Great Lakes Nonprofit Alliance · Annual Conference

Great Lakes 2027

April 23–25, 2027 · Friday to SundayLakeshore Conference Center · Milwaukee, WI
Attendee Full conference · Awards dinner
Latest update · Sat 9:40 AM

Room change: Membership workshop

The 10:30 membership workshop has moved from Room 206 to Ballroom B (Level 2) to make room for more attendees.

At a glance
Saturday highlights
Opening keynoteGrand Ballroom · Dr. Renée Castillo
Breakout sessionsThree tracks · see Agenda
Lunch with exhibitorsExhibit Hall
Awards dinnerGrand Ballroom · ticketed
Tracks

Leadership

Fundraising

Operations

Tap ★ on any session to build your own schedule.

Agenda

Tap a session for details. Tap ★ to add it to My schedule.

12:00
Registration & badge pickupMain lobby · Level 1
Pick up your badge and lanyard at the registration desk. Have your confirmation email handy; your name is all we need.
1:30
Opening general sessionGrand Ballroom · Level 2Welcome from the board chair
Welcome, housekeeping, and a look at the weekend ahead. Doors open at 1:15.
2:30
Leading through change without burning out your teamBallroom A · Level 2Marcus BellLeadership
Practical ways to pace big organizational changes, protect staff capacity, and keep your board aligned.
2:30
Year-end giving: a 90-day planBallroom B · Level 2Priya NatarajanFundraising
A week-by-week plan for your strongest giving season, with templates you can use on Monday.
2:30
Budgeting for small shopsRoom 204 · Level 2Tom KowalskiOperations
A simple budgeting rhythm for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
4:00
Exhibit Hall opensExhibit Hall · Level 3
Meet sponsors and exhibitors. Coffee and snacks served until 5:30.
6:00
Welcome receptionLakeview Terrace · Level 3All attendees
Light bites and drinks overlooking the lake, sponsored by Northshore Community Bank.
8:00
Breakfast & networkingExhibit Hall · Level 3
Hot breakfast with table topics by interest area.
9:00
Opening keynote: The next decade of community workGrand Ballroom · Level 2Dr. Renée Castillo
What changing demographics, funding trends, and technology mean for community organizations over the next ten years.
10:30
Board development that actually worksBallroom A · Level 2Aisha MensahLeadership
How to recruit, onboard, and keep engaged board members, with real examples from mid-size nonprofits.
10:30
Membership workshop: growing and keeping membersBallroom B · Level 2Linda BrennanFundraising
Hands-on workshop on membership tiers, renewals, and win-back campaigns. Bring your current renewal letter.
10:30
Volunteer programs that scaleRoom 204 · Level 2Javier OrtizOperations
Recruiting, scheduling, and recognizing volunteers without adding staff.
12:00
Lunch with exhibitorsExhibit Hall · Level 3
Buffet lunch. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are labeled; ask any server about allergies.
1:30
Panel: Collaborating across organizationsBallroom B · Level 2Castillo, Bell, Mensah, Ortiz
Four leaders on shared services, joint grants, and when a merger makes sense.
3:00
Coaching emerging leadersBallroom A · Level 2Marcus BellLeadership
A peer-coaching model you can run in-house, with a starter guide.
3:00
Grant writing clinicRoom 206 · Level 2Priya NatarajanFundraising
Bring a draft. Small-group feedback on your needs statement and outcomes.
3:00
Data you already haveRoom 204 · Level 2Daniel ChoOperations
Turn the spreadsheets you already keep into a one-page dashboard for your board.
6:00
Awards dinnerGrand Ballroom · Level 2Ticketed · business attire
Annual Community Impact Awards. Doors at 5:45; table numbers are on the back of your badge.
8:30
Coffee & roundtablesExhibit Hall · Level 3
Pick a table topic and join the conversation.
9:30
Storytelling for impactBallroom A · Level 2Linda BrennanFundraising
Turning program results into stories donors remember.
9:30
Tech on a nonprofit budgetRoom 204 · Level 2Daniel ChoOperations
The tools worth paying for, the free ones that are good enough, and how to decide.
11:00
Closing keynote & farewellGrand Ballroom · Level 2Aisha Mensah
Takeaways from the weekend and a first look at Great Lakes 2028.

Speakers

Tap a speaker for their bio and sessions.

RCDr. Renée CastilloOpening keynote

Researcher and author on community organizations and demographic change. Former executive director of a regional community foundation.

Opening keynote: The next decade of community work
Sat 9:00 · Grand Ballroom · Level 2

Panel: Collaborating across organizations
Sat 1:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

MBMarcus BellLeadership track

Executive coach who has guided more than 60 nonprofit leaders through restructures, mergers, and growth.

Leading through change without burning out your team
Fri 2:30 · Ballroom A · Level 2

Panel: Collaborating across organizations
Sat 1:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

Coaching emerging leaders
Sat 3:00 · Ballroom A · Level 2

PNPriya NatarajanFundraising track

Development director with 15 years of experience in annual giving and foundation grants.

Year-end giving: a 90-day plan
Fri 2:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

Grant writing clinic
Sat 3:00 · Room 206 · Level 2

AMAisha MensahClosing keynote

Board governance consultant and past board chair of three statewide associations.

Board development that actually works
Sat 10:30 · Ballroom A · Level 2

Panel: Collaborating across organizations
Sat 1:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

Closing keynote & farewell
Sun 11:00 · Grand Ballroom · Level 2

LBLinda BrennanFundraising track

Membership strategist who helped double renewal rates at two regional associations.

Membership workshop: growing and keeping members
Sat 10:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

Storytelling for impact
Sun 9:30 · Ballroom A · Level 2

JOJavier OrtizOperations track

Runs a volunteer program of 900+ people across four counties.

Volunteer programs that scale
Sat 10:30 · Room 204 · Level 2

Panel: Collaborating across organizations
Sat 1:30 · Ballroom B · Level 2

TKTom KowalskiOperations track

Finance lead for small and mid-size nonprofits; focuses on simple, board-ready budgets.

Budgeting for small shops
Fri 2:30 · Room 204 · Level 2

DCDaniel ChoOperations track

Data and technology advisor for community organizations.

Data you already have
Sat 3:00 · Room 204 · Level 2

Tech on a nonprofit budget
Sun 9:30 · Room 204 · Level 2

Rooms & map

Lakeshore Conference Center · elevators and stairs are next to registration on every level.

Exhibit Hall & terrace

Level 3
Exhibit Hall · sponsors & meals
Lakeview Terrace

Ballrooms & breakouts

Level 2
Grand Ballroom
Ballroom A
Ballroom B
Room 204
Room 206
Speaker green room

Arrival

Level 1
Registration & lobby
Coat check
Quiet room
Getting here

Lakeshore Conference Center

Downtown Milwaukee, on the lakefront. Enter from the main plaza; registration is straight ahead.

Parking
Attached garage · $14/day
Airport
MKE · about 15 minutes
Transit
Streetcar stop at the plaza

Open in Maps

Sponsors

Great Lakes 2027 is made possible by these partners. Visit them in the Exhibit Hall.

Presenting sponsor
NB

Northshore Community Bank

Proud to support community organizations across the Great Lakes region.

Gold sponsors
BF

Brightpath Foundation

Grants for capacity building and leadership development.

LP

Lakeview Health Partners

Community health programs in 12 counties.

Silver sponsors
MP

Meridian Payroll

Payroll and HR for small nonprofits.

KC

Keystone Print Co.

Printing for events, mailers, and annual reports.

HS

Harbor Tech Solutions

IT support and cybersecurity for mission-driven teams.

Exhibitors
Booth 1 · Cedar Grant SoftwareExhibit Hall · Level 3
Booth 2 · Evergreen Insurance GroupExhibit Hall · Level 3
Booth 3 · Community Legal Aid NetworkExhibit Hall · Level 3
Booth 4 · Riverstone Fundraising ConsultantsExhibit Hall · Level 3
Booth 5 · Northside PrintingExhibit Hall · Level 3
Booth 6 · Lakes Volunteer HubExhibit Hall · Level 3

Attendee info

Everything else you might need this weekend.

Wi-Fi

Network: GL2027-Guest
Password: lakes2027

Badges & registration

Pick up your badge in the main lobby (Level 1). Wear it at all times; it gets you into sessions, meals, and the reception. Awards dinner table numbers are on the back.

Hotel

The Harborview Hotel is a 2-minute walk across the plaza. Group rate $179/night with code GL27, available until March 31.

Meals

Breakfast and lunch are included Friday through Sunday. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are labeled. Let the registration desk know about any allergies.

Accessibility

All levels are reachable by elevator. Reserved seating is at the front of every room. The quiet room on Level 1 is open all day.

Code of conduct

We are committed to a respectful, welcoming conference. If you experience or witness a problem, talk to any volunteer in a green lanyard or the registration desk.

Questions during the event

Visit the registration desk on Level 1, or find a volunteer in a green lanyard.

Updates

Room changes, reminders, and news from the organizers.

Newest first
Room change: Membership workshopupdate

The 10:30 membership workshop has moved from Room 206 to Ballroom B (Level 2) to make room for more attendees.

Posted Sat 9:40 AM
Awards dinner seatinginfo

Your table number is printed on the back of your badge. Doors open at 5:45 PM.

Posted Sat 8:05 AM
Thank you, volunteers!note

Our 22 volunteers are wearing green lanyards. Find one if you need anything at all.

Posted Fri 5:15 PM
Slides are on the wayinfo

Friday session slides will be emailed to all attendees tonight. Saturday slides will follow on Sunday.

Posted Fri 4:30 PM