Chaffee County Community Foundation

Thank you to everyone that was able to join our 2024 community Summit! We look forward to seeing you again in 2025.

The Summit

Learning and connecting opportunity for nonprofit professionals with special perks and prizes throughout the day. Open to nonprofit and community agency leaders from the Arkansas River Valley and surrounding regions.

Early Bird Pricing ends April 5.

agenda 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

8:00 am Registration & Breakfast

8:30 am Welcoming Keynote: Making Space for Change with Denise Ackert

Embracing change can be challenging but necessary work. We will explore the significance of creating an environment conducive to change through cultivating resilience, embracing discomfort, creating space for reflection, and empowering action.

9:30 am    Breakout Sessions

• Resource Development Track: Building Your Grant Package with Andrea Coen and Sandy Visnack

• Empowering People Track: Volunteer Engagement with TJ McDaniel

10:45 am Breakout Sessions

• Resource Development Track: Strengthening Your Online Presence with Jordan Brown and Shelley Schreiner

• Empowering People Track: Setting Your Board Up for Success with Lezlie Burkley

11:45 am  Lunch & Collaboration Session: Increasing Your Impact with Inclusivity with Denise Ackert

Join us for a collaborative workshop where we will create plans towards equity in action. This workshop invites participants to explore the multifaceted landscape of inclusivity, offering practical strategies and insights to foster a culture of diversity and belonging in our communities. 

1:15 pm   Business/Nonprofit Partnerships: Corporate Partner Showcase

• Lane Wilson & Stephanie Perko, Oveja Negra

• Robin Nejame, Community Outreach Director, High Country Bank

2:00 pm   Aligning Your Impact with Funder Priorities: Panel and Small Group Connections

• El Pomar Foundation: Erica Oakley-Courage, Associate Vice President of Grants

• The Colorado Trust: Robert Foley, Grants Program Director

• Freeport McMoran Foundation: Nell Wareham, Manager, Social Performance

• The Colorado Health Foundation: Avondine Couzelis-Hill, Program Officer

1:15-3:15 pm New track added: Nonprofit Board Member Training with Andrea Schwartz-Dulaney. Designed specifically for current board members, this training will focus on developing an understanding of board member roles and fiduciary duties, board governance, engaging the entire board, and more.

3:15 pm   Closing and Social Hour

speakers

Denise Ackert (keynote), Director of the Mindfulness in the Jail Program (MJP) at Chaffee County Detention Center in the 11th Judicial District. She provides mindfulness and communication training to organizations, businesses throughout central Colorado. Denise is trained to deliver the Path of Freedom curriculum (a Mindfulness-based Emotional Intelligence program for inmates), Mindful Schools programs, and Parenting education programs. She leads meditation classes and retreats in Salida, CO and throughout the West.

Andrea Coen, Executive Director of Guidestone Colorado. For over 30 years, Andrea’s professional background has been in the experiential education nonprofit sector, working with schools, nonprofits, outdoor and agriculture education centers, farms and wilderness programs.

Andrea Schwartz-Dulaney is a non-profit consultant specializing in Executive Director coaching, board of directors development and strategic planning. With over 15 years of non-profit experience, 9 of which as an Executive Director for a national organization, Andrea has a wealth of non-profit leadership experience. She also serves as the board chair of the Cottonwood Institute and a board member of the Ark Valley Preschool. Her passion is working with NPO leaders to help them realize efficiencies and success in their roles. Andrea is a full-time resident of Salida, CO with her 2 year old son and husband.

Jordan Brown, Nonprofit Success Manager at Colorado Gives Foundation. Jordan brings over a decade of marketing, sales and partnership experience helping nonprofits make the most of online giving platforms.

Lezlie Burkley, Foundation Director at HRRMC Foundation. Lezlie’s career includes marketing & public relations manager, strategic development, and board facilitation. She was appointed to the first Chaffee County Boys & Girls Club Board in 2004 and also served on or worked with the boards of Chaffee 2020, Chaffee Housing Trust, and Chaffee County Early Childhood Council. Lezlie served on Salida School Board from 2005 – 2013 and the Colorado School Board Association Directors from 2008-2013. During this time she became a trainer and facilitator of school boards in Colorado.

Sandy Visnack, Executive Director of The Center Foundation. Sandy is a nonprofit consultant, grant writer, and strategic planner. With an executive career that spans over two decades, Sandy delights in helping nonprofits cultivate resources to meet their financial and strategic goals.

Shelley Schreiner, Executive Director of The Alliance which empowers individuals beyond intimate partner and sexual violence through services, education, and social change. She has her Bachelors in Contemplative Psychology from Naropa University and her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She has worked in nonprofit organizations for more than 20 years.

T.J. McDaniel, Farm Manager and Director at Colorado Farm to Table. T.J. has spent most of his life working on farms from his family farm in Kansas to commercial farms and large market farm until joining Colorado Farm to Table in 2014. T.J. was drawn to Colorado Farm to Table's unique farming and hunger relief mission and enjoys managing their robust volunteer program.

sponsors

Thank you to our generous sponsors for making the Summit affordable for our nonprofit leaders. Your sponsorship invests in the entire nonprofit sector by connecting our leaders with support, knowledge, skills and connection that will help their organizations all year long.

Click Here for a list of Sponsorship Opportunities.

Please contact Betsy@chaffeecommunity.org or 719-204-4565 if you are interested in sponsoring.