Giving trends in Dane County & Advocacy

Join us as we explore the flow of cash to nonprofits in Dane County through preliminary research done by Andrew Davey at the Madison Community Foundation. The results may surprise you! Then, learn about the essential elements of advocacy from a seasoned experts, Mike Carlson and Melinda Heinritz, to best influence local, state, and federal policies that impact your overall mission and nonprofit funding.

12:00 - 12:45pm: Lunch
12:45 - 2:00pm: Presentation and Discussion

Parking is available in the Madison College lot behind the building.  There is additional parking along the street on Badger Road (follow street signs for any parking restrictions).

CFRE: This event has been submitted for CFRE credits.

Speakers

Andy Davey currently serves as Community Program Analyst for the Madison Community Foundation. He conducts research and convenes nonprofit practitioners and other philanthropic funders around critical issues. He holds a PhD in geography and environmental history from UW-Madison. In his work, he draws on both his academic training as a scholar of food systems and environmental and political values as well as a variety of work experiences from caregiver for people with disabilities, nonprofit program manager, urban farmer, and classroom teacher. He lives on the east side of Madison with his wife and rambunctious young sons. 

Mike has been with Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts since 2008, previously serving as the organization's Government Relations Director and External Relations Director. In his current role as Executive Director, Mike has overall responsibility for leading and managing the organization and continues to act as an advocate and a liaison for Wisconsin’s land trusts on state and federal policy issues. He moved to Madison in 2002 to pursue a dual degree in Law and Land Resources at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, completing the program in 2007 with an M.S. and a J.D. Mike grew up in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Mike and his wife, Allison, enjoy spending time exploring the outdoors with their son, Jonas, daughter, Johanna. Mike is also an avid sportsman and enjoys hunting and fishing throughout the year.

Since July 2016, Melinda has served as the President of the Madison Public Schools Foundation, the primary marketing and fundraising partner of the Madison Metropolitan School District. Melinda is also Executive Director of Schools Make Madison Advocacy, Inc., the Foundation’s 501c4 advocacy arm.

Previously, Melinda was the Strategic Partnerships Director at the Madison Community Foundation, focusing primarily on the Foundation’s women’s fund and regional affiliate program.  Prior to that, Melinda served for twelve years, eight as Executive Director, on the staff of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation, the fundraising partner of the Wisconsin Historical Society, a state agency.  During that time, she also acted as Campaign Director of the $78.6 million Forward! The Campaign for the Wisconsin Historical Society and served as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Historical Real Estate Foundation.

Melinda has a BA in history from the University of Dayton and an MA in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  A product of Shelbyville, Indiana public schools, Melinda and her husband, Mark, are the proud parents of a 12th grade son at Madison West High School.

Event Slides