BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley works to help over 325 nonprofit organizations annually. Its upcoming event offers a new opportunity for those nonprofits to help each other.
The first annual Nonprofit Impact Conference will be held by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Karen Smith, chief executive officer of the Volunteer Center, said it's an opportunity for staff from different nonprofit agencies to meet one another, network and learn about the resources offered by organizations that support the nonprofit sector.
“Direct staff are doing the same thing as someone two blocks away and not having any idea how people do things,” Smith said.
“So much of the work (that nonprofits do) is done in silos and yet those silos are doing the same work for different sectors with no crossover. Our hope is that people talk about and share how they’re solving some of these things or how potentially another organization that’s similar might be a good collaborative partner.’”
While similar events usually connect executives, this conference directly invites nonprofit staff to learn from one another.
“One of the things we heard very clearly was there needs to be more opportunity for nonprofit staff members to convene and connect and understand how things are working for different organizations, and hopefully make some connections, maybe learn some new skills, get some ideas."Karen Smith, Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley
Over 300 people from nonprofit organizations in the greater Lehigh Valley region and surrounding counties are expected to attend.
Finding support
In addition to a keynote speaker, networking opportunities and a resource fair, there will be around 20 speakers at the event. One of those speakers is Sean Ziller, Bethlehem’s deputy director of economic development and a board member at the Volunteer Center.
Ziller said his message will focus on connecting nonprofits to community municipal entities that can provide financial or additional support.
“We know a lot of our nonprofits and work with them regularly, but there are a lot of small nonprofits and great new nonprofits that we don't think of as much but that could be great connectors to the communities they serve,” he said.
As a member of the board, Ziller said the speakers were specifically chosen to cover a diverse range of topics that could apply to organizations of different sizes and focuses.
Response to feedback
Smith said planning for the conference started in December and heavily centered around the results of surveys, forums and focus groups the Volunteer Center conducted.
“One of the things we heard very clearly was there needs to be more opportunity for nonprofit staff members to convene and connect and understand how things are working for different organizations, and hopefully make some connections, maybe learn some new skills, get some ideas,” Smith said.
Before the conference has even happened, the volunteer center is looking to the future.
Smith said this conference will be the first of many, with future conferences featuring different speakers, ideas and opportunities for connection based on attendee feedback.
“This is how we build community and capacity. That’s what’s really important because the work doesn't get easier but the opportunity to work smarter and work more collaboratively is really important for this conference,” she said.
Registration for the Nonprofit Impact Conference is open through Oct. 18. Tickets cost $125 per person and are available for purchase at volunteerlv.org.
