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As a member of NAO, you become part of an important network of organizations, affiliates, and individuals who believe in the vitality of the sector.
Speaking Opportunities
Submissions for 2026 Conferences are currently closed. We will begin accepting proposals for the High Desert Nonprofit Conference and the Nonprofit Impact Conference in spring 2026.
Conferences
Every year, NAO organizes conferences that bring together as many as 550 nonprofit professionals representing various experience levels, sub-sectors, and roles.
Our conferences generally feature a range of 60- to 90-minute breakout sessions relevant to nonprofit professionals and their organizations. Learn more about each conference below.
NAO Conferences
We are not currently seeking submissions for this conference. Check back later for updates!
This one-day conference, held in a different city each year, supports nonprofit fundraising professionals from large, mid-size, small, and rural organizations. NFS features Foundational, Intermediate, and Specialized tracks that speak to a range of experience and knowledge levels. Participants can commit to one track for the day or create their own learning experience by choosing sessions from different tracks.
Sessions focus on topics such as fundraising best practices, individual and institutional giving, and new tools and trends that fundraisers should know about. Other timely topics that are relevant to nonprofit fundraisers will be considered.
Listed below is a selection of sessions from previous years:
- Foundational
- Growing Your Donor Base with Multi-Channel Outreach Strategies
- Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal
- Effective Fundraising Campaigns
- Intermediate
- Ask For More: Upgrading Donors to Higher Giving Levels
- Special Events: What’s Working Now?
- Engaging Reluctant Board Members in Fundraising
- Specialized
- Demystifying AI in Fundraising
- Unleashing the Power of Major Gifts for Transformational Projects
- Endowment Building and Legacy Giving
We are not currently seeking submissions for this conference. Check back later for updates!
This two-day, immersive capacity-building gathering in Ashland is one of NAO’s largest conferences with several speaking opportunities. For over thirty-five years, the conference has welcomed hundreds to network and learn about current, relevant, and inspiring topics facing nonprofits today. It brings together everyone from board members and executive directors to new and experienced nonprofit leaders in Southern Oregon.
Sessions should be relevant to a diverse nonprofit audience and must fall under one of four conference tracks: (1) Finance & Operations, (2) Fundraising, (3) Leadership, and (4) Responsive Topics.
Listed below is selection of breakout sessions from previous years:
- Finance & Operations
- Nonprofit Finance Fundamentals: Cash Forecasting
- Scenario Planning for Nonprofit Leaders: Building Resilience and Sustaining Impact
- Best Practices in Nonprofit Budget Development
- Fundraising
- Strategies for Engaging Small and Mid-Level Donors
- Government Grant Readiness Workshop
- From Year-End Fundraising to Year-Round Engagement
- Leadership
- Navigating Leadership Transitions
- Strategic Principles for Turbulent Times: Why Strategy is More Important than Ever
- Board Management: Avoiding Common Pitfalls on the Road to Success
- Responsive Topics
- Leading to Develop People
- Navigating Change: Legal, HR, and Leadership Perspectives on the Evolving Nonprofit Workplace
- Nonprofit Advocacy: Where Do We Stand Now?
We will begin accepting HDNC proposals in spring 2026.
This one-day conference is designed specifically for leaders, staff, volunteers, and individuals engaged in Central Oregon’s nonprofit sector. Breakout sessions cover a range of essential and timely topics to support nonprofit professionals’ growth and impact. Held every other year, the High Desert Nonprofit Conference provides opportunities to build and enhance relationships critical to our sector.
Sessions focus on topics such as financial oversight, fundraising, community engagement, and leadership. Other timely topics that are relevant to a diverse nonprofit audience will be considered.
Listed below is a selection of HDNC sessions from previous years:
- Succession! Whether You Plan for It or Not
- Navigating Shifts in Philanthropy
- Doing More with Less: CFO Perspectives on Financial Resilience for Nonprofits
- Building an Impactful Public Policy Program
- Building Culture Through Generations: How to Tie a Multi-generational Workforce Together
- Using Logic Models for Grant Success
We will begin accepting NIC proposals in spring 2026.
This two-day conference brings together hundreds of nonprofit leaders on the border of Oregon and Washington on the Columbia River to share, learn, and network. The theme for the 2025 conference was Impact, Innovation, and Insight. A mix of breakout sessions, longer workshops, networking activities, panel discussions, and expert “office hours” keep participants connected, informed, and engaged throughout both days.
Listed below is a selection of NIC sessions from 2025:
- Insight
- Dabbling in the Data: Hands-On Meaning Making for Teams
- Reinventing Your Nonprofit’s Business Model
- Ask an Expert: Stories from NAO’s Help Desk
- Innovation
- Leveraging Entrepreneurial Skills for Nonprofit Growth
- Demystifying AI for Insights and Impact
- Crisis and Opportunity: How Funders & Nonprofits Can Respond to the New Funding Landscape
- Impact
- Mission Possible: Creating a Work Culture People Brag About
- Getting to What Matters: A Fresh Approach to Evaluating and Communicating Your Impact
- Scaling Altruism: A Proven Pathway for Accelerating Growth and Impact
We are not currently seeking submissions for this conference. Check back later for updates!
The Eastern Oregon Nonprofit Conference, held every other year, is a one-day event dedicated to supporting and advancing the work of nonprofit organizations in Eastern Oregon. This conference focuses on mastery of the basics of nonprofit management, including key areas like fundraising, finance, board governance, and leadership.
Listed below is a selection of EONC sessions from 2025:
- Building Strong, Cohesive Teams: In Times of Uncertainty, In Times of Calm
- Nonprofit Leadership Now: The Only Constant is Change
- Making Individual Donor Stewardship Manageable
- Nonprofit Financials 101
- Key Elements for Grant Writing Success
- Setting (or Re-setting) Your Board Up for Success
Speaker Benefits
As a conference speaker, you can expect the following benefits:
- One complimentary conference registration.
- An honorarium in exchange for your services. Compensation typically falls between $800 – $1,500 depending on a variety of factors (e.g., session length, conference location/format, etc.). NAO is a 501(c)(3) and greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide low-cost events. In the case that you can waive your speaking fees, your business will be listed as an event sponsor.
- Invitation to pre-conference receptions with other speakers and funders, if applicable.
- Listing on the conference webpage as a featured speaker with a link to your website.
- Opportunity to speak to hundreds of nonprofit leaders and grow your visibility.
Speaking opportunities are typically reserved for NAO Business Affiliate Members. Through our marketing efforts, you will gain exposure to as many as 1,100 nonprofit leaders; this can be a crucial outreach tool for you to introduce nonprofit boards, staff, and volunteers to your expertise and grow your leadership in the sector. If you have questions about Business Affiliate membership or are interested in joining, contact [email protected].
Submissions for the 2025-26 Network schedule have closed. Our team begins reviewing submissions in the spring. Interested presenters are encouraged to submit their session ideas by September 1 to ensure we can fully consider your session.
Regional Networks
For over forty years, NAO has offered Regional Networks in the nonprofit hub communities of Bend, Corvallis, Portland Metro, Medford, and Eugene-Springfield. Through the years, network sessions have evolved from being completely in-person to a mix of in-person and virtual sessions to enhance accessibility across the state while maintaining in-person networking opportunities for professionals in these regions.
Network Season
The network season runs from October to June, featuring one 90-minute session per region each month. These networks are designed for nonprofit professionals wanting to connect with other leaders in their area and learn more about best practices in a wide range of topics including nonprofit leadership, financial management, impact evaluation, fund development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NAO Offers Six Regional Networks and Virtual Sessions
Regional Networks are designed for nonprofit professionals and volunteers who want to learn more about effective nonprofit leadership. Each Network offers in-person sessions for participants to connect with a local community of peers, along with virtual sessions that are open to everyone around the state.
- Nonprofit Solidarity Network (NSN): Portland
- Lane County Nonprofit Network (LCNN): Eugene-Springfield
- Mid-Valley Nonprofit Network (MVNN): Corvallis
- Nonprofit Finance Network (NFN): Portland
- Nonprofit Network of Central Oregon (NNCO): Bend
- Rogue Valley Nonprofit Network (RVNN): Medford
- Virtual Network: Open to all
The best session topics for LCNN, MVNN, NNCO, and RVNN speak to the unique circumstances of each nonprofit community and appeal to all experience levels. Recent sessions include Financial Reports Made Easy; Mission Success: The Essential Role of Fundraising and Marketing Plans; Hiring Right the First Time; and Planning for Organizational Resilience.
As topical networks, NSN and NFN provide more specialized and advanced knowledge in promoting a healthy work culture and financial management, respectively. While these sessions are open to all, attendees tend to have more years of experience or want to continue developing skills in a specific area alongside other professionals in similar roles. Recent sessions include Measuring DEI Impact: Conducting and Evaluating Data Collection for Effective Initiatives; Rebuilding Trust: Managing Generative Conflict for Healing and Restorative Justice; Assessing Your Nonprofit’s Financial Health; and Navigating Nonprofit Fund Accounting.
Speaker Benefits
As a regional network speaker, you can expect the following benefits:
- An honorarium for your services – $500 for a virtual session or $650 for an in-person session. NAO is a 501(c)(3) and greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide low-cost events. In the case that you can waive your speaking fees, please indicate so on the speaker form.
- Promotion of you and your services through NAO’s marketing channels, including your listing on event webpages as the featured speaker
- Opportunity to speak to nonprofits leaders and grow your visibility. Average attendance for network sessions is between 15-30 participants.
Speaking opportunities are typically reserved for NAO Business Affiliate members. Through our marketing efforts, you will gain exposure to as many as 1,100 nonprofit leaders; this can be a crucial outreach tool for you to introduce nonprofit boards, staff, and volunteers to your expertise and grow your leadership in the sector. If you have questions about Affiliate membership or are interested in joining, contact [email protected].
Submissions for 2026 Webinars are open! Our team accepts submissions on a rolling basis until the schedule is full. Interested presenters are encouraged to submit their session ideas by July 1, 2026, to ensure we can fully consider your session.
Webinars
Are you looking to share your expertise and deliver practical, actionable tools and resources for nonprofit success? NAO offers webinars for nonprofits throughout the state covering a wide range of topics. These trainings are designed to disseminate information for all learning and experience levels.
Webinar Schedule
NAO schedules around 12 webinars per year, featuring one 60- or 90-minute session per month. Due to the limited duration and fewer opportunities for interaction, webinars should provide a thorough overview of the selected topics rather than going too in depth into a specific area. Webinars are open to all nonprofit leaders and cover a diverse range of topics.
Webinar topics provided by NAO
Board Governance
Communications and Marketing
Financial Oversight
Fundraising
Human Resources and Work Culture
Nonprofit Law and Compliance
Operations
Program/Impact Evaluation
Support for Rural Nonprofits
Strategic and Business Planning
Other timely topics that are relevant to a nonprofit audience will be considered.
Speaker Benefits
As a webinar speaker, you can expect the following benefits:
- A $500 honorarium for your services. NAO is a 501(c)(3) and greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide low-cost events. In the case that you can waive your speaking fees, please indicate so on the speaker form.
- Promotion of you and your services through NAO’s marketing channels, including your listing on event webpages as the featured speaker
- Opportunity to speak to nonprofit leaders and grow your visibility. Average attendance for webinars is 25-30 participants.
Speaking opportunities are typically reserved for NAO Business Affiliate members. Through our marketing efforts, you will gain exposure to as many as 1,100 nonprofit leaders; this can be a crucial outreach tool for you to introduce nonprofit boards, staff, and volunteers to your expertise and grow your leadership in the sector. If you have questions about Affiliate membership or are interested in joining, contact [email protected].
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