2025 Associate Board Basics Seminar and Board Fair Networking Reception

Are you an early- to mid-career professional looking to make a greater impact in your community? Serving on an Associate or Junior Board can be a powerful way to give back, build your network, and grow as a leader.

We’ll also help you better understand some of the challenges facing our communities, the same issues nonprofits are addressing through their work. You’ll hear from speakers from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University as well as United Way’s own experts. No previous knowledge of Associate Boards or nonprofits is needed.

Following the seminar, connect with representatives from local nonprofit Associate Boards at a Board Fair happy hour. Join us on Wednesday, August 13 to learn, meet other like-minded young professionals, and find your passion!

Registration Options

Registrants may purchase General Registration tickets, which includes access to the Board Fair Networking Reception, or tickets to the Board Fair Networking Reception only.

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Agenda

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

SEMINAR
9:30am – 3pm
Session Topics

BOARD FAIR NETWORKING RECEPTION
3 – 5pm

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Speakers

Liz Livingston Howard

Liz Livingston Howard is a graduate of Northwestern University and holds an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Ms. Howard is the Executive Director of Kellogg's Center for Nonprofit Management and a Clinical Professor of Management. She developed and teaches curriculum for MBA students and nonprofit executives. Ms. Howard serves as the Academic Director for a variety of nonprofit executive education courses and designs custom executive education programs for local, national and global clients.

Previously, she served as Assistant Dean for Development for Kellogg from 1994 to 2003. In that role, she was responsible for the fundraising activities of the Kellogg School including alumni and individual solicitation, corporate and foundation grants. She was involved with the $1.4 billion Campaign Northwestern. During her tenure, total giving to the school increased 100% and the Kellogg School raised over $100 million for significant objectives in Campaign Northwestern.

Prior to joining the Kellogg School, Ms. Howard served as a fundraising consultant with Charles R. Feldstein & Company, based in Chicago. Her additional development work was as Director of Development for the Chicago Tourism Council/Mayor's Office of Tourism for the City of Chicago and as the first Director of Development for Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette, Illinois.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Ms. Howard has been involved with a number of philanthropic organizations in Chicago. She was selected as a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow to participate in a unique, year-long venture to deepen the understanding of greater Chicago, thereby enhancing the future quality of civic and community leadership. In addition, she served as the founding chairman of the Chicago Community Trust Young Leaders Fund, an endowment fund established in 1994 by young professionals in Chicago to educate them about grant-making and the value of philanthropy.

Currently, she serves as Secretary of the 100 Club of Illinois, providing financial assistance to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty across the State of Illinois, Secretary of the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, Board Member of the Women's Board of Northwestern University and an Advisory Board Member for the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. She has provided consulting services for local nonprofits in the areas of fundraising, marketing, strategic planning, and board governance.

Mariela Estrada

Mariela Estrada, is the Associate Vice President of Community Engagement at United Way of Metro Chicago, leading the Neighborhood Networks initiative, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit, government and philanthropic sectors, with a background in Sociology and Latin American and Latino Studies. Mariela is passionate about education equity, health access, mental health access, civic engagement, language access, immigration rights and community organizing. Mariela volunteers as a member of the UIC Community Advisory Board, has previously served two terms as a Local School member for Neighborhood Chicago Public School, and a former appointee to the Chicago Public Schools board of education. Mariela is passionate about seeing communities thrive with all the needed resources to raise families and live prosperous lives. On her free time, she loves to spend time with her three children exploring nature and spending quality time with her extended family. She enjoys being a tourist in one of the best cities in the country- CHICAGO!

Caitlin Closser Peart

Caitlin Closser Peart currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at United Way of Metro Chicago. In this role, she designs and oversees the organization’s Public Programming, which includes events and board development training programs, and has helped to launch the Public Health Fund of Chicago. In 2023, she was loaned out as a support staff for the Chicago mayoral transition, preparing for the new administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson. Over ten years ago, she started her United Way career with the Volunteer Services team, where she coordinated volunteer opportunities for corporate partners, sourced and created new projects, and led development of the team’s new strategy, which included changing the team’s name to Partner Engagement. Prior to United Way, Caitlin worked in several industries, including educational publishing, advertising, and teaching, but she found her true path after serving an AmeriCorps term that made her realize she was meant for a life of service. She has a bachelor's degree from Denison University and a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

April K. Donnellan

April K. Donnellan joined Global Philanthropy Partnership as Executive Director in 2005. She previously served as Program Director of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Prior to that, April was a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State completing assignments in Port Louis, Mauritius and Washington, DC. April served as Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, and as a sanctions/peacekeeping officer covering the Middle East and Africa. She earned a Meritorious Honor Award for her work implementing multilateral sanctions. A former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, April is a graduate of Georgetown University and is fluent in French.

A Girl Scout troop leader from 2006-2019, April also served on the board of the Women’s Global Education Project and currently serves as a member of the board of the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

In addition, April was featured in the Chicago Business Journal article Chicago philanthropist became aware of global issues at the family dinner table.

Mariela Estrada
Senior Director, Community Engagement,
United Way of Metro Chicago
Read Bio

Liz Livingston Howard
Executive Director,
Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management
Read Bio

Caitlin Closser Peart
Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives,
United Way of Metro Chicago
Read Bio

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Event Details

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
9:30am - 5pm

Seminar: 9:30am - 3pm
Board Fair Networking Reception: 3 - 5pm

BMO Tower
320 S. Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

Full Session Registration Board Fair Only Registration

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Questions? Please contact United Way Public Programs.

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Registration Fees

General Registration

$150
(includes seminar/all sessions registration, breakfast refreshments, lunch, and entrance to the Board Fair Networking Reception with drinks and appetizers)

Young Leaders United Member Registration*

$75
(includes seminar/all sessions registration, breakfast refreshments, lunch, and entrance to the Board Fair Networking Reception with drinks and appetizers)

Board Fair ONLY Registration

$15
(includes access to the Board Fair Networking Reception with drinks and appetizers)

Nonprofit Professional Registration

A limited number of discounted tickets are available for nonprofit professionals

*Young Leaders United (YLU) is our affinity group of young professionals committed to generosity and volunteerism. Members support United Way by giving $250 or more annually. Learn more about Young Leaders United at LIVEUNITEDchicago.org/YLU.

For questions about tickets and pricing, please contact United Way Public Programs.

Full Session Registration Board Fair Only Registration

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Thank you to our generous supporters

Venue Sponsor

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