Photo courtesy of University Communications.

This series of lectures and discussion sessions explores innovative models of addressing contemporary social and nonprofit issues. Since 2008 over 2,000 attendees have participated in our Communiversity sessions.

Registration is free and open to the public and includes nonprofit executives, their staff and volunteers including boards of directors, as well as students, faculty and staff from across the UW. Learn about upcoming lectures and logistics.

Supporting sponsors of the Communiversity series include the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, the Morgridge Center for Public Service Challenge Grant, the Brittingham Fund, Inc., the Alliant Energy Foundation and St. Marys Hospital.

View Previous Lectures

Thursday, May 24, 2012
“Plug In! Making Social Media Work for Your Organization"
Alice Ferris and Jim Anderson

Wednesday, February 29, 2012
“Leadership Success and Transitions: Today and Tomorrow"
Marshall Heyworth and Paige Goldner, QTI Professional Staffing, Inc.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
“Social Ventures 101: So You Want to Start Your Own Organization?"
Melissa Auchard Scholz, Scholz Nonprofit Law LLC

Wednesday, October 5, 2011
“Volunteer Engagement and Management: Building Partnerships to Advance Your Mission"
Mary Stelletello

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
“The Race is On - Evaluating Your Nonprofit Programs to Communicate Value"
Ellen Taylor-Powell, PhD.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
“Generational Diversity - Working with Multiple Generations in Your Nonprofit Organization"
Steve Lipton, Partner In Charge, Nonprofit and Government Practice, Wipfli LLP

Tuesday, February 18, 2011
“Flexing Your Political Influence: How Advocacy is Critical to Your Nonprofit Organization”
Nino Amato, President and CEO of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups

Wednesday, November 17, 2010
“Grameen America and the Microfinance Movement: Past, Present and Future”
Katherine Rosenberg and Seema Gohil, Grameen America, New York, New York

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
“Using Technology to Engage and Inform Your Nonprofit Donors”
Paul Houseman, Donor Relations Manager, Madison Community Foundation

September 7, 2010                                                                  “Board Governance:  Trends and Issues for Nonprofit Executives and Their Boards”
Denes Tobie, Wipfli LLP, Nonprofit and Government Practice               Click here to access the presentation materials.

July 8, 2010
"Making our Individual Contributions to Creating a Civil Society"
Carole MacNeil, Consultant and Principal with MacNeil Associates

July 6, 2010
"Youth Activism and Civic Engagement"
Carole MacNeil, Consultant and Principal with MacNeil Associates

July 1, 2010
"The Role of Community Foundations in Building Civil Society"
Kathleen Woit, Ph.D., President, Madison Community Foundation

June 29, 2010
"Health Care Access:  Community Needs and Approaches that Build a Civil Society"
Barbara Snell, M.S., CEO of University Community Health Centers, Vanderbilt University

June 24, 2010
"Building Civil Society Internationally"
Scott McCallum, President and CEO of Aidmatrix of Houston and former Governor of the State of Wisconsin.

June 15, 2010
“Part 1: Introduction to Building a Civil Society Through the Nonprofit Sector”
Barry Gaberman, Senior Vice President Emeritus, Ford Foundation, New York, NY and Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Gerhart Center on Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at American University in Cairo, Egypt

June 17, 2010
“Part 2: Introduction to Building a Civil Society Through the Nonprofit Sector”
Barry Gaberman, Senior Vice President Emeritus, Ford Foundation, New York, NY and Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Gerhart Center on Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at American University in Cairo, Egypt

March 8, 2010
“Bringing Your Strategic Plan to Life”
Kathleen A. Paris, Ph.D., Consultant, Author, Speaker
Melinda Heinritz, Executive Director, Wisconsin Historical Foundation

November 30, 2009
"The Time is Now for Health Care Reform"
Frank Bryne, MD, President, St. Mary's Hospital and Michael Heifetz, Vice President for Government Affairs, SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and Dean Health System

November 12, 2009
"Differentiate Your Nonprofit In Ways That Really Matter"
Kay Plantes, Principal of Plantes Company, LLC, Madison, WI

September 22, 2009
"A Conversation on Collaboration"
Melanie Schmidt, Principal, Timpano Group, Madison, WI

May 6, 2009
“American Philanthropy and U.S. Foreign Policy”
Joan Spero, Past President of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, New York City, New York

April 13, 2009
“Mobilizing Communities and Universities in the Obama Era:  Strategies for Organizing People, Giving and Civic Action”
Bobby Hackett, Senior Vice President of the Bonner Foundation, Princeton, NJ

March 23, 2009
"Brand Positioning, the Life Force of Your Nonprofit"
Wayne Glowac, President of Glowac Harris, Madison

March 2, 2009
“Locating and Accessing Grants --  The UW Grants Administration Collection”
Nikki Busch, Grants Librarian, UW Memorial Library

November 3, 2008
“Charity, Strategic Philanthropy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Contributing to the Common Good”
Barry Gaberman, Senior Vice President Emeritus, Ford Foundation, New York City, New York