The mission of the Snowy Range Nonprofit Institute is to provide an educational training partnership with nonprofit organizations and their supporters throughout the state of Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region.

A group of University of Wyoming volunteers who shared an interest in the state’s nonprofit sector established SRNI in 2002. The organizing team had a vision: providing a high-quality educational experience at UW. Professional development is the goal, via practitioner-focused educational programming.

Our first agenda focused on fund-raising issues. Year two introduced concurrent sessions, featuring multiple tracks that build on an institute theme. In response to participant requests for more focused, a practicum that offers opportunities for advanced training on a topic of interest to nonprofits in 2005.

SRNI began an exciting new partnership with the UW Cooperative Extension Service Community Development Education Initiative Team in 2006. We look forward to building the institute’s future in collaboration with this group of expert community educators.

I’m excited to be keynoting this year’s conference.