Join United Way leaders at the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference to be held at the M Resort Spa & Casino in Henderson, Nevada from August 6-9, 2024.
The United Way Western Regional Conference is designed to provide valuable learning and networking opportunities for United Way leaders. Participants can expect engaging sessions covering a spectrum of topics including organizational development, fundraising, equity, community impact, resource development, marketing, 211 and more. We extend a warm welcome to all United Way board members, executives, staff members, volunteers, and partners across the country.
Registration
Hotel Booking
The M Resort Spa & Casino
Click here to book your hotel room(s) at the M Resort Spa Casino. Please make sure to register for the conference in addition to booking your hotel room(s), and note that hotel room availability is on a first come, first serve basis.
We are glad to share that complimentary shuttle service is available to and from the M Resort and Harry Reid International Airport, approximately 20 minutes away. Click here to book a shuttle reservation but note reservations are subject to availability and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Should any issues arise with your shuttle reservation, please call the M Resort bell desk at (702) 797-1000. Lyft and Uber services are also available.
Hampton Inn and Residence Inn
In case rooms are sold out at the M Resort, we have also negotiated hotel blocks nearby with Hampton Inn and Residence Inn, just a few minutes away from the M Resort.
Keynote Speakers
We are excited to welcome the following keynote speakers who will headline the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference. Click on their respective profile photos to learn more about them.
Conference Co-Chairs
We are most thankful to our co-chairs who will help shape the vision of the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference.
Kelly O’Lague
President & CEO
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (Portland, OR)
Mari-Pérez Dowling
President & CEO
United Way of Central Eastern California
Dona Ponepinto
President & CEO
United Way of Pierce County (WA)
Rodney Prunty
President & CEO
United Way of North Central New Mexico
Conference Schedule
The following is our current schedule for the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference, and is subject to change. Click here for more detailed information about our learning sessions.
| Agenda Item | Start Time | End Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Conference Session: Onboard United Way! An Overview of All Things United Way for New(ish) Staff & Those Interested in What is New in the Network | 1:00 pm | 2:15 pm | Marche 1 |
| Pre-Conference Session: Fundraising & Revenue Diversification 101 | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Marche 1 |
| Welcome Reception hosted by Nevada United Ways. Speakers: Sandra Douglass Morgan, Team President of the Las Vegas Raiders and Tony Sanchez, Nevada Energy | 5:00 pm | 7:00 pm | AMP’D |
| Agenda Item | Start Time | End Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffet Breakfast | 8:15 am | 9:00 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Welcome Remarks by Conference Co-chairs | 9:00 am | 9:15 am | Milan Ballroom |
| United We Thrive Plenary Session | 9:15 am | 10:30 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Morning Break | 10:30 am | 10:45 am | |
| The Missing Middle: How mid-level giving can serve as a key link. | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Marche 1 |
| Reintroduce Yourself: United Way Brand | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Marche 2 |
| AI is for Everyone: Big and Small Local United Ways | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Marche 3 |
| Leveraging 211 as a Business Strategy | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Modena 1 |
| Discovering Local United Way Resources through United Way NEXT | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Modena 2 |
| AmeriCorps Unites: Exploring National Service Contracts as a Bridge Builder for Your Community | 10:45 am | 12:00 pm | Modena 3 |
| Buffet Lunch | 12:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Plenary Conversation: Celebrating and Retaining our United Way Talent | 1:00 pm | 2:15 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Afternoon Break | 2:15 pm | 2:30 pm | |
| Guaranteed Income is Guaranteed Success! | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Marche 1 |
| United Way Equitable Community Impact 101 | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Marche 2 |
| Women United: From Start-Up to Standout – Enhancing Your Affinity Group | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Marche 3 |
| But Isn’t That Cheating? How to use ChatGPT in the Grant Lifecycle | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Modena 1 |
| Implementing and Evaluating DEI Strategies | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Modena 2 |
| Financial Resilience in the Face of Disaster: Insights and Strategies from the United Way Network | 2:30 pm | 3:45 pm | Modena 3 |
| Afternoon Break | 3:45 pm | 4:15 pm | |
| Live Musical Performance: Mari Pérez-Dowling | 4:15 pm | 5:00 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Film screening: Uncharitable | 5:30 pm | 7:00 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Agenda Item | Start Time | End Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffet Breakfast | 8:15 am | 9:00 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shirley Davis | 9:00 am | 10:00 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Dr. Shirley Davis Book Signing | 10:00 AM | 10:45 AM | Milan Ballroom |
| Our Equity Journey: From Talk to Action | 10:00 am | 11:15 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Morning Break | 11:15 am | 11:30 am | |
| An Uncharitable Conversation – A Movement Begins | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Marche 1 |
| Making the Most of Donor Data: Leveraging What You Know About Donors to Grow Support for Your United Way | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Marche 2 |
| How Did We Get Here? Addressing Backlash and Equity Fatigue in DEI Work | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Marche 3 |
| Worth a Thousand Words: Strategies and Tools for Visualizing Community Impact Data | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Modena 1 |
| Revenue Diversification & Growth…A Case Study Continues | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Modena 2 |
| Developing Partnerships and Aligning with Business Models to Home Grow a Community Referral Network | 11:30 am | 12:45 pm | Modena 3 |
| Plated Lunch | 12:45 pm | 1:45 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Keynote Address: Angela Williams | 1:45 pm | 3:00 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Trivia Scavenger Hunt | 3:00 pm | 3:30 pm | Milan Ballroom |
| Afternoon Break | 3:30 pm | 3:45 pm | |
| CEO Roundtable with Angela Williams (CEOs and United Way Worldwide leadership only) | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Marche 1 |
| Driving Equity Results in Rural Communities | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Marche 2 |
| United for Books: High Impact Literacy Programming | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Marche 3 |
| Micro Campaigns: Building Lifelong Connections Beyond the Workplace | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Modena 1 |
| United in Success: The Powerful Partnership Between Sage Intacct and United Way | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Modena 2 |
| Using a Shared United Way Platform to Recruit and Engage Volunteers and Assist Clients | 3:45 pm | 5:00 pm | Modena 3 |
| Agenda Item | Start Time | End Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Breakfast | 8:15 am | 9:00 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Keynote Speaker: Troy Cook | 9:00 am | 10:00 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Troy Cook Book Signing | 10:00 am | 10:45 am | Milan Ballroom |
| Mobilize community partners to drive economic mobility for working families | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Marche 1 |
| Decolonizing our Minds and Embodying Belonging: DEI at the center of all that we do | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Marche 2 |
| Public Policy: A Tool for Revenue Development and Diversification | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Marche 3 |
| Uniting Historically Disinvested Students on the Way Toward Thriving Careers: Community, Corporate, and School Collaboration to Uplift Career Pathways | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Modena 1 |
| Equity-Driven Impact Agendas: Engaging Communities for Positive Change | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Modena 2 |
| Embracing Data & Technology – Maximize Financial Health & Productivity | 10:30 am | 11:45 am | Modena 3 |
| Final Remarks, Weekend Getaway Package and Raffle Prizes | 12:00 pm | 12:30 pm | Milan Ballroom |
Conference Sponsors
We are honored to welcome the following sponsors who make the United Way Western Regional Conference possible:
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
WiFi Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Exhibitor Sponsors
In-Kind Contributor
Frequently Asked Questions
The United Way Western Regional is being organized by United Ways of California and United Ways of the Pacific Northwest, the two United Way state associations in the West Coast. We have formed a national planning committee with United Way leaders and partners to help shape the vision of the conference. If you are interested in joining our planning committee, please contact events@unitedwaysca.org.
United Ways of California, in consultation with United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and our past conference co-chairs, conducted extensive market research in metropolitan areas throughout the West Coast to identify affordable event venues and convenient transportation options to and from a nearby airport. Some general goals are to identify room rates less than $200/night, locate an adequate event venue that is less than 20 minutes away from a major metropolitan airport, and mitigate the number of airline layovers for United Ways and partners traveling throughout the country. After receiving quotes from various venues, we concluded the M Resort Hotel Spa & Casino in Henderson, Nevada was the most ideal option to host the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference. Our past relationship with the M Resort, including their excellent customer service, and their ability to accommodate all of our conference needs were also determining factors.
All registrations for the United Way Western Regional Conference are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend the conference, you may send another representative from your organization in your stead so long as the request is submitted by Friday, July 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST. No replacement requests will be honored after that deadline. For further questions regarding your registration or cancellation request, please contact events@unitedwaysca.org or call 877.355.8922 x2.
In November 2023, United Way Worldwide announced that the United Way flex credit program will expire on December 31, 2023, and be replaced with a network investment in enriched and relevant curriculum that is accessible and affordable to all United Ways across the network. This means that current outstanding flex credit balances will no longer be eligible to be redeemed by United Way Worldwide for regional conferences or other United Way supported events.
United Ways of California deeply understands what the loss of flex credits means to our network, but thanks to a grant by United Way Worldwide, we are fortunate to offer a scholarship program that offers significant registration discounts to local United Ways who wish to participate in the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference. Please find information about the scholarship program below our registration section.
The United Way Western Regional Conference takes place every two years, and we do our utmost not to schedule it the same year as a national United Way Conference.
The attire for the conference is business casual. United Way branded attire is strongly encouraged!
For additional inquires about the 2024 United Way Western Regional Conference, please contact events@unitedwaysca.org.
