Western NC Nonprofit Policy Conversation

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.  PLEASE CLICK REGISTRATION LINK TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST.

Hosted in collaboration with WNC Nonprofit Pathways and the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, the Nonprofit Policy Conversation will bring together nonprofit leaders to discuss public policy issues that are important to WNC nonprofits and the people and communities they serve. REGISTER HERE.

Location: Holiday Inn Biltmore West, Forest Ballroom, 435 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, NC 28806

Cost: $25 for NC Center Members & Sustainers | $35 for General Admission (paid to the NC Center for Nonprofits)

Event Details:

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – David Heinen, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy at the NC Center for Nonprofits, will provide a briefing on nonprofit sector trends and key public policy challenges and possible solutions for nonprofits in 2025 and beyond. With several major policy developments affecting the nonprofit sector in the past week and the state legislative session opening, this will be a timely and important conversation not to miss!

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch & Networking

A buffet lunch will be provided.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Dr. Chris Cooper, Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University, will discuss North Carolina’s political climate and its impact on nonprofits. Dr. Cooper notes, “North Carolina politics can be confusing. From one vantage point, it looks like the Republicans control the state and will for the foreseeable future. From another vantage point, it looks like the Democrats are ascendent and poised to take over any minute.”

Dr. Cooper will discuss the reality of a purple North Carolina—a state where political competitiveness is the rule of the day, power is temporary, and the stakes are consistently and exhaustingly high.