Nonprofit leaders, staff, volunteers and board members will gather to develop their skills. The conference features 15 workshops include sessions focused on strategic planning, fundraising, human resources and more. There is also opening and closing keynote speakers, the presentation of the U.P. Service Awards and networking time.

Opening Keynote - Kyle Caldwell, Executive Director, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy 

Kyle Caldwell is the executive director of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, one of the nation’s largest centers for philanthropy, at Grand Valley State University.

Caldwell has led organizations in government, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. He has taken on leadershiproles in developing strategies and program initiatives that strengthen the philanthropic sector. Most recently, he served as the Director for the Pathways to Opportunity Program at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Caldwell serves on national boards including Points of Light, Independent Sector, and recently he was chair of the National Council of Nonprofits. In Michigan, Caldwell serves as a member of the Michigan Community Service Commission.

Closing Keynote - Matthew Downey, Program Director for Nonprofit Services, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy

Matthew serves as Grand Valley State University Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy Program Directorfor Nonprofit Services. His 23 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a consultant, program manager, and development officer support his role in overseeing the center’s technical assistance and capacity building services for nonprofit organizations. In this capacity he frequently speaks and instructs on a range of nonprofit management issues, including his presentation on effective strategies for managing small nonprofit boards at the 2013 Boardsource Leadership Forum.