AGENDA

The full agenda and speaker session will be coming soon.

Printable Agenda

 

Session Descriptions

 Session details will be added below as they are available. 

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Start your day by picking up your name badge, enjoying a light breakfast, and connecting with fellow attendees. Mingle with nonprofit leaders, visit sponsor booths, and get energized for an inspiring day ahead!

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Join NAM staff and board members as we officially kick off the 2026 Central Nebraska Nonprofit Conference! Celebrate the past year’s nonprofit achievements, and hear updates on the sector’s economic impact. We'll also cover key conference info and what to expect throughout the day.

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Grab a refreshment, stretch your legs, and connect with fellow attendees as you transition between sessions.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:
What does it take to build nonprofit and community ecosystems where young people are not just heard—but trusted as leaders, decision-makers, and co-creators? In this interactive session, nonprofit professionals will explore how their organizational structures, partnerships, and practices can either enable or constrain authentic youth leadership. Together, we’ll examine the limits of traditional “youth voice” approaches and reflect on what it means to share power in real, relational, and sustainable ways. This session offers a space for shared learning, honest reflection, and small, actionable steps toward shifting how we work with young people—not just for them.

Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!

Lina Translavina Stover, Heartland Workers Center 

Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:
The new year has brought a wave of change—and with it, new challenges for nonprofit leaders and communities. However, how we
respond is where our power lies. At Heartland Workers Center, we’ve developed a change management resource that helps us stay
grounded and resilient, rooted in the understanding that while we can't control change, we can manage our response to it. In this
session, Dr. Stover will guide participants through a practical, trauma-informed approach to navigating uncertainty. Drawing from
frameworks like VUCA, Nonviolent Communication, and collective care strategies, you’ll explore how to maintain focus, build
emotional resilience, and support your team and community through these complex times. Walk away with tools you can immediately
apply to strengthen your leadership and mission impact.

Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: coming soon!
Amber Durr, Food Bank for the Heartland

Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:
Many nonprofits find themselves in cycles of
misalignment, leadership turnover, or staff burnout—especially during times of change. This session walks participants through the
framework of an “Organizational Reset,” a structured approach for restoring trust, clarifying expectations, and rebuilding a healthy
leadership culture. Using real-world examples, attendees will learn how to create accountability systems, reset team norms, and build
cross-departmental alignment.

Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: coming soon!

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Grab a refreshment, stretch your legs, and connect with fellow attendees as you transition between sessions.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Mara Kellogg, Nebraska State Bar Association
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:
The presentation will focus on providing information to organizations about legal resources for low-income Nebraskans, how to access those resources, and their limits. In most instances, low-income Nebraskans cannot access the courts because they cannot afford an attorney.  VLPs Clinics Programs attempt to be a bridge for those without access. Through in-person legal clinics, self-help centers,
and Nebraska Free Legal Answers, self-represented litigants can get the help needed to represent themselves. These limited scope legal services are limited in scope, in that most people will not be able to receive full-scope pro bono representation. With knowledge about the benefits and limits of different legal programs, community non-profits can make informed referrals to help those in need.

Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!

Katie LeDoux, Sunflower Grant Writers
 
Lindsey Johnson, Sunflower Grant Writers

Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:

Grant success doesn’t start with a great proposal - it starts with a great board.
Funders look closely at organizational governance, financial oversight, strategic clarity, and documentation before they ever read a narrative. In this practical, energizing session, grant strategists Katie LeDoux and Lindsey Johnson reveal the often-overlooked board practices that make organizations truly “grant-ready.”
Attendees will learn how board decisions influence eligibility, competitiveness, and sustainability; what funders expect boards to maintain; and the most common governance red flags that quietly weaken applications. Katie and Lindsey offer simple, actionable steps boards and executives can implement immediately to build funder trust, reduce staff overwhelm, and strengthen future proposals. If your organization wants more grant success, this session will show you how your board can lead the way.


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: Coming Soon!
Ryan Strawhecker, Strawhecker Nonprofit Services
 
Lyn Wineman, KidGlov

Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:

Most fundraising campaigns launch with a dollar goal and a deadline—but no cohesive story to rally donors. The result? Mixed messages, disengaged supporters, and missed potential. In this session, branding expert Lyn Wineman and fundraising strategist Ryan Strawhecker combine their expertise to help you build aligned, purpose-driven campaigns. You’ll explore strategies to clarify your message, engage your team, and foster stronger donor connections. Whether you’re planning a capital initiative, a giving day, or yearend outreach, you’ll leave with practical tools and a sharper approach to campaign success from start to finish.


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: Coming Soon

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Location:  
Enjoy a delicious lunch while we prepare for our first keynote speaker of the day.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

LaPora Lindsey, LaPora Lindsey and Company
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Keynote Description:

Comparison gets a bad reputation, but nonprofit teams are doing it every day—comparing resources, impact, and even their own value. In this engaging keynote, LaPora Lindsey offers a fresh, practical look at how comparison can actually strengthen confidence, clarity, and culture when used intentionally. Attendees will
learn a simple way to turn comparison into insight instead of pressure, helping teams communicate their value, make better decisions, and stay grounded in what matters most.


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: coming soon!

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Grab a refreshment, stretch your legs, and connect with fellow attendees as you transition between sessions.

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:

Is your organization turning people away? You're not alone. New national data reveals that demand for community programs dramatically outpaces availability and Nebraska nonprofits across all sectors face similar capacity challenges. This interactive session brings together nonprofit leaders to explore how collaboration can solve what competition cannot. We'll share what we're learning from Nebraska's newly developed Youth Development Coalition: the wins, the challenges, and what we're still figuring out. We’ll also invite you to help build frameworks that work across sectors. Through small group discussions and hands-on activities, we'll collectively develop strategies to expand reach through partnership. Whoever you serve, you’ll contribute to and benefit from collaborative problem-solving with peers. Perfect for nonprofit leaders frustrated by waitlists or limited resources who are ready to experiment with new approaches. Let's learn together how collective action can create solutions no single organization can achieve alone


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!

Amy Sandeen, Nebraska Community Foundation 
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:

Are your workdays focused on schedules, lists, piles, and deadlines? Re-ignite and refresh through an hour of cooperative play! Incorporating noncompetitive play in your work culture can boost creativity, reduce stress, and improve well-being, ultimately increasing productivity. Join us and experience inclusive activities to spark curiosity, connection, and inspiration in your work. In this active session, you’ll learn simple tips for more engaging meetings, playful ways to manage stress, and new ideas to find fun every day. Come and play!


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!
Albert Varas, Orchard AI
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:

Session details coming soon!


Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Grab a refreshment, stretch your legs, and connect with fellow attendees as you transition between sessions.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Desiree Petrich, Intentional Action LLC
Location:  Younes Conference Center South
Session Description:
Silos, stress, and “that’s not my role” thinking quietly erode even the most mission-driven organizations. Conversations stay surfacelevel, conflict goes unaddressed, and meetings become updates instead of meaningful dialogue. Over time, trust fades and culture suffers.This keynote helps nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members understand what truly turns good people into great teams. Through real-world examples and practical insight, Desiree explores how self-awareness improves communication, how ownership strengthens accountability without blame, and how energy influences engagement and performance. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of their role in shaping team culture and simple, actionable ways to improve collaboration and follow-through. This session reinforces a powerful truth: strong nonprofit teams are built not by titles or policies alone, but by everyday choices in how people show up, communicate, and lead together

Session Survey: Complete Here!
Session Materials: View Slides Here!