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This Week @ UNA: August 5, 2025

Register Today and Build Your ✨ DREAM TEAM ✨

Joke of the Week

Q: Why did the computer take up gardening?
A: Scroll down to see the answer!

Attend the Conference = Get the Tools to Grow + Keep Top Talent

💥 Annual Conference Early Bird registration ends August 13 💥
Don’t miss the chance to save your spot (and save some real $$$)! Join hundreds of nonprofit changemakers who are coming together to connect, recharge, and lead with purpose. 

REGISTER TODAY AND SAVE!

Building Your Dream Team

Dr. Rob Harter is here to show you how. In this quick clip, Rob shares why his Conference Breakout Session (Dream Team Dynamics: Strategies for Hiring, Growing, and Keeping Top Talent) is a must-attend for any leader looking to strengthen their team for long-term success. 

Get a sneak peek of what’s in store at the 2025 UNA Annual Conference: Hope in Action. 

Breakout Sessions Now Online!

Join us for the 2025 UNA Annual Conference, Hope in Action, Utah’s largest gathering of nonprofit professionals, happening Thursday, September 18 at the Davis Conference Center. The UNA Annual Conference brings you a full day of diverse sessions and speakers that offer insights and innovative approaches to addressing today's nonprofit challenges and needs. Register now! 

UNA Annual Conference Awards and Recognitions

Hall of Fame Spotlight Recognition Submissions are open until August 8! This is your last call to celebrate the individuals who uplift your mission. 

Looking for other ways to get involved? Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities put your organization in front of nonprofit leaders who are ready to connect and collaborate. Support Utah’s nonprofit sector while showcasing your services, products, or expertise. 

Your Learning Lineup

Headed Out for Summer Adventures?

No worriesall UNA trainings (including Credential courses) are recorded so you can learn on your schedule. And when it comes to one-on-one consultations, sign-ups are sent by email—no need to be there live to grab a spot! 

Nonprofit Credential Courses
Get knowledge, skills, and resources to build capacity, achieve outcomes, and grow your organization.

Tools You Can Use

Advocacy Isn’t Optional Anymore. It’s Survival.

As many organizations see significant drops in funding, now is the time to build an advocacy plan for your organization. A lot of decisions are being made that is affecting your funding, your goals, and the community you serve. It is not too late to start your advocacy plan and build out your strategy in order to protect your nonprofit organization and mission. Register now for the Nonprofit Credential in Advocacy and Civic Engagement.

Community Corner

UNA’s Community Circles, MiniConfabs, and Receptions

Research Spotlight: "The Current State of Providers Serving Immigrants & Refugees," by the Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging 

The recent instability of federal grants has placed many of Utah’s New American service providers in an increasingly precarious position, jeopardizing vital programs and creating uncertainty for the communities they serve. This survey of 28 service providers offers a critical window into the evolving landscape, illuminating both the mounting challenges and the potential pathways forward. Learn more.

Report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy - State of Nonprofits 2025: What Funders Need to Know

"This year, leaders describe operating in an environment that has only grown more complex. Nonprofits are facing new pressures that test their ability to work effectively, such as actions taken by the new presidential administration and future economic uncertainty. A number of foundations have responded by issuing public statements, increasing payout levels, and offering additional support. These actions reflect a growing recognition of the need to support nonprofits as they navigate an increasingly unpredictable context, one that will likely continue to evolve in the months ahead." Learn more.

Nonprofit Community Calendar

Share your upcoming events on the Nonprofit Community Calendar and reach a bigger audience. Submit your event.

Utah SUN Bucks Program (Summer EBT)

Utah SUN Bucks (also called Summer EBT) can help families buy food during the summer when schools are closed. Families get $120 for each eligible school-age child. Applications must be submitted by August 31. Learn more. 

Advocacy

Navigate the Noise

We know you’re balancing a million things. Our Resources to Navigating Uncertainty and Policy Update Page are here to keep you grounded. And if legislation or funding changes are impacting your work, share your story. Your voice matters—and we’re listening. 

Nonprofit Toolkit: Resources for Organizations Facing Government Investigations

This toolkit from Protect Democracy offers best practices for responding to politicized government investigations so that organizations can keep doing lawful, mission-based work. Learn more. 

National Voter Registration Day | September 16

With critical state and local elections happening across the country, this year’s National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) is more important than ever. These important elections will shape policies on education, public safety, healthcare, and more—yet many eligible voters remain unregistered. As a nonpartisan civic holiday, NVRD is a nationwide movement that engages thousands of organizations to help register voters and spread awareness. We invite you to join us as a Community Partner today and prepare for NVRD on September 16!

Nonprofits Don’t Have Big, Corporate PACs or Deep Lobbying Pockets—but We Do Have Each Other

Advocacy is how we protect our missions, secure resources, and push back against harmful policies. But this work doesn’t happen on its own. It’s powered by people like you. 

Your support and membership fuels our ability to monitor legislation, mobilize quickly, and ensure nonprofits are heard—whether at the Capitol in Salt Lake City or on Capitol Hill in Washington. 

🙏 If you're already a member—thank you! 

👉 Not a member? Join UNA today—because advocacy isn’t free, but it’s worth every ounce of support. 

👉 Not a Nonprofit? Donate to UNA—support the sector with your donation. 

Get Involved

Race to Lead Survey

It’s here! BMP's flagship research initiative, the Race to Lead Survey, is LIVE. If you work at a nonprofit, your insights can help reshape leadership pipelines, expose systemic inequities, and ensure your voice is part of the national conversation.

Celebrate the People Who Power Nonprofits

We’ve made it easy to honor the people behind your impact with 2025 UNA Annual Conference nominations and Utah Philanthropy Day awards

Explore these pages to see which nomination, event, or recognition fits your changemaker best:

🌟 Individuals 

Volunteers. Staff. Board members. Advocates.

They show up, speak out, and go above and beyond—often without recognition. Celebrate the individuals who uplift your mission. 

🤝 Teams 

Program staff. Leadership teams. Collaborations. 

Change is a group effort. Recognize your powerhouse team and give them the celebration they deserve. 

💼 Funders and Companies 

Mission-aligned businesses. Sponsors. Grantmakers. 

They make the work possible. Shine a light on your partners who lead with generosity and purpose. 

Joke of the Week

Q: Why did the computer take up gardening?
A: It wanted to improve its root system.

Have a joke that makes your team laugh out loud? Send it to info@utahnonprofits.org—you might see it in next week’s Rapid Read! 

Resources to Keep on Your Radar

Need affordable health coverage for your team? Explore UNA's Group Health Insurance Plan. 

Looking for professional expertise or guidance? Check out the Business Affiliate Directory for the solutions you need. 

Sign up for UNA’s Slack Community and join the UNA Advocacy and Civic Engagement channel to share your advocacy priorities, questions, and calls to action.

Curious about UNA member benefits? See the complete list. 

P.S. Have a Letter to the Editor from your Executive Director or a news story featuring your organization? Send it our way—we're adding these highlights to the UNA Newsroom