Event Details
Join us to discuss fundraising in an election year, what effects or impact does the upcoming election have on your nonprofit organization’s fundraising strategies both pre-and post-election? How will the election effect your fundraising goals and how do you plan around the uncertainty? Hear from expert panelists in the field and join in on the discussion.
Speakers
Moderator:
May Yang, Senior Manager, Policy and Partnerships, Minnesota Council on Foundations
May enjoys bringing people together to harness collective power and drive change. May’s work as Senior Manager of Policy and Partnerships at the Minnesota Council on Foundations has been focused on advancing equity supported by her experiences anchored in education, community engagement, and policy development. Her career began in working with youth on storytelling projects in refugee and immigrant communities and she continued to support students from diverse and first generation backgrounds at the college level through her roles as a researcher and advisor.
Prior to MCF, May directed statewide advocacy efforts and policy initiatives focused on closing the opportunity gap in Minnesota. This included issue-based community organizing and establishing support for basic needs through organizational policies and legislation. May joined MCF in 2021 to lead the organization's work in community-based redistricting and continues to lead efforts to strengthen democratic systems and participation. In addition to her work, she is passionate about animal welfare and volunteers with a local small animal rescue organization. And In her free time, May enjoys cycling, video games, and reading.
Panelists:
Courtney Backen, Director, Community and Capacity Development, GiveMN
Courtney is a St. Paul-based fundraiser with a decade of experience raising money for causes including environmental protection, public libraries, public radio, and human services. She is currently President-Elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals - MN and, in 2020, helped co-found the Minnesota movement of Community Centric Fundraising.
As Director of Community & Capacity Development at GiveMN, Courtney leads the charge on Minnesota’s annual giving holiday, Give to the Max Day, and is passionate about creating fundraising education opportunities that are accessible, meaningful, and rooted in fundraiser wellbeing.
Outside of work, Courtney loves Costco, staying at home, knitting, and doing DIY projects. She’s the oldest of three siblings (which means she’s responsible and organized) and tries to spend as much time as possible with her family in Daegu, Korea.
Sarah Henely, Development Director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Sarah is a dedicated and dynamic fundraiser in the Twin Cities community, serving as Director of Development at Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Prior to her role at Immigrant Law Center of MN, Sarah led and advanced individual giving efforts for YWCA Minneapolis, the Center for Victims of Torture, Scholarship America and Animal Humane Society. With over sixteen years of development experience, Sarah is a skilled relationship manager, data-driven decision maker and compelling communicator.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Science and a minor in Social Justice from University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Sarah quickly fell in love with fundraising after landing a data entry position at Animal Humane Society. In that first year of her professional life, she realized her writing skills, strategic mind, affinity for listening to people’s stories, and passion for service were useful all at once.
Sarah has been an active community volunteer, serving for seven years on the Association of Fundraising Professionals – MN Chapter board of directors and earlier in her career, on the Minnesota Zoo Foundation Young Professionals Group board of directors.
Joe Thiegs, President and Owner, Generoworks, LLC
Joe is President and owner of the consulting firm Generoworks LLC (generoworks.com), specializing in planned giving, values-based estate planning, and family philanthropic advising. Among his roles as a consultant, Joe is a Vice President and representative of Thompson & Associates. Until making consulting his full-time occupation in 2019, Joe was the Planned Giving Director at Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to that, he worked as Associate Director of Advancement at the University of Minnesota Law School, as a Planned Giving Officer at the University of Minnesota Foundation, and as an estate planning attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Minneapolis.
Joe is a regular presenter for Minnesota Gift Planning Association (MGPA) and other organizations, including several years as presenter of A Brisk Walk Through the Basics. Joe has been involved with MGPA since 2005, and previously served two terms on the Board of Directors from 2008-13. He’s been a member of the Conference Committee (Sponsorship Chair), Finance Committee (Chair and MGPA Treasurer), Membership Committee (Chair), Brisk Walk Committee, and currently the Hargroves Mentorship Program (Co-Chair). Joe serves as the national Planned Giving Advisor for Greater Public and facilitator of its Legacy Leaders cohort. Joe served for several years on the Governing Council and the Legislation Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Probate & Trust Law Section, and was a member of the MSBA joint Task Force evaluating and making recommendations for adoption of Minnesota’s version of UPMIFA. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and Sociology (Thesis with Distinction) from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and his J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Joe loves people, music, cooking, wine and beer, sports (especially college football and basketball), reading, learning, camping and hiking, photography, cards and other games, humor, spending time with his family, and anything having to do with being on the water.
Agenda
Virtually via Zoom:
8:30am – 10:00am
Zoom Link: Included in your event registration and sent via email prior to event date
In-Person:
8:00am – Event Check-in
8:30am – 10:00am – Program
In-Person Location Address:
Greater Twin Cities United Way
404 S 8th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55404