Date/Time
Date(s) - December 2, 2025
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Fee: Pay What You Can
Register at: Register Below (scroll down)
Throughout 2025, we have witnessed a cascade of challenges for organizations in the nonprofit sector, from community safety responses to a government shutdown; from executive orders challenging some organizations’ mission work to funding cuts undermining the safety net.
On the flip side, civic and community engagement remains strong in Vermont and organizations are demonstrating unflinching commitment to their program work. Please join us for a conversation with two distinguished leaders — Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, and VT Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas — as they share their insights and experiences from the past year and discuss what lies ahead for 2026. This one-hour virtual convening will be engaging and informative, with time for questions and discussion.
Register Here
About the Speakers:
Diane Yentel is president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the largest network of nonprofit organizations in North America. Since joining in January 2025, Diane has been a leading national voice, thought leaders, and advocate for the nonprofit sector. Under Diane’s leadership, NCN has filed and won two landmark lawsuits to ensure over $1 trillion dollars in federal funding continues to support nonprofits in their crucial work to meet community needs, and launched a major national narrative campaign to build public support for the vital work of nonprofits throughout the country.
Sarah Copeland Hanzas is Vermont’s 39th Secretary of State, elected in November 2022. She has lived, gone to school, and worked in Vermont since 1971 and her life and career have always centered on service. She has been an educator, a youth coach, a small business owner, and a state legislator. During her 18-year legislative career she served as Majority Leader, was Co-Chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and was Chair of the House Government Operations Committee. Sarah served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. She is passionate about civics and has made civic education and engagement a major priority for her office. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Sarah lives in Bradford with her husband, John. They have three adult children.
Robyn Palmer is the Director of Civic and Voter Engagement at the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office. She is passionate about empowering Vermonters to connect with their community and make their voices heard. Prior to taking this position, she served as the Program Manager of the SerVermont AmeriCorps VISTA Program for ten years. Robyn has a BA in American Studies and Art History from Temple University in Philadelphia and earned her Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Maryland. She is so grateful to call Vermont home and currently resides in Shelburne with her husband, their growing record collection, and two silly cats.