Rochester Nonprofit Consortium

Collaboration That Works: Turning Partnerships into Real Impact
2026-06-24 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Most nonprofit leaders know collaboration is important, but actually making it work can be challenging. In this engaging two-hour session with Julie Ruzek, Executive Director of Cradle 2 Career and expert at nonprofit and cross-sector collaboration, we’ll explore what makes partnerships succeed… and what tends to get in the way! Together, we’ll look at a few simple ideas about how collaboration works and then practice tools you can use right away to build stronger relationships, align around shared goals, and move from good intentions to real progress. Expect a mix of practical ideas, conversation, and hands-on activities designed to make collaboration feel a little easier and a lot more effective!

July Executive Director Convo
2026-07-08 08:00 - 09:00 | Parlor Doughnuts, 1001 6th St NW, Rochester, 55901, United States
Join your Executive Director colleagues for networking, support, and shared resources in a casual, no agenda atmosphere. Discussions are often enjoyed with beverages and a light breakfast.

August Executive Director Convo
2026-08-12 15:30 - 16:30 | Forager Brewery, 1005 6th St NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Join your Executive Director colleagues for networking, support, and shared resources in a casual, no agenda atmosphere. Discussions are often enjoyed with beverages and light appetizers.

Ready, Fire, Aim? Succession Planning for Nonprofit Leaders
2026-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Most nonprofit leaders know succession planning matters. Many haven’t done it yet.
Join us for an interactive 60-minute lunch session on one of the most important — and often most deferred — topics in nonprofit leadership. Jeff Leschensky of Working Strategies™ will guide participants through a practical framework for understanding the three types of succession planning, an honest look at why organizations keep putting it off, and two tools they can bring back to their organizations immediately.
What you will learn:
1. The three types of succession planning and where your organization should start
2. Why succession planning keeps getting deferred — and how to break through
3. Two practical tools you can put to work right away
Who should attend: Executive Directors, board members, and senior staff from Rochester Nonprofit Consortium member organizations. Space is limited, RSVP required.
Jeff Leschensky, MA is a consultant and nonprofit founder with over 35 years of experience spanning executive leadership, fund development, and higher education. He has worked across the nonprofit sector as a practitioner, consultant, and educator — giving him a distinctly broad perspective on how organizations thrive and stall. As Strategic Partner with Working Strategies™, Jeff combines hands-on operational experience with academic rigor. He holds a Master’s degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He later joined their faculty, spending 12 years teaching and overseeing research design and final approval for over 100 thesis projects.

September Executive Director Convo
2026-09-09 08:00 - 09:00 | Parlor Doughnuts, 1001 6th St NW, Rochester, 55901, United States

Peer Learning Cohort: Communications for Impact
2026-09-10 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-10-08 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-11-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-12-10 08:00 - 10:00, 2027-01-07 08:00 - 10:00 | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Strategic Communications for Nonprofit Organizations
Share your organization’s story and grow your impact.
Join a cohort of peers in interactive workshops designed to deepen your understanding of nonprofit communications strategy and execution so you can drive greater impact for your organization.
Across five sessions facilitated by Megan Malugani of Malugani Communications alongside guest experts, you’ll explore real-world communications challenges and best practices, share insights with fellow participants, and engage in practical exercises to strengthen your skills.
This cohort is open to a wide range of nonprofit professionals whose work partially or fully includes communications, marketing, branding, or stakeholder engagement. Topics may include: storytelling for impact, tailoring content to different audiences, navigating politics while staying authentic and retaining support, cost- and time-saving solutions, media relations, and more.
The cohort will be limited to 15 people. Registration is required: https://form.jotform.com/260765360950157
Dates: September 2026 – January 2027

Virtual Briefing Watch Party & Roundtable Discussion
2026-09-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
The Rochester Nonprofit Consortium is organizing a “Watch Party” and Roundtable Discussion for the virtual briefing, “Recovering from the Policy-Based Disaster of Federal Immigration Policy” hosted by the Minnesota Council of Foundations (MCF)’s Disaster Philanthropy Working Group. We invite leaders from the community to come together and watch the briefing (10:00-11:30am), which will be immediately followed by a facilitated discussion about how best to support resilience and recovery in our community (11:30am-1:00pm).
*Participants are welcome to join for all or part of the time. Lunch will be provided, RSVPs are encouraged and appreciated.
From MCF’s event page:
MCF’s Disaster Philanthropy Working Group is responding to a human-made disaster related to federal immigration policy. The impacts of these policies are both deep and wide-spread and are affecting the state on both the individual and community levels. The impacts to the economy, social trust, and faith in our institutions appear to be both significant and long lasting. A virtual briefing is being organized to discuss the needs and the possible strategies for community recovery and improved resilience.
In organizing this briefing, MCF is consulting with the Hummingly Foundation, which provides resources and workshops that recognize recovery from a disaster, crisis, or trauma isn’t only about physical rebuilding, but is also really about community wellbeing and resilience. The organization provides ‘education and resources to make recovery more human – helping both communities and their supporters navigate the emotional, social, and practical challenges ahead.’
Hummingly’s focus is on ‘sustaining the supporters’ and those on the front lines and making sure they have the tools and resources to recover and continue to engage in the work.

Ready to Lead Fall 2026
2026-09-23 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-10-07 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-10-21 16:30 - 19:30, 2026-11-04 16:30 - 19:30 | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Ready to Lead seeks to support and engage historically under-represented people who wish to serve on nonprofit/government boards, committees, task forces, commissions, and other work groups. We seek to increase both the diversity of skilled people ready to serve and the inclusiveness of organizations who deliver services in the community.
There are two cohorts of Ready to Lead each year, in the fall and in the spring, with the Fall 2026 beginning on September 23rd. There is limited space in each cohort. Please apply for the upcoming Fall 2026 cohort at https://form.jotform.com/241775303652052.

From Overextended to Intentional: Creating Sustainable Ways of Working & Living
2026-09-29 12:00 - 13:30 | Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
Nonprofit professionals are deeply committed to serving their communities, often balancing competing priorities, limited resources, and a strong sense of purpose. Over time, these demands can lead to overextension, making it challenging to sustain the energy, focus, and wellbeing needed to thrive both personally and professionally.
Join us for this 90-minute interactive session designed to help participants pause, reflect, and reimagine what sustainable ways of working can look like in today’s nonprofit environment. Through practical tools, guided reflection, and meaningful table discussions, we will explore the factors contributing to overwhelm, examine our relationship with work and service, and identify strategies for creating greater clarity, boundaries, and alignment.
Participants will leave with actionable practices and a personalized plan to support their wellbeing, strengthen their impact, and continue contributing to the communities they serve, without sacrificing themselves in the process. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
1. Recognize common patterns of overextension experienced by helping professionals,
2. Assess your current energy levels and identify key sources of depletion and renewal,
3. Apply practical wellbeing strategies that support sustainable ways of working,
4. Reflect on how belonging, support, and workplace culture influence individual and team wellbeing,
5. And commit to one meaningful action that supports your personal and professional sustainability.

Amrita Prakaashana, MEd, DipAdEd
Amrita (um-rit-ta) Prakaashana (she/her) is the Founder, Coach, and Consultant at Artria Consulting, LLC and the Clarity and Connection Circle™ (a free online community). She partners with high-achieving individuals in healthcare, nonprofit, and caregiving professions to navigate career and life transitions with clarity, confidence, sustainable well-being, and joy, while caring for others.
In addition to her coaching practice, Amrita serves as the Director of Well-Being and Belonging – Nursing within a large non-profit healthcare organization. She brings more than 15 years of experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), well-being, leadership development, adult learning, and organizational culture. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside healthcare professionals, non-profit leaders, and community-serving organizations to create environments where people feel valued, connected, and empowered to thrive.
Amrita holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development and Adult Education. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, she is also an artist and community education instructor. Working with a variety of metals and mixed materials, her creative practice reflects her belief that reflection, connection, creativity, and self-expression are essential to individual identity, growth, belonging, and thriving communities.

Southern Minnesota Nonprofit Conference
2026-10-06 09:00 - 15:00 | Rochester International Event Center, 7333 Airport View Drive SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, United States
Mark your calendar for CLA’s Southern Minnesota Nonprofit Conference. Join us for a day designed to connect and inform nonprofit leaders and professionals.
Fee:
$40 for non-Consortium members
Free for Consortium members (contact mkelley@rochesterarea.org for discount code)
Click here to register.

October Executive Director Convo
2026-10-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Forager Brewery, 1005 6th St NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States

November Executive Director Convo
2026-11-11 08:00 - 09:00 | Parlor Doughnuts, 1001 6th St NW, Rochester, 55901, United States

December Executive Director Convo
2026-12-09 15:30 - 16:30 | Forager Brewery, 1005 6th St NW, Rochester, MN, 55901, United States
