Funding pressure, workforce constraints, and rising compliance demands are reshaping the sector. Add increasing service expectations and rapid technological change, and the path forward isn’t always clear. Understand what’s changing and where risks and opportunities are emerging, along with how to adapt and strengthen financial resilience.  

Cathy Yen, MA, MBA, CCLP, Founder | The Nonprofit Planner

Clarify how donor-restricted, board-designated (quasi), and other endowments function and how they flow through financial reporting. Walk through a practical framework for tracking contributions, investment returns, and spending. Explore core investment policy considerations, allocation approaches, and governance questions to help mitigate risk.

David Robydek, MBA, Principal | CLA
Melissa Struck, CPA, Nonprofit Principal | CLA

Get up to speed on recent tax legislation and IRS activity impacting tax-exempt organizations. Review key audit focus areas, including the reinstatement of group rulings, recent court cases, and charitable contribution changes, and what those developments mean for compliance.

Emily Beckerman, CPA, Senior Manager, Exempt Organizations | EY
Katherine Kurtzman, CPA, Managing Director | EY

Strengthen your approach to governance, investment policy, and reserve strategies in times of market volatility. Support more disciplined decision-making, protect liquidity, and navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.

Matthew Babiash, CPA, FRM, Senior Research Analyst, Marketable Alternatives | Fiducient

State regulators play a critical role in charitable oversight. Review current enforcement trends, priorities, and initiatives across jurisdictions—and what they mean for compliance, risk, and day-to-day operations.

Beth Short, Charitable Organizations | Ohio Attorney General's Office
Kristin Louis, JD, Bureau Chief, Charitable Trust Bureau | Illinois Attorney General

Clear financial communication is critical to effective board oversight. Review real-world examples, common breakdowns, and tips and tricks that lead to stronger understanding and better decision-making.

Kandace Lenti, President and Managing Director, Government, Not-for-Profit, Healthcare, and Education Banking | Wintrust

AI adoption is accelerating, but many organizations are still working through how to do it responsibly. Explore how to approach AI with clear governance and data considerations, along with practical use cases that improve efficiency without compromising mission integrity.

Ray Beste, Principal AI Strategist | Sikich

Many professionals are interested in AI but are stuck at surface-level use. Cut through the hype to see where AI is delivering real value in not-for-profit accounting and finance and how to apply the appropriate guardrails and move from experimentation to more confident use.

Moderator:
Ray Beste, Principal AI Strategist | Sikich

Panelists:
Zach Bernstein, AI Consulting Lead | Crowe
Jordan Fladell, Partner, Technology Advisory Services | Aprio
Alice Locatelli, Chief Experience Officer | Society of Actuaries

Demystify the strategic, financial, and accounting dimensions of refinancing in the not-for-profit world. Understand when refinancing makes sense, how it’s accounted for under ASC 470, and required disclosures, along with real-world case studies that highlight both successful outcomes and cautionary tales.

Laura Hanssel, CPA, Chief Financial Officer | Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Lanita Higgs-Jackson, MBA, Chief Financial Officer | Pillars Community Health
Lindsay Wall, MPP, Managing Director and Partner | Grant Thornton
Dianne Wasieleski, Partner | Grant Thornton

Understand how the Department of Justice’s expanded domestic terrorism enforcement framework may impact tax-exempt organizations and their donors. Review the statutory authority under Section 501(p), including how tax-exempt status can be suspended, and explore key legal risks and considerations for those operating in politically sensitive environments.

Guinevere Moore, JD, Managing Member | Moore Tax Law Group LLC

Sustaining mission impact requires adapting to funding shifts, regulatory change, and evolving community needs. Explore practical approaches to leadership, resource management, and innovation to help your organization remain strong through uncertainty. Gain tools to assess vulnerabilities, engage stakeholders, and support long-term sustainability.

Theresa Valade, CEO | Success Trek

Sponsorship and advertising arrangements can be easy to misclassify. Review common scenarios and how not-for-profit organizations should account for them.

John Alfonso, Partner, Not-for-Profit and Education Industry Leader | CohnReznick
Franya Esquivel, Director | CohnReznick

Session description coming soon!

Nassim Abdi, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder | STORYBOLT