Connecting People and Practices that Create Impact

The Downstate Illinois Nonprofit Conference is a unique opportunity for nonprofit board and staff leaders to connect with national and regional thought leaders about challenges and opportunities ahead. Come share strategies and stories and connect with your peers on ways to build your organization and strengthen the sector.

Featured Facilitators

Heather McLeod Grant Heather McLeod-Grant is a published author, speaker and consultant to high-impact organizations. She is the co-author of Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (Wiley, 2008), which was named a Top Ten Book of 2007 by The Economist.

In her facilitated session, Heather will share the six practices of high-impact nonprofits and help attendees experience the importance of networks to achieving these. She will challenge organizations to embrace their vision during these economic times while also providing steps to become a more effective organization.

Jan Masaoka is the Director and Editor-in-Chief of Blue Avocado, and writes the Board Café column, which she originated 10 years ago at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. Jan was Executive Director of CompassPoint for 14 years and is an eight-time designee as one of the nonprofit nation’s "Fifty Most Influential People," and in 2003 she was named "Nonprofit Executive of the Year" by Nonprofit Times.

Here’s what your colleagues said about the 2007 Downstate Illinois Nonprofit Conference:

"It was a great conference…It provided a great learning environment and offered some great networking opportunities."

"Inspiring, informative and very helpful to small nonprofit organizations."

"Repeat this opportunity in our area. The uniqueness of this conference is not easy to find in our locale. Thank you."

"It was an excellent opportunity to learn about some new concepts in non-profit management."
"Thank you for the opportunity for 'right on' topics … presented by people who actually are 'in the trenches' so to speak - best training program I have been to in quite some time!"

Who Should Attend

The Downstate Illinois Nonprofit Conference is a unique opportunity for nonprofit board and staff leaders to connect with national and regional thought leaders about the challenges and opportunities ahead.

If you are…

Nonprofit Directors and Staff
Board Members and Volunteers
Consultants who work with Nonprofits
Foundation Staff Members and Trustees
Corporate and Community Leaders
Elected and Appointed Officials
Students who want to learn about the Nonprofit Sector

Then you should attend!