Hello Friends,

I’m Jill Bennett, CEO of Utah Nonprofits Association. That long and lofty title really means that I have the honor, privilege, and responsibility of standing with you, behind you, and for you in support of the missions that keep our communities whole.  

Our work at UNA is straight forward—we are here to make your work easier and to create space for all of us to claim the hope we can build together.*

Let me give you four numbers: 3, 12,000. 130,000 and 3.25 billion.   

They might not mean much yet. But by the time we’re done, you’ll see why they matter—why they are at the heart of our sector, and why they tell the story of hope in action.  

 These last few months have been anything but easy for the people in this room. And when the people in this room struggle, that struggle ripples into every facet of our lives—our schools, our neighborhoods, our health, our sense of belonging.  

We have seen funding cuts. We have seen our work misrepresented. And we have seen our integrity questioned—time after time after time.  

And those misrepresentations? Everyone in this room knows the truth: Utah, our country, and our world are better for our work.  

• You are there when someone suffers from mental illness, offering care and dignity.   

• You are there when trauma has broken a life, helping people find healing and hope.   

• You are there when families are hungry, when children need safety, when seniors feel forgotten, and when veterans need support.   

• You are there to confront the forces that fracture communities and spread fear and division, instead working for understanding, healing, and change.   

• You are there when people are left out for who they are, standing instead for dignity, belonging, and love.   

• You are there when art, music, and culture remind us of what it means to be human.   

• You are there when our air, water, and land need protection for the generations to come.  

• You are part of 12,000 nonprofits in Utah—the backbone of Utah.  

You are there. Again and again. And because you are there for all of Utah—UNA is here for you.  

This morning, Dr. Chad Hellman reminded us that hope is not wishful thinking—it’s action. It’s leadership. It’s showing up even when the odds are stacked against us. And that is what our sector does best.  

At UNA, our vision for hope is clear:  

So that all Utahns can thrive, we unify, elevate, and strengthen the nonprofits that sustain our communities and nurture hope.  

But that vision without action is just talk. Hope demands movement, and we are here for you with programs built to meet today’s challenges head-on.    

The work you do every day changes lives. But too often, your stories don’t travel far enough. When our stories aren’t heard, they’re dismissed. Distorted. Drowned out.  

That’s why UNA is stepping forward with something new: programs that make your stories impossible to ignore. Programs that turn stories into volunteers, allies, and funding to keep your missions strong.  

We’ll still deliver the technical assistance, benefits, and resources you count on. But these new efforts are our first answer—there will be more—to the problems we all face: misrepresentation, underfunding, and attempts to silence us.  

Here’s how we’re doing that: 

Utah Gives—our statewide giving movement—is back with fresh energy and a sharper focus. The goal is simple: help you raise more money, connect with new donors, bring in volunteers, and grow long-term sustainability. Utah already leads with generosity. Utah Gives is how we amplify that, widen its reach, and turn it into lasting support for every nonprofit across our state.  

The Utah Nonprofit Film Festival on Monday, November 10—when our work is misunderstood or invisible, we answer with story. Stories that connect, humanize, and show the truth of who we are.  

BillTrack50 discounts—when policymakers don't hear us, we answer with data and advocacy. And let’s not forget: nonprofits employ over 130,000 Utahns—a workforce lawmakers cannot afford to overlook. BillTrack 50 is a tool for effectively tracking legislation, regulations, creating legislative scorecards, and more. Please email Warren Miterko if you have questions about BillTrack50. 

Free registration for UNA members in the Nonprofit Credential in Advocacy and Civic Engagement, plus new training designed to sharpen your messaging and strengthen your civic voice. When fear is used to silence us, we answer with skill, confidence, and collective advocacy. And it works—Utahns are three times more likely to vote when asked by a nonprofit. That’s civic power—yours. This Nonprofit Credential is October 22 and 23, 2025. Please email Colleen Maher for more information.

Nonprofits Get It Done Campaign—when critics distort who we are, we answer with one clear, collective voice. This national campaign sets the record straight: nonprofits are powerful, credible, and at the heart of hope in action. Stand with Utah nonprofits, volunteers, and staff who make our communities stronger.

These programs are about the long game—changing how Utah sees and supports its nonprofits. To keep you connected, we’ll share every resource in our emails and on our website.  

But we also need action today.  

That’s why we’ve set out 1,000 postcards for you to share your message with elected officials. Before you leave, write one—or two—and drop them in the box at the UNA table. Together we can flood our leaders with a thousand messages: thanking them, challenging them, and reminding them that Utah’s strength is rooted in fairness, compassion, and community.  

And remember—if we didn’t have power, no one would be trying so hard to silence us.  

That power expands when we act together, when we amplify each other’s work.  

Nearly 400 nonprofits proved it when they stood shoulder-to-shoulder to protect the Combined Federal Campaign from cancellation. Their collective advocacy reversed a federal order and preserved funding for thousands of charities.  

That’s the strength of unity. That’s proof that nonprofits get it done.   

Commitment. Passion. Hope. These are the qualities that carry us forward. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it alone.  

UNA is here. Your peers are here. And together—we will not only endure, we will lead.  

Because hope is action. And action is what nonprofits do. Always.  

Thank you for all you do—for your passion, your persistence, and your hope in action. Now take some time to visit our Expo Hall, connect with sponsors and exhibitors, and gather more tools to strengthen your work.