Ride Share Pickup/Dropoff Locations 

• Once dropped off at Campus Center, walk to University Hall for registration and sessions

MBTA 

• MBTA Transportation Information 
• Shuttles will run the same hours, below, but with less frequency. During break periods/summer, they aim for 15 minute service. 
  • Monday – Friday | 5:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.   
  • Saturday – Sunday | 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. 

Navigating Campus 

Using the online map can provide real-time navigation around campus: www.umb.edu/map. Or you can reference the Printable Campus Map. 

Registration, Opening Plenary & Sessions will take place in University Hall

The Luncheon Plenary will take place in the Campus Center

Conference Location: UMass Boston, University Hall & Campus Center

Registration will be located at University Hall

Visitor Parking: 

Umass Boston campus is located at 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125. While this is their main address, it can sometimes be challenging for visitors to navigate to the correct parking lot or building. To make your visit easier, we recommend sharing the specific Google Maps links below, which will guide you directly to the designated parking area or building on campus. 

• Get directions to the Campus Center Garage (closest to University Hall & Campus Center)
• Get directions to the Quad Lot (closest to University Hall & Campus Center)
• Get directions to University Lot D 
• Get directions to the West Garage 

Please note: If you’re parking in the Campus Center Garage, take the elevator to Upper Level -UL, and walk from the Campus Center to University Hall to register and engage in sessions.

Parking Lot Rates 

• Campus Center Garage: This lot requires payment via a ticket, which you will receive upon entry. The West Garage is the only lot offering hourly rates. 
• Quad Lot: This is a Pay-by-Plate lot. Payments can be made either online or through the Passport Parking mobile app (available for iOS and Android). To use the app, you'll need to create an account. However, you do not need an account to pay online. 
• Quad Lot Zone: 21266 

Birds of a Feather Networking Sessions: Birds of a Feather Networking Sessions are intimate gatherings designed to build community, learn nonprofit best practices, and share challenges and successes. Connect with leaders across fundraising, evaluation, organizational development, marketing/communications and more, as they facilitate discussions and opportunities to learn and deepen your expertise. 

1. Strengthening the Nonprofit Ecosystem by Grounding Capacity Building in Equity
   1. Room 4190, 4th floor, led by TSNE Shared Services staff
      1. The hallmarks of a healthy ecosystem are sound infrastructure, productivity, and resilience, and one that is intact in the interrelationships of its components. How do we strategically develop our institutions, as part of the broader nonprofit ecosystem, into well-organized, more productive, and sustainable entities by prioritizing equity in our capacity building efforts? Why is this important, and what resources or services do we need to accomplish these objectives? Let us share ideas and learn from one another about how to center equity as a foundation to help optimize organizational effectiveness and sustainability, and how to enrich connectedness with other nonprofits in the process.
2. What Role Does Accounting Play in Demonstrating Organizational Commitments to Equity?
   1. Room 4180, 4th floor, led by TSNE Finance staff
      1. How can accounting teams produce reports that are accessible and meaningful to diverse stakeholders, including community members without financial expertise? Are there implicit biases in internal controls or expense approval processes that may unintentionally disadvantage certain groups?
3. Curating Connection Through Marketing & Communications
   1. Room 4140, 4th floor, led by TSNE Marketing & Communications staff
      1. Discuss best practices for authentically connecting with your target audiences through developing accessible, inclusive, and equity-centered marketing and communications. From style guides, messaging guides, design, and more; learn about some of the most useful approaches to creating compelling content and strategy for organizational reach, growth, and connection.
4. What Does Organizational Readiness Look Like for a Successful Leadership Transition?
   1. Room 4130, 4th floor, led by TSNE Executive Search staff
      1. Join us for an exploration of organizational readiness for a successful leadership transition, with a focus on embedding equity in executive search. We’ll explore key strategies for preparing your organization for new leadership, particularly in creating an inclusive environment that supports leaders of color. Learn how to assess readiness, align stakeholders, and build equitable hiring practices to ensure a smooth and sustainable transition.
5. Building a Culture of Learning at Your Organization: Key Strategies for Continuous Improvement
   1. Room 4120, 4th floor, led by TSNE Learning & Evaluation staff
      1. We will explore some key strategies for building a culture of learning at your organization. Research and practice literature has shown that incorporating evaluation and learning at your organization creates many benefits, including bringing a greater understanding of an organization’s programming, being able to document and monitor program activities, supporting informed decision-making, being able to align efforts with improvements happening across the organization, and being able to facilitate organizational learning (Bourgeois, Lemire Fierro, Castleman, & Cho, 2022; Preskill, 2007; Stockdill, Baizerman, & Compton, 2002). In this session, facilitators will share four key strategies that can help you build a culture of learning at your organization: 1. Engaging stakeholders in evaluation and learning; 2. Developing essential program tools + processes; 3. Using reflection activities as a strategy for continuous improvement; 4. Building capacity through training and support. During the session, we invite participants to be in dialogue with us and share how they are building a culture of learning at their organizations.
6. How to Design and Implement Accessible Programming
   1. Room 4110, 4th floor, led by TSNE Cohort Learning staff
      1. Join us to discuss, explore, and envision accessible and inclusive engaging group learning spaces.
7. Recruitment Meets Retention: The Employee Experience Journey
   1. Room 4100, 4th floor, led by TSNE People & Culture/HR staff
      1. This Birds of a Feather session will explore how recruitment, benefits, and onboarding shape the employee experience and drive long-term retention. Together, we’ll discuss strategies to create equitable and engaging processes that set employees up for success, from their first interaction to their first year and beyond. Participants will share ideas on: Crafting meaningful onboarding plans that reflect organizational values, Building equity into recruitment and benefits to support a diverse and inclusive workforce, and Strengthening engagement through early and intentional connections.
8. Improving Accessibility and Belonging in Fiscal Sponsorship Programs
   1. Room 2330, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Fiscal Sponsorship staff
      1. Join us for a Birds of a Feather session on "Improving Accessibility and Belonging in Fiscal Sponsorship Programs," where we will explore strategies for creating more inclusive and equitable environments for nonprofit organizations. This discussion will focus on the role of fiscal sponsors in enhancing accessibility, supporting marginalized communities, and fostering a true sense of belonging. We’ll also delve into TSNE’s practices for ensuring equity in the selection process for fiscal sponsorship clients, addressing bias, and promoting diversity within the sector.
9. Equity in Property: Building Inclusive Spaces & Opportunities
   1. Room 2320, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Properties staff
      1. Explore how nonprofit real estate ownership/stewardship can foster equity. Conversation may include addressing systemic barriers to property access/ownership, supporting underrepresented communities by creating community spaces, and the power of real estate to be an investment in the long-term health of an org. We would also explore the idea of property services as a great opportunity for careers for those without access to higher education, and how diversifying this sector can lead to breaking down the age-old approach to real estate: maximizing profit for a select few.
10. Leading Change in Turbulent Times
    1. Room 2100, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Organizational Development & Consulting staff
       1. What does it mean to be a change ready and agile organization? In these particularly turbulent times, the ability to lead your organization and people through change is critical. This birds of a feather session will focus on centering staff as you navigate both internally and externally driven change, whether it impacts your programmatic, fundraising, or advocacy strategies (among many others!). Together we will explore strategies to plan for, move through, and sustain organizational change and discuss topics such as human-centered change, leadership skills for change, and assessing risk.
11. The Uncertain Future of Corporate DEIB Programs
    1. Room 2110, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Legal staff
       1. Various executive orders and pronouncements from the Trump administration have caused a lot of fear and uncertainty for organizations committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. With broad proclamations laying down their intent to target the “most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” in the private sector and education, the current administration has used phrases like “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences,” without providing much detail. As a result, nonprofits are left with uncertainty and confusion, and in fear of how to respond or to protect themselves while holding firm to their values. In this Birds of a Feather session we will discuss strategies and tactics for nonprofits within the context of these threats, including how we can continue with our mission and values based work.
12. Shaping Culture Through Learning and Growth
    1. Room 2130, 2nd floor, led by TSNE People & Culture/HR staff
       1. This Birds of a Feather session is focused on cultivating a thriving organizational culture through intentional strategies for learning and development. Together, we will explore approaches such as: Fostering a workplace centered on learning and growth, Developing leadership competencies that inspire collaboration, innovation, and inclusion, and Embedding values-driven practices that enhance connection and engagement. Whether you’re just beginning to look at your organization’s culture or are looking for a just a little bit more insight, this is a chance to connect with like-minded peers, share best practices, and leave with actionable insights to enhance your organization’s culture.