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Real Talk: A Conversation about Equity, Nonprofits, and Fundraising

Thursday, July 18 4:30-6:00 p.m. Program  6:00-6:30 p.m. Networking & beverages on the patio

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands 

2001 E. Madison St. Seattle, WA  98122

Equity work is serious, hard, and can feel heavy. Sometimes, though, we need to take a breath and lighten up a little bit. A screw up isn’t the end of the world, but how do you move forward from one? We’ll discuss how trying to be perfect is rarely the best approach to creating a more equitable organization and specifically will address equity work in fundraising.

Join a team of facilitators from Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands— Bert Hopkins, Equity and Inclusion Manager; Ritee Sponsler, Major Gifts Manager – Capital Campaign; and Colleen Martinson, Major Gift Officer—to delve into steps individuals can take to move our organizations toward a more equitable future, taking into consideration our roles on hiring teams, inter-departmental committees; and as co-workers, managers, and fundraising ambassadors of our respective organizations.

The session will incorporate small and large group discussion and fun activities (we promise!) during which the participants will:

• Learn new approaches to having tough conversations with colleagues and donors
• Gain insight into how to bounce back from a mistake
• Develop a “do’s and don’ts” list for approaching equity work in a nonprofit organization

Parking:

Street and lot parking available. On several bus routes.

About the presenters:

Bert Hopkins is a racial justice educator, trainer, consultant, and the Equity & Inclusion Manager at Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands. He has worked with numerous community-based nonprofits and foundations, in higher education, and for nine years as a middle school teacher and curriculum coordinator. Whether with young people or adults, the heart of this work has been opening space for the groups he works with to engage authentically and deeply in order to move from individual awareness to collective action. Bert works daily to actively leverage his privilege as a cis-male white-identified person.

Ritee Sponsler manages the Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands’ $100M “No Matter What” capital campaign. The Campaign recently hit its first major milestone—opening a health center and administrative hub in Honolulu. Previously, Ritee worked in communications and development at the ACLU of Washington. Ritee holds a JD with a Public Interest Law certificate from the University of San Francisco and a BS from New York University.

Colleen Martinson has worked in nonprofits and education for more than  20 years, wearing a variety of hats: educator, program manager, volunteer coordinator, and development officer. As Major Gifts Officer with Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands, she loves working with donors who are passionate about ensuring equal access to reproductive health care. No Matter What.