future-Ready Board — presented by Frank Martinelli
• Fulfilling Your Responsibility: Redistributing Power with Care and Accountability — presented by Darryl Anderson
• Trust, Transparency & Tricky Situations: Building Ethical Relationships with Stakeholders — presented by Rikki Harry
• Staff Retention by Design: Building Healthy Nonprofit Culture Through Proactive Leadership, Trust and Accountability — presented by Catherine Pederson (Paul Eberle)

Consultants

• Beyond Listening Sessions: Designing Community Engagement That Builds Trust and Leads to Action — presented by Laurice Snyder
• Federal Policy Changes Impacting the Sector and the Communities We Serve: Continuing to Navigate and Plan — presented by Mary Beth Collins
• Thinking of Becoming a Consultant? How You Can Engage Your Strengths to Start a Consulting Practice for Nonprofits — presented by Jeff Burkhart
• Stable Teams, Stronger Missions: A Framework for Leading Well When There Is Never Enough — presented by Lynsey Retzlaff

Registration Fees

Registration includes parking in The Avenue parking structure and admission to the post-Summit Networking Happy Hour in 3rd Street Market. View parking directions and details.

Early Bird Through May 22
Regular — $110

Standard Rate Before June 5
Regular — $125

Late Rate after June 6
Regular — $150

Student Discount Code — NP26STUDENT
($50 off registration fee)

Group Discount Code — NP26GROUP
(5 or more / 10% off per registration)

Schedule

8-8:30 am — Check-in, Coffee & Networking
8:30-9:30 am — Breakfast & Keynote
9:30-9:45 am — Break
9:45-10:45 am — Breakout Session – Topic 1
10:45-11 am — Break
11-Noon — Breakout Session – Topic 2
Noon-1:15 pm — Lunch & Launch
1:15-1:30 pm — Break
1:30-2:30 pm — Breakout Session – Topic 3
2:30-2:50 pm — Coffee Break
2:50-3:50 pm — Breakout Session – Topic 4
3:50-4 pm — Break
4-4:45 pm — Rising Keynote
4:45-5 pm — Closing Remarks
5-6 pm — Happy Hour, 3rd Street Market

For more information, please contact Bryce Lord at balord@uwm.edu.