2025 Minnesota Nonprofit Finance Conference

Breakfast and check-in

Opening remarks

Speakers: Kyle Roberts, Rebecca Field, Kelsey Vatsaas
1 credit Finance

The nonprofit revenue landscape has had its share of tumult the past five years, though most organizations came out of the pandemic with increased support and stronger balance sheets than ever before. While many organizations were planning for a "fiscal cliff" in 2025, as individual donor trends flattened, philanthropy priorities shifted, and pandemic-related government sources dried up, the cliff has come faster and looked different than many expected.

Hear updates on the status of government funding most impactful to nonprofits and walk through some strategies for scenario planning and budgeting. Learn how and where to engage your board as nonprofits enter a budget cycle where many revenue sources are unclear.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Recognize the current state of federal funding sources most impactful to nonprofits
• Identify ways your organization can build scenario plans and budget models
• Identify how you might create structure around what decisions you will make and when as the new reality emerges

Speakers: Ben Aase, Patrick Connally, Susan Heegaard
1 credit Information Technology

Unpack the experience of Midwestern Higher Education Compact's (MHEC) journey to modernizing its data and technology environment. Through a case study format, explore common questions and challenges nonprofits face in beginning their digital journeys, including how to tackle data silos and accuracy, improve technology adoption, simplify complex data and reporting needs, and eliminate time-intensive manual processes.

Hear first-hand how MHEC is addressing this opportunity for transformation by establishing data a governance function, building a data warehouse, enhancing reporting capabilities, improving use of CRM, and investing in long-term internal digital fluency and capacity.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Describe the importance of data to mission and components that make for a sound data strategy
• Recognize how adopting a digital strategy can further advance your nonprofit's mission and goals
• Recall real life challenges, mistakes, and learnings from an organization on its own data journey

15-min break

Speakers: Josephine Bishman, Michelle Kohls
1 credit Personnel/Human Resources

In this session, participants will gain an understanding of recent changes to Minnesota statutes regarding pay transparency and Minnesota earned sick and safe time (ESST). This update will cover legislative developments and provide practical insights on how these changes impact HR practices and payroll tax topics. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of compliance requirements and strategies to effectively implement these changes within their organizations.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify the implications of these changes on HR practices and payroll tax topics
• Explain recent changes to Minnesota statutes regarding pay transparency and Minnesota earned sick and safe time 
• Identify strategies for compliance with the new regulations and effectively manage HR processes

Lunch and networking

Speakers: Emmett Robertson, Marcus Pope
1 credit Behavioral Ethics

Unfortunately, in the past few years there have been some high-profile nonprofit leaders behaving badly in Minnesota. This presentation will walk through some of the lessons learned from Feeding Our Future and others making the news in Minnesota.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Recognize the ethical implications and lessons learned from recent high-profile cases to promote integrity and accountability in nonprofit leadership

Speakers: Jake Taylor, David Anderson
1 credit Information Technology

Learn how your organization can use common practices to identify, understand, and mitigate your organization’s risks. Dive deeper into cybersecurity trends and methods commonly used to mitigate cyber risk.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Review common approaches used to identify risk in your organization
• Recognize the latest trends in cybersecurity risk
• Recall ways to mitigate risk – both across your business processes and your IT environment

Closing remarks

Social hour and networking