West Suburban Philanthropic Network

10/28/2026

👨‍💻 AI- enabled scams. 👾 Phishing. ⚠️Social engineering.

🛡️Do you and your team know how to spot them? 🕵️‍♂️

Register today for the WSPN 3rd Thursday program on November 19 - Data Protection: How to Protect Yourself, Your Organization, and Your Philanthropy Team.

By strengthening awareness and sound decision-making, fundraising teams can better steward donor relationships, protect their organization’s reputation, and cultivate lasting connections that support long-term philanthropic success.

Register today: wspnonline.org/events

10/21/2026

🤝Connect with other WSPN members at the VIRTUAL Welcome Gathering on Friday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 AM. 👋

🌟Non-members🌟are WELCOME to join us to network and learn more about our organization. You may also find membership info at wspnonline.org/membership.

Register today for this event: wspnonline.org/events

10/19/2026

Join us for the WSPN 3rd Thursday program on November 19 to learn more about how to protect yourself, your organization, and your philanthropy team from phishing, social engineering, and AI-enabled scams.

The session is interactive, allowing the attendees to practice recognizing potential risks, and it will also emphasize safe digital habits.

By strengthening awareness and sound decision-making, fundraising teams can better steward donor relationships, protect their organization’s reputation, and cultivate lasting connections that support long-term philanthropic success.

Register today: wspnonline.org/events

10/14/2026

You're WELCOME!

🤝Connect with other WSPN members at the VIRTUAL Welcome Gathering on Friday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 AM. 👋

🌟Non-members🌟are WELCOME to join us to network and learn more about our organization. You may also find membership info at wspnonline.org/membership.

Register today for this event: wspnonline.org/events

10/07/2026

Don't miss the WSPN 3rd Thursday Fall Series The Communication Gap: Why Your Mission Isn't Always Understood and What to do About it on October 15!

This interactive session will explore why communication gaps develop, how they can affect relationships with key audiences and what organizations can do to close them.
William Wille, Founder, Wille Strategic Communications, will lead this session.

Register today: www.wspnonline.org/events

*** Not a WSPN Member yet? Membership lapsed? ***
This event and many more are included with your membership! Join or renew today: www.wspnonline.org/membership

09/30/2026

*** Not a WSPN Member yet? Membership lapsed? ***
This event and many more are included with your membership! Join or renew today: www.wspnonline.org/membership

Register today for the WSPN 3rd Thursday Fall Series The Communication Gap: Why Your Mission Isn't Always Understood and What to do About it on October 15!

This interactive session will explore why communication gaps develop, how they can affect relationships with key audiences and what organizations can do to close them.

William Wille, Founder, Wille Strategic Communications, will lead this session.

Register today: www.wspnonline.org/events

09/24/2026

Join us for the WSPN 3rd Thursday Fall Series The Communication Gap: Why Your Mission Isn't Always Understood and What to do About it on October 15!

This interactive session will explore why communication gaps develop, how they can affect relationships with key audiences and what organizations can do to close them.

William Wille, Founder, Wille Strategic Communications, will lead this session.

Register today: www.wspnonline.org/events

*** Not a WSPN Member yet? Membership lapsed? ***
This event and many more are included with your membership! Join or renew today: www.wspnonline.org/membership

09/08/2026

We are pleased to kick off the WSPN 3rd Thursday Fall Program Series with Defining Your Culture of Philanthropy: Shared Ownership for Greater Impact Through Curiosity, Purpose and Partnership on September 17!

🚨Note a location change from virtual to DuPage Historical Museum!🚨

This IN PERSON interactive program will:

- Start by grounding your work in your values and your organization’s “why”
- Explore strategies to lead with curiosity to deepen and strengthen your relationships with programs and funders
- Identify spaces in your work to intentionally elevate shared ownership of the work
- Participants will have an opportunity for personal reflection, shared learning and action planning to boost their working relationships with their program partners and donors.

REGISTER TODAY at www.wspnonline.org/events.

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

What an inspiring morning! Thank you to everyone who came out to support the honorees for the 2026 WSPN Philanthropy Awards!

We had tons of smiles, a few tears, plenty of positive energy, and a few surprises (see below for Philanthropic Leadership Award and President's Award).

Congrats again to the Honorees:

- Philanthropist of the Year: Laurie McMahon, nominated by Child’s Voice
- Philanthropic Leadership Award: Mary Keating
- Humanitarian of the Year: Erica Nelson, nominated by Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center
- Young Philanthropist of the Year: Kendall Tai Nghiem, nominated by Kulchitt Toy Vilaichitt
- Grantmaker of the Year: Nanette Silva of Community Memorial Foundation, nominated by DuPage Health Coalition and many others
- Philanthropic Foundation of the Year: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, nominated by the City of Aurora
- Philanthropic Service Club of the Year: The Clarendon Hills Lions Club, nominated by People's Resource Center
- Philanthropic Business of the Year: Mesón Sabika, nominated by DuPagePads
- Nonprofit Executive of the Year: Geri Kerger, CEO, NAMI DuPage nominated by NAMI DuPage and DuPagePads
- Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year: Cindy Blaszak, nominated by Brookfield Zoo
- WSPN President's Award: Chad Pedigo

Here are a few pictures from our cell phones -- official photography is on the way and will be posted ASAP!