In-Depth Agenda

Sunday, September 27

Optional Expert Office Hours - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (South Room)

*Sign-ups required, reserved for nonprofit attendees

Registration Opens - 5:30 PM (Ballroom Level)

Welcoming Party Happy Hour - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Beton's Prime)

Monday, September 28

 Breakfast & Conference Registration Opens - 8:15 AM (Ballroom Level)

 Welcome & Plenary Talks - 9:00 AM - 10:25 AM (Century Ballroom AB)

"Mind the Data Gap: From Data Provider to Data Practitioner—Candid's Internal Journey" Catherine Williams, Chief Data Officer, Candid 

Candid has spent decades building rigorous standards for collecting, cleaning, and organizing data to serve the nonprofit sector. In this session, they will share how Candid adapted its external data practices for internal use. Nonprofits looking to better use data for self-evaluation and impact measurement will walk away with a practical framework for building a stronger data foundation and deriving more meaningful insights.

"From AI Readiness to Public Value: How State Governments Are Using AI for Social Impact" Amanda Renteria, Chief Executive Officer, Code for America

Using insights from Code for America’s second annual Government AI Landscape Analysis, Amanda will share how state technology leaders are using AI to transform the relationship between government and the people it serves. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of how AI adoption in government is accelerating through real-world examples of implementations that have resulted in improved access to government services and benefits.

Breakout Sessions (1) - 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

"Device Management in a Cloud-First Environment" Francis Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Tech Impact (North Room)

If your organization supports data access from anywhere, you should be utilizing the functionalities of software like Microsoft’s Intune and Google’s Endpoint Management. Learn how you can streamline the setup of new devices, preload computers using Autopilot, and setup conditional access for more secure sharing.

 "AI for Impact: Evidence on How Nonprofits Are Using AI in Program Delivery" Nancy Park, Senior Director and Practice Lead for Outcomes AI, Project Evident (West Room)

This session presents findings from Project Evident's Tech-Enabled Scaling for Impact research, a Siegel Family Endowment-funded study analyzing how 128 nonprofit organizations across 12 sectors and six continents are using AI directly in their programs. Join this session to uncover which tools are proving most valuable in direct service contexts, and how to make the case internally for moving AI beyond administrative workflows into mission-critical work.

"Designing Nonprofit Programs for People, Powered by Technology" Keely O'Sullivan Kurtz, Programs Director, & Gene Moses, Director of Technology & Program Strategy, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (East Room)

Technology is an essential tool in building effective nonprofit programs today. However, meeting the needs of the people (clients, volunteers, community members, and staff) involved is key. This presentation will focus on how to balance human touch and technology in designing, implementing, and continually enhancing nonprofit programs.

Breakout Sessions (2) - 11:35 AM - 12:35 PM

"AI Without the Eye‑Roll: Training Approaches for Tech‑Tired Teams" Olivia Larkins, Training Specialist, Ballad Health (North Room)

Improve technology rollouts by equipping tech-tired teams with practical training strategies. Through real world examples, participants will learn how to train staff on new technology safely, set clear boundaries, and use language and pacing that increase trust and adoption. 

"Security Is a Team Sport: How IT and Marketing Collaborate to Build a Stronger Nonprofit Security Culture" Dave Nozal, IT Director, and Andrea Sanow, Marketing & Communications Director, Propel Nonprofits (West Room)

 In this session, nonprofit leaders showcase how to intentionally re‑framed security as a shared organizational responsibility by building a collaborative partnership between IT and Marketing. Attendees will learn how marketing techniques can be applied effectively to cybersecurity awareness efforts, while also uncovering strategies for gaining leadership and staff buy‑in without using fear‑based messaging. 

"From Copilot Chat to Custom Agents: Building AI Tools That Work for Your Nonprofit" Mat St.Cyr, Applications Development Manager, Tech Impact (East Room)

AI agents may sound like a major technical leap, but many nonprofits are already closer than they think. Join us to learn how the same everyday prompting and problem-solving skills staff use in Copilot Chat can become the foundation for building simple, useful agents that support real nonprofit workflows. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of how to move from “asking Copilot” to designing an agent that helps their team work smarter.

Lunch & Networking - 12:40 PM - 1:20 PM (Ballroom Level)

 TIA Ceremony & Plenary Talks - 1:20 PM - 2:40 PM (Century Ballroom AB)

"Celebrating The 2026 Technology Innovation Award Winner"

 "Your Data Should Work for You: The Scalability of an Evidence-Based Approach" Ranya Ahmed, Head of Analytics, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

How can you make data work for you when resources are scarce? How do you support a robust analytics function with external benchmark data? This practical talk will speak to how nonprofits can foster a culture of evidence-based practice and how to further take advantage of available – internal and external – data to empower decision making, planning, and resource allocation. 

"Beyond the AI Hype: How Nonprofits Can Implement AI Responsibly and Actually See Results" Vina Morris, Head of Technology & Security, Vera Institute of Justice

 AI adoption is not a technology rollout. It is an organizational alignment effort. Hear how leadership at Vera Institute of Justice was able to communicate clearly without creating fear, build trust across teams, and educate stakeholders with varying levels of understanding while maintaining momentum in their AI adoption journey. 

Breakout Sessions (3) - 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM 

"Insights Begin with Infrastructure: Designing Your Data Systems to Enable Easy Analytics and Research" Samantha Levinson, Director of Program Innovation & Client Experience, The Bail Project (North Room)

 In this session, you'll learn about the relationship between data infrastructure, and data insights and how each can enable more robust research and impact. Leave with a checklist of questions to ask that ensure your organization can expand its long-term ability to leverage its data and meet ongoing requests. 

"Where to Start? 5 High-Impact Automation Wins for Nonprofits" James Gadsby, Chief Operating Officer & Development Director, Desire Street Ministries (West Room)

With so many automation tools and use cases available, and a bevy of expertise and skills across teams, it can be challenging to decide where to begin. Join this session to walk away with real examples of practical automations that streamlined everyday operations for a COO and his team, how this built confidence across the organization to move towards more complex AI and automation use, and strategies for identifying your own "low-hanging fruit" automations.

 "Secure. Respond. Recover: Building a Nonprofit Incident Response Plan That Works" Michael Sellai, Managed IT Services Partner, BPM (East Room)

Nonprofit teams know backups are important—but do they know backups alone aren't a disaster recovery plan? This session will discuss common recovery challenges nonprofits face, how to prioritize critical systems, how to test whether your plans actually work, and how to build resilience. Leave with a clearer roadmap for getting your organization back on its feet when disruption strikes.

 Optional Expert Office Hours - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (South Room)

*Sign-ups required, reserved for nonprofit attendees

Downtown Party at Casual Animal Brewing Co. - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday, September 29

Breakfast & Conference Registration Opens - 8:15 AM (Ballroom Level)

 Plenary Talks - 9:00 AM - 10:25 AM (Century Ballroom AB)

"How American Humane Turns Farm Audit Data into Better Animal Welfare Decisions" Karthik Devarajan, Chief Technology Officer, American Humane Society

Hear how leadership at AHS is bringing that data together and using AI to identify welfare risks, measure the impact of their standards, and help farms make meaningful improvements to animal care at scale. While this work centers on animal welfare, the strategies are applicable to any nonprofit looking to turn operational data into actionable insights.

"Fractional by Design: Scaling Data Strategy for Nonprofit Impact" Esther Obanero, Director of Healthcare Informatics, Compliance, Quality Management, Data & IT, Bridging Access to Care

Nonprofit organizations face increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes, meet complex reporting requirements, and make data-informed decisions. Learn how a community-based behavioral health organization leveraged a fractional data analyst model to establish data governance practices, develop a centralized data warehouse, improve data quality, and strengthen compliance and reporting capabilities. 

"Introducing Microsoft's Changemakers Program"

Breakout Sessions (4) - 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

 "Don’t Sleep on Strategy: How Building the Right IT Foundation Is Critical to Success" Sarah Scharinger, Chief Administrative Officer, and Merideth Rose, President & CEO, Cornerstones of Care (North Room)

Join us to gain practical insights and share feedback on how your organization’s leadership is tackling emerging threats and changing landscapes in the sector. In this session, leaders will share lessons on how to align technology strategy to mission goals, while optimizing cybersecurity practices and preparing for innovation. 

"Power Automate in Action: Unlocking More for Your Nonprofit" Mat St.Cyr, Applications Development Manager, Tech Impact (West Room)

 In this session, you will explore the difference between standard and premium Power Automate capabilities, with an emphasis on the additional value Premium can provide to nonprofits. Join us and leave with a clearer understanding of what you can already accomplish, what becomes possible with Power Automate Premium, and how a modest investment can support more reliable, connected, and scalable nonprofit operations.

"Navigating the New Threat Landscape - Nonprofit Cyber Trends and How to Respond" Francis Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Tech Impact (East Room)

Most nonprofits need to worry about phishing and brute-force attacks, but some need to worry about much more. Join an interactive discussion about the current threat landscape and the challenges and vulnerabilities nonprofits specifically need to be aware of. *Bring your questions!

Breakout Sessions (5) - 11:35 AM - 12:35 PM

"Think SEO is Important? Welcome to GEO! Understanding Generative AI Engine Optimization" Marcus Iannozzi, Chief Digital Officer, Tech Impact (North Room)

As generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, increasingly shape how people find information, traditional SEO is no longer the full story. In this session, we'll break down Generative AI Engine Optimization (GEO) in plain language and explain how strong SEO creates the foundation for effective GEO. 

 "Building a Technology Strategy That Gets Implemented" Melanie Meyer, VP, Strategic Growth and Partnerships, Tech Impact (West Room)

In this collaborative workshop, participants will work alongside peers to explore technology investment decisions, assess organizational readiness, discuss AI and cybersecurity priorities, and evaluate competing demands on limited resources. Leave with new ideas from peers, a short list of priorities to focus on, and greater confidence in making technology decisions that support their mission.

"Gas & Guardrails: How a Nonprofit Scaled AI from Prompts to Agents" Michael Enos, VP, Infrastructure Security and Compliance & Ja'Rod Morris, Senior Director, Customer Success and Membership, TechSoup (East Room)

Rather than treating AI as either a productivity hack or a compliance headache, you can build a practice where the two reinforce each other. Attendees will learn how to spread adoption through executive-led AI weeks and low-pressure show-and-tells, and how to keep it safe with practical policy, sensitivity controls, and a least-privilege mindset.

Century Ballroom AB Closing Remarks & Lunch - 12:40 PM - 1:15 PM

Optional Expert Office Hours - 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

*Sign-ups required

Room North: "From AI Experiments to Useful Agents: Building Org-Wide Capability"- 1:30 - 4:30 PM

In this interactive session, we’ll explore lessons from nonprofits developing organization-wide AI capability and what turns learning into lasting adoption. Practical applications and engaging demonstrations of different AI agent types will bring these lessons to life. Participants will use a framework to assess a recurring workflow, consider whether an agent is the right fit, and identify next steps through Microsoft Elevate for Changemakers.

*Agenda subject to change