2025 Sorkin Sumit Agenda

2024 Sorkin Summit

NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The 2025 Sorkin Summit

Wednesday, May 7

Chicago | Washington, DC | Minneapolis | Virtual

Join fellow local Executive Directors and board members for a day of insights on trending issues confronting social impact leaders. From experts who share experience and best practices to structured peer learning and networking, the Summit will equip you to better navigate the challenges and opportunities during this period of rapid change.

Wednesday, May 7

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET: Workshops, trainings, networking

Chicago

200 E. Randolph St.

Washington, DC

555 13th St. NW

Minneapolis

225 S 6th St.

Virtual

Zoom

While we’ll connect in person within our local communities, we’re also coming together across all three cities and virtually—harnessing our collective wisdom and energy in service of our communities.

10:00am – 10:15am ET | Welcome

Get settled in for a day full of informative sessions.

10:15am – 11:15am ET | Succession Planning for Nonprofit Leaders

Whether leadership transition is imminent or years away, nonprofits should have a plan for succession. This session will cover the current state of the workforce for the Executive Director and other leadership roles, board and staff responsibilities in planning, and budgeting and fundraising for a transition.

Panelists

Carlyn Madden

CEO and Founder, Good Insight

Andrew Blaisdell

CEO, FXG Partners

11:20am – 12:20pm ET | AI and Fundraising

Starting with demystifying AI, this session will showcase immediately applicable AI tools for fundraising and demonstrate how AI can support a fundraising campaign from drafting a campaign plan through execution. Specific AI prompts will be provided.

Presenters

Mike Burger

Co-Founder, Headquarters for AI

Kevin Chaplin

Co-Founder, Headquarters for AI

12:20pm – 1:20pm ET | Lunch and Activity

Lunch break and activity.

1:30pm – 1:45 p.m. ET | Business at Its Best: Maximizing Impact Through Volunteering

Volunteers from the business community are more critical than ever to the social impact ecosystem. We will share actionable strategies for how corporate leaders and nonprofit partners can reignite involvement, drive meaningful change and strengthen communities.

Keynote Speaker

Mike Gianoni

CEO, Blackbaud

1:50pm – 2:45 pm ET | Nonprofit Sector Trends: Managing in Uncertainty

Rapid changes on the national and local levels are requiring nonprofit boards and Executive Directors to be nimble and prepared. Learn about leading in unsettled times, staying true to your mission and values and planning with uncertain funding

Panelist

Minal Bopaiah

Founder, Brevity & Wit

Nonoko Sato

President & CEO, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

2:45pm – 3:00 p.m. ET | Closing

End for the day.

Thank you to our sponsors

Interested in sponsoring the event?
Learn more or contact Wendy Gualtieri, Managing Director.

Feedback from previous Sorkin Summits

“I loved this summit. The panelists were amazing and so prepared. Felt like such a productive and useful use of my time and I so appreciate the day.”

Nonprofit Executive Director

“This was a great opportunity to build knowledge for work I’m doing as a consultant to two non-profit organizations. It was really well done. Quick and to the point. The right tone and amount of content.”

Management Consultant

“The entire day was incredibly helpful for takeaways on questions to ask and things to think about. Looking forward to applying what I learned to organizations I work with currently and will in the future.”

Nonprofit Board Member

“This was an excellent day. I really appreciated the opportunity to talk with fellow attendees and hear their perspectives. To speak with other nonprofit professionals as well as board members was a wonderful opportunity. I did not know who Jerry Sorkin was before attending but I truly appreciate everything he did to advance board service.”