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This Week @ UNA: September 2, 2025

Do you remember… 🎶

Joke of the Week

Q: What is a tree’s least favorite month?
A: Scroll down to see the answer!

September’s Got the Moves: Learning and Voting

Last week, we reminded you to save the date for the 2025 UNA Annual Conference on September 18 (register here if you haven’t already!). 

Speaking of important dates… September 16 is National Voter Registration Day! Critical state and local elections are coming up, and the policies they shape—on education, healthcare, public safety, and more—impact our communities every single day. That’s why we’re inviting nonprofits like yours to join this nationwide movement as a Community Partner.  

We know finances can be a barrier to Conference registration. Qualifying organizations can register for the Conference with the Pay What You Can option. 

💫 Practical Leadership 1.0: Cultivating Thriving Supervisory Relationships | September 9
Effectively carrying out a supervisor role is more “art” than science. This highly interactive training provides participants with immediately implementable tools and strategies.   

❌ Cancel Culture and Bridging Toward Belonging in Progressive Organizations | September 25
This workshop will unpack how organizations working on social justice issues face unique challenges and will address how to navigate external and internal barriers to their work. 

💝 Utah Philanthropy Day | December 5
Since 1999, AFP Utah, UNA, and UServeUtah have come together to honor the incredible philanthropists and volunteers who make our state shine. Registration is now open for the annual Utah Philanthropy Day Luncheon! 

 

Don’t miss your chance to hit pause, gather with your people, and fill your cup. The 2025 UNA Annual Conference: Hope in Action is your one-day ticket to inspiration, learning, and practical tools to support your journey. 

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. 

Staff Picks

Alison is looking forward to:

Strategic Efficiency with AI: Transforming Nonprofit Operations

"I’m really looking forward to Strategic Efficiency with AI: Transforming Nonprofit Operations because our organization is actively exploring ways to work smarter, not harder. The idea of using AI to streamline areas like operations, HR, and fundraising is incredibly appealing. With limited time and resources, understanding how to make AI work for us would be a game-changer for building capacity and increasing our impact.”

Julie is looking forward to:

Talk Less, Communicate More: Lessons from Animals

"As an animal lover who can watch documentaries for hours, I’m excited about this upcoming session that draws inspiration from how animals communicate. The description highlights skills like active listening, empathy, and effective feedback—tools that are essential for nonprofits working to build strong teams and healthier organizational culture. I’m looking forward to seeing how lessons from the natural world can help strengthen the way we train staff, resolve conflict, and engage with the communities we serve.”

Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors!

Premier Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Connector Sponsors

Technology Sponsor

Memory Maker Sponsor

Coffee Sponsor

Hall of Fame Sponsor

Supporter

Business Exhibitors

Nonstop Health
Hoan Marketing
Utah Valley University MPA Program
Team Nash
Squire & Company

EleeHub
KRCL
U of U School of Public Affairs (MPA)
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Spy Hop Productions
Nothing Bundt Cakes

Coat Rack Web Services
Bloomerang
Beta Wealth Group
Chase Bank
Gallagher

Your Learning Lineup

All UNA trainings (including Credential courses) are recorded!

Learn on your schedule. And when it comes to one-on-one Credential 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.

Upcoming Training
Deepen your knowledge and enhance your skillset.

Tools You Can Use

Travel Made Simple (and Meaningful!) 

We’re excited to introduce Engine, the newest UNA member benefit. With Engine, you can book hotels, flights, and rental cars all in one place — saving time, cutting costs, and unlocking exclusive rates. Ready to make the most of your membership? Learn more.

Community Corner

UNA’s Community Circles, MiniConfabs, and Receptions

Connect, collaborate, and grow with fellow nonprofit professionals across Utah.

In Case You Missed It: UNA’s CEO on 90.9fm KRCL RadioACTive

On August 26, Jill joined RadioACTive to talk about the state of local charitable organizations. With federal budget cuts, nonprofits are being asked to do more with less even as community needs continue to rise. Learn more.

Nonprofit Community Calendar

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

Advocacy

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.

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!

Protecting Nonprofits from Partisan Politics

The IRS recently asked a federal court to approve a settlement that would declare the Johnson Amendment unconstitutional—a change that could fundamentally shift how nonprofits engage in politics. The Johnson Amendment passed over 70 years ago with bipartisan support and prohibits charitable nonprofits, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. It’s a key reason nonprofits are trusted across political lines.  

Why It Matters: If repealed or weakened, nonprofits could be turned into political tools—eroding public trust, diverting donations, and risking your organization’s mission. Learn more from the National Council of Nonprofits. 

Take Action: Help protect nonprofit organizations from partisan politics: 

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

The Race to Lead Survey Is Back for 2025–and This Year Marks a Major Milestone

The Building Movement Project (BMP) launched the first Race to Lead survey in 2016 to uncover how race and other identities impact who leads, who stays, and how leadership is experienced across the nonprofit sector. In the years since, thousands of nonprofit staff have shared their stories, contributing to one of the largest and most widely cited datasets on race and leadership in the sector. Take the survey now!

Celebrate the People Who Power Nonprofits

We’ve made it easy to honor the people behind your impact with Utah Philanthropy Day awards. Explore these pages to see which nomination or event fits your changemaker best:

🤝 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: What is a tree’s least favorite month?
A: Sep-timber! (Can you tell we’re excited for the ‘ber months? 🍂)

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!