Explore 160+ sessions on the 25NTC agenda. There's sure to be something for everyone!

fellinidev/pagesubhead

NTEN | Page Subhead

<div style="display: grid; gap: 2rem; grid-template-columns: 1fr;" class="wp-block-fellinidev-pagesubhead"><h3>Page Subhead</h3><div style="flex-grow: 1; flex-direction: column;">Explore 160+ sessions on the 25NTC agenda. There's sure to be something for everyone!</div></div>

Looking for a specific session? <a href="/gather/ntc/program/sessions">View all sessions here</a> and search by session title!

Start with the basic building block of all narrative.

In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

core/paragraph

Paragraph

Looking for a specific session? <a href="/gather/ntc/program/sessions">View all sessions here</a> and search by session title!

Prompt visitors to take action with a group of button-style links.

core/button

core/buttons

Buttons

Prompt visitors to take action with a button-style link.

Button

<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/agenda/print" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Print the agenda</a></div>

<div class="wp-block-buttons hide"><div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/agenda/print" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Print the agenda</a></div></div>

Add white space between blocks and customize its height.

core/spacer

Spacer

<div style="display: grid; gap: 2rem; grid-template-columns: 1fr;" class="wp-block-fellinidev-pagesubhead"><h3>Page Subhead</h3><div style="flex-grow: 1; flex-direction: column;">Explore 160+ sessions on the 25NTC agenda. There&#8217;s sure to be something for everyone!</div></div>



Looking for a specific session? <a href="/gather/ntc/program/sessions">View all sessions here</a> and search by session title!



<div class="wp-block-buttons hide is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/agenda/print" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Print the agenda</a></div>
</div>



<div style="height:12px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>

Agenda

Preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP) can be a complex, sometimes painful process that can take months and in some cases, years, of meticulous planning. And after all that careful preparation, it is all too common that the resulting bids you receive include a bewildering range of (sometimes conflicting) solutions and prices. Part of the problem is that an RFP isn&#39;t the ideal way to select a vendor. You don’t get to talk to them and explain your needs. They usually don’t get to ask you the in-depth questions they require feedback on in order to create a great solution. It’s a bit like playing checkers by mail - slow and prone to misunderstanding. It doesn’t have to be that way. We see hundreds of RFPs a year, good and bad, and will share practical suggestions on how to ensure the responses you get are on point, and ultimately attract the right vendor for your needs. This session will cover: - What does a good RFP look like? - How do you involve your team and get internal buy-in? - How do you ensure you’ll stay within budget and deliver on time? - Do you even need to have an RFP - what about organizations that don’t require this process?

"Request for Partnership": Redefining the RFP process

Kylie Aldridge Ogden

Some nonprofit impacts are easier to showcase than others. The classic template of &quot;your $10 donation will help feed 3 people today&quot; simply doesn&#39;t work for all nonprofits. If you&#39;;re fighting for policy changes, systemic issues, etc. and you don&#39;t have a direct monetary impact to advertise, you need an alternative way to prove to donors that their money is making a difference. In this case, quality, down-to-earth storytelling from real supporters is your most powerful tool. But gathering and sharing stories takes time. This session will walk you through practical tips and tricks about how to collect and distribute stories in a way that can actually add to your team&#39;s capacity and elevate your fundraising campaigns. Plus, hear from real nonprofit partners about how they&#39;ve used these tactics successfully in their own orgs. Engage your supporters, increase donations, save your team time. What&#39;s not to like?

"Show, don't tell" your impact using stories as a foundation of your fundraising

Megan Castle

In this rapid-fire, high level overview of whether to BYOD or not to BYOD, you&#39;ll learn from an ex-CIO turned nonprofit consultant who has seen it all. She&#39;ll share real-world stories of her experiences with the advantages and disadvantages of a BYOD policy, with a focus on organization size and circumstance.

10 pros and cons of a bring your own device policy: Stories from the trenches

Melissa Dickinson

** PLEASE NOTE THIS ACTIVITY IS STRAGGLER FRIENDLY - feel free to join late and still participate ** “The very best strategic thinkers make a concerted effort to reflect” This session is a community-led experimental activity to bring people together to reflect on our conference experience. Everyone is invited to write and post reflections on sticky notes in response to three prompts:What did I connect to at the NTC?What did I learn at the NTC?How will I change because of the NTC? Reflection notes will then be grouped by theme to visualize trends. Participants are also invited to write themselves a message of hope on a postcard that will be mailed back to them a month later.

25NTC: Good to the last reflection

Jason Samuels

Email is one sure way for you to connect with your supporters directly. It’s a personal way to contact them no matter what happens in the great wide world of digital marketing (and all the social media algorithms!). In the words of the great Pat Flynn, “Email lists and websites are the only two things you can own on the internet. The rest is just rented.” During this session, we’ll review 5 common email marketing mistakes organizations are often making and how to fix them. We’ll equip you with ideas and techniques so that you’re meeting your supporters with as much enthusiasm as they have for your cause — all in a way that feels manageable. Instead of being “just another email” in an inbox, these simple fixes will put a spotlight on your organization’s work. By the end of this session, you’ll be prepared with best practices that inspire meaningful connections with your supporters.

5 email marketing mistakes you’re probably making (and how to fix them!)

Patty Breech

Join the Alexes from Tuck Consulting Group to walk through five real-world examples of how your nonprofit can use your Work Management Software (WMS) to automate your processes and further your mission faster. Using ClickUp as the example system, the Tuck team will show how to leverage the built-in tools of your WMS to save your team time on tasks and do more with less.Some of the scenarios that we will discuss include building templates, leveraging automations, using AI, and integrating with your other systems. This session is intended to spark the creativity in each of us to look for ways to get the most out of the software we’re using. Alex Tuck is a nonprofit founder and also the founder of Tuck, a project management consulting firm with 60+ PM consultants across the U.S. Alex Morgan is a certified ClickUp expert and runs the professional services practice at Tuck. You can learn more about Tuck at https://tuckconsultinggroup.com.

5 Ways Nonprofits Can Save Money and Do More with Your Work Management Software

Alex Tuck

Does your organization have a Giving Day, or are you looking to start one soon? Come see how the Cornell Lab of Ornithology transformed a regional, mission-focused event into a major fundraising campaign that has grown significantly over the past several years. Hear how engagement soared when various channels were implemented—including traditional methods such as direct mail and in-person participation—with digital platforms and email campaigns. Attendees will gain insights into the Cornell Lab’s creative use of these channels to reach a wider audience, build lasting relationships, and maximize revenue. Walk (or fly, if you will) away equipped with insights and tips on how to kickstart your first-ever Giving Day or enhance your existing one. Come for the learnings, stay for the bird puns. You don’t need to wait until Giving Tuesday to have all the fun!

A big day, big results: Tips for giving day success

Bert Salter

i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity received more than half-million dollars from a hospital-based health equity award and partnered with OB physicians, nurses, and medical assistants with referrals to Black Mamas Glowing, a virtual perinatal peer support group for Black birthing families and their supporters over the budget period of 24 months. The community-based organization leader, an alumni of the 2022-2023 NTEN Tech Readiness Academy, collaborated with an academic researcher to co-design participant pre- and post-surveys and hired a cybersecurity consultant to assess organizational risks and protection of data collected from over 72 Black pregnant women and birthing people. The Black-led team guided the CBO executive director&#39;s conversations with measuring clinical outcomes against State of California data (e.g., asking intrusive questions) and reframed the narrative to repair harm and healing  by the Black Mamas Glowing goals to reduce isolation and build trust. The CBO leader operationalized trust by asking culturally informed questions that centered on healthy and joyous Black births, offered gift card incentives, and documented positive experiences with participants.

A Black-Led CBO Leader's Responsibility for Tech Readiness and Risk Assessment

Wenonah Valentine, MBA

Most articles and tutorials that talk about accessibility focus on either making a case for providing accessible content or giving advice on how to create things, websites for instance, so that they can be accessible. There are toolkits and trainings for designers so they know how to avoid using low contrast colors together. Just as important as that though, is the content itself. If content creators and editors don&#39;t know how to properly create accessible content then spending all your developer&#39;s time making sure your content can be accessible will be for nothing. In this session I&#39;ll talk about common pitfalls that I&#39;ve seen the orgs I&#39;ve worked with stumble on, and how to train your editors to create content that works for everyone.

A content centered approach to accessibility

Jason Neumark Mickela

Many organizations have invested in the sustainability of their team by providing free skill-building opportunities like professional development and mentoring. But sometimes it can be a challenge to get staff members to actually utilize the resources that are offered. When this type of support is not widely used by staff, it can send a message to higher-ups that these tools aren’t worth the money. So how do you get your team to take advantage of the free resources you have? In this session, we’ll share real life examples of successfully fostering professional development through supportive and responsive programming. You’ll leave with actionable strategies for creating a culture of learning within your team so you’ll see more buy-in from staff members and increased professional (and personal) growth!

A culture of learning: How to help staff use the resources you offered

Keighty Ward

This session will explore a real-world example of an organization leveraging data to evaluate and optimize its programs focused on belonging and inclusion for artists. The organization approaches social impact with a systemic commitment, believing in the power of the arts to build community, center joy, inspire action, and advance justice and equity. It ensures that its 14-16 programs create social justice at the community and artist levels by utilizing data-driven frameworks, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, and learning from analytics. Attendees will learn how data is applied to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement to create meaningful social change. By telling data-driven stories, the organization also wins the trust of supporters, staff, and audience to grow sustainably.

A data-driven approach for program evaluations

Hetal Sheth

In today’s digital age, data privacy is not just a legal requirement but an essential part of maintaining trust with your donors, clients, and staff. With ever-evolving regulations, nonprofits must stay ahead of the curve to ensure the protection of sensitive data while aligning with ethical standards. This session will provide an in-depth look into the latest data privacy laws, how they specifically impact nonprofit organizations, and the practical steps you can take to safeguard your data. This interactive session will guide participants through the complexities of data privacy, offering practical advice on implementing a compliant and effective data management strategy. You&#39;ll learn how to assess your organization&#39;s risk areas and adopt cybersecurity measures that integrate seamlessly with your privacy goals. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with the tools to navigate data privacy challenges with confidence, protect your nonprofit&#39;s reputation, and ensure compliance with current legislation.

A little more privacy, please: Diving into data privacy for nonprofits

Justin King

1 billion people have a disability that impacts how they navigate websites. In order to more effectively achieve your digital goals, such as an uptick in donations, job applications, or program inquiries, your website needs to appreciate the unique needs of each visitor. In this 60-minute workshop, the Great Believer team will break down the focal points of web accessibility and outline changes you can make today to demonstrate your commitment to all digital users.

A more accessible web begins with your website

Josh Riman

You’re collecting data, but your practice feels inconsistent and at the whims of external requests from funders or board members. If you want the data that helps you better understand the needs of your community, better understand what’s working within your programs, and drives continuous learning and improvement, this session is for you. You’ll learn the 3-step approach that any nonprofit can follow to embed data use into your organization, and the 10 components that will help make sure you’re collecting the right data and with the resources available to you. You’ll also get to see what all of this looks like in practice through one organization’s data journey and how it transformed its data practice.

A nonprofit's journey: The roadmap to a strategic and actionable data practice

Jaclyn Sablosky

In this session, we’ll explore how nonprofits can harness technology to enhance their emergency response efforts. We’ll discuss how an AI-powered unified platform streamlines crisis management, integrating all critical elements of disaster response to ensure rapid coordination, optimize resources, and deliver aid to those in need—exactly when and where it&#39;s needed.

Accelerating Crisis Response: How ServiceNow Empowers Nonprofits in Saving Lives

Parshant Dhand

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, nonprofits increasingly rely on technology partnerships to drive mission-critical initiatives. This session, Accountability and Success: Practical Tips for Technology Partnerships, will feature a dynamic panel of nonprofit IT leaders and tech vendors sharing their insights into building strong, effective partnerships. The panel will explore what for-profit companies seek in tech vendors—both positive and negative traits—and how these lessons can be applied to nonprofit organizations. Participants will gain an understanding of vendor requirements that go beyond simple tech delivery, helping to advance organizational goals. Additionally, the panel will discuss the value of iterative delivery for continuous improvement and flexibility. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies on how to define clear measures of success and quality, ensuring accountability and long-term success in tech partnerships.

Accountability and success: Practical tips for technology partnerships

Stacy Kirk

During this fun and creative session, participants will explore innovative practices for data interpretation and meaning making. Participants will learn new ways to deeply engage their teams in understanding and making sense of information through fun and creative strategies such as data gallery walks and data “escape rooms”, encouraging their teams to actively engage with information. Through compelling case studies, attendees will see how these creative approaches foster deeper insights and enhance collaboration, ultimately leading to enhanced data-informed decision making within their organizations.

Actionable insights: Creative approaches to collaborative data decision-making

Kayla Meyers

One of the barriers to efficient nonprofit operations is documenting, finding, and making use of essential organizational information and knowledge resources. The tool for this job is the Knowledge Hub or Org Wiki. Knowledge hubs range in complexity (from documents in a filing cabinet to full software packages) and in price range (from free to ga$p-worthy). Many nonprofits struggle to find the budget and IT-support required to implement a structured knowledge hub. In this workshop, you will learn how a knowledge hub can help your organization document essential policies, mission/vision statements, roles &amp; responsibilities, and other knowledge and make it available across the organization. Using a free low-code tool (Coda), you will build a simple hub that everyone in your organization can start using today, free of charge. With it, you will be able to organize your knowledge and create a feedback system for employees and volunteers to support continuous improvement and renewal of knowledge resources. You will leave this workshop with a one-stop digital repository for your most important information, and the ability to customize it to your unique organizational requirements.

Activate your nonprofit knowledge: Build your own knowledge hub

Andy Farnsworth

Big brands use experiential marketing all the time to raise awareness about products and services, and to create buzz through user-generated content. From the Spotify-sponsored Taylor Swift&#39;s TTPD library installation in LA to Ikea&#39;s Place app, which uses AR to show Ikea furniture in your own space before you buy, these interactive, oft-ephemeral experiences create an emotional connection between customers and brand that boost sales and engagement. Nonprofits almost never have the marketing budgets to throw at experiences on the same scale as major brands, but still have the same need to create an emotional connection with the audiences they&#39;re trying to reach. Luckily, there are lessons nonprofits can learn from what the big brands are doing, and ways to implement those lessons without breaking the budget. During this session, we&#39;ll look at ways nonprofits can incorporate experiential and interactive elements into their events and other outreach efforts, even when working with a very low or no budget. By bringing these elements into your strategy, you&#39;ll engage your supporters emotionally and tangibly, which will strengthen their connection to your mission.

Add experiential elements to nonprofit events on a budget

Genie Gratto

Is your organization considering implementing new software, or making a big tech change, but you&#39;re wondering about the logistics—not to mention the stress on your stakeholders? Good news: there&#39;s a proven strategy and roadmap for how to make your implementation go smoothly, and solve problems instead of creating them. We&#39;ll share this strategy with you step-by-step, and give you a clear path to success.

Adopt new software: Get buy-in, training and integration

In the nonprofit world, we often come across descriptions of communities that use terms like “low digital literacy skills” or “low health literacy knowledge” to frame challenges individuals face in accessing services. While it is important for people to have pathways to build their skills and confidence in areas such as these, these terms can sometimes be simplistic and avoid addressing deeper structural issues in institutions. Basically, we need to work toward making systems that work well for people in the first place. In this session, we will explore flipping the script: how can we build our own organizational literacy as institutions? In other words, how can we make sure that our internal and external communications and related processes are designed with the intent to be easy to navigate, understand, and use? We will explore how organizations can take responsibility for the effectiveness of their systems and build a reflective practice that centers the needs of humans over the systems themselves.

Advance equity and accessibility through organizational literacy

Melanie Sampson

Welcoming and inclusive practices result in stronger outcomes for our organizations. At the project management level, human-centered approaches and metrics can be eclipsed by the technical aspects of project management like budgets, timeline, and deadlines. This session will share tips, tactics, and strategies to incorporate welcoming and inclusive practices into your projects for stronger and more equitable outcomes. We will share real-life examples from our own experience of advancing major projects while integrating inclusive practices at all phases, as well as create space for participants to share their own examples and troubleshoot challenges with their peers. This will include discussions of stakeholder engagement and how to navigate various levels of commitment to inclusivity at your own organization.

Advance welcoming and inclusive practices in project management

Brenda Perez

Join NTEN and our host sponsors Advance Solutions Corp, Microsoft, and Public Interest Registry after our second full day of sessions together with music, games, and connection. Add your memories to the #25at25NTC timeline to share your own milestones in the NTEN community or add visions for the future.<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrJuvgJtZzJCnaxoM7J8dGwEQ2r46SJz2jGMLYH5Uhs/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rntriv29akqe" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">View the menu</a> to see what refreshments will be available.

Afternoon reception

Join NTEN and our host sponsors Advance Solutions Corp, Microsoft, and Public Interest Registry after our first full day of sessions together with music, games, and connection. Add your memories to the #25at25NTC timeline to share your own milestones in the NTEN community or add visions for the future.<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrJuvgJtZzJCnaxoM7J8dGwEQ2r46SJz2jGMLYH5Uhs/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rntriv29akqe" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">View the menu</a> to see what refreshments will be available.

This session offers practical insights into a scalable human-centered and responsible adoption AI strategy. Discover how nonprofits have successfully moved from experimentation to organizational strategy, leveraging AI internally and to enhance program delivery. We’ll share practical approaches for overcoming common challenges, including staff training, identifying AI champions, and managing organizational change. We’ll explore the delicate balance between innovation and ethical considerations, providing a roadmap for nonprofits looking to harness AI&#39;s potential while staying true to their mission. In this session, we’ll hear from nonprofits with lived experience on this transformation journey.. Attendees will gain an understanding of the steps involved in developing an AI strategy, from initial assessment of readiness to organizational deployment.

AI adoption strategy for nonprofits: Navigate ethics and innovation

Beth Kanter

There is lots of talk about the potential for AI in our nonprofit work. But how can we make sure these tools are accessible and inclusive to the disabled community?

AI and disability

Danielle Kempe

The advocacy work that nonprofits do is radically changing with the advent of AI. This short and quick panel will deliver rapid-fire takeaways that any nonprofit with an advocacy program can use, including: The latest cutting-edge AI technologies that are being actively applied to nonprofit advocacy programs How AI can improve your advocacy form conversion rates and lower your cost per advocate/acquisition How AI and machine learning can be used to understand millions of data points about your advocates How to take advantage of AI even if you’re short on internal resources How to ethically use AI in your advocacy work What internal policies you do and don’t need to use AI Mistakes to avoid when using AI in an advocacy context Examples of nonprofits currently using AI in their advocacy work

AI for advocacy: Trends, do's and don’ts, ethics, and other considerations

Tom Spencer

Community Change Action and Change Agent AI built a “model for the movement” — but what does that mean and how did we do it? Why is that even important? This panel will delve into the deep philosophical questions and practical value of developing and maintaining an LLM that advances justice and equity. Topics will include: • what is alignment and why is it so important to teach an LLM how to identify what “good” is? • what are mainstream AI tools aligned and what are the practical implications of that alignment? • why does mainstream AI perpetuate harmful bias? • how can open-source models be fine tuned to eliminate harmful bias? • what’s better about an LLM that is fine tuned for a specific purpose and what’s the practical value versus just using ChatGPT? We will cover all this and more with time for attendee questions.

AI for Changemakers: How We Built an LLM that Advances Justice & Equity

Aram Fischer

Are you searching for the most effective and efficient ways to secure grant funding for your organization? Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can speed up and improve your organization&#39;s grant writing efforts. We’ll explore the practical applications of AI as it pertains to finding funders and writing grant proposals. You will leave this session with practical ways to use AI right now!

AI for grant writing

Margit Brazda Poirier

AI is for Advocacy will detail how to use generative AI to influence public policy. We will demonstrate how to ensure outputs match your organization’s voice, utilize your most powerful talking points, and align with expert messaging guidance. We will cover the following formats: • bill proposals to lawmakers • bill analysis from your organization’s perspective • public comment • speeches • letters to the editor • press releases and media advisories • scripts for letters and phone calls to legislators

AI is for advocacy: Practical AI for influencing public policy

How many “must-have” AI tools have you been told to use? (and how many are you still not using but surviving all too well?) We often find ourselves stuck, trying to figure out what actually works. The truth? More tools don’t (ever?) mean better solutions. What you need is a clear framework or at least I want to offer that up as a solution. Join Brad, an equity-focused evaluation consultant, for a straightforward, jargon-free session. Drawing from hundreds of hours spent navigating AI tools, coaching others, and dodging ‘must-use’ tools, Brad will share practical steps to help you confidently approach AI solutions. You’ll walk away with a framework to guide your decision-making, helping you make AI work for you or your organization—not the other way around.

AI overload: Why 5,000+ tools won't help you (but this framework may)

Brad Krueger

Most of us know that AI has the potential to help nonprofits dramatically increase their productivity and do more good in the world. But the challenge is finding use cases. How, precisely, can AI help us, other than writing silly poems about dogs? Jeremy Wallace-Segall, COO of Writopia Lab, and Ben Freda of BFC Digital do a speedrun through six different AI use cases showcasing how low-cost, no-code AI tools can make it possible to do far more good in far less time. The session will demonstrate the use of Gen AI to: * Reformat thousands of rows of donor data from HTML format into CSV * Create an interactive wireframe prototype for an annual dinner microsite * Create professional Standard Operating Procedure documentation from recorded screen-capture video * Categorize four thousand WordPress blog posts into a refined taxonomy * Design a new icon in the style of an already-existing custom icon set * Write custom Google Apps script to do really cool stuff with your spreadsheets … each in less than 10 minutes — instead of hours, days, or weeks of human time. The session also will provide a framework for nonprofit staff to identify how to find their own use cases.

AI use-case speedrun: Six no-code AI demos to save a month per year

Ben Freda

Due to restrictions on both data access and funding for gun violence research, our understanding of this urgent public health crisis remains dangerously incomplete. This presentation explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is being leveraged to understand and address the nature of gun violence and the most effective solutions for preventing it. We dive deep into case studies like AskEverytown, a new expert chatbot providing reliable information on gun statistics, research, and laws, and EveryShot, a shooting incident tracker tool, to illustrate how AI can analyze vast datasets to generate insights and accelerate research. We also discuss the underlying data infrastructure, including gun law databases and incident reports, that powers these innovative solutions. By showcasing real-world applications, this presentation highlights the potential of AI to inform policy, research, and community-based interventions aimed at understanding and addressing gun violence in the US.﻿

AI-Powered Solutions for Gun Violence Prevention: Insights from Everytown

Rediet Wegayehu

As the future of work evolves, technology such as AI is playing a bigger role in our work. Nonprofits of the future will need to be even more efficient and effective and do even more with fewer resources. But simply working longer and harder doesn’t guarantee sustainable impact. Fortunately, new tech and approaches offer better ways to make an impact while being mindful of how we take care of ourselves and our teams in the process. This approach to healthy productivity requires skillfully embracing new technology like AI, cultivating a culture of continuous learning, and rethinking practices that leave us drained vs energized. Join us to learn how to create healthier approaches to work with the latest practical apps, tools, and tactics that can help you and your organization create more impact now AND in the future!

AI, apps, tools and tactics for healthier productivity

Jason Shim

In today&#39;s rapidly evolving technological landscape, staying ahead of the curve is essential for nonprofit consultants working to create greater impact for their clients. This session is designed specifically for consultants who work with nonprofit organizations and are looking to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency by leveraging cutting-edge tools, applications, and AI-driven solutions. Join us for a fast-paced popcorn-style review of some of the latest practical technologies that can streamline your consulting practice, optimize client outcomes, and expand your toolkit. We’ll explore an array of apps and tools that address key challenges consultants face, such as project management, data analysis, communication, and stakeholder engagement. By the end of this session, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to implement these tools in ways that complement your workflow and elevate your service delivery. This session will empower you to harness the best of today&#39;s technology while navigating the complexities and risks that come with it, ultimately helping you serve your nonprofit clients more effectively.

AI, apps, tools and tactics for nonprofit consultants: What's your tech stack?

Meico Marquette Whitlock

This session will level-set the audience&#39;s understanding of AI and focus on its practical applications to nonprofits across many business areas including finance, fundraising, programs, volunteer management, marketing and communications and operations. The audience will be solicited to volunteer their uses and ideas in a great example of the power of groups. Based in real experience using AI technology internally, for clients, and within clients, it is pragmatic and oriented towards immediate use.

AI: Beyond the hype and towards real applications for nonprofits

Lisa Rau

Your voice is your #1 instrument. It can strengthen trust, build credibility, and create belonging. Imagine having your community listen to your every word, no matter where they are or what they’re doing. As a strategic thinker and creative problem solver that cares, you want to connect with your people on an emotional level. Podcasting can help tell your story. It amplifies your voice. Listeners can feel like they belong. But podcasting isn’t just about plugging in a mic and talking. Let’s redefine success beyond the download numbers. Create a show based on your capacity and budget - all while having fun doing it. In this 60-minute workshop, you’ll understand how podcasting fits into your organization’s goals, move forward with a plan and strategy that expands your community, and create a show that lives your values. The world needs diverse voices. Are you ready to create a community of belonging for your listeners?

Amplify your voice: Build community through strategic podcasting

Mary Chan

You&#39;ve likely heard about the value of incorporating SMS into your fundraising program, but the options might seem overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to start with this new channel. When you attend this session, you&#39;ll hear from two organizations - the National Park Foundation and Bread for the World - who both built successful SMS programs from scratch. You&#39;ll learn what to do, what not to do, and you&#39;ll come away with tips and tools for implementing an SMS program at your organization.

As easy as 123: How to launch an SMS program

Megan Buchheit

In this session, attendees will learn the basics of key technologies for the blind/low vision community and how they are currently being used. Some key technologies include: screen reader, magnification software, audio description, text-to-speech (Siri and Alexa), alt text, and Aira (Access to Information Remote Assistance). Aira connects blind and low vision individuals to highly-trained, remotely located visual interpreters who provide instant access to visual information anytime and anywhere. Most significantly, I will discuss the various sectors in which these technologies are currently used and provide resources to these technologies, blindness resources, and how the assistive technology field provides an inclusive environment for all through numerous passions and pathways.

Assistive technology and inclusion through a blindness lens

Joy Mistovich

Test your cybersecurity skills in this interactive tabletop game! Designed for all experience levels, this game introduces key security concepts in a fun and engaging way. Brought to you by NGO-ISAC. Go to the Birds of a feather area in the Commons to find this table.

Backdoors & breaches: Cybersecurity tabletop game

Test your cybersecurity skills in this interactive tabletop game! Designed for all experience levels, this game introduces key security concepts in a fun and engaging way. Brought to you by NGO-ISAC. Go to the Birds of a feather area in the Commons to find this table.

Pick up your badge and let us answer any questions you might have about the day ahead.

Badge pickup

Stop by to check in, pick up your badge, and get any help you need. Whether you have questions about the schedule, accessibility, or connecting with others, our team is here to support you.

Badge pickup and community assistance

If you want to compare options – for example, two different fundraising emails – standard A/B testing is a tried-and-true way to make data-driven decisions. However, there are a few disadvantages to running a standard A/B test: (1) it is costly every time you experiment with the &quot;worse&quot; option, (2) you usually will wait to take action until the end of the experiment, and (3) testing more than a few different options can be time consuming or impractical. This session will focus on an increasingly popular alternative: adaptive experimentation, a strategy that allows you to learn from your data as soon as it is collected. With adaptive experimentation, you can quickly hone in on the best option and limit the number of times you experiment with costly alternatives. This type of experimentation is particularly effective when testing many different options or conducting simultaneous experiments. We will provide an interactive overview of adaptive experimentation, including examples of practical applications (such as improving targeted outreach strategies or designing ask amounts) and the variety of ways that you can leverage these ideas at your organization.

Beyond A/B testing: Adaptive experimentation

Scott Rodilitz

Building and growing a vibrant nonprofit membership base is essential for long-term success, but many organizations struggle with how to attract, engage, and retain members in a way that aligns with their mission. In this session, we’ll explore proven strategies for growing your nonprofit’s membership by cultivating meaningful relationships, leveraging digital platforms, and creating engaging membership experiences. This session will provide actionable insights into how nonprofits of any size can successfully scale their membership programs. You’ll learn how to: - Create membership experiences that go beyond transactions, fostering long-term relationships and loyalty - Develop a membership journey that caters to different types of members—volunteers, donors, advocates—and their unique needs - Use technology, social media, and content marketing to attract and retain members This session is perfect for nonprofit professionals looking to boost their membership numbers while deepening their members’ connection to their organization’s mission.

Beyond numbers: Strategies to grow and sustain your nonprofit's membership

Amy Rose

In this session, we’ll explore the critical but often-overlooked elements beyond technology that lead to successful nonprofit CRM implementations. We will focus on governance, business process alignment, inclusive design, and long-term strategy, while also emphasizing the importance of personal and professional growth. Through engaging case studies and real-world experiences, this session will reveal how these non-technical factors shape not only the success of your CRM but also the impact you deliver for your nonprofit’s mission. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies and a fresh perspective on maximizing their CRM’s potential to drive change.

Beyond the technology: The human factors driving nonprofit CRM success

Rubin Singh

Nonprofits are often caught in their own echo chamber of who their ideal donor is. The truth is that the ideal donor persona is too often defined by ideas and practices from years, if not decades, ago. Our databases are telling us &quot;your best donor is suburban and over 60 years old&quot; and our campaigns are pointing to those groups, self-fulfilling the assumption. This keeps nonprofits stuck in place, not allowing them to find new donor bases. Technology that isn&#39;t dependent on CRM data, and therefore internal biases, is the key to breaking the mindset, experimenting safely while not alienating existing donor bases, and creating a sustainable fundraising roadmap.

Bias in your fundraising data: Identify, mitigate and grow

Salvatore Salpietro

Connect with people at the NTC based on your shared interests or identities. These casual group conversations are flexible by design. Discuss your ideas, meet new people, and get questions answered.Check out the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank">birds of a feather topics</a> that are already scheduled or <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather/host-a-topic" target="_blank">submit your own</a>. While you don’t need to RSVP, space is limited, so arrive promptly. How to participate in a birds of a feather:<ul><li>Join the birds of a feather Zoom at the scheduled time. The Zoom host will help you join the breakout room for the topic you’re interested in.</li></ul>If there&#39;s a shared interest or identity you want to discuss that’s not on the list, we encourage you to add a topic you want to host. Any NTC attendee can host a birds of a feather topic. Today&#39;s virtual topics:<ul><li>NTC queer for LGBTQIA2S+ attendees</li><li>Incorporating donating into our everyday lives</li></ul>For a complete list and to see who submitted each topic, visit the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Birds of a Feather page</a>.

Birds of a feather

Connect with people at the NTC based on your shared interests or identities. These casual group conversations are flexible by design. Discuss your ideas, meet new people, and get questions answered.Check out the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank">birds of a feather topics</a> that are already scheduled or <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather/host-a-topic" target="_blank">submit your own</a>. While you don’t need to RSVP, space is limited, so arrive promptly. How to participate in a birds of a feather:<ul><li>Go to the meal area at the scheduled time, then find the table that has a sign with the topic you’re interested in.</li></ul>If there&#39;s a shared interest or identity you want to discuss that’s not on the list, we encourage you to add a topic you want to host. Any NTC attendee can host a birds of a feather topic. Today&#39;s topics: <ul><li>Digital Inclusion Fellows (DIF)</li><li>Introverts for attendees to share a meal in community and no expectation to talk</li><li> Nonprofit Salesforce Users</li><li>Aligning People, Process, &amp; Technology</li><li>NYC @ NTC (all Tri-Staters welcome!)</li><li>The Future of Nonprofit Email Programs</li><li>Measuring Impact and How We Can Do Better</li><li>NTC Queer for LGBTQIA2S+ attendees</li><li>Nonprofit teamwork and collaboration practices (in a distributed/remote world)</li></ul>  For a complete list and to see who submitted each topic, visit the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Birds of a Feather page</a>.

Connect with people at the NTC based on your shared interests or identities. These casual group conversations are flexible by design. Discuss your ideas, meet new people, and get questions answered.Check out the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">birds of a feather topics</a> that are already scheduled or <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather/host-a-topic" target="_blank">submit your own</a>. While you don’t need to RSVP, space is limited, so arrive promptly. How to participate in a birds of a feather:<ul><li>Join the birds of a feather Zoom at the scheduled time. The Zoom host will help you join the breakout room for the topic you’re interested in.</li></ul>If there&#39;s a shared interest or identity you want to discuss that’s not on the list, we encourage you to add a topic you want to host. Any NTC attendee can host a birds of a feather topic. Today&#39;s topics:<ul><li>Incorporating donating into our everyday lives</li><li>NTC Queer for LGBTQIA2S+ attendees</li><li>Women in Nonprofit Tech (affinity)</li></ul> For a complete list and to see who submitted each topic, visit the<a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"> Birds of a Feather page</a>.

Connect with people at the NTC based on your shared interests or identities. These casual group conversations are flexible by design. Discuss your ideas, meet new people, and get questions answered.Check out the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank">birds of a feather topics</a> that are already scheduled or <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather/host-a-topic" target="_blank">submit your own</a>. While you don’t need to RSVP, space is limited, so arrive promptly.How to participate in a birds of a feather:<ul><li>In person: Go to the meal area at the scheduled time, then find the table that has a sign with the topic you’re interested in.</li><li>Virtually: Join the birds of a feather Zoom at the scheduled time. The Zoom host will help you join the breakout room for the topic you’re interested in.</li></ul>If there&#39;s a shared interest or identity you want to discuss that’s not on the list, we encourage you to add a topic you want to host. Any NTC attendee can host a birds of a feather topic. Today&#39;s in-person topics:View the most up to date list here. <ul><li> Digital Inclusion Fellows (DIF)</li><li>Introverts for attendees to share a meal in community and no expectation to talk</li><li> Nonprofit Tech Readiness (NTR) Participants</li><li>Ads and advertising</li><li>Nonprofit Salesforce Users</li><li> Collective Nonprofit Survival: A Conversation for Action</li><li>Aligning People, Process, &amp; Technology</li><li> Tech Decision makers</li><li>WTF is happening on social media? A social media manager support meet up</li><li>NYC @ NTC (all Tri-Staters welcome!)</li><li>Donor Advised Funds - Fundraising &amp; Processing</li><li>Developing and managing nonprofit brands</li><li>Measuring Impact (and how can we do better?)</li><li>Community building, gathering, and convening</li><li>Housing or Community Development Focused Nonprofits</li><li>Data for Good: sharing our data stories</li><li>Creative in tech: Let&#39;s eat and talk about our art, then art</li><li>Measuring Impact and How We Can Do Better</li><li> Are you worried about non profit compliance in this climate?</li><li>Gathering, convening, and community building</li><li>NTC Queer for LGBTQIA2S+ attendees</li><li> Nonprofit teamwork and collaboration practices (in a distributed/remote world)</li><li> Accessibility in practice</li><li>Run, Walk, and Roll (People that like to move their bodies)</li><li>A Safe Space for Black Men (affinity group)</li></ul> For a complete list and to see who submitted each topic, visit the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Birds of a Feather page</a>.

Connect with people at the NTC based on your shared interests or identities. These casual group conversations are flexible by design. Discuss your ideas, meet new people, and get questions answered.Check out the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank">birds of a feather topics</a> that are already scheduled or <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather/host-a-topic" target="_blank">submit your own</a>. While you don’t need to RSVP, space is limited, so arrive promptly. How to participate in a birds of a feather:<ul><li>In person: Go to the meal area at the scheduled time, then find the table that has a sign with the topic you’re interested in.</li><li>Virtually: Join the birds of a feather Zoom at the scheduled time. The Zoom host will help you join the breakout room for the topic you’re interested in.</li></ul>If there&#39;s a shared interest or identity you want to discuss that’s not on the list, we encourage you to add a topic you want to host. Any NTC attendee can host a birds of a feather topic. Today&#39;s in-person topics:<ul><li>Local Baltimore non-profit staff</li><li>Women in nonprofit tech</li><li>HubSpot users</li><li>Creative in tech: Let&#39;s eat and talk about our art, then art</li><li>Housing or community development focused nonprofits</li><li>Nonprofit salesforce users</li><li>Ads and advertising</li><li>Measuring impact and how we can do better</li><li>NYC @ NTC (all Tri-Staters welcome!)</li><li>Digital Inclusion Fellows (DIF)</li><li>Introverts for attendees to share a meal in community and no expectation to talk</li><li>NTC queer for LGBTQIA2S+ attendees</li><li>Working in the environmental sphere</li><li>WTF is happening on social media? A social media manager supper meet up</li><li>Aligning people, process, &amp; technology</li><li>Measuring impact (and how can we do better?)</li><li>Nonprofit Tech Readiness (NTR) participants</li><li>Nonprofit teamwork and collaboration practices (in a distributed/remote world)</li></ul>For the most updated list and to see who submitted each topic, visit the <a href="https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/program/special-events/birds-of-a-feather" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Birds of a Feather page</a>.

See how Elevate can transform your nonprofit’s education and training programs—increasing engagement, revenue, and impact. Whether you’re new to virtual learning or looking to enhance your current platform, Elevate provides the tools and flexibility you need to succeed. Elevate by Cadmium is a user-friendly Learning Management System (LMS) designed specifically to help nonprofits and associations deliver impactful learning experiences. In this demo, discover how Elevate can engage your members, drive mission-aligned education, and create new revenue streams—all while streamlining your learning programs. Why Elevate?Elevate is more than an LMS—it’s a community-building and engagement platform designed for mission-driven organizations. Whether you&#39;re hosting virtual conferences, training volunteers, certifying professionals, or generating revenue through online courses, Elevate makes it simple and effective.

Boost Engagement, Revenue, and Impact in Your Learning Programs

Sam Hirsch

Nonprofits have a few things in common almost universally; being under-resourced and people wearing many hats. In conditions like these, it is difficult to think beyond the next deadline or putting out the next fire. This near-sightedness is exacerbated when there is no shared data strategy. These were all challenges that we faced at Planned Parenthood. We were successful in finding ways to make incremental change towards data organization that supports integrated fundraising. In this workshop, we will outline the steps we took to define our data strategy and then re-organize and harmonize our data to support that strategy. We will walk participants through outlining their own data strategy and defining the small practical steps they can take to make meaningful change without additional resources.

Break data siloes: Channel integration through data team cooperation

Anna Rhodes

Nonprofits are often expected to deliver fully-conceived and tested models to achieve their missions, leaving little room for experimentation or failure. However, embracing failure and maintaining transparency with donors and partners can be truly transformational. Join Micromentor, the world’s largest free virtual mentoring platform and community for underserved entrepreneurs, for a compelling case study on how addressing a critical performance breakdown led to a complete platform rebuild and a deeper understanding of balancing scale with depth in virtual mentoring for MSMEs. This session will include a mini-workshop where participants will work in groups to examine their own workplace culture through the lens of embracing failure. Attendees will gain practical tips for fostering a culture of accountability and innovation within their organizations, and network with like-minded peers.

Breakdown: How to embrace failure when stakes are high and money is tight

Michelle Kostouser

All meals at NTC are designed to be inclusive and accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, low-salt, and low-sugar options. Common allergens are labeled, and Halal, Kosher (for Passover), and celiac-safe meals are available by request. Meals are served buffet style. If you need assistance during designated meal times, attendants will be available to help you choose food and take it to a table. If you need a space away from the cacophony, look for signs for quiet tables. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrJuvgJtZzJCnaxoM7J8dGwEQ2r46SJz2jGMLYH5Uhs/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rntriv29akqe" target="_blank">View full menu and details</a>

Breakfast

All meals at NTC are designed to be inclusive and accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, low-salt, and low-sugar options. Common allergens are labeled, and Halal, Kosher (for Passover), and celiac-safe meals are available by request. Meals are served buffet style. If you need assistance during designated meal times, attendants will be available to help you choose food and take it to a table. If you need a space away from the cacophony, look for signs for quiet tables. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrJuvgJtZzJCnaxoM7J8dGwEQ2r46SJz2jGMLYH5Uhs/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.rntriv29akqe" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">View the full menu</a>.

Hey there, we haven’t heard from you in a while. Do you not want to receive our messages anymore? Do we have your contact information right? These three prompts all have two things in common. They are found in nearly every email re-engagement series AND they all advertise the lack of engagement a supporter has with your organization. But are these truly the right questions to ask? Rather than putting a subscriber’s disinterest on display, we should be showing supporters why they subscribed in the first place. Remember, it is not our subscriber’s responsibility to engage with us. It is our responsibility to engage with them. This doesn’t mean we should continue to send messages to people who are unengaged, it means we need to ask better questions and provide better content to keep them interested — and it also means that sometimes we need to give our readers a break. We&#39;ll show how World Animal Protection re-engaged supporters by giving their un-engaged subscribers a break in messaging before unsubscribing them - keeping important supporters on their file while maintaining deliverability.

Breaking up is hard to do: Reimagining your re-engagement series

Zoe Clarke

Driving strategic outcomes in a nonprofit requires seamless collaboration between business teams in fundraising, engagement, and programs, and the technology teams that support the tools and data fueling results. However, bridging this gap often presents challenges around roles, ownership, and collaboration, leading to stalled progress, friction between team members, and poor ROI on technology investments. In this session, we’ll explore how CARE USA transformed its CRM operations by harmonizing its Digital (IT) and Resource Development teams. Using insights from a comprehensive staffing and organizational design assessment, we’ll discuss how CARE established role specialization, created a new bridging Development Data and Systems team, and adopted a collaborative ownership model for its CRM. Attendees will learn strategies for balancing technical expertise with business context, integrating business-side leadership into tech projects, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration to achieve shared goals. This session will equip leaders with actionable approaches to optimizing technology and unifying teams for stronger results.

Bridge the gap: Staffing strategies to unify tech and business teams

Justin Birdsong

Microsoft has promised that Copilot will transform the way you work. But AI isn’t a magic fix. Successful adoption requires the right strategy. In this session, Sean Flahie, CTO and Principal Consultant at Apex Digital Solutions, shares firsthand insights from working with organizations who are actually using Microsoft 365 Copilot. What challenges do leaders face with Copilot and AI adoption? How are organizations finding practical use in the toolset? And how can you ensure a successful rollout to your team? Gain a consultant’s perspective on Copilot and walk away with practical strategies to help your team make the most of this powerful tool.

Bring AI to life in your organization with Microsoft Copilot

Sean Flahie

There’s always a moment in tech planning when the same question pops up: should you double down on your existing platforms or connect a bunch of point solutions?In this session, we’ll sit down with nonprofit tech leaders who’ve been in the thick of that decision. You’ll hear real stories—wins, lessons, and a few bumps along the way—to help you think through what’ll work best for your own systems.We’ll cover how to gauge the flexibility of your current tools, what it really takes to keep your data clean and centralized, and how to keep technical debt from creeping in as your org grows. We’ll also dig into the pros and cons of sticking with fewer platforms versus building a broader toolset, and what that means for your team’s workflow, decision-making, and sanity.Expect some practical ideas for using connected systems to get more value from your data, cut down on silos, and reduce all the back-and-forth that burns your team out.If you’re thinking about your tech stack with a side of strategy, this session is for you.

Build a better tech stack: Extending platforms vs. integrating point solutions

Mandy Thompson

Trans people experience significant barriers to basic dignity in the workplace. Policy and culture deficits in the workplace can bring a trans person’s personal and professional lives into conflict. As organizations strive to become more equitable, diverse, and inclusive, it is important to improve the experiences of trans people in your workplace. This session will cover tangible examples of ways to promote the agency and success of trans people at your organization. Attendees will learn about specific policies and practices—including information technology, data management, human processes, and more—that will strengthen your organization and improve workplace experience for all employees.

Build a more gender-inclusive and expansive workplace

Charles Linton

For organizations on the frontlines of pressing justice issues in their communities, data can be a powerful tool for advocacy. But without data rights, valuable community data can be overlooked while companies continue to extract data from communities that can reinforce systems of harm. Every day, technologies that collect data from our transactions, movements, and relationships grow more sophisticated and people grow more suspicious. Nonprofits can be trusted intermediaries for collecting data for or about communities, but many don&#39;t have data strategies that reflect their community-centered values. In this session, I&#39;ll share an easy and accessible framework for evaluating data rights across your organization, and a case study about a rights-based data strategy developed by Local Data Futures for an environmental justice group on the Gulf Coast. Participants will have a chance to learn more about the powerful potential for data rights to upend systems of harm across social justice issues.

Build data rights into advocacy: Principles and stories from the field

Katya Abazajian

This session will guide nonprofits through the essential process of conducting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) audit. Activities will uncover hidden biases in the language and imagery often used in organizational materials. Participants will also learn how to craft and/or revise authentic DEI statements and develop a concrete, actionable roadmap that holds their organization accountable for meaningful, ongoing progress. By examining real-world examples and using proven methodologies, attendees will leave equipped to drive equity and inclusion in all aspects of their nonprofit’s work.

Building Equity: Conducting a DEI Audit for Meaningful Change in Your Nonprofit

With artificial intelligence becoming an increasingly important tool for nonprofits, it’s critical to ensure that these tools are implemented responsibly and efficiently. This session will introduce participants to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAGs), a cutting-edge AI framework that combines data retrieval with content generation to create more accurate, context-aware outputs that provide an added layer of data security. You’ll learn how RAGs are integrated in lay terms, and the options available for their application to refine AI-generated content, prevent misinformation, keep the ownership of your organization&#39;s data in your hands, and improve the efficiency of your nonprofit’s communications, research, and operations when using an AI that has a RAG system integrated. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to apply RAGs to your own organization’s use of AI and ensure AI-generated content remains accurate, secure, and mission-aligned. Additionally, all attendees will receive practical resources that can be used to implement these strategies within their own organizations, empowering them to refine and optimize AI workflows.

Can Retrieval-Augmented Generation improve your nonprofit's relationship to data

Kathleen Daniels

How can technologists challenge oppressive systems and create a future rooted in liberation? This session will explore how technologists, nonprofit professionals, and social impact leaders can infuse abolitionist thought into their roles, emphasizing the importance of equity, responsibility, and justice in the design and deployment of technology. We&#39;ll dive into the dangers of carceral logics—punitive, control-driven approaches embedded in tech systems—and explore how technologists can disrupt these harmful patterns through radical imagination and liberation-centered practices. Liberatory Innovation will serve as the core framework, highlighting how we can transform tech into a tool for positive systemic change. Attendees will learn strategies for promoting equity, fostering responsibility, and advancing justice through their work. This session isn&#39;t just theoretical—it’s designed to give attendees tangible tools. Radical imagination will be our guide for rethinking and reworking tech systems. Participants will learn how to imagine beyond the existing frameworks and envision tech that liberates rather than oppresses through a series of engaging, fun, and interactive exercises.

Carceral logics and radical imagination: A technologist's path toward abolition

Nick Okafor

In an environment where reproductive rights are under attack in the US and globally, centering clear expression of data while undertaking an organizational rebrand positioned the Guttmacher Institute to fight back with facts. In this session, Claire Taylor Hansen, co-director and creative director at Big Duck (a worker-owned cooperative and nonprofit communications firm), and Jennifer Hoffmann, Principal Digital Strategist at the Guttmacher Institute (a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide), will share a behind-the-scenes look at how data informed nearly every aspect of their rebrand, including their tagline and brand assets, digital strategy, and of course approach to data display and visualization. In addition, they will bring this case study to life by demonstrating how to strengthen your own nonprofit’s brand through leveraging  accessible data and information, and share tools and tactics you can use to more accurately and effectively communicate your own data for impact.