Keynote Address

Keynote speaker Amy Klobuchar, the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate, will share her thoughts regarding President Obama’s desire to strengthen and grow public and philanthropic partnerships. The Senator will discuss opportunities for nonprofits and grantmakers to work together and share her observations on the impact of stimulus funds, the current health care debate, and what the legislative priorities might be in 2010.

Following the Senator’s remarks, Tim Delaney, president and CEO of the National Council of  Nonprofits, and Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, will offer their observations and comments regarding the state of our sector in these challenging economic times. Our time together will end with Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, vice president of community philanthropy at The Minneapolis Foundation, moderating a discussion with the audience.

A native Minnesotan, Sen. Amy Klobuchar graduated from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. Before being elected to public office, Sen. Klobuchar served as a partner of two of Minnesota’s leading law firms. In 1996 she was elected as the Hennepin County prosecutor. In 2006, the people of Minnesota elected Amy to be their United States Senator.

On issues from consumer protection to renewable energy, from developing our rural economy to combating climate change to reforming our government, Sen. Klobuchar has been a strong advocate for Minnesotans. She has earned national awards from nonprofits, media outlets and the U.S. Department of Justice under both the Clinton and Bush administrations. Sen. Klobuchar currently serves on four Senate committees: Agriculture, Environment and Public Works, Commerce, and the Joint Economic Committee.