Conference Recap: MCN’s 2026 Nonprofit Financial Conference

Summary

The 2026 Nonprofit Finance Conference, hosted by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and sponsored by Propel Nonprofits, brought together more than 500 nonprofit leaders for a day focused on financial leadership, compliance, audit readiness, and organizational resilience. For the Abdo team, the event was also a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the strength of the nonprofit community, share practical insights through conference presentations, and reinforce the importance of collaboration and financial ownership across organizations.

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The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, in partnership with Propel Nonprofits, recently held its annual Nonprofit Finance Conference in-person for the first time since the pandemic. The sold-out, one-day event was held at the University of Minnesota’s McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis and brought together more than 500 nonprofit leaders from across Minnesota and beyond.

A chance to share ideas and celebrate a community

For the Abdo team, the day was more than a chance to focus on best practices in nonprofit finance. Nonprofit partner Joe Wallis put it best: “Nonprofits have been through hell and back the last couple of years. This was a time to celebrate their resilience, progress, and accomplishments.”

Joe was joined by Abdo partners Steve Anseth and Hannah Hugen and managers Nate Maack and Trey Kockelman. All appreciated the conference’s mix of financial topics, including its emphasis on encouraging board members to take financial ownership. Other topics of note included achieving financial stability, managing compliance, working with auditors, and preparing for year-end.

Joe, Nate, and Trey also led talks of their own. Joe presented with Abdo’s client Michael Allen, founder and executive director of My Very Own Bed, on the firm’s role of serving as a trusted advisor to nonprofits. Nate spoke about ending the year with accrual confidence. Trey presented—alongside Abdo’s client Kelli Foster Warder of Artistry—on how nonprofits can better navigate the audit process. We’ll share a recap of each of these talks, so stay tuned.

What we’re taking home with us…

Although the event was only one day long, it left a lasting impression on our Abdo team members. “The energy was great, and it was well attended,” Trey shared. “The highlight for me was the discussion on how to combat the current media-fueled narrative about fraud in nonprofits. I appreciated being able to take away some messaging and statistics to reference.”

For Nate, the highlight of the day was being able to talk about how to break out of organizational silos. “Discussing the importance of having more people taking ownership of an organization’s financials—even simply referring to the budget as belonging to the organization versus a person within the organization—was powerful for me,” he said.

Beyond the numbers

The numbers certainly impact an organization’s ability to carry out its mission, but it’s the people who make it happen. More than anything else, the Abdo team was grateful to spend a day with a community that’s close to our hearts. We look forward to the next MCN gathering and opportunity to celebrate—and empower—our nonprofit clients.