Nonprofits across Greater Milwaukee are being asked to do more with less, while resources shift and demands grow. Surviving is not the same as building the future we want. This fall, join nonprofit leaders, consultants, and funders for a morning that pairs real progress with practical learning on elevating collaboration and collective impact.

Progress on our growing community work

On May 27, 2026, nearly 70 nonprofit leaders, consultants, and funders came together for Planting Seeds to Grow Community. It was the first time all three groups gathered in the same room, after separate conversations that let each speak candidly. Participants left with a shared sense of “we” and committed to five action arenas for building capacity across our nonprofit ecosystem, from improving communication and transparency to strengthening relationships.

Those arena groups spent the summer identifying priorities. On November 11, you’ll hear what they’ve learned and where they’re headed, and you’ll have a chance to help shape what happens next.

Keynote: The Spectrum of Collaboration with Lynn Debilzen

Collaboration is often offered as the answer, but what does it take to build partnerships that are effective, equitable, and sustainable?

Systems change and organizational design strategist Lynn Debilzen, founder of The Collective Shift Co., will explore the spectrum of nonprofit collaboration, from informal partnerships to shared services and collective impact initiatives. Drawing on nearly two decades of nonprofit experience, including extensive work in cross-sector collaboration and systems change, Lynn will share practical frameworks, real-world examples, and key considerations for designing collaborations that last. Together, we'll explore how collaboration can help organizations navigate today's challenges while intentionally building the nonprofit ecosystem and community we want for the future.

What you’ll take away

• Updates on actions taken and the priorities that emerged since our last convening in May 2026
• A clearer picture of the different models of collaboration and when each one fits
• Key considerations for designing partnerships that last
• Ways to get involved in the work ahead
• Connections with peers across the local nonprofit community — nonprofit leaders, consultants, and funders

Agenda

8:45 am: Doors open

9–9:15 am: Welcome and introduction

9:15–9:40 am: Updates since the last convening

9:40–10:25 am: Keynote on the spectrum of collaboration w/ Lynn Debilzen

10:25–10:35 am: Break 

10:35-11:25 am: Discussion and networking

11:25–11:30 am: Close

** Please bring resources or materials to share with other participants.

Address & parking

Redeemer Lutheran Church: 631 N 19th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233

Parking: Ample street parking is available. Marquette Parking Lot T at 609 N. 19th Street is available for a fee.

The church is transit-accessible via MCTS Routes Connect 1, 30, and 14. Visit www.ridemcts.com to plan your trip.

Please note: The venue is working on facility improvements to improve accessibility to the space. If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please reach out to events@nonprofitlift.org.

About our speaker — Lynn Debilzen

Lynn Debilzen is a systems change and organizational design strategist, facilitator, and executive coach with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity and social impact in the nonprofit sector. She specializes in helping organizations align bold visions with clear strategies, strong infrastructure, and adaptive practices that drive long-term impact.

Lynn began her career working with national nonprofits focused on scaling evidence-based programs. Over time, she recognized that even the best programs couldn't succeed in broken systems. She also saw how collaboration could help effective organizations extend their impact beyond what they could accomplish independently. These insights led her to collective impact, where the framework aligned with her belief in cross-sector collaboration and systemic transformation.

Since then, Lynn has worked across multiple backbone organizations—full-time, shared, and as a consultant—building the capacity of teams to lead aligned action, engage stakeholders, and adapt through complexity. Her experience spans education, child and youth development, community wellness, public health, economic development, and philanthropic collaboration.

As the founder of The Collective Shift Co. and a Visioning Strategist with FutureGood, Lynn partners with mission-driven organizations to align people, roles, and systems for long-term impact. She is known for her strategic clarity, human-first approach, and ability to help teams navigate complexity while building toward a shared vision of the future. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful systems change is both global and deeply local—and that the future is shaped by how we choose to lead, collaborate, and care for one another today.

Lynn holds an MBA in Social Impact Management from Brandeis University, an MA in Intercultural Youth and Family Development from the University of Montana, and a BS in Social Work from UW–Milwaukee.

About Nonprofit Lift

Nonprofit Lift is committed to making capacity-building services and resources more accessible to nonprofits in the Greater Milwaukee area. These resources include a directory of almost 200 consultants specializing in advocacy, governance, marketing, and more, and a resource library of more than 150 links to articles, data, templates, trainings, and more.

Nonprofit Lift strategic partners include:

The Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management at UW-Milwaukee, Jobs That Help, LISC Milwaukee, the Nonprofit Management Fund, and the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin.

Learn more at nonprofitlift.org.