Building resilience, diversifying revenue, and strengthening your nonprofit for the future. Nonprofits today are navigating rapid change—economic uncertainty, shifts in donor behavior, rising community needs, and increasing competition for limited funding. But turbulence also brings opportunity. This interactive Lunch & Learn will equip nonprofit leaders, board members, and development professionals with practical, realistic, and sustainable strategies to weather volatility and build long-term strength. Together, we’ll explore four key pillars of sustainability and leave you with actionable ideas you can implement immediately.

1. Reality Check: Funding Trends That Matter


2. Fundraising That Works: Donors, Relationships & Real Engagement


3. Social Enterprise: Revenue That Works for You


4. Collaboration & Capacity: Growing Together

This event is offered in partnership with the Initiative Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and Sourcewell.

This intermediate-level intensive workshop is geared toward nonprofit and government staff or long-term volunteers with grant writing experience who are ready to take the next step in crafting winning proposals. Learn to write stronger proposals and win more grants.

This training is provided in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

This event is offered in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

Nonprofit leaders are navigating an increasingly complex environment—rising community needs, funding uncertainty, and growing demands on staff and boards. Many executive directors carry this responsibility quietly, with few opportunities to pause, reflect, and connect with peers who truly understand the role.

The Leadership Reset Retreat offers a rare chance to step away from daily operations and gain perspective. During this one-day experience, nonprofit executive directors will gather to reflect on today’s leadership realities, reconnect with their purpose, and build meaningful peer relationships.

To better support students impacted by trauma, educators must first understand the various types of traumas (beyond ACES) and how trauma affects the brain and behavior in both students and adults. This equity-infused training is embedded with trauma-informed practices that support resilience and address its insulating factors of relationship, regulation, and responsibility. The topic of trauma is approached with care and consideration for people with a wide range of lived experience.

In this evidence-based course, learn to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among young people. You’ll build the skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial and continuing support to young people experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, including suicide. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

Participants gain certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid.