Author: Valerie F. Leonard
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What to Do When Organizations Refuse to Share Copies of Their Form 990’s
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I can remember applying for a job with a nonprofit organization, and I asked for copies of three years of their IRS Form 990’s so that I could prepare for […]
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Illinois Nonprofit Compliance: The State’s Version of Form 990—and Why It Shows Up Earlier Than You Expect
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Most nonprofit leaders know that filing the federal Form 990 is part of maintaining tax-exempt status. What many do not realize—until a letter arrives—is that Illinois has its own parallel […]
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The Nonprofit Utopia Impact Circle Is Going Live!
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We’re are super-excited to be entering a new chapter at Nonprofit Utopia. Starting Monday, January 5, we’ll be transitioning our online community into the Nonprofit Utopia Impact Circle. This shift […]
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Will AI Replace Humans? And What It Will Take for Us to Stay Relevant
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Every generation faces a moment when a new technology arrives and quietly—or not so quietly—reshapes the rules. Artificial intelligence is simply the latest version of that disruption. What makes this […]
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New Community Helps Nonprofit Leaders Strengthen Fundraising Systems to Raise Their First $25K or Increase Fundraising by 25%
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Chicago, IL — December 11, 2025 — Nonprofit Utopia, a trusted nonprofit capacity-building ecosystem, today announced the launch of the Nonprofit Utopia Impact Circle, a year-long learning and support community […]
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Cultivating Nonprofit Leadership Resilience In the New Normal
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On November 7, 2025, nonprofit leaders from across Chicago gathered at Impact House for a full day of learning, reflection, and renewal at “Cultivating Executive Resilience: A Leader’s Guide to […]
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90 Days To A New Nonprofit Discussion
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Coming July 1, 2025: 90 Days to A New Nonprofit™ – A Clear Path from Idea to Impact You’ve got a vision for change—a nonprofit idea that keeps you up […]
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Just Checking: Nonprofit Compliance Checklist
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Did you know that tax exempt organizations are 2 times more likely than tax payers to be late with filing annual returns with the IRS? There are approximately 3.05 million […]
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Nonprofit Utopia Selected to Co-Lead Grant Writing Bootcamp for Community-Powered Newsrooms
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHICAGO, IL — [May 24, 2025] — Valerie F. Leonard, founder of Nonprofit Utopia, and Noah Jenkins, fundraising strategist, were honored to co-facilitate Fund the Facts: A […]
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The Best Way to Start A Nonprofit
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Thinking About Starting a Nonprofit? Which Option Is Best—Do It Yourself, Hiring An Attorney, Or Joining A Class? When I started a nonprofit organization earlier on in my career, I […]