2025 Fundraising Palooza (Omaha)

In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, funders are shifting toward trust-based and participatory grantmaking models that emphasize power-sharing with grantees and communities. How can nonprofit fundraisers adapt to build more intentional, mutually beneficial partnerships with funders embracing these approaches? This session will explore participatory grantmaking through research-driven insights and real-world application. We’ll examine how shifting power dynamics impact the traditional nonprofit-funder relationship and what it takes for organizations to align with funders prioritizing equity and collaboration. Through the case study of the Stronger Neighborhoods Grants, a program co-designed by community members and funded by a local foundation, we’ll unpack the opportunities and challenges of this approach. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to foster deeper, trust-based relationships with funders and engage in a conversation about how this shift can create more sustainable impact for their communities.

Dr. Maya Chilese | Blue Agate Collaborative, Owner
Dr. Maya Chilese (she/her) is an organizational consultant and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. In pursuit of equitable well-being, we commit to elevating just, inclusive and human centered systems and work environments in which everyone thrives. Dr. Chilese has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems at the local, regional, state and national level. She holds advanced experience with community and systems assessment and planning, workforce and strategic planning, program development and evaluation, data governance, performance management and quality/process improvement, building collaborative systems and national public health accreditation. Dr. Chilese has earned undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Anthropology, a Master’s in Counseling, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership (in Health and Human Services).

Kyle Cartwright | Civic Nebraska, Director of Development
Kyle Cartwright (he/him) serves as the Director of Development at Civic Nebraska, a nonprofit advancing voting rights, civic health, and youth civic leadership. He also owns a small consulting practice through which he helps nonprofits, businesses, and donors build thriving communities through fundraising, philanthropy, and social impact strategies. A Nebraska native, Kyle has held leadership roles in philanthropy, fundraising, arts and culture, and civic engagement and serves as a saxophonist in the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 43rd Army Band.

Most of us have been impacted by grant funding at some point in our careers, but few of us understand the full cycle of how a grant interacts with a nonprofit organization. Our presentation, “The Life Cycle of A Grant,” explains this process from how potential grant opportunities can be identified, how to apply for a grant, how a grant is approved and funded, and what reporting requirements might exist in private, corporate, and governmental contexts. The dazzling infographics in this presentation and captivating presentation style of the presenters will make the complexities of the grant life cycle seem clearer and simpler for attendees. Questions will be welcome and answered throughout the presentation. In furtherance of Grant Professionals Association Nebraska Chapter’s mission to elevate and advance the profession of grant writing, dialogue about all aspects of the grant life cycle will be encouraged.

Kevin Mahler | Grant Professionals Association, President
Kevin Mahler has been a member of GPA since 2018 and joined the Nebraska Chapter board in 2021. Kevin has nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit fundraising and grant writing. Kevin is the owner and president of the Omaha-based fundraising consultancy, Contributed Line, LLC, which serves nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and beyond.

Noelle Thornburg Hoeft | Grant Professionals Association, Treasurer
Noelle (she/her) has been a dedicated member of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) since 2018 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2019. She holds the Certified Nonprofit Professional® credential conferred by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and has developed substantial expertise over the past decade in securing philanthropic support and nonprofit management. In her current role as Grants Manager at Nebraska Children's Home Society (NCHS), Noelle oversees the organization's portfolio of corporate and private foundation grants, and contributes to strategic planning initiatives as a Member of the agency’s Leadership Team. Previously, she spent five years at Heartland Family Service, where she managed a diverse grant portfolio, securing funding from corporate, private, and governmental sources at the federal, state, and municipal levels. Beyond her professional work, Noelle's community involvement includes board service with the Omaha Jitterbugs and the Band Parent Organization at Omaha Central High School. She is also currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University.

After more than a decade in fundraising, I’ve come to realize that some of the most celebrated practices in our field are deeply rooted in white supremacy culture—urgency, perfectionism, saviorism, and the centering of wealth as power. This session is not a how-to. It’s a truth-telling. I’ll share five things I’ve had to start unlearning—and continue to unlearn—in order to lead fundraising work with more integrity, alignment, and equity. Through story, reflection, and honest examination, we’ll explore how long-held norms can hold us back from building truly liberatory relationships with our donors and communities. This session is especially for fundraisers who feel the tension between what they’ve been taught and what they believe is possible.

Liz Mayfield | Tether & Torch, Owner
Liz Mayfield is dedicated to fostering thriving communities and reimagining leadership. She joined the nonprofit sector in 2014, spending the past decade ensuring organizational sustainability and growth. She serves as the Executive Director of Hope Harbor, where she leads efforts to provide housing and support to those in need. Her current focus is the Lighthouse Apartments capital campaign, which will bring supportive housing to central Nebraska. Beyond her role at Hope Harbor, Liz is committed to mentorship and community service. She serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteers as a Big, believing in the power of investing in future changemakers. She previously chaired Project Connect for seven years and served five years on the Grand Island Community Youth Council board. A lifelong learner and systems thinker, Liz is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, the Nonprofit Excellence Institute, and the T.E.A.M. Building Culture Executive Leadership program. She brings this mindset to Tether & Torch, a consulting venture she founded to challenge traditional leadership models and build sustainable, community-driven change. Liz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from Doane University and a Master of Public Administration – Nonprofit Management from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Philanthro-Quiz is a fast-paced, interactive session that tests your fundraising knowledge! Join from any device using the Kahoot! platform (no apps or downloads required). An interactive quiz game will test your knowledge of development terms, local foundations, donor behavior, nonprofit funding trends, and more! A live leaderboard will track scores, adding excitement as you race to climb the ranks. The session will provide a fun, engaging way to reinforce key fundraising concepts while introducing you to local philanthropic opportunities. Along the way, the presenters will highlight important takeaways from each question (but mostly, they will just tell jokes). The winner will earn the title of “Philanthro-Quiz Champion”—along with ultimate bragging rights! Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to development, you will walk away from this fun networking opportunity with practical knowledge to enhance your fundraising efforts.

Kenley Sturdivant-Wilson | Project Houseworks, Director of Development & Communications
Kenley Sturdivant-Wilson is the Director of Development and Communications at Project Houseworks. With over two decades of experience in fundraising, he has successfully raised millions of dollars for nonprofits in several states, including Arkansas, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Kenley also serves as an AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leader Mentor, where he helps to nurture new leaders in fundraising through education and skill development, aiming to create a more inclusive and equitable future for the profession.

Ben Johnson | Women’s Center for Advancement, Grants & Communications Officer
Ben Johnson is a Certified Grants Professional (GPCI) and Vice President of the Grants Professional Association, Nebraska Chapter. With over a decade of experience in fundraising, Ben currently serves as the Grants and Communications Officer at the Women's Center for Advancement (WCA). Ben holds a Master's degree in Information Sciences and specializes in raising funds for libraries, museums, arts organizations, conservation, social services, and other nonprofit sectors.

Just like in baking, a great marketing strategy starts with knowing what you’re setting out to accomplish before you begin, who are you baking for and why? Why on earth do you want to spend that much time in the kitchen? The same can be said for your marketing plan. Every great plan starts with key objectives you want to accomplish. What’s your why for marketing your nonprofit? What are you trying to accomplish? Why on earth should people know about you and care? In this presentation, we’ll talk about this most delectable step to great strategy, and the other five key ingredients to bake up a beautiful marketing plan.

Katherine Warren |  KidGlov, COO
You can sum up Katherine’s career with three words: pursuit of excellence. She makes every project she touches shine. And as KidGlov’s Chief Operating Officer, she has a hand in them all. During her 20-year career, Katherine has worked at some of Lincoln’s most notable agencies and nonprofits, including as CMO of a large youth-serving nonprofit. Her experience has allowed her to work with marketing scopes and budgets of all sizes, from small businesses, to nonprofits, to large business-to-business and consumer brands. Katherine’s true love lies in strategy. She is fortunate to live that every day at KidGlov, where strategy lies at the forefront all she does, whether it’s marketing for our clients, building company culture, or refining daily processes and project management.
In 2007, Katherine received the Lincoln Chapter of the American Marketing Association’s award for volunteer excellence. She served as president of the Chapter in 2009, and was then selected to join the national AMA Professional Chapters Council, mentoring marketing leaders around the country. In 2019, she was named Lincoln AMA Marketer of the Year and was also a finalist for the Lincoln Journal Star Inspire Women’s Leadership Award in Small Business the same year. Three years later, in 2022, she received the Lincoln Journal Star Inspire Women’s Leadership Award.

This session is designed to inspire and equip mid-career and officer-level fundraising professionals to reach new levels of performance —while also guiding executives on how to better support their development teams. Through the lens of the Further, Faster framework and strengths-based leadership principles, participants will explore how strategic hiring, intentional onboarding, and focused talent development lead to fundraising success. A panel of experts will share real-world lessons, tools, and data-informed practices to help you grow your confidence, strengthen your team, and maximize your impact. You’ll leave with a fresh perspective on what drives performance—and practical ways to accelerate it.

Brent Dillinger | Brent Dillinger Coaching & Consulting, Founder
Brent Dillinger is an experienced nonprofit executive and leadership consultant with a track record of scaling mission-driven organizations. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, he has leveraged CliftonStrengths to drive double-digit growth and cultural transformation within organizations. Brent specializes in leadership development, executive coaching, and strategic planning, helping philanthropy leaders maximize their potential and impact. His collaboration with Mike Geis brings together research-based strengths assessment with proven philanthropy leadership strategies to create a best-in-class hiring and development system.

Michael Geis | The Geis Group, Founder
Michael Geis, CFRE, FAHP, FCEP, is a nationally recognized philanthropy strategist and founder of The Geis Group, with over 50 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and fund development. He developed the Further, Faster framework to help organizations identify high-value prospects, accelerate donor engagement, and maximize fundraising results. His expertise in executive search, portfolio optimization, and solicitation strategy has consistently delivered exponential fundraising growth for healthcare and nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Sarah Karkowski | Trivium Life Services, Dir Annual Giving
Sarah Karkowski is the Director of Annual Giving at Trivium Life Services, a nonprofit providing behavioral health and disability support services across Iowa, Idaho, and New England. She has led fundraising campaigns, supported grant development, and built community partnerships that have helped raise millions in support of essential services—from mental health and recovery programs to long-term support for individuals with disabilities.

Join local funders to discuss current trends in nonprofit funding. More details coming soon. 

Anne Meysenburg | Omaha Community Foundation
Bio coming soon!