Conference Dates:

October 3-4 | Virtual

October 9-11 | In-Person – Helena, Montana 

Montana Nonprofit Association (MNA) invites your proposal for our 2024 Annual Conference. This year’s conference will begin with virtual sessions and an anticipated audience of 1,000, followed by an in-person event with 350 attendees. Nonprofit executives, staff, and board members will once more be welcomed at the flat Whole Organization rate to participate in the virtual event and can also send delegates to the in-person event for an additional cost for deeper learning and connection. 

Conference Theme | AND 

In a world that divides, nonprofits unite. Join us this year to explore nuance and clarity, rest and challenge, and all that goes into being the sector that delivers on promises to make Montana better. AND invites nonprofits to find respite from the either/or language of an election year, while acknowledging the necessary tension and hard lines community leaders must draw. We will explore how to build skills and connect, collaborate and protect, deliver and rest. AND is the space between yes and no, a call to get curious, and a commitment to inclusion. 

We are looking for presenters that deliver exciting, engaging, and content rich sessions built on principles of nonprofit best practices and effective instruction. With a whole org audience, we are seeking sessions that provide value and learning for entry level staff members, experienced EDs (Executive Director), and board members. Sessions that explore timely topics and/or dimensions of equity and diversity within their topic area are preferred. We are also interested in 201+ level sessions that can provide a deeper level of learning for attendees. Presentations may be general enough for a large audience or developed for a specific job function or level of experience.  

We will have opportunities for both in-person and virtual presentations. You can note your preference on your submission form. 

The deadline for submitting your proposal is 11:55pm on Monday, June 24^th, 2024. You may submit proposals HERE for breakout sessions. We are working to curate an exceptional experience for our attendees of all backgrounds and experience levels.  

As a Conference presenter, you will: 

• Receive 1:1 support in developing your session outline for our audience. 
• Receive a complimentary virtual and in person conference registration (non-exchangeable) 
• Meet, network, and share your expertise with nonprofit professionals. 
• Have your name and business affiliation published in conference materials and on MNA’s conference website. 
• **If you are selected for a longer format session (over 90 minutes) we will be able to offer an honorarium. 

We are unable to offer compensation for breakout session speakers or provide attendee contact lists. 

Timeline:  

• Monday, June 24^th |Submission Deadline 
• Monday, July 15^th | Sessions Selected + Submitters Notified 

• Thursday, August 1^st | Conference Registration Opens 
• October 3^rd-4^th  | Virtual Conference 
• October 9^th-11^th  | In-person Conference in Helena, MT 

Topics of high priority include: 

• Facilitated conversations for leaders around policy and advocacy, leadership, management, growth, and rest 
• Innovation, collaboration, and changes  
• Navigating cycles of rest, growth, change and the cadence of working in the nonprofit sector 
• Emerging trends in fundraising including cryptocurrency, AI, and shifting donor engagement 
• Volunteerism, including attracting, training, and retaining and trends such as micro-volunteerism 
• Transition + Succession Planning 
• Cybersecurity 
• Managing a flexible, hybrid, or remote workplace 
• Board development and governance 
• Fundraising fundamentals 
• Human Resources, exploring equity in organizational practices and policies 
• Work-life Balance and Wellbeing 
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice including Accessibility and Belonging 
• Communications and Marketing strategies for small nonprofits 

Overview of Proposal Requirements 

It is recommended that you complete your answers in another document before submitting through the online form. You may submit more than one proposal. After reading this entire proposal, if you have any questions about Montana Nonprofit Association’s 2024 Conference or this Request for Session Proposals, please contact Shelby Rogala at [email protected]. We cannot guarantee an ability to connect with MNA staff prior to submitting your proposal. 

We encourage you to narrow your audience prior to submitting a proposal. While we know you can teach everyone, we have found that clearly identified audiences have a better chance of hitting the mark. That means considering whether your content is best suited for new leaders or veterans, small organizations or large, and clarifying learning objectives. 

Information to prepare prior to submission: 

Presenter Information  

1. Presenter(s) contact information, with a primary point of contact determined.  

Session Information 

2. Proposed session title. 
3. Have you presented this session or other sessions of this nature before? 
4. Please provide a summary description of 150 or less words for conference materials. 
5. Please list three learning objectives. Participants will explore/master/understand/practice the following: 
6. Ideal format for presenting this session. 
7. Please describe the intended audience for this session. Examples include: “New Executive Directors, Multi-Hat nonprofit leaders, Board members, etc” 
8. Is this content geared towards experienced or new nonprofit audiences? 
9. What type of organization is this content and presentation best suited for?  
10. MNA is committed to better exploring, understanding, and sharing how diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice impact nonprofit management and missions. How do you approach these topics and incorporate them into your session? 
11. What is your approach to adult learning, and how does that inform your session? 
12. Which guiding principle for nonprofit excellence does this session most relate to? 
13. Is this content geared toward experienced or new nonprofit audiences? 
14. I understand I will not be compensated for this session but will receive complimentary registration to both the virtual and in person conference: 
15. MNA believes diversity to be vital to our organization’s success. We strongly encourage and welcome consultants or businesses led by traditionally underserved people to apply and place a special emphasis on vendors that are traditionally underserved and/or based in Montana. Do you classify as a traditionally underserved person, defined as a person who identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, female, non-gender conforming, or LGBTIA+?