Philanthropy in Action: Speakers

Confirmed Conference Speakers

Plenaries with: 

• Amy Webb, founder of the Future Today Institute, a leading forecasting firm that researches technology and answers “What’s the future of X?” for a global client base. She'll discuss predicting technological change and what you can do about it now, which is also covered in her third book: The Signals Are Talking: Why Today’s Fringe Is Tomorrow’s Mainstream.

• Vu Le is the writer behind the humor blog Nonprofits With Balls and the executive director of Rainier Valley Corps, an organization in Seattle that aims to bring more leaders of color into the nonprofit sector. He was recently recognized by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as a “Writer with Attitude.”

In addition, you'll hear from:

Carousel Speakers

• Aaron Dorfman, president and CEO, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: addressing collaboration and lasting change
• Keesha Gaskins, director for the Democratic Practice–United States, Rockefeller Brothers Fund: speaking on democracy and civic engagement
• Katherine Haynes Sanstad, program director, Health Futures Lab, Institute for the Future: speaking on equity and the future philanthropic agenda

Strategy Salon Speakers

• Susan Hammel, MCF executive in residence: speaking on mission investing
• Susan Taylor Batten, president and CEO, ABFE: speaking on racial equity
• The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota staff, Patrick Troska, Joel Luedtke, Elizabeth Coco and Tracy Lamparty: presenting on design thinking
• Jason Saul, Mission Measurement: speaking on evaluation

State of Philanthropy: a Live Fast Forward Podcast mediated by Levi Weinhagen, communications and media specialist, MCF, and closed by Trista Harris, MCF president, with Featured Panelists: 

• David Biemesderfer, president and CEO, Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
• Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota State Representative and board member, The Minneapolis Foundation
• Gayle Ober, president, George Family Foundation

Deep Dive Workshops

• Trista Harris, MCF, Post-election Scenario Planning: session will describe how foundations can anticipate and plan for four possible philanthropic futures under the new federal administration, allowing for a quick response if and when they happen. Attendees will use their learning on an interactive planning exercise and leave with a template for doing their own scenario planning. 

• Nancy Jacobs, Sundance Family Foundation: Evaluation-based Evidence: featuring an initiative by the Sundance Family Foundation and Wilder Research to create a 15-member nonprofit cohort working with youth in low-income and underrepresented communities. Sixty percent of the nonprofits attained new sources of funding resulting from this replicable program. Learn how nonprofit grassroots organizations can be strengthened to produce, analyze and report evidence. Leave with tools for your grantees and your foundation's management and board. 

• Bruce Thao, Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, Leveraging Leadership Development for Systems Change: session will explore innovative ways that F.R. Bigelow Foundation and Bush Foundation are addressing the need for robust leadership across sectors in a context of rapidly shifting racial demographics. 

• Jennifer Tingley, CliftonLarsonAllen: Staying Ahead of the Curve: with a lively Jeopardy-based format, this session will focus on how to best manage compliance and operational challenges.

Philanthropy in Action

Philanthropy in Action
January 19 – 20, 2017
Radisson Blu Downtown Minneapolis