What can we learn from the last decade of historic political fundraising, executed mostly by donors giving single digit figures? Why are 501(c)3 nonprofits afraid to engage in advocacy and raise money to support it? Are the donors really out there for this kind of thing? This session will delve into these issues and more. We will set fundraisers and their executive directors, finance staff and board members up (register in a team for a better experience) for deep inquiry into what political values and broken systems you can creatively engage with to achieve your vision.

Speakers
Hamse Warfa, Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development for Minnesota, who has worked at the intersection of community, philanthropy, and politics/public policy. He is an holistic education and workforce development advocate, and questioner of the absurd.


Representative Fue Lee is a Hmong American community organizer and activist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the state Representative for House District 59A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Elected in 2016, Lee is the first person of color and of Asian descent to represent that district in the Minnesota House. Assistant Majority Leader, Minnesota State House of Representatives, 2019-present.


Matt Musel is Director of Major and Planned Gifts at Saint Mary’s University. Prior to this position, Matt served as co-leader for the Masters of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) program at Metropolitan State University. Matt coaches and leads political campaigns and will share experience fundraising in the LGBT community for political wins. Matt focused on major donors who added policy to their regular giving priorities to make marriage equality happen.

Rhonda Otteson, is the Executive Director for Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. Previously, Rhonda spent almost ten years working at Heartland Community Action Agency where she oversaw state and federal housing programs. Now leading a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Rhonda is both a registered lobbyist and oversees the necessary fundraising work of her organization. She will share how it’s possible, and legal, to do both.