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PROGRAMS & Events

Privacy: For most events, attendees will have the option to include their name in the list of event registrants. Attendees may wish to exclude their name for privacy or security reasons. WSPN attendees’ information will not be sold, shared or rented to others.

Upcoming events

    • Thursday, January 16, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Virtual
    • 89
    Register

    With over three decades of nonprofit experience, Jim has seen it all! Join us as Jim Bakke J.D., Barnabas Foundation’s Executive Director, shares what to do and what not to do as a nonprofit leader through the lens of a lawyer who has seen it all and guided many. Jim will share practical tips and tools, regardless of your nonprofit's capacity on how to create a gift acceptance policy, types of planned gifts and how to navigate the legal aspects of them, the importance of your nonprofit building relationships with estate lawyers, and much more.

    There will be plenty of time for Jim to dig in and answer your questions. We hope to see you there to ask the lawyer!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Jim Bakke, Executive Director,
    Barnabas Foundation

    Jim Bakke became Barnabas Foundation’s fourth executive director in late 2015 after serving as national director of planned giving at World Vision. Prior to joining World Vision, Jim served Barnabas Foundation as an estate planner and then as director of planned giving services for nearly a decade.

    Jim’s career includes experience as a senior consultant to nonprofits with Leadership Resource Group, director of development for Trinity Bible College, and executive director of a Youth for Christ chapter in North Dakota.

    He holds a juris doctorate from Regent University and a bachelor’s degree from Trinity Bible College.
    For more on the Barnabas Foundation, please click here.


    Registration is open until January 13, 2024.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    • Thursday, February 20, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Virtual
    • 100
    Register

    More information on this session coming soon!

    Save the date for the monthly WSPN education session!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Amazing speaker information coming soon!


    Registration is open until 1-3 business days prior to the event.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    • Thursday, March 20, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Virtual
    • 100
    Register

    More information on this session coming soon!

    Save the date for the monthly WSPN education session!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Amazing speaker information coming soon!


    Registration is open until 1-3 business days prior to the event.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    • Thursday, April 17, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • In Person - TBD
    • 100
    Register

    More information on this session coming soon!

    Save the date for the monthly WSPN education session!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Amazing speaker information coming soon!


    Registration is open until 1-3 business days prior to the event.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    • Thursday, May 15, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Virtual
    • 100
    Register

    More information on this session coming soon!

    Save the date for the monthly WSPN education session!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Amazing speaker information coming soon!


    Registration is open until 1-3 business days prior to the event.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

    • Thursday, June 19, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
    • In Person - location to be confirmed
    • 100
    Register

    More information on this session coming soon!

    Save the date for the monthly WSPN education session!

    Meet Our Speaker: 

    Amazing speaker information coming soon!


    Registration is open until 1-3 business days prior to the event.

    PENDING CFRE Credit 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

Past events

Thursday, November 21, 2024 Funders Panel 2024
Thursday, October 17, 2024 Launching a Major and Planned Giving Program for Organizations of Any Size
Thursday, September 19, 2024 September Education Session - Strengthening Your Annual Fund Plan
Thursday, August 29, 2024 22nd Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards
Thursday, July 25, 2024 WSPN Summer Social
Thursday, June 20, 2024 June Education Session - Finding Inspiration in Your Achievements & Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 16, 2024 May Education Session - Building a Winning Public Sector Strategy for Your Organization
Thursday, April 18, 2024 April Education Session Avoid Burnout While Doing Work You Love - Redefine Your Servant Leadership
Thursday, March 21, 2024 March Education Session - AI and Fundraising
Thursday, February 15, 2024 February Education Session (cancelled)
Thursday, January 18, 2024 January Education Session - How to Strengthen Your Asks with Data
Thursday, December 07, 2023 WSPN 2023 Winter Social
Thursday, November 16, 2023 November Education Session - Funders Panel
Thursday, October 19, 2023 October Education Session - Meaningful Gifts: Major Gift Fundraising
Thursday, August 31, 2023 21st Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards
Thursday, June 15, 2023 June WSPN Education Session - Funders Panel
Thursday, May 25, 2023 May WSPN Education Session - Engaging and Stewarding Donor-Advisors: As Easy As DAF (Donor-Advised Funds)
Thursday, April 20, 2023 April WSPN Education Session - Annual Fund & Collateral Sharing
Thursday, March 16, 2023 March WSPN Education Session - Strategies to Diversify Your Funding Sources
Thursday, February 16, 2023 February WSPN Education Session - Incorporating Giving Days into Your Fundraising Plan
Thursday, January 19, 2023 January WSPN Education Session - Executive Functioning for Nonprofit Professionals
Thursday, December 15, 2022 WSPN Member Winter Social
Thursday, November 17, 2022 Nonprofit Conversations - Virtual Discussion Groups - November WSPN Education Session
Thursday, October 20, 2022 October WSPN Education Session - Mindfulness for Nonprofit Professionals
Thursday, September 15, 2022 Securing Top Talent in a Tight Market
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 20th Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards
Thursday, June 16, 2022 June Funders Panel
Thursday, May 19, 2022 WSPN Peer-to-Peer Co-Working Session
Thursday, April 21, 2022 Trends in Fundraising
Thursday, March 17, 2022 Building a Data-Informed Culture
Thursday, February 17, 2022 Making the Ask, Successfully
Thursday, January 20, 2022 Rearchitecting Work . . . Unleashing Your Potential
Thursday, November 18, 2021 COVID Conversations: Reflecting on Lessons Learned and the Path Forward for Chicagoland Nonprofits
Thursday, October 21, 2021 Become a Nonprofit Social Media Superhero: Increase Your Marketing Reach and Efficiency Using Data
Thursday, September 16, 2021 Collaboration for the Win: How Finance and Development Can Work Together for Deeper Donor Engagement
Wednesday, September 01, 2021 Membership Amnesty Contributions
Thursday, August 26, 2021 19th Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards
Thursday, June 17, 2021 WSPN Funders Panel
Thursday, May 20, 2021 Leadership Succession Planning: The Secret to Sustainability and Growth
Thursday, April 15, 2021 Leveraging Data to Tell Your Story
Thursday, March 18, 2021 Partnering for Success: A Conversation about Nonprofit Strategic Partnerships in a post-COVID world
Thursday, February 18, 2021 Consultant Speed Dating
Thursday, January 21, 2021 Time Management & Organization Skills
Thursday, November 19, 2020 HOW TO: Grow Your Individual Giving (and become less dependent on government, program, or event revenue)
Thursday, October 15, 2020 Inclusive Storytelling: Incorporating Strengths-Based Strategies into Your Nonprofit’s Communications
Thursday, September 17, 2020 Nonprofits and Racial Equity – What Do We Do Now?
Thursday, August 27, 2020 CONNECT & CELEBRATE: WSPN 18th Annual Philanthropy Awards ~ A digital gathering recognizing this year's Honorees & Finalists
Thursday, June 18, 2020 WSPN's Funders Panel
Monday, May 11, 2020 WSPN Board Meeting
Thursday, April 16, 2020 Free Online Webinar: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly Truth About the True Costs of Realizing Your Nonprofit Mission
Thursday, March 19, 2020 CANCELLED - Overcoming Fundraising Mistakes
Monday, March 16, 2020 WSPN Board Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 2020 Manage Stress & Increase Resilience
Tuesday, February 04, 2020 WSPN's Re"SOLUTION" 2020
Thursday, January 16, 2020 Vision for your Profession
Monday, January 13, 2020 WSPN Board Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2019 Where Are You Growing? Cultivating a Growth-Mindset for Success
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 WSPN's Happy Hour
Friday, October 04, 2019 NONPROFIT PARTNERS CONFERENCE 2019
Thursday, September 12, 2019 Reading Between the Numbers: Understanding Nonprofit Finance
Friday, September 06, 2019 Food for Thought
Tuesday, July 23, 2019 Cocktails & Conversation
Thursday, June 20, 2019 Successful Board Fundraising-Tips and Practical Advice from Small, Medium and Large Organizations
Thursday, April 18, 2019 The Business Case Behind Building Diverse Teams in the Nonprofit Workplace
Monday, April 08, 2019 Inaugural Food for Thought
Thursday, March 21, 2019 Balancing Act: How to Manage, Balance, and Thrive in a Small Organization
Thursday, February 21, 2019 Engaging Professional Advisors in the Philanthropic Process
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Cocktails & Conversation
Thursday, January 17, 2019 Mentoring and Role-Modeling: Why It's a Big Deal for You and Your Organization
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 WSPN The Happiest Hour
Thursday, November 15, 2018 Money in the Middle - Making the Most of Mid-Level Donors
Thursday, October 11, 2018 Storytelling Your Way to #GivingTuesday Success
Thursday, September 13, 2018 The War for Fundraising Talent and How Small Shops Can Win
Thursday, July 12, 2018 WSPN's Summer Social
Thursday, June 21, 2018 Funders Panel
Thursday, April 19, 2018 Creating an Unforgettable Online Presence Suitable for a Goldfish
Thursday, March 15, 2018 Developing Effective Junior Boards
Thursday, February 15, 2018 Special Event Bootcamp
Thursday, January 18, 2018 Promoting your Nonprofit through Public Relations
Thursday, December 07, 2017 WSPN Holiday Gathering
Wednesday, November 08, 2017 The 3rd Annual Partners in Philanthropy Day
Thursday, October 19, 2017 Finding the Dollars in Your Data
Thursday, September 21, 2017 The State of Philanthropy: Trends and Perspectives
Thursday, September 07, 2017 WSPN After Hours
Thursday, June 15, 2017 Funders Panel
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 15th Annual West Suburban Philanthropic Network Awards Luncheon
Thursday, April 20, 2017 Restructuring for Success: Mission Sustainability through Organizational Restructuring & Strategic Collaborations
Thursday, March 16, 2017 Board Development and Engagement
Thursday, February 16, 2017 Finding & Working with the “Invisible” Staff Members
Thursday, January 19, 2017 Planning Ahead: Charting Your Career Path to Best Benefit You and Your Organization

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