Nonprofit Summit

Join the United Way of Cayuga County and Catalyst Cayuga for a day of learning, networking, and capacity building at the annual Nonprofit Summit. 

Tickets are $50 per attendee and include workshops, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages!

CAPACITY BUILDING SPEAKER PANEL
Keynote Dialogue and Idea Sharing

Capacity Building-- What does it mean? What are the needs? And what are the solutions?

Join us for our Keynote Dialogue to engage with our panelists who will review these three important questions and those raised during this conversation. 

Moderator: Daniel Fesseden, Fred L. Emerson Foundation

Panelists:

• Lisa Kaminski, Executive Director of United Way of Cayuga County
   
• Jennifer VerNooy, Executive Director of Catalyst Cayuga
   
• Katie Fong, Cayuga Director of Causewave Community Partners
   
• Gwen Webber-McLeod, Gwen Inc.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
We ask that you select your preferred sessions when registering. This allows us to assign rooms based on interest size. You are able and welcome to switch between sessions during the Nonprofit Summit. One meeting space is only accessible via stairs.

AI and Your Mission: Moving from Experimentation to Impact
Shanthi M. SSV Founder
Founder, Spur Spark 

Many nonprofits are experimenting with AI, but are they translating that into measurable mission outcomes? This interactive session will help nonprofit leaders learn how to use AI responsibly to drive efficiency, strengthen decision-making and grow organizational impact.

Recruiting & Retaining Talent When You Can't Compete On Pay
Caprice Reader, MBA SHRM–SCP SPHR AWI-CH
Founder & Principal Consultant | Reader HR Consulting

Explore practical strategies for attracting and keeping great employees without relying on top-of-market compensation. This session highlights how organizations can strengthen their employer brand, create meaningful career growth opportunities, and build a workplace culture that drives loyalty and engagement. Attendees will learn how to leverage flexibility, purpose-driven work, recognition, and development programs to stand out in a competitive hiring landscape, while improving retention through smarter onboarding, stronger leadership, and employee centered benefits. The presentation delivers actionable ideas HR leaders and managers can implement immediately to build a committed, high-performing team even with limited salary budgets.

FULL SESSION, NOT AVAILABLE:
Building Effective Partnerships for Better Impact (Morning Session Only)
Speakers:

• Jenny VerNooy
  Executive Director | Catalyst Cayuga
   
• Deb Mohlenhoff
  Founder | BEE Strategies Consulting

Stronger partnerships. Greater impact. How can nonprofits move beyond working alongside one another to create partnerships that achieve more? This interactive session will explore practical ways to identify, build, and sustain strategic partnerships that leverage shared strengths, resources, and relationships.

Come ready to connect, collaborate, and discover how working together can help us achieve greater impact for our communities.

Budgeting for Impact: Financial Planning for Nonprofits
Kimberly Manrow, EA
CEO & Founder | Aster Financial Group, LLC

A strong budget is more than a financial document. It is a roadmap for mission success. This workshop will explore nonprofit budgeting best practices, including building realistic budgets, aligning resources with strategic priorities, monitoring financial performance, and using budget data to support informed decision-making.

Creative Collaboration: The Economic Impact of the Cultural Nonprofit Sector & Tourism (Morning Session Only)
Speakers:

• Courtney Kasper
  Executive Director | Tour Cayuga
   
• Geoffrey Starks
  Director of Development & Outreach | Cayuga Museum of History & Art

The Finger Lakes Region is one of the top destinations for visitor spending across the upstate regions of New York State thanks to abundant natural resources, great wineries and restaurants, and a growing cultural sector. The economic impact of this growing market is directly reflected in local businesses, including fellow nonprofits. Join Geoff Starks, Director of Development & Outreach at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, and Courtney Kasper, Executive Director of Tour Cayuga, for a brief presentation on the state of Cayuga County’s tourism industry as well as the economic impact of cultural nonprofits. The rest of this session will involve a conversation on the value of collaboration across the nonprofit sector. Learn more about how cultural tourism helps us all, and let’s figure out ways that we can work together to ensure your organization benefits from the creative economy! 

FULL SESSION, NOT AVAILABE:
Mission Driven Story Telling to Boost Nonprofit Fundraising (Afternoon Session Only)
Christopher Iven
Chief Advancement Officer | Unity House

Nonprofits need support – donors, volunteers, partners and employees – to deliver on their mission. In this interactive workshop facilitated by a former journalist, you’ll learn how stories can become a powerful tool to help you attract and retain more support for your organization’s work. The workshop will cover:

• Why stories are so powerful
• The elements of a good story
• The role of the hero
• How to gather mission-driven stories
• How to create a story generation program at your nonprofit
• How to use text, images and video to effectively share stories

Bring your questions and a copy of your organization’s mission.

BURNING QUESTIONS
Small group idea and solution sharing experience.

Nonprofit Summit attendees will be divided into small groups where each person will take a few minutes to share a problem they or their organization is working on. Your group will share feedback, ideas, and possible solutions from a fresh perspective. 

Burning Questions will be moderated by Kate Budlong, Owner and Principal Consultant & Leadership-Culture-Performance Consulting

VENDOR FAIR
Click business name to link to website

COLLABORATION SPONSORS
 

NPS COMMITTEE