Fall DOWN – Fail UP
Organizations are often reluctant to reveal too much about what doesn’t work. Thought leaders will discuss ways failure can lead to enlightenment. Participants will leave this session with a sense of the value of failure and what can come next.
Facilitator: Susan V. Berresford
Thought leaders: Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! Inc.; and Rafe Pomerance, Clean Air Cool Planet; and Melanie Lockwood Herman, Nonprofit Risk Management Center

Taking on Tough Conversations
Fear of conflict or desire to avoid misunderstanding can sometimes get in the way of progress. What issues do we shy away from at our peril? Learn to initiate tough conversations in order to unearth — and address — difficult subjects before they stop you in your tracks.   
Facilitator: Mikaela Seligman, Independent Sector
Discussion leaders: J.D. Hokoyama, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics; Debra B. Natenshon, The Center for What Works; Lori Villarosa, Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity; Jill Williams, Andrus Family Fund, Surdna Foundation, Inc.; Kara Inae Carlisle, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Alice Kim, Illinois Humanities Council; Martha L. McCoy, Everyday Democracy; and Stephen Bennett, United Cerebral Palsy

The Lifecycle of Nonprofit Leadership
Rising to the challenge of leading in a state of constant change requires different skills and capacities than nonprofit leaders once needed. Now they must operate with fewer resources in the present while meeting more pressing and still emerging needs that will last into the future. Participants will leave this session with better ideas on how to build organizations that confront these tough challenges and support and advance leaders at key points in the lifecycle.  
Facilitator: Rafael López, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Thought leaders: Marla Cornelius, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services; Sylia Obagi, The Annenberg Foundation; and Phyllis Segal, Civic Ventures

Under the Magnifying Glass
In today’s networked world, technology provides greater transparency at lightening speed. But, what happens when there is an information overload? This debate explores the implications of transparency at the margins. How much transparency is enough? What are the risks of sharing too little or too much? And what does this mean for our work?
Moderator: Paula L. Ellis, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Speakers: Christopher T. Gates, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement; and John E. Tyler, III,
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

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From Handshake to True Partnership: Bridging the Divide
Engage with Tom Tierney, author of Give Smart: Philanthropy that Gets Results, and Dickie Steele, fellow partner at the Bridgespan Group and co-author with Tom of the book’s nonprofit-focused addendum Beyond the Handshake, for an interactive dialogue examining the donor/grantee relationship. The conversation will cover the different perspectives of the individual donor, foundation, and nonprofit, on issues ranging from the challenges of the power dynamic to developing shared definitions of success and creating a true donor/grantee "partnership."
Facilitator: Karen Mathis, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Thought leader: Thomas J. Tierney, The Bridgespan Group; and Dickie Steele, The Bridgespan Group

Impact: How Do You Know?
In an increasingly results-driven society, success is determined by more than outcomes, simple numbers, or feel-good anecdotes. But, how do you know when you’ve achieved lasting impact for our communities and institutions? Join us for this two-part conversation that will examine how nonprofit practitioners evaluate the impact of their initiatives in the field and how impact is evaluated more broadly within the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
Moderator: Jason Saul, Mission Measurement
Speakers: James P. Firman, The National Council on Aging; Art Taylor, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, National Domestic Workers Alliance; Mark Schmitt, Roosevelt Institute; Jesse Rosen, League of American Orchestras; Alandra Washington, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; and Paul Carttar, Social Innovation Fund

Insider’s Guide to Corporate Philanthropy
Get it from the source. Take your seat in small group discussions about new paths for collaboration with corporate philanthropists and the nonprofits with whom they partner.   
Moderator: Richard A. Brown, American Express Company;
Discussion leaders: Paula Davis, Alcoa Foundation; Patricia L. Garza, Allstate Insurance Co.; Anne Ladky,
Women Employed; Margo K. Lucero, Susan G. Komen for the Cure;  Kate Maehr, Greater Chicago Food Depository; Katie Mandes, Pew Center on Global Climate Change; Nicole Robinson, Kraft Foods; Andrea L. Taylor, Microsoft Corporation; and Angel Ysaguirre, The Boeing Company World Headquarters; Plinio Ayala, Per Scholas, Inc.; Georgette Dixon, Wells Fargo; Scott Fast, Accenture Foundation; Eric Patton, Genesys Works - Chicago; Kyle Ridaught, Teach for America; John Gremer, Walgreen Company; and Rebekah Snyder, The Nature Conservancy

The Changing Landscape of America’s Workplace 
What do shifting American demographic profiles mean for how we do our work? And how does the composition of the nonprofit workforce affect our ability to impact change regarding shifting demographics? This session will give participants the opportunity to examine their own blind spots and identify changes in belief or behavior as they deal with shifting demographic profiles in the workplace. 
Facilitator: Wendy Puriefoy, Public Education Network
Thought leaders: James L. Weinberg, Commongood Careers; Amy Lazarus, International Institute for Sustained Dialogue; Michael Watson, Girl Scouts of the USA

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Creative Partnerships
Innovative and successful collaborators unveil their secrets for working together in a frank discussion about the potential and limitations of new and different types of partnerships.
Moderator: Paul Schmitz, Public Allies, Inc.
Discussion leaders: Jennifer Arwade, Albany Park Neighborhood Council; Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program; David S. Kass, Council for a Strong America; Dennis McMillian, The Foraker Group; Josina Morita, United Congress of Community and Religious Organization; Bryan Preston, Back Office Cooperative; Michael D. Rodríguez, Enlace Chicago; Jhatayn J. Travis, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization; Paul Vandeventer, Community Partners; Alison De Lucca, Southern California College Access Network; Arthur Evans, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services; Sarah Leonard, Thread; Melanie Matthews, The Campion Foundation; Joe Pena, Channahon Police Department; Dan Valliere, Chicago Commons, and Lynn Coriano, Social Venture Partners Seattle

Changing Lobbying Rules for Nonprofits and Foundations: Opportunities and Political Realities
Following the 2010 Citizen’s United Supreme Court decision, barriers limiting corporate and labor influence in politics and policy have been relaxed. Yet many of the rules governing nonprofit and foundation advocacy and lobbying have remain unchanged for almost 40 years. This debate will examine the current rules structure, as well as the potential obstacles and opportunities for change. Is there room for legal expansion and equity with corporate and labor rules in the current political environment, or are there dangers in opening this debate that may unleash a Pandora’s box full of efforts to limit foundations and nonprofits in other ways? Is now the time for change?

Moderator: Ralph B. Everett, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Speakers: James Bopp, James Madison Center for Free Speech; Kyle Caldwell, Michigan Nonprofit Association; and Luz A. Vega-Marquis, Marguerite Casey Foundation

Major Donor Playbook  
Learn from experts in the field about ways to cultivate and nurture donors to benefit your organization — beyond the checkbook. Changes in the nonprofit and philanthropic field have presented new opportunities and revived classic approaches for individual donor engagement. Find out how to extend a funder relationship beyond the transactional and what it takes to better connect individuals and institutions.
Facilitator: Paul Shoemaker, Social Venture Partners Seattle
Thought leader: Nancy Brown, American Heart Association; Lisa Chin, Year Up Seattle; and Jeff Tollefson

Re-branding Efforts: Major and Minor
When it comes to brand analysis and repair, it’s not just the how-to, it’s the why. Hear first person accounts on the intricacies and considerations of organizational re-branding.
Facilitator: Ruth Wooden
Presenters: Bob Calder, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern; Steven A. Culbertson, Youth Service America; Vicki B. Escarra, Feeding America; Esta Soler, Futures Without Violence; and Angela Williams, YMCA of the USA

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Democracy and the Arab Spring
Join international experts as they discuss the Arab Spring phenomenon, what’s behind the movement, its international and national implications, and if democracy is now a certainty in the Arab world.
Facilitator: Robert L. Gallucci, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Thought leader: Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago; Annette Heuser, Bertelsmann Foundation

Mobilizing Master Class
Nonprofits sometimes struggle to answer core questions regarding effectively mobilizing change. Learn from key thought leaders the questions you need to ask yourself, and how these R-EVOLUTIONARY Times influence the sector’s ability to launch and sustain a movement.
Facilitator: Heather Booth, The Midwest Academy
Thought leaders: William McNary, Citizen Action Illinois; and Marca Bristo, Access Living

Telling It Like It Is: The Power of Stories to Spur Change
From dynamic citizen journalists and filmmakers to nonprofit campaigns, this session explores good story-telling as central to correcting injustice and fostering good.
Facilitator: Kate Emanuel, The Advertising Council
Presenters: Cathy Tisdale, Camp Fire USA; Marc Fest, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Enrique Ball, Public Allies, Inc.; and Kelly Matheson, Witness; and David J. Morse, Civic Ventures

Working Collectively for Greater Impact
The partnership paradox — sometimes working together means more work, not less. It can also lead to more robust outcomes, more impact, and more options for organizations and communities. This is a participatory workshop designed to help people who are already in the process of creating collective impact and looking to elevate their game.
Moderator: John Kania, FSG Social Impact Advisors
Discussion leaders: Dena Al-Khatib, The Chicago Community Trust; Jeff Edmondson, Strive Network; Lila Guirguis, Magnolia Place Network, Children's Bureau; Karen J. Pittman, Forum for Youth Investment; Maren C. Stewart, LiveWell Colorado; Blair Taylor, Memphis Tomorrow; and Janice B. Yost, Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts

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