The Growing Nonprofits Series is a collaborative effort led by the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN) at Luther College, in partnership with the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.
The series is designed to enhance the professional development and capacity of nonprofit professionals through ongoing learning and community-driven research. Participants can take advantage of a variety of complimentary learning experiences aimed at equipping nonprofit professionals with the skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s ever-changing landscape.
Registration for the Fall 2025 Growing Nonprofits Series is now open!
Getting Governance Done: Practical Tools for Nonprofit Boards That Work
Thursday, October 2, 2025 (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Nonprofit boards are critical to organizational health, but many board members and staff struggle with how to make governance actually work in day-to-day operations. This session demystifies nonprofit governance by focusing on practical tools, templates, and time-saving strategies that help boards move from “good intentions” to effective action.
Participants will leave with:
- Simple tools to clarify roles and responsibilities (including staff vs. board)
- Strategies for onboarding new board members quickly and effectively
- Tips for how staff can support and activate their board without over functioning
Whether you’re a board member, ED, or staff leader, this session will help your team implement real-world governance solutions that support mission, impact, and sustainability.
Flo Frank is a highly skilled consultant, trainer, facilitator and community development specialist. She helps groups, organizations and governments get from where they are to where they want to be. Flo has an outstanding background in community development, organizational capacity building, strategic planning, community engagement, human resource development, partnerships, marketing, stakeholder consultations, feasibility studies and evaluation. Her post-secondary education includes degrees and advanced studies in Community Development, Adult Education, Career Management, Business Development and International Marketing. Other accomplishments include: owner/operator of nine successful businesses; author of 29 community-based “self-help” books/how-to guides; and one of Canada’s leading specialists in community development and community engagement. Flo evaluates, designs and teaches courses at both the community and post-secondary levels; she is a fellow at Curtin University and a guest lecturer Griffith University and Charles Darwin University (Australia). She provided training to 27 countries for the United Nations; has been a senior executive in both the federal and provincial governments; served on over twenty boards of directors as Chair /Vice Chair and/or fundraising strategist; founding member of Canada’s National CED network (1500 members); director – local credit union board (9 years); has strong ties to the arts/music/culture sectors; as of November 2012, is the Mayor of Meacham, SK. Flo’s home is Meacham, a small Arts/Agriculture community (pop. 93) in rural Saskatchewan, where she is currently writing a book on Changing Systems – advocacy, leadership and cultural stewardship in community development and another one titled “Belonging, Beliefs and the Capacity to Act”. In her spare time, she is a promoter/coordinator of large/medium sized music events and she tours/ manages recording artists from around the world. She and her partner are shareholders in their local dinner theatre and they own and operate a consulting company, a small AV/recording studio and are founders of the Meacham Museum and Story Telling Centre.
Making the Case: Talking to Funders and Donors About Operational Dollars
Thursday, October 16, 2025 (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
For many nonprofits, securing funding for core operational needs like salaries, rent, technology, and administrative capacity can feel like the hardest sell. While funders often express interest in programs and projects, the infrastructure that makes those programs possible is just as critical.
This 90-minute interactive workshop will help nonprofit leaders and fundraisers confidently navigate conversations with funders and donors about supporting operational costs.
Participants will learn:
- Why operational funding matters for organizational stability and impact.
- How to frame operational needs in ways that align with funder and donor priorities.
- Strategies for building long-term relationships with funders that value sustainability.
- Practical language and examples you can use in grant applications, proposals, and face-to-face conversations.
We’ll also discuss current funding trends, explore real-world case studies, and share tactics from peers in the sector. You’ll leave with actionable tools to strengthen your funding requests and shift the conversation from “overhead” to essential investment.
Who should attend:
Executive directors, fund development staff, program managers, board members, and anyone involved in fundraising and donor relations.
Emily Bocking is a seasoned fundraising professional with 17 years of experience specializing in major gifts and capital campaigns. She has led numerous campaigns ranging from $750,000 to $100 million, and is known for her ability to deliver results by helping teams build and maintain momentum.
As a major gift fundraiser holding a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, Emily has spent over a decade supporting, coaching, and executing fundraising strategies. Whether behind the scenes or as a front-facing asker, she has had significant success and secured over $50 million in direct solicitations.
Emily founded Brazen Fundraising to equip organizations with the knowledge, experience, and tools to create impactful major gift campaigns. Emily’s approach blends strategic insight with hands-on coaching, ensuring that every client receives tailored support designed to maximize their fundraising potential. Her commitment to fostering long-term resilience helps non-profits not only secure essential funding but also achieve lasting success. Emily’s innovative methods and passion for building organizational capacity make her a sought-after consultant in the industry.
Through Brazen Fundraising, she continues to inspire and drive positive change, supporting non-profits in navigating the complexities of major gift fundraising with confidence.
Strategic Performance Management in the Nonprofit Context
Friday, October 24, 2025 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) at the George Bothwell Library
How can nonprofits ensure that every staff and volunteer contribution drives the organization toward its mission and long-term goals? This session explores practical ways to align individual and team performance with strategic priorities while fostering a supportive, purpose-driven workplace culture.
We will look at how to:
- Connect roles to purpose – help staff and volunteers see how their work advances the mission and creates meaningful community impact.
- Foster ongoing reflection and feedback – replace the limitations of annual performance reviews with regular, constructive check-ins focused on growth, learning, and shared accountability.
- Measure what matters – develop clear, mission-aligned indicators that track both organizational health (e.g., staff wellbeing, financial sustainability) and outcomes for the communities you serve.
Participants will leave with tools and frameworks to create a performance management approach that strengthens engagement, builds capacity, and ensures that the organization’s daily efforts are directly tied to its vision for change.
Nancy Kazeil is a leadership development consultant and executive search specialist with over 20 years of experience in performance improvement, recruitment, and executive coaching. She has held senior roles in the Saskatchewan Public Service and later joined a global performance improvement firm, working with clients such as Viterra, Estevan Coal Mine, and multiple hospitals. For more than 17 years, Nancy has supported the University of Regina with executive search and leadership initiatives. Known for her engaging facilitation style, she equips leaders with practical tools to foster employee commitment, align strategy with daily work, and achieve measurable, sustainable results.
Innovating Together: Digital Tools to Strengthen Nonprofits
Thursday, November 13, 2025 (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Collaboration sparks innovation, especially when rooted in community. In this session, the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation (SSCF) will introduce digital tools developed locally to strengthen the nonprofit sector, including the SDG Navigator, Charity Map, and Resource Hub. Built through partnerships and designed for practical use, these resources help organizations connect with one another, access local knowledge, and discover opportunities to grow and thrive. Participants will gain insight into how these tools can support their work and enhance collaboration across the nonprofit landscape in southern Saskatchewan.
Brooklyn Coulsen is the Digital Impact Officer at the Community Foundation, she manages its digital presence, ensuring the website remains up-to-date and effectively communicates its mission. She manages all social media platforms for the Foundation, and develops and implements comprehensive social media strategies to engage the community and stakeholders. Through compelling content and storytelling, Brooklyn highlights the impact of the Foundation’s work and its fund holders. Additionally, she collaborates with fund advisors to establish their communication preferences for various funds.
In 2023, Brooklyn developed the interactive web-based version of the Foundation’s 2023 Growing Futures Vital Signs Report, and continues to advocate for collaborative projects between the Foundation, the non-profit sector, for-profit sector, and academia. Brooklyn holds her BASc in Software Systems Engineering from the University of Regina, is currently pursuing her MASc in Software Systems Engineering, and volunteers her time as the Web Developer for the IEEE South Saskatchewan branch.
Brooklyn loves anything to do with nature, including camping, going on hikes, or even just sitting in the patio to listen to the rain. She is an avid rock collector, loves anything kpop related, and would do anything for the furry friends in her life! Brooklyn is thankful for all the opportunities that has lead her to where she is today, and despite how busy life gets, she tries her best to remain present in the moment so that life doesn’t pass her by.
Consensus, Trust, and Governance
Thursday, November 20, 2025 (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
In this session, we explore the constellation governance model as a dynamic approach to leading community development initiatives. Rooted in collaboration and shared leadership, constellation governance enables nonprofits, community groups, funders, and stakeholders to align around common purpose while remaining flexible and responsive to evolving needs.
Participants will learn how this model supports decentralized coordination, fosters innovation, and amplifies impact, especially in complex, multi-partner initiatives. The session will highlight real-world applications from the Sasktoon Poverty Reduction Partnership, where nonprofits have been central in driving systems change while co-creating with community partners.
Whether you are part of a small nonprofit, a funder network, or a cross-sector coalition, this session will help you understand how constellation governance can strengthen community ownership, build trust across diverse groups, and center the lived experiences of those most impacted.
Key takeaways:
- Core principles and structures of constellation governancE
- The role of nonprofits as catalysts and stewards within the model
- Tools to map and sustain constellations for long-term impact
- Case examples of community development efforts using this model
Colleen Christopherson-Cote is a recognized leader in community economic development and the non-profit sector in Saskatchewan. With more than two decades of experience across rural and urban settings, and at regional, provincial, and national levels, she has contributed to developing, mobilizing, managing, governing, funding, pivoting, expanding, and decommissioning a wide range of community-based and non-profit organizations.
As CEO of Triple C Consulting, Colleen shapes strategic direction and drives systemic change initiatives in human services and the social determinants of health. She is widely respected for her expertise in project management, strategic planning, governance, and evaluation, as well as her commitment to fostering inclusive public dialogue—particularly on issues of inequity.
Currently, Colleen serves as Coordinator of the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership, a collaborative coalition using a constellation governance and collective impact model to advance the 12 Bold Ideas to eliminate poverty in Saskatoon.
She also serves as Board Chair of Station 20 West, where she recently guided a major change management process that resulted in a fundamental shift in governance for the charitable non-profit. In addition, she sits on the Board of the Tamarack Institute, where she chairs the Governance and Recruitment Committee and is the Community Co-Lead for the Community University Institute for Social Research (CUISR) at the University of Saskatchewan.