Nonprofit Symposium Agenda & Sessions
Nonprofit Symposium Agenda & Sessions
Agenda
8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Check-In & Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. – Morning Keynote Presentation
9:55 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. – Break Out Session 1
11:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. – Break Our Session 2
12:05 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch & Sponsors Speech
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Afternoon Keynote Presentation
1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. – Break Out Session 3
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Dessert & Networking
Workshop Descriptions
Morning Keynote, Rachel Andreoli
From Silos to Synergy: Growing Resilience, Reputation, and Reach Through Relationships
Nonprofits are being asked to do more with less: less time, less staff, less funding, and less certainty. And while each organization feels the pressure differently, the core challenge is the same. Many are operating in silos, relying on limited internal capacity instead of tapping into the relationships and shared resources already around them. As a result, they are experiencing burnout, stalled opportunities, and decreased impact.
But when nonprofits learn to collaborate with intention as a strategic practice, everything changes. Doors open. Workload lightens. Communities become more resilient. Abundance is no longer some theoretical ideal, it becomes real.
In this talk, I teach nonprofits how to leverage the power of social wealth to transform collaboration from a “nice idea someday” to a sustainable operating advantage. We explore three pillars:
• Resilience: How shared relationships, cross-organizational support, and collaborative networks create a community safety net that can withstand change, crisis, and capacity gaps.
• Reputation: How generous partnership habits strengthen trust with funders, partners, and the community and why showing up well in relationships becomes one of an organization’s strongest assets.
• Reach: How collaboration expands visibility, influence, and opportunity far beyond what any nonprofit can access alone.
Drawing from two decades of helping people build relationship-based influence and my current work coaching leaders to grow their social capital, I equip attendees with a practical framework they can apply immediately. They’ll walk away understanding not just why collaboration works, but how to use it to unlock abundance, strengthen their mission, and create allies who help carry the work forward.
Break Out Session 1
9:55 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Nuts and Bolts of Effective Intentionally Successful Boards
Mary Ellen Waltemire, Leadership Coach & Facilitator, One Step Closer Coaching
Designed for: Board Members, Executive Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders
This engaging session will identify best practices for nonprofits with regard to overall Board operations. Session participants will learn about ongoing Board member recruitment and involvement, planning for success with active committees and a process for feedforward and evaluation of Executive Directors. Individuals in leadership positions, either paid or volunteer, with non-profits will benefit from session content and interactive exercises with others in the room.
AI As a Force Multiplier: Maximizing Impact in Grant Writing, Donor Analytics, and Event Planning
Steven Wriston, PPT Consulting Services
Designed for: All
"AI as a Force Multiplier," is designed for nonprofit leaders and staff seeking practical, immediate ways to integrate artificial intelligence into their core operational and fundraising strategies. We will focus on three high-impact areas: predictive donor analytics, accelerated grant writing, and streamlined event planning. Participants will learn how AI tools can analyze historical giving data to identify major gift prospects with high accuracy, moving beyond simple segmentation to predictive modeling that maximizes fundraising ROI. Furthermore, we will demonstrate how generative AI can drastically reduce the time spent on grant proposal development by drafting narrative sections, adapting boilerplate content to specific funder guidelines, and ensuring compliance, all while maintaining the necessary human oversight for quality and ethical integrity.
The second half of the session will explore how AI can transform administrative efficiency, particularly in the context of event planning and post-event follow-up. We will cover tools that automate scheduling, manage personalized event communications, and use AI-powered transcription and summarization to capture key action items from planning meetings, ensuring seamless execution and follow-through. By the end of this hour, attendees will possess a clear, actionable roadmap for implementing AI to save hundreds of staff hours, increase funding success rates, and ensure that limited resources are focused on mission delivery rather than repetitive administrative tasks. This is a must-attend for any nonprofit ready to embrace the future of efficient, data-driven philanthropy.
The When, What, and Why of a Nonprofit Audit
Addie Blickenstaff, Audit Manager, CPA, DeLeon & Stang CPAs and Advisors
Michele Mills, Audit Principal, CPA, DeLeon & Stang CPAs and Advisors
Clint Lehman, Audit Partner, CPA, DeLeon & Stang CPAs and Advisors
Designed for: Board Members, Executive Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders
Nonprofit board members and executive directors often approve audits without fully understanding what they require—or what they receive. This interactive session breaks down when an audit is required, why organizations conduct them, and what an audit truly provides. Attendees will learn how to read an audit report, what to look for in the auditor’s opinion and financial statements, and how to use the results to strengthen governance and oversight.
Stronger Together: Small Nonprofits, Shared Impact
Craig Fentress, President, Randolph Community Outreach
Jerry Matheny-Elburn, CEO, Randolph Community Outreach
Designed For: All
Small nonprofits can achieve greater impact through collaboration. This session explores how partnerships, shared resources, and community-centered strategies help organizations expand services while staying true to their mission. Drawing on the experience of Randolph Community Outreach, participants will gain practical ideas for working together to meet community needs, strengthen engagement, and build sustainable, equitable solutions.
Break Out Session 2
11:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
A Deep Dive into Form 990
Erin Clark, Assurance & Advisory Member of the Firm, SEK
Designed For: All
Form 990 is one of the most visible documents a nonprofit organization produces, yet it is often misunderstood or reviewed only at a high level. This deep‑dive session demystifies Form 990 by breaking down its core sections and explaining what each part reveals about an organization’s operations, governance, and financial practices.
Host an Executive Conversation: Harnessing Feedback into Strategic Planning
Emily VanderWoude, CFRE, Senior Director of Advancement, Hood College
Joy Beveridge, BOA Member and Hood Alumna, Hood College
Designed for: Executive Directors and Nonprofit Leaders
Ever had a board member or donor insist they’ve cracked the code for running your organization? Bold ideas can be invaluable—but only when shared in the right way and at the right time. Discover how Hood College transformed well-intentioned input into productive partnership through candid, structured conversations with its 60+ member Board of Associates—unlocking sharper strategy, stronger alignment, and greater revenue impact.
Leading Without Leverage: Influencing Through Alignment, Not Authority
Diane Chamberlin, Principle Consultant, Content and Strategy, Ghost Writer LLC
Designed For: All
Leadership is about moving others toward shared goals. Nonprofit leaders are often called to do so without traditional authority or leverages like paychecks or promotions. Learn to lead board members, volunteers, and other stakeholders from a position of partnership, persuasion, and collaboration.
Funding Community Impact: Insights from Foundations (Panel Discussion)
Stacey Crawford, The Community Foundation of Washington County
Susan Caperton, The Eastern West Virigina Community Foundation
Kerry Vanyo, NiSource Foundation, Columbia Gas of Maryland
Facilitator: Heather Guessford, United Way of Washington County
Designed For: All
This panel discussion brings together leaders from private foundations and community foundations to share insights on how philanthropic organizations invest in communities and support nonprofit initiatives. Panelists will discuss funding priorities, trends in philanthropy, and strategies for building strong partnerships between funders and nonprofit organizations. Participants will gain a better understanding of how foundations operate and how organizations can effectively engage with funders to advance community impact.
Break Out Session 3
1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
AI for Impact: Automating Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
Heather Hughes, CEO & Chief Marketing Strategist, Wisteria Marketing Solutions
Designed for: All
Nonprofits often drown in execution, missing strategic community impact. This interactive "Live Lab" demonstrates turning AI into a "Senior Intern" to automate administrative noise and identify high-value peer partnerships. Using the Partnership Quadrant, attendees will identify organizations with complementary missions. You’ll also learn a step-by-step framework to transform raw client/volunteer interviews into compelling, donor-ready case studies for marketing, fundraising, and public relations.
Are You Actually Fundable Before You Apply for Grants
Kathryn Gratton, Chief Grant Wrangler, Red Lips Mentor
Designed for: All
Many nonprofits spend hours writing grant applications only to be denied, not because their mission lacks merit, but because their organization lacks fundability. This session explores what funders actually look for beyond a compelling narrative, including organizational readiness, financial transparency, and measurable outcomes. Executive directors, board members, and development staff will leave with a clear framework to assess their fundability gaps and a practical action plan to strengthen their position before the next deadline.
Breaking Down the Silos: Community Collaboration on Needs Assessments & Health Improvement Plans
Danielle Stahl, Deputy Director Community Health Outreach Prevention & Promotion, Co-chair, Healthy Washington County
Stephani Frisby, Director Health Planning & Strategic Initiatives, Epidemiologist, Washington County Health
Designed for: All
Join Danielle Stahl, Healthy Washington County (HWC) and Stephani Frisby, Washington County Health Department for a discussion on partner collaboration aimed at conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment and achieving the goals of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This session will feature a presentation of the CHIP goals, followed by an interactive post-it note activity. Participants will have the opportunity to share initiatives that align with HWC objectives, culminating in a lively discussion.
Protecting the Mission: Risk, Insurance, and Resilient Nonprofit Leadership
Blakeley Barker, Agency Director, President of the BOD for CASA, Inc.
Jeremiah Rickard, Agency Sales Manager, WLR Insurance Solutions; President-Elect, Charles Town, WV Rotary
Designed for: Board Members, Executive Directors, and Nonprofit Leaders
This session explores how nonprofits can build organizational resilience by integrating insurance strategy, workforce well-being, and operational planning. Participants will learn how proactive risk management, appropriate insurance coverage, and leadership support work together to reduce disruption, manage liability, and support staff sustainability. Designed for executive directors, board members, and nonprofit leaders, this session provides practical insight into protecting people, programs, and mission continuity while strengthening long-term organizational stability.