Association of Consultants to Nonprofits upcoming events

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (04/14/2026)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

ACN Working Parents Circle
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
1:00 - 1:45 pm CST

2026 DATES
February 10

April 14

June 9

August 11

October 13

December 15

ACN Members Only

Parents with kids still living at home, balancing work and life, and sharing experiences and perspectives about the unique challenges from peers who are “in the season with you.” Contact Lidia Varesco-Racoma for more information.

ACN Circle Groups are intended to be forums for like or complementary groups of professionals to empower each other with a diversity of thinking, knowledge, shared experience, perspective, support, intentional networking, business development, and inspiration. The groups will be member-driven and self-directed in terms of content, frequency of meetings, duration, number of participants, and general meeting objectives. Participation in ACN Circle Groups is open to all ACN members.

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN New Member Q&A Session (04/30/2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ACN New Member Q&A Session

Thursday, April 30, 2026

11:00 - 11:30 am CST

Join us on the last Thursday of every other month for a 30-minute session designed for new ACN members, or if you've been a member for a while and have some questions. We'll start with quick introductions, then open the floor for your questions about the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits. It's a chance to connect with fellow newcomers and established members, build your network, and get oriented to ACN.

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

Idealist Day of Action & Connection (05/05/2026)

Tue, 05 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Idealist Day of Action & Connection

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
9:00 - 10:00 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event

Idealist Day is a monthly, worldwide opportunity for people to gather together as a community and take action to make the world a better place. It’s an opportunity to plan, advocate or simply celebrate the work people are doing.

On 5/5 (May 5), ACN members and friends will gather to discuss: How are you serving the community, both personally and in your work life? Be prepared to share your ideas, dreams, and plans, while making valuable connections.

Learn more about the origin of Idealist Day here: https://www.idealist.org/en/days/get-involved

Please contact ACN Association Manager, Jennifer Heffernan, at execdirector@acnconsult.org if you have any questions.

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (05/19/2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ACN New Consultants Working Circle Dates

May 19, 2026

July 21, 2026

September 15, 2026

November 17, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST

ACN Members Only

The New Consultants Working Circle is for new consultants to nonprofits who are looking to connect with others who are in the same stage of business-building. It will be great for anyone who has less than five years of experience in consulting. The group allows for new consultants to share their wins, ask for advice, and problem solve..

This group is run by ACN member, Allison Wong Grant. Please email Allison if you have any questions.

Nonprofit Stability Planning: Finding Firm Ground in a Chaotic Context (05/26/2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Tuesay, May 26, 2026 | 10 am - 10:30 am CST

Free Webinar - Registration Required

REGISTER HERE

The purpose of this session will be to offer an alternative to traditional strategic planning that can help drive stability (and even optimism!) in your nonprofit even amidst our chaotic context. We’ll look at what stability planning means organizationally, financially, and programmatically, and then walk through how to lead this process in your own organization.

Presenter:
Julia Monaghan
People Centered Change

Julia Monaghan is a values-driven organizational development leader and practitioner who works to center the human experience in organizational life. She approaches this work by supporting authentic and vulnerable leadership, advancing equity and inclusion, prioritizing staff engagement in strategy and change efforts, and being attentive to people’s emotional and psychological needs in organizational life. As the Founder and Principal Consultant at People Centered Change, Julia brings over 15 years’ experience in organizational change, leadership development, team dynamics, DEI, strategy development and operationalization, and workshop design and facilitation across continents, countries, and diverse sectors.

ACN has partnered Nonprofit Learning Lab (NLL) to help serve the sector by providing quick, 30-minute webinars featuring ACN members. The Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national nonprofit that connects, supports and trains individuals in the nonprofit sector. NLL offers daily online nonprofit trainings. with workshops that focus on fundraising, board development, social media, marketing, volunteer management, and organizational leadership.

2026 ACN AI Circle (06/04/2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

ACN AI Circle Dates

February 5, 2026

April 2, 2026

June 4, 2026

August 6, 2026

October 1, 2026

December 3, 2026

10:00 am - 11:00 am CST

ACN Members Only

This collaborative group will meet every other month on the first Thursday of the month. We use a model that provides value to new and longstanding attendees, allowing for group members to flow in and out of the group.

Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or ready to integrate AI into your practice, this workgroup provides a supportive space to learn, share, and experiment-- helping you and the nonprofits you serve thrive in the digital age.

This group is run by ACN member, Cathy Yen. Please email Cathy if you have any questions.

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (06/09/2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

ACN Working Parents Circle
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
1:00 - 1:45 pm CST

2026 DATES
February 10

April 14

June 9

August 11

October 13

December 15

ACN Members Only

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN 2026 Annual Business Meeting (06/23/2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

ACN 2026 Annual Business Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

12:00 - 1:00 pm CST

MEMBERS ONLY

Please join us for ACN's 37th Annual Business Meeting. We will recap last year's achievements, give you a sneak peek of what's coming up this year and introduce the newly elected members of the FY27 Board of Directors. We will also present the new budget and discuss other business-related topics.

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

ACN New Member Q&A Session (06/25/2026)

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ACN New Member Q&A Session

Thursday, June 25, 2026

11:00 - 11:30 am CST

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (07/21/2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ACN New Consultants Working Circle Dates

May 19, 2026

July 21, 2026

September 15, 2026

November 17, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Allison Wong Grant. Please email Allison if you have any questions.

2026 ACN AI Circle (08/06/2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

ACN AI Circle Dates

February 5, 2026

April 2, 2026

June 4, 2026

August 6, 2026

October 1, 2026

December 3, 2026

10:00 am - 11:00 am CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Cathy Yen. Please email Cathy if you have any questions.

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (08/11/2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

ACN Working Parents Circle
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
1:00 - 1:45 pm CST

2026 DATES
February 10

April 14

June 9

August 11

October 13

December 15

ACN Members Only

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN New Member Q&A Session (08/27/2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ACN New Member Q&A Session

Thursday, August 27, 2026

11:00 - 11:30 am CST

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

Virtual - Using Data To Drive Impact: Building Data Utilization Capacity for Nonprofits (09/09/2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Using Data To Drive Impact:
Building Data Utilization Capacity for Nonprofits

Wednesday, September 9, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event

Do you want to help your non-profit clients use data effectively to manage their day-to-day operations and achieve real impact? Then this session is for you. Jenn Ballentine (Highland Nonprofit Consulting) and Melanie Stathis (Confluential Impact Advisors) will walk you through how to help your clients approach data-informed decision-making holistically, without overwhelming. We will cover data use across an array of strategic areas including program outcomes, people and culture, fundraising, marketing, and board operations. Join us as we discuss how to support nonprofits on their journey towards successful data use.

Melanie Stathis
With over a decade helping non-profits increase their capacity for impact under my belt, I founded Confluential Impact Advisors in 2024. My passion for social impact is matched with a unique set of skills and knowledge:

Technical expertise in data-driven strategic planning and project management
Demonstrated cause-driven community engagement, donor engagement, and team building skills
Program evaluation, continuous improvement, and grant management experience spanning a wide variety of program and grant types including housing, public health, community violence intervention, digital equity, education, youth development, and Head Start
Technical expertise in data systems, analytics, and IT project management

I help organizations develop practical systems for data-driven decision-making. I guide stakeholders through the collaborative design of overall evaluation strategies, as well as specific tools and data systems so that they can maximize their impact and tell their story. I specialize in catalyzing growth for programs/initiatives with initially limited resources.

Jennifer Ballentine
Jenn Ballentine is a public health and nonprofit professional with over twenty years of experience designing, implementing and evaluating prevention programs and research projects for local, community-based organizations, regional and statewide Foundations and federal health agencies. As a Public Health Analyst for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jenn co-managed a five-year, multi-site, multi-million-dollar research project focused on STD/HIV prevention among African American and Hispanic youth. As an independent consultant, Jenn has partnered with numerous nonprofits to assess community needs, develop strategic directions, strengthen operating and performance measurement practices, and build organizational capacity, all with a racial and equity lens. Skilled in all aspects of impact measurement, Jenn has developed numerous data collection tools, collected, analyzed and synthesized both qualitative and quantitative data and prepared reports, presentations and other communications collateral based on findings.

Jenn has a master’s degree in public health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology and Community Health from Tufts University.

Please contact ACN Association Manager, Jennifer Heffernan, at execdirector@acnconsult.org if you have any questions.

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (09/15/2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ACN New Consultants Working Circle Dates

May 19, 2026

July 21, 2026

September 15, 2026

November 17, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Allison Wong Grant. Please email Allison if you have any questions.

2026 ACN AI Circle (10/01/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

ACN AI Circle Dates

February 5, 2026

April 2, 2026

June 4, 2026

August 6, 2026

October 1, 2026

December 3, 2026

10:00 am - 11:00 am CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Cathy Yen. Please email Cathy if you have any questions.

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (10/13/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

ACN Working Parents Circle
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
1:00 - 1:45 pm CST

2026 DATES
February 10

April 14

June 9

August 11

October 13

December 15

ACN Members Only

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

ACN New Member Q&A Session (10/29/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ACN New Member Q&A Session

Thursday, October 29, 2026

11:00 - 11:30 am CST

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.

Contracting with Confidence: Best Practices for Contracting with Clients (11/16/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Contracting with Confidence:
Best Practices for Contracting with Clients

Monday, November 16, 2026
10:00 - 11:00 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event

There are so many ways to approach contracting with clients. And so many questions to consider. Questions like:

Is your contract language adequately protecting you?
Should you bill by the hour or the job?
How do you handle a client’s preferred contract?
What if an engagement goes wrong? How will you untangle things and still get paid for what you’ve done?
What if the engagement goes so right that the client wants more of you, and more, and more?

Come get the answers to these and other questions from Kelly Kleiman of NFP Consulting, Kelly was once a lawyer and nonetheless has made every contractual error imaginable. Some people can only learn from painful experience, but you can skip the painful part while benefiting from Kelly’s experience. Come prepared with questions.

Kelly Kleiman

Kelly Kleiman, a lawyer educated at the University of Chicago, has spent more than 30 years in the nonprofit sector. She founded NFP Consulting in 1988 after serving as Executive Director of the Chicago Children’s Choir and Assistant Dean of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Earlier in her career she practiced real estate and zoning law with the firm of Rudnick & Wolfe, now DLA Piper. Through her consulting practice Kelly helps nonprofits with fundraising, strategic planning, Board development and the use of high-skills volunteers. She also frequently serves as interim Executive Director for nonprofits undergoing leadership transition. Details at NFPConsultingChicago.com/

Kelly co-founded the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits, ACNConsult.org, and served for several years as its President. She has taught professional development courses for the Axelson Center, the Association of Volunteer Administrators, the United Way of Lake County, the College of DuPage, and other educational and professional organizations. She wrote advice and commentary for nonprofits online as The Nonprofiteer from 2010 to 2014.

Please contact ACN Association Manager, Jennifer Heffernan, at execdirector@acnconsult.org if you have any questions.

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (11/17/2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

ACN New Consultants Working Circle Dates

May 19, 2026

July 21, 2026

September 15, 2026

November 17, 2026

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Allison Wong Grant. Please email Allison if you have any questions.

2026 ACN AI Circle (12/03/2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ACN AI Circle Dates

February 5, 2026

April 2, 2026

June 4, 2026

August 6, 2026

October 1, 2026

December 3, 2026

10:00 am - 11:00 am CST

ACN Members Only

This group is run by ACN member, Cathy Yen. Please email Cathy if you have any questions.

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (12/15/2026)

Tue, 15 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ACN Working Parents Circle
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
1:00 - 1:45 pm CST

2026 DATES
February 10

April 14

June 9

August 11

October 13

December 15

ACN Members Only

Meeting links are included in your registration confirmation email. Please contact the ACN office if you need assistance - 312-940-4008

Association of Consultants to Nonprofits upcoming events

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (04/14/2026)

ACN New Member Q&A Session (04/30/2026)

Idealist Day of Action & Connection (05/05/2026)

Idealist Day of Action & Connection

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 9:00 - 10:00 am CT Virtual Zoom Event

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (05/19/2026)

Nonprofit Stability Planning: Finding Firm Ground in a Chaotic Context (05/26/2026)

2026 ACN AI Circle (06/04/2026)

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (06/09/2026)

ACN 2026 Annual Business Meeting (06/23/2026)

ACN New Member Q&A Session (06/25/2026)

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (07/21/2026)

2026 ACN AI Circle (08/06/2026)

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (08/11/2026)

ACN New Member Q&A Session (08/27/2026)

Virtual - Using Data To Drive Impact: Building Data Utilization Capacity for Nonprofits (09/09/2026)

Using Data To Drive Impact: Building Data Utilization Capacity for Nonprofits

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 10:00 - 11:30 am CT Virtual Zoom Event

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (09/15/2026)

2026 ACN AI Circle (10/01/2026)

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (10/13/2026)

ACN New Member Q&A Session (10/29/2026)

Contracting with Confidence: Best Practices for Contracting with Clients (11/16/2026)

Contracting with Confidence: Best Practices for Contracting with Clients

Monday, November 16, 2026 10:00 - 11:00 am CT Virtual Zoom Event

2026 ACN New Consultants Circle (11/17/2026)

2026 ACN AI Circle (12/03/2026)

2026 ACN Working Parents Circle (12/15/2026)

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
9:00 - 10:00 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event

Using Data To Drive Impact:
Building Data Utilization Capacity for Nonprofits

Wednesday, September 9, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event

Contracting with Confidence:
Best Practices for Contracting with Clients

Monday, November 16, 2026
10:00 - 11:00 am CT
Virtual Zoom Event