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The University of Wisconsin-Superior supported bringing together nonprofit leaders from across Wisconsin and northern Minnesota on May 11 for the Nonprofits Unite Summit, positioning the campus as a hub for collaboration at a time when many organizations are navigating change and resource constraints.
Held on campus, the summit focused on strengthening partnerships and sharing practical strategies to help organizations adapt and move forward. Sessions centered on three key areas identified by organizers: staff retention and well-being, shared services and organizational transitions. Started over a year ago by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, the summit was organized by representatives from Boreal Waters, Brico Works, UW-Superior, and the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits.
“This gathering also reflects something deeply important: a commitment to caring for the people who do this work,” said Chancellor Renée Wachter, who was recently appointed to serve as interim president of the Universities of Wisconsin. “The focus on staff retention and wellbeing, shared services and infrastructure, and supporting organizations through leadership transitions acknowledges that sustainability is not about individual grit, it is about creating healthier systems that allow people and missions to thrive over time. We are especially proud that UW-Superior can serve as a space where these conversations happen, where stories, data, and lived experience come together to imagine what is possible when we work collectively for the region we all call home.”
The event opened with a keynote conversation examining the broader state of the nonprofit sector. Panelists included Nonoko Sato, president and CEO of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Henry Jiménez, president and CEO of Propel Nonprofits; and Michelle Maryns, president of the Minnesota Council on Foundations. Sumair Sheikh, executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Duluth, moderated the discussion, which explored how nonprofits are responding to systemic pressures while continuing to serve their communities.
Throughout the day, breakout sessions were hosted at UW-Superior designed to give attendees actionable tools and ideas. Topics ranged from introductory guidance on shared services models to strategies for succession planning before leadership gaps become urgent.
“UW-Superior’s Link Center has attended and supported this Nonprofits Unite group for over a year,” said Katelyn Baumann, Link Center outreach program manager. “We are listening, supporting, and responding to the needs of our local nonprofit partners.”
In the afternoon, leaders from Union Gospel Mission, CHUM and the Damiano Center shared a candid look at their ongoing efforts to collaborate through shared services. Their discussion highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of aligning operations across organizations with similar missions.
As nonprofit leaders continue to face evolving demands, the summit underscored the value of collective problem-solving — and UW-Superior’s role in supporting bringing those conversations to the forefront.