Not-for-profit organizations are facing tightening funding, workforce strain, growing compliance demands, and rapid technological change, all while service demands increase. Analyze the forces reshaping the sector, discuss emerging risks and opportunities, and walk away with practical strategies to help organizations strengthen their financial resilience in a rapidly evolving environment.

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

Learn a practical approach for distinguishing donor-restricted endowments, board-designated (quasi) endowments, and other funds functioning as endowments. Walk through a simple framework to trace contributions, investment return, and appropriations/spending and connect those flows to common not-for-profit accounting and financial reporting outputs. Explore core investment policy elements, allocation approaches across multiple pools, and key governance questions to ask to mitigate risk. 

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

Receive an update on recent tax legislation and the impact on tax exempt organizations. Examine the latest findings related to ongoing IRS audit issues, including the reinstatement of group rulings, recent court cases, changes to charitable contributions, and other ongoing issues. 

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

Market volatility can pressure not-for-profit reserves and complicate financial decisions. Gain practical guidance on strengthening investment policy, governance, and reserve strategy to support disciplined decision‑making, protect liquidity, and navigate market uncertainty with confidence.  

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

State regulators play a critical role in charitable oversight, yet their impact is often underestimated. Discuss the themes, projects, and enforcement actions taking place in state offices across the country and the implications for charities and practitioners alike. 

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

Through real-world examples, dive into the best practices for communicating financial information to board members, including the consequences of not communicating effectively and tips and tricks for improvement. Discuss what's working and what's not with peers who are encountering similar dynamics and can relate.

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

Explore how AI can be adopted responsibly by grounding initiatives in clear governance around data and practical operational use cases. Learn to evaluate AI opportunities through a risk-aware lens, establish guardrails for ethical and compliant use, and apply AI to improve efficiency without compromising mission integrity. 

Speaker:
Ray Beste, Principal AI Strategist | Sikich

Many not-for-profit leaders are excited about AI, but stuck at surface-level tools like Copilot, unsure how to move forward without increasing risk. Cut through the hype to see where AI is already delivering real value in not-for-profit accounting and finance, how to put the right guardrails in place, and how to move from fear to confident, practical adoption. 

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 nonprofit world. Learn when and why to refinance, how to account for it under ASC 470, and what disclosures are required to stay compliant and transparent. Real-world examples and case studies will illuminate both successful and cautionary tales and offer actionable takeaways. 

Speakers:
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

Examine the Department of Justice’s expanded domestic terrorism enforcement framework and its implications for tax-exempt organizations and their donors. Analyze the statutory authority under Section 501(p) that allows for the immediate suspension of tax-exempt status following certain terrorism-related designations. Walk away with a practical understanding of the legal risks, procedural mechanisms, and constitutional considerations affecting not-for-profits operating in politically sensitive environments.  

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

Organizational resiliency requires sustaining your mission impact despite funding shifts, regulatory changes, and evolving community needs. Explore strategies like adaptive leadership, resource agility, and a culture of innovation to help your organization remain strong during uncertainty. Gain practical tools to assess vulnerabilities, engage stakeholders, and ensure long-term sustainability. 

Speaker:
Theresa Valade, CEO | Success Trek

Examine common sponsorship and advertising arrangements and delve into the nuances of how a not-for-profit organization must account for them. 

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