Budgeting for the Future in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic, Ambiguous) World
Event Details
This event is offered in partnership with Colorado Nonprofit Association.
In a time marked by volatility, uncertainty, chaos, and ambiguity, creating a nonprofit budget isn’t just a financial task—it’s an act of leadership. Whether you’re knee-deep in next year’s budget or preparing to launch the process, this timely 90-minute session offers real-world insights from both the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer vantage points.
Join Karen Kruse (Boettcher Foundation) and Leslie Allen (former Greenpeace CDO and nonprofit leadership coach) for a candid conversation on how executive leaders can navigate 2026 budgeting in a VUCA world. From unpredictable funding streams to shifting donor behavior, you’ll hear practical strategies to build alignment across your leadership team, stay grounded in donor and funder trends, and equip your board with clarity—not just spreadsheets.
With space for Q&A and discussion, this session aims to meet you where you are. Bring your questions, your challenges, and your curiosity—we’ll bring the candor, context, and tools to help your organization plan ahead with greater confidence.
Learning Outcomes
-
Identify the key challenges and emerging trends influencing nonprofit budgeting in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic, Ambiguous) environment.
-
Strengthen cross-functional collaboration between development and operations teams, particularly between CDOs and COOs/CFOs, to create more responsive and resilient budgets.
-
Apply scenario planning tools and donor intelligence to develop budget assumptions that reflect a range of potential outcomes for 2026 and beyond.
-
Implement practical strategies to improve communication with funders, major donors, and board members during times of financial ambiguity.
Note: Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance to help tailor the conversation when registering for the event
For More Information:
Cost + Registration
- MANP members save $10!
- MANP members $40 / Nonmembers $50
- Enter code MElearns when registering to receive the member discount. Please note that a separate user account is required on CNA's website to register.
About the Presenters
As the vice president of finance & operations at the Boettcher Foundation, Karen Kruse develops the financial strategies, oversees the execution of investment management, and provides operational oversight to ensure alignment with the Foundation’s donor intent and strategic objectives.
Karen is a proven operational and financial executive and entrepreneur with a unique blend of leadership, business, technology, and service expertise.
Karen received a dual B.S. degree from the University of Colorado in marketing/finance and electrical engineering/computer science. Karen is a graduate of Leadership Denver and a Boettcher Scholar.
Leslie Allen has three decades of experience leading fundraising teams, partnering with donors, and raising transformational funds for organizations of all sizes. After receiving an MBA in Public and Nonprofit Management from Boston University’s Questrom School of Management in 1992, Leslie spent 15 years at Greenpeace USA in Washington, D.C., returning to Greenpeace in 2022 to take over the Greenpeace US global capital campaign for a new Greenpeace ship. Leslie also served as Interim Chief Development Officer of Greenpeace US from 2023-2024. In partnership with Co-Founder Ann Goldman, Leslie created Front Range Source, a full-service fundraising consulting firm serving a variety of clients all over the world. For over a decade, Front Range Source was a fundraising community hub, including a weekly fundraising blog, practical ebooks, and a free tool box for thousands of subscribing nonprofit fundraisers. The firm provided hundreds of clients with capital campaign support, major gifts coaching, and strategic fundraising planning services.
Leslie has served as a volunteer and board member for most of her professional life, including as Board Chair of the Community Foundation of Boulder County and Vice Chair of the US arm of Action Aid, a global federation working in 70 countries for a world free from poverty and injustice. She is thrilled to be currently serving on the Board of Directors of Motus Theater and the Boulder Reporting Lab.