Nonprofit Community Forum 2026

From Uncertainty to Opportunity

Thursday, January 15, 2026 | Stevens Point Downtown Campus | LEAD Center

The Nonprofit Community Forum: From Uncertainty to Opportunity is a dynamic, in-person gathering for nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers to connect, learn, and grow together.

This event is designed to support local nonprofits, community groups, and public institutions across central Wisconsin with tools, strategies, and inspiration to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s progress.

Whether you're a longtime leader or just starting your journey, engaging sessions will inspire and empower you to build more connected, resilient communities.

It’s a time to move forward together. Let’s gather.

Event Details

Thursday, January 15, 2026 • 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Stevens Point Downtown Campus • LEAD Center

Conference fees are kept to a minimum through generous contributions from our Conference Partners, the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin and the United Way of Portage County.

Regular Rate: $99 per attendee
Early Bird Rate (By November 15, 2025): $79 per attendee
Student scholarships are available

Register

Sponsors

Schedule

What’s in store for you at the Nonprofit Community Forum? Details on the breakout sessions and workshops will be posted soon. Attendees will choose one presentation per breakout session.

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Session Descriptions

Scholz Nonprofit Law will be available after the opening remarks to answer any general questions your organization may have. The information shared does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing or participating in this presentation, or attending our office hours.

Keynote Addresses

Keynote 1: Navigating Federal Shifts: What the Latest Actions Mean for Nonprofits

Description: Join us for legal updates on issues affecting nonprofits and the communities they serve. We’ll cover how the federal policy environment has shifted, the risks these changes pose, and practical guidance on how organizations can keep moving forward, highlighting what we know and what’s still uncertain.

Presenter Bio: Haley Swanson is an attorney with Scholz Nonprofit Law, where she advises nonprofits on all aspects of their operations, with a focus on guiding clients through state and federal compliance requirements, and providing strategic counsel on the legality and structure of complex transactions. Before embarking on her legal career, Haley was a Certified Public Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, auditing Fortune 500 companies. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting and earned her JD, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin. Haley works closely with the firm's founder, Melissa Scholz, and is deeply engaged with the evolving federal policy landscape and its impact on nonprofit organizations. Over the past year, she has delivered a series of presentations and provided consultation on these issues, and looks forward to continuing that today! 

Keynote 2: Unlocking Philanthropy in Times of Uncertainty

Presented by Jenny Riggenbach, CEO, Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin

In periods of uncertainty, nonprofit leaders stand at the heart of community resilience. Their creativity, compassion, and commitment sustain hope and drive meaningful progress. In this keynote, Jenny Riggenbach, CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, will celebrate the leadership and impact of nonprofit professionals, board members, and volunteers who strengthen the communities they serve.

Jenny will explore how this era of unprecedented wealth transfer creates new opportunities to advance missions, deepen donor engagement, and secure long-term sustainability. Drawing on community data and philanthropic trends, she will highlight how strong nonprofit leadership can unlock generosity, inspire trust, and build the partnerships our communities need most.

This keynote honors those leading through uncertainty—and calls on all of us to imagine what’s possible when philanthropy and purpose work hand in hand.

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Breakout Session 1

The SMARTEST Way to Create a Development Plan

Presenter: Rikki Harry

Description: Fundraising is just one of many tasks nonprofits juggle... but how do you decide which tactics are worth your time? This interactive workshop will teach you how to create a focused, realistic development plan that prioritizes your efforts, diversifies revenue appropriately, and keeps your fundraising aligned with your organization’s priorities

Succession Planning for Leadership

Presenter: Ted Melby

Description: This session will focus on the essential process of identifying High Potential (Hi-Po) employees and board members, both internally and externally, to ensure the growth and sustainability of the organization. We begin by honoring past achievements while strategically setting the stage for future successes, emphasizing the importance of preparing successors for effective transitions. Participants will learn how to navigate their roles by either stepping up, stepping to the side, or stepping back, all while ensuring team cohesion and progress. The session also explores setting clear timelines and evaluating organizational and personal legacy.

From Uncertainty to Strategy: Powering Nonprofits with Vision, Boards, Relationships, and AI

Presenter: Kelsey Paash & Lisa Hurda

Description: Transform uncertainty into opportunity. Learn a practical, future-focused approach to strategic planning that integrates board development, fundraising, relationship building, and the smart use of AI tools—helping your nonprofit lead with clarity, confidence, and creativity.

Common Attacks and How to Avoid Them

Presenter: Matt Meis

Description: We will dive into the most common scams and attacks hitting Non-Profits and what you can do to protect your institution from them! From Business Email Compromise to Ransomware and more, we will show you the simple things that make a difference in your defenses.

Breakout Session 2

Understanding, Engaging, and "Making the Ask" of Donors with Empathy Mapping

Presenter: Noah Reif & Amy Ebert

Description: In a time of uncertainty around fundraising, learn how you can use empathy mapping to authentically connect with existing and potential donors. In this workshop, you will learn about the dos and don'ts of approaching donors, how to use empathy mapping, and the fundamentals of effective fundraising “asks.”

Strategic Planning for Uncertain Times: Adaptive Leadership in Action

Presenter: Genia Stevens

Description: Traditional strategic planning often traps nonprofits in rigid paths that fail amid uncertainty. Today’s leaders face shifting needs and unpredictable funding, so plans must act as flexible roadmaps. This session introduces adaptive leadership and shows how to design living plans that align with vision, set pivot-ready priorities, and embed resilience. Attendees leave with a framework to balance accountability and adaptability.

So You Think You’re Ready for a Capital Campaign?

Presenter: Rikki Harry

Description: A candid, practical look at what it really takes to launch a successful capital campaign—from leadership alignment and donor readiness to clear vision and infrastructure. You’ll leave knowing whether your organization is truly ready and what to do next if you’re not.

Breakout Session 3

Accounting Principles

This is also offered during Breakout Session 4.

Presenter: Jamie Rosin

Description: TBA

Less Stuff, More Strategy: Reinventing Fundraising Events for ROI

Presenter: Jessi Bauer-Phipps

Description: With shifting donor expectations and leaner nonprofit teams, event fundraising needs a smarter, more strategic approach. We’ll compare the revenue, effort, and impact of transactional fundraising activities versus paddle raises, and how to select the best options for your event with a focus on ROI. This session is ideal for fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders who want to innovate their event model and focus on what truly works—not just what’s always been done.

AFP Research Council: The Next Big Thing

Presenter: Ruth Hansen

Description: The AFP Foundation's Research Council leads research on fundraising trends, focusing on trust, donor psychology, and declining giving. This session shares research updates, including data from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, and explores gaps in knowledge. It also invites participants to identify pressing research needs and opportunities to improve fundraising practice.

Decode Your Donors: Anthropological Insights for Nonprofit Expansion

Presenter: Jacquelyn Tolksdorf

Description: Nonprofits are already in the people business — communities, volunteers, donors, beneficiaries — it’s all human-centered. Yet, many organizations operate on assumptions about what motivates support or participation. Anthropology helps you see hidden dynamics — power, belonging, rituals — that data alone can’t reveal.

Breakout Session 4

Accounting Principles

This is also offered during Breakout Session 3.

Presenter: Jamie Rosin

Description: TBA

Boost Your Daily Productivity with the Ethical Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Presenter: Academic & Professional Excellence (APEX) Team

Description: TBD

Building Inclusive Ecosystems Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

Presenter: Genia Stevens

Description: Nonprofits thrive through collaboration. In today’s unpredictable landscape, cross-sector partnerships are vital for resilience and growth. This session shows how nonprofits can partner with public institutions, businesses, and community groups to unlock funding, expand capacity, and build trust. Drawing on Rock County Jumpstart as a case study, participants will gain practical strategies for creating and sustaining partnerships that strengthen organizations and deliver lasting community impact.

Beyond the Sign-Up Sheet: Turning Volunteer Interest into Lasting Impact

Presenter: Brenda Collins

Description: In today’s nonprofit world, recruiting and retaining volunteers takes more than posting an opportunity. Learn how to transform volunteer interest into meaningful, lasting impact. This session covers proven strategies for engaging them with purpose and keeping them connected. Discover creative outreach, role description, and recognition techniques, and leave with practical tools and examples to strengthen your volunteer program and build a loyal, motivated team.

Breakout Session 5

Planning In Times of Uncertainty: Future Thinking Through Strategic Foresight

Presenter: David Wegge, Devon Christianson & Randy Lawton

Description: Envision Greater Green Bay is focused on utilizing the University of Houston's Strategic Foresight model to identify plausible futures for an organization or service provider. In times of rapid change and uncertainty, traditional strategic planning is insufficient. What is needed is the ability and the skills to identify the signals of change that will shape your organization's future over the next 10-15 years.

The Event is OVER! Wait… There’s More? Leveraging Post-Event Momentum for Long-Term Impact

Presenter: Jessi Bauer-Phipps

Description: What happens after a fundraising event is just as important as what happens during it. Yet, too many organizations send a thank-you email and go quiet until the invite is sent out for the following year's event. This facilitated roundtable will explore how nonprofits can create thoughtful, strategic post-event follow-up plans that build relationships, deepen impact, and lay the foundation for future success.

Launching a New Project: Best Practices to Create Alignment and Reduce Friction

Presenter: Josh Terrill

Description: In this session, participants will learn how to define a project so that everyone is on the same page, and the key tasks are coordinated for the objective to be successfully completed. Beyond the basics, students will learn the communication arts that create alignment and reduce friction when key decisions need to be made.

Actions You Can Take to Help Your Board Become Future-Ready

Presenter: Frank Martinelli

Description: Nonprofits today face unrelenting disruption—pandemics, climate change, declining public trust, political polarization, and shifting patterns in funding and philanthropy. Traditional governance is no longer enough. Boards must become future-ready: resilient, adaptive, and prepared to lead through uncertainty. This workshop offers practical steps to strengthen governance capacity and equip boards to guide nonprofits with increased confidence through an unpredictable future.