Catalyst

Leadership Development for Nonprofit Professionals

Montana’s nonprofit leaders build a stronger Montana for everyone. Catalyst helps build a stronger, more connected sector through sharing the wisdom, experience, and expertise in our sector. Join Catalyst to share your knowledge, build skills, and expand your reach.

The future requires collaboration, innovation, and all of us.

Catalyst Fundamentals

Extraordinary impact occurs when nonprofit leaders: 

1. Leverage individual leadership styles and strengths using emotional intelligence. 
2. Move intentionally between management and leadership roles.
3. Lead the board and community toward generative work.
4. Practice and encourage authenticity, vulnerability, and risk taking.
5. Cultivate a network and community that is trusting, supportive, and mutually accountable.
6. Prioritize inclusive and equitable approaches and outcomes for diverse communities.

Introducing Catalyst 2024  

Catalyst will look different in 2024. Registration will open in early 2024. Leaders can gather in two ways:

Catalyst Experience

Join us May 29th – 30th in Fairmont, MT for two days exploring your personal leadership and gathering with other leaders from across the state.

Day One will focus on exploring your personal leadership through a DiSC profile, peer network survey, and self reflection. Participants will be asked to complete pre-work prior to joining.

Day Two participants will be joined by other leaders across the state for a leadership summit designed for connection, leading edge content, and collaboration.

Peer Groups Catalyst participants will have the opportunity to form peer groups to meet on a topic area of their choice through the rest of 2024, with support provided by MNA including organizing and funding for facilitators or trainers.

Cost: $495 | MNA Members Only*

• Includes food and content, does not include lodging

Catalyst Leadership Summit

Join us on May 30th in Fairmont for a day of connection and collaboration for veteran leaders, innovative practices, and collaborative opportunities to invest in your leadership. The day will include a keynote, breakout sessions tailored for leaders, and opportunities for meaningful connection. Schedule to be announced.

Cost:

• $175 | MNA Members
• $350 | Non Members

This program has been developed for executive directors or CEO’s in the nonprofit sector in Montana.

Liz Moore

Liz has spent her entire professional career in nonprofit endeavors, primarily in antipoverty programs before joining MNA as Executive Director in 2011.  

During her tenure with MNA, the organization has prioritized capacity building in more rural areas of the state, supporting a multi-generational workforce, addressing workplace well-being and  equity and belonging for all Montana nonprofit leaders. Liz credits the MNA team for three significant recent accomplishments: helping lead a successful 2020 Census effort; serving as a primary resource for nonprofits navigating COVID and playing a pivotal role in increasing and securing permanency for the Montana Endowment Tax Credit.  

Liz currently chairs the Board of the National Council of Nonprofits. In addition she is adjunct faculty in the University of Montana’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, teaching Nonprofit Public Policy and Advocacy. She graduated from Carroll College in Helena in 1991 and in 2011 earned a Master of Nonprofit Management Degree from Regis University in Denver.  

Liz’s love of Montana reflects her roots growing up on a ranch in eastern Montana. She has resided in western Montana since 1984 where she enjoys flyfishing, photography, and trying to keep up with twelve amazing grandchildren!

Ned Cooney

Ned Cooney operates an independent consulting practice specializing in nonprofits, foundations, businesses with heart, and public agencies. His early career was in the nonprofit sector, as executive director, program staff and board member. Now, Ned serves client organizations by helping people learn and make better decisions together.  Ned specializes in inclusive organizational planning, board development, support for executives, and effective meetings and retreats. Ned is a former member and Board Chair for MNA and has served as a member of MNA’s Nonprofit Public Policy Council since its start in 2006. 

Ned resides in Bigfork, Montana with his wife and love of his life Cathy and their two adorable, occasionally annoying cats. His cup is filled by songwriting, singing and playing guitar, and he loves getting on the water, riding a bike in the summer, and snowshoeing. He is really bad at disc golf but has a good time despite the public humiliation.

Rachel Huff-Doria

Rachel Huff-Doria is the owner/director of RHD LLC whose mission is to strengthen leadership, community, and strategy through the tools of facilitation and participatory design.

She is a facilitator, designer, and former non-profit leader who has worn the hat of an Executive Director, Campaign Manager, Registered Lobbyist, Field Organizer, Research Specialist, Board Trustee, and many other non-profit and community roles. 

In the Catalyst program, Rachel aims to create a space that fosters reflection, connection, and new perspectives through honest sharing, open listening, and a playful, learning environment between non-profit leaders. Rachel is most energized when bouncing ideas back and forth with Catalyst participants or setting the space for the cohort to offer shared support and growth for each other. 

Rachel left a piece of her heart up a holler with friends and community in West Virginia where she worked in the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement before her search for bigger skies led her to Missoula, MT in 2015, where she now lives with her family. Rachel is the mom of two young kiddos and a rambling cat who Catalyst participants can expect to glimpse (or more likely hear) on a video call.

Sponsorships

Interested in supporting leadership development in Montana? Join our Catalyst Circle of Support. Become a sponsor, with opportunities starting at $1,000 up to $5,000. Sponsors gain the opportunity to share their message and brand with the Catalyst audience and beyond while helping sustain leadership programming for Montana nonprofit professionals. Learn more or contact [email protected] for more info. We look forward to partnering with you!

Scholarships

Are you interested in paving the way for participants? Catalyst requires participants to invest their time and energy. Your donation to our scholarship fund will allow participants to focus on their learning, growth, and building a better future for Montana. You may make a gift right now by donating online and selecting “Catalyst Scholarships” as your campaign choice. Donors will be recognized on this page and in communications announcing our 2021 Cohort.