Launching from
Blue 1647 Tech Innovation Center
2150 South Canalport
Chicago, IL
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Theme: “The Power of Community”
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following sponsors and advertisers for making this program possible.
Gold
Blue 1647
Bulletin Newspaper
Country Financial
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Institute for Cultural Affairs
Mighty Networks
Silver
Valerie F. Leonard
Nonprofit “U”
Bronze
Advertisers
Daniel Ash, Chief Marketing Officer Theodis (Theo) Leonard, Jr., Agent
The Chicago Community Trust Country Financial
Peggy Davis, Chief Officer of Programs and Eva Penar, Director of Marketing and Communications
Strategic Integration The Chicago Community Trust
The Chicago Community Trust
David Pendleton, Executive Director
Peggy Duvette, Senior Director, Social Impact Door of Hope Rescue Mission
Oracle + NetSuite Social Impact
Kate Pravera, PhD, President and CEO
Willie Cole, Board Member, St. John Church-Baptist Kate Pravera & Associates
Community Outreach Organization
Samantha Sainsbury, Program Coordinator
Carrie Corson, Public Relations Institute of Cultural Affairs
Project Manager
Country Financial Bronwen Schumacher, Account Executive
Oracle + NetSuite Social Impact
Peggy Duvette, Senior Director, Social Impact Oracle +
NetSuite Zina Simmons
Volunteer
Michael Fisher, Agency Vice President of
Community Business Development Morgan St. Clair
Country Financial Social Impact Communications
Manager, Oracle + NetSuite
Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager
Housing Action Illinois Eric Weinheimer, President
Forefront
Hurley Green, III, Managing Editor
Bulletin Newspaper Ted Wysoki, Executive Director
Institute of Cultural Affairs
Calvin Holmes, President
Chicago Community Loan Fund David Young
Technical Assistance Director
Housing Action Illinois
Nonprofit Utopia
Founding Members
Willie Cole, Board Member, St. John Church-Baptist Community Outreach Organization
Eboni Sampson, Founding Executive Director, Five Loaves Mobile Food Pantry, Inc.
If your experience is typical of what most nonprofit leaders are going through, there are times when you are so
busy working to fulfill your organization’s mission that you don’t have time to get out of the office. You miss the
simple pleasures of talking shop with other professionals that are having similar experiences and challenges.
What if you could be a part of a community where you can get your questions answered, from the comfort of
your own office, by people who have been there, done that?
We are building Nonprofit Utopia, the ideal community for emerging nonprofit leaders. We have created a safe
environment in which our members can innovate, speak candidly about the issues and concerns they face daily,
and share ideas and resources.
The mission of the Nonprofit Utopia community is to provide ongoing professional development and networking
opportunities in which experienced nonprofit professionals can share expertise with the next generation of ethical
leaders. The overarching goal of the community is to give our members the tools they need to develop strong
organizations that will make a lasting impact.
Our vision is to strengthen the global nonprofit sector by providing training and development opportunities for
50,000 emerging nonprofit leaders throughout the world by 2033.
The Nonprofit Utopia community is hosted by Valerie F. Leonard, an expert in community and organizational
development, and host of the Nonprofit "U" podcast. Valerie is the former founding executive director of a
neighborhood grant making organization and played an integral role in the framing of a comprehensive planning
process for North Lawndale, a changing community on Chicago's West Side.
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What Makes Us Different
Most traditional social media platforms rely almost exclusively upon the news feed as a means of networking.
While the news feeds are dynamic and allow opportunities for everyone to participate, they are somewhat limiting
when it comes to "finding your tribe" and facilitating sustained learning experiences. The Nonprofit Utopia
community is powered by the Mighty Networks platform, which facilitates deeper conversations among members
and enhances the quality of your membership experience.
Membership Benefits
As they say, "membership has its privileges." The tangible benefits include invitations to free events, discounts
on paid events and programs, the ability to post your own organization's news and special events and the ability
to network with other professionals with similar job titles as yours. The intangible benefits include access to a
growing network of nonprofit leaders; the ability to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening in the
nonprofit sector in real time and the ability to get instant feedback on your plans, programs, projects, products
and services.
We exist in harmony, with minimal interference. Everything is done for the good of our members, and by
extension, our clients, communities and the nonprofit sector. While there is no perfect society, we have created
an environment with the following core values:
Every member has value and has something to contribute to the overall well-being of the
community. There is mutual respect between rank and file members, group facilitators and the host.
Our members' voices matter and will influence every aspect of the growth and development of the Nonprofit
Utopia community.
We are accountable for our actions and words that we say and govern ourselves accordingly.
We strive for excellence. This is reflected in the quality of our interactions and the content we share.
We realize that, to maximize the value of the membership experience, we must give to "get." Reciprocity and
collaboration are critical.
We believe, that, over time, the knowledge we share and receive in this forum will ultimately help us to be
more innovative in our approaches and to make a greater impact on our clients, communities, organizations
and the nonprofit sector.
Why You Should Join
• Nonprofit Utopia will provide a high-value networking experience at a reasonable cost. For $14.99 a
month, you will have access to what will eventually become a global network of emerging leaders of
nonprofits and NGO's that are grappling with similar issues. The answers to your most pressing questions
will be just a click away with multiple perspectives and alternatives to consider.
• The combination of peer-led conversations, training and workshops will provide ongoing professional
development.
• You can access the network, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from your desktop or mobile device. You will
never be alone.
• As a result of networking with your peers and other thought leaders, you will have access to "insider
information" that you won't be able to find on Google to give insights and ideas that you may never have
considered on your own.
• Because these conversations will be curated, there will always be someone available to make sure the
conversations stay focused.
• In the event you get stuck, you can always reach out to Valerie for help.
https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co
What You Can Expect from
Your Membership Experience
The Nonprofit Utopia community was designed to optimize the community member experience. You can
• Start your own conversations. Ask provocative questions, share your expertise of local issues impacting
nonprofits and participate in discussions started by others. You can also share content, including
announcements, special events, job postings, sample documents, photographs, podcasts, videos and
links to external articles and resources. You don't need approval from the host before your start posting.
• Learn from your peers.
• Participate in live virtual and in-person learning events.
• Engage in live chats in the member chat room.
• Create your own polls to keep your fingers on the pulse of hot nonprofit issues that you care about.
• Solidify your position as a nonprofit thought leader by writing your own blog-style posts.
• Engage in virtual community organizing by geography, special interests, product or service launch,
special event planning, etc.
• Network with peers who share the same interests and job titles or live in the same city.
• Personalize your experience by following the topics that interest you.
• Invite other like-minded professionals to join the network.
• Join the Ambassador Program and be recognized for your level of engagement in the Nonprofit Utopia
community.
This members-only online course is accessible within the This 4-part webinar series will provide an overview of the
Nonprofit Utopia community on demand. We will explore major players in nonprofit compliance and present useful
information about the filing requirements and information
• Characteristics of sustainable organizations needed to prepare Form 990, and other annual reports and
• How to create sustainable change filings required by state agencies. Fee: $10.00 per webinar
• How to build your organization’s capacity to for Nonprofit Utopia members; $25.00 per webinar for non-
make a stronger impact to clients and members. For further information, email
communities info@nonprofitutopia.com.
Valerie is the host of Nonprofit “U” blog radio talk show, an online forum where nonprofit stakeholders
can discuss the latest developments in the sector and increase their capacity to serve their clients and
build sustainable communities. Topics include nonprofit management, community development,
capacity building and organizational development. Nonprofit “U” is downloaded in 64 countries around
the world and is top ranked in BlogTalkRadio’s non-profit category. The show is also among Player
FM’s Top 36 Nonprofit Podcasts for 2018.
Valerie is launching the Nonprofit Utopia online community, today, June 26, 2018. Nonprofit Utopia is
a community of emerging nonprofit leaders that provides a safe environment in which members can
innovate, speak candidly about the issues and concerns they face daily, and share ideas and resources.
Valerie has considerable experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Prior to starting her
consulting practice, she spearheaded the spin-off of a community-based grant making organization
from a family foundation and became its founding executive director; managed site planning and
development activities for Jewel- Osco stores in Chicago and the six collar counties; coordinated
financing in excess of $100 million for construction, renovation and major capital equipment purchases
for the Mount Sinai Health System; and developed marketing strategies for New York City’s $6 billion
general obligation bond program.
Valerie is actively engaged in the community and has played an instrumental role in developing the
infrastructure for North Lawndale’s first comprehensive planning process since 1958. She
spearheaded the Loving Lawndale to Life campaign, sponsored by Carey Tercentenary AME Church
and the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP. The campaign focused on improving community pride
through self-respect and civic engagement. She has also been involved in efforts to improve education,
voter registration and education and economic development.
Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Spelman College and a Master of Management
with concentrations in finance and marketing from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate
School of Management. She is also the Vice Chair of the Cook County Commission on Social
Innovation’s Social Capital Committee.
Blue 1647 Tech Innovation Center
Congratulates Valerie F. Leonard on
the Launch of Nonprofit Utopia.
We are a space
where ideas meet execution.
We foster a creative and collaborative environment, so that you can
produce your best work through education, business acceleration
and events.
Contact Us
2150 South Canalport Ave. Chicago, IL. 60608 2nd Floor
(312) 778-6374
https://www.blue1647.com
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0518-574HO
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Celebrates
Celebrates the
the launch
launch of
of
What We Do
ICA-USA is a member of ICA International (ICAI), a global network of 30 organizations
that use participatory processes to work on organizational and community
development initiatives. ICA-USA partners with our sister organizations to create
and implement programs that develop internal capacity and program
implementation. Learn more at ica-international.com.
ICA is the organizing sponsor of accelerate77, a project that works to enhance the
impact of local community action across Chicago. The key strategies are to identify
sustainability initiatives in all of Chicago’s 77 community areas, connect them with
one another to inspire new ideas and practices, and engage them in collaborative
action and peer interchange. accelerate77 work is currently activated through the
Chicago Sustainability Leaders Network (CSLN). Learn more at accelerate77.net.
ICA GreenRise is a demonstration site for intentional, sustainable living and working.
The rooftop solar array hosts 485 panels, and retrofit plans aim to take the building
off the grid. Tenants include over 20 nonprofits serving the Uptown community and
beyond. Our local programming includes the Uptown Coastal Initiative and
Conversations on Social Justice, which facilitate connections with local experts and
organizations on community sustainability topics. Learn more at ica-usa.org.
Newspaper
Wishes Valerie F. Leonard much success
on the launch of the Nonprofit Utopia
community!
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Chicago Independent Bulletin
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60611
312-286-9484
We can do more when we
work together.
That's why Housing
Action Illinois has been
uniting nonprofits to
protect and expand
affordable housing for
more than 30 years.
Forefront of Support
Workshops
Social Change. Training
SUPPORT
I just want to take this time to thank everyone who has had any role in making tonight’s launch a success. You
may have attended the event; given sage advice; “barked at me”, lol; had encouraging words and prayers;
provided sponsorship, spread the word, volunteered, or watched us on Facebook Live. Whatever you have done
to ensure that we have achieved our goal of celebrating the power of community, I want to thank you from the
bottom of my heart. If you have not yet done so, please take the time to join and actively participate. You will be
amazed at how the exchange of information can literally transform the world over time. Our community address
is https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co. If you have any questions, contact me at valeriefleonard@nonprofitutopia.com.
I hope to see you on the other side of the landing page.
Sincerely,
Valerie F. Leonard
Founder and Host, Nonprofit Utopia
The ideal community for emerging nonprofit leaders.
www.nonprofitutopia.mn.co