Associate Board Basics Seminar

Are you a young professional looking for a way to get more involved? An Associate Board could be a great fit! Our Associate Board Basics seminar will equip you with the tools you need for service on a nonprofit’s Associate or Junior Board. 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.

Following the seminar, connect with representatives from local nonprofit Associate Boards at a networking happy hour. Join us on Friday, August 4 to learn, meet other like-minded young professionals, and find your passion!

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Agenda

Friday, August 4, 2023

10am – 3pm
Session Topics

3 – 5pm
Networking Happy Hour with Nonprofit Associate Boards

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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.

Kimberlee Guenther, Ph.D.

Kimberlee Guenther, Ph.D. serves as Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Metro Chicago. She joined United Way as the Manager of Research and Evaluation in 2013, and now leads the organization’s community impact program funding and Neighborhood Network initiative. As a steward of United Way’s grantmaking and community engagement, Kimberlee wholly embodies our mission to build strong neighborhoods.

Prior to joining United Way, Kimberlee was a community-based researcher, combining arts programming and ethnography at The Field Museum and the Center for Urban Research and Learning at Loyola University. Raised in the northwest suburbs with a deep appreciation of Chicago’s architecture and culture, this experience opened her eyes to the incredible power of community knowledge and creativity.

Kimberlee earned her undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Her doctoral research focused on public housing redevelopment and community resident leadership in Chicago and Sydney, Australia.

After years of formal education, Kimberlee’s favorite pastime is still learning – through books, travel, and museums – though the art and science of baking is a close second. She lives in the University Village neighborhood.

Caitlin Closser Peart

Caitlin Closser Peart currently serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at United Way of Metro Chicago. In this role, she launched and now oversees two learning and development programs, designs and orchestrates public events, and manages other elements of the Equity in Action initiative. She was also recently loaned out as a support staff for the Chicago mayoral transition, preparing for the new administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson. Nearly nine 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 is currently a Master of Divinity candidate at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

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

Dr. Kimberlee Guenther
Chief Impact Officer,
United Way of Metro Chicago
Read Bio

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

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Event Details

Friday, August 4, 2023
10am - 5pm

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

Registration is now closed

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Questions? Please contact United Way Public Programs.

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Seminar Fee

includes event registration, lunch, and happy hour drinks and appetizers.

General Registration

$450

Young Leaders United Member Registration*

$200

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.

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Thank you to our generous sponsors

Event Space Sponsor

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