Nonprofit Leadership Conference: The event for nonprofit leaders

NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Although today’s nonprofits are facing historic challenges, our purpose is our power.

It’s the reason we tackle hunger, poverty, homelessness, addiction, mental health, barriers to education, and more. It’s what gives us the courage to innovate, collaborate, and never give up.

Reconnecting with your “why” has never been more important.

Because nonprofits are powered by purpose. YOU are powered by purpose.

Join us for the 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference on June 4 in downtown Tampa. Hundreds of nonprofit and business leaders will come together to recharge their purpose and discover bold new strategies to advance it.

Join us to be the change that changes everything.

overview

The Nonprofit Leadership Conference brings you world-class speakers, inspiring breakout sessions, engaging networking and a few surprises — all focused on being the change we wish to see. You’ll walk away with ideas, tools and strategies you and your nonprofit can immediately implement.
8-9 a.m.
Check In, Light Breakfast, Networking, Exhibit Hall
9 a.m.
Welcome & Conference Opening
9:20 a.m.
Morning Session Panel: Recentering Purpose to Stay the Course Together
10:10 a.m.
Networking Break & Exhibit Hall
10:45 a.m.
First Breakout Session (Choose One)
11:45 a.m.
Second Breakout Session (Choose One)
12:35 p.m.
Lunch
1:10 p.m.
Keynote PresentationMatthew Emerzian: Deepening Connection, Purpose, and Value: Mastering the Art and Science of Mattering
2:15 to 3 p.m.
Closing & Continued Networking

2026 Keynote Speaker

Matthew Emerzian is on a mission to create a world where everyone embraces how much and why they matter.

After achieving great success in the music industry working on projects for the biggest artists in the world, Matt experienced a panic attack that turned into chronic anxiety and depression. Realizing everything he thought mattered actually didn’t, he set out on a journey to rediscover his life’s purpose and why he matters.

Today, Matt is the founder and CEO of Every Monday Matters (EMM), a nonprofit organization committed to helping people and organizations understand how much and why they matter, reaching more than 3 million students in all 50 states and six countries.

Matt is also the author of four bestselling books, including his recent and most personal title, You Matter – Learning to Love Who You Really Are. His work has been hailed by Oprah.com, The TODAY Show, Fast Company Magazine, Hallmark TV, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, and more.

Meet

Sam

See what keynote speaker Sam Rad has in store for you and why she thinks you need to attend the 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Conference.

2026 MORNING SESSION

Recentering Purpose to Stay the Course Together

Nonprofits are facing increasing challenges related to funding, staffing, and resources. During this dynamic panel discussion, experts will explore examples of organizations that have recentered their purpose to make strategic decisions. This includes implementing creative solutions such as targeted partnerships and new approaches to resource building. You’ll walk away with ideas to increase collaboration, take strategic action, and renew your personal and organizational purpose.

Panelists

This thought-provoking panel will feature four dynamic nonprofit leaders from across the sector:

Clara Reynolds, President & CEO, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
Brittney Frazier, Director of Nonprofit Capacity and Leadership, Allegany Franciscan Ministries
Jenn Yeagley, CEO, St. Pete Free Clinic
Stephanie Wynn, Founder & President, Stephanie A. Wynn Foundation

Moderator

Fred Rosario, Director, Year Up

2026 Breakout Sessions

Conference attendees will have the chance to attend two breakout sessions of their choice.

Self-Care in the Face of Compassion Fatigue

How AI Helps Nonprofits Work Differently

Managing Up and Holding It Down: The Essential Role of Nonprofit Middle Managers (Panel)

Balancing Culture & Compliance: How to Be a Compassionate Leader Without Creating Legal Risk

MEET YOUR CONFERENCE EMCEE

Erica Sutherlin is a powerhouse executive, filmmaker, and director who currently serves as the artistic executive director of The Studio@620. With more than 20 years of experience in the arts and entertainment industry, Erica has directed acclaimed theatrical productions such as Ragtime: The Musical in the Park and The Color Purple. Her entrepreneurial spirit is equally robust; she is the founder of Sinuous Bourbon, an award-winning brand designed to celebrate the historical momentum of women, and operates a creative development and consulting firm.

A dedicated advocate for civic engagement and mentorship, Erica spent 15 years as an educator, earning the National High School Educator of Distinction Award. She currently shares her expertise as a professor at the University of South Florida. Erica also serves as the Committee Chair for the City of St. Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee and is a member of the Leadership St. Pete class of 2024. Erica holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, a Nonprofit Board Certification, and a Certificate in Leadership from the Nonprofit Leadership Center.

GET HYPED with

Ketsy

See why conference emcee Ketsy Ruiz says you need to accept this year’s mission to be at the 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Conference.

REGISTER NOW

Purchase your individual ticket or a table of 10 to be part of the most anticipated nonprofit gathering of the year!

Cancellations and Substitutions

Conference registrations are non-refundable, but substitutions are welcome until 5 p.m. Eastern on October 1, 2024. To substitute a registered guest, please contact us at info@nlctb.org or 813 287-8779. Please include the original guest’s name and the substitute guest’s name, title, organization and email address in your message.

Individual Ticket

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$215

14 available out of 30

This ticket provides access to the full in-person conference at Tampa Marriott Water Street (which includes a keynote speaker, an additional speaker experience, breakfast snacks and coffee, seated lunch, networking opportunities, and free parking in Fort Brooke or Pam Iorio garage) AND access to 5 engaging breakout sessions.

Individual Early Bird Ticket

Deadline: July 31, 2024

~~$215~~ $175

0 available out of 100

For Profit Table

+ 10 conference scholarships

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$4,500

0 available out of 2

Benefits include: 10 tickets to the conference + 10 scholarship tickets for nonprofits who otherwise would not have the ability to attend the event, name on website and day of event signage, company literature included in the swag bag, and NLC Leadership Giving Circle recognition.

For Profit Table

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$2,750

1 available out of 8

Benefits include: 10 tickets to the conference, name on website and day of event signage, company literature included in the swag bag, and NLC Leadership Giving Circle recognition.

Nonprofit Table

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$1,600

0 available out of 40

Benefits include: 10 tickets to the conference, name on website and day of event signage, company literature included in the swag bag, and NLC Leadership Giving Circle recognition.

Exhibitor + Key Partner

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$1,750

0 available out of 8

Benefits include: 12-month membership in our Key Partner program, including logo recognition on the website, 2 tickets to the conference, company literature included in the swag bag, and an exhibitor table.

Exhibitor

Deadline: September 27, 2024

$850

0 available out of 7

Benefits include: 2 tickets to the conference, company literature included in the swag bag, and an exhibitor table.

Registration will open in April for the 2023 Nonprofit Leadership Conference. Sign up for our email list to be the first to hear when event registration is live.

Become a sponsor

The Nonprofit Leadership Conference would not be possible without the generous support of passionate partners who believe in the importance and impact of our nonprofit community. If you’d like to reach and connect with hundreds of nonprofit and business leaders, we offer many strategic partnership opportunities. Please contact our team at jmaze@nlctb.org or call 813 287-8779 for more information.

Thank you seems inadequate for what I experienced at the Nonprofit Leadership Conference. It was absolutely life-changing. Every year, I think this is the best one yet and then each year is even better than the previous one.

Jacquelyn,

Nonprofit Executive Director

2026 Co-presenting sponsors

The Nonprofit Leadership Conference would not be possible without the generous support of passionate sponsors who believe in the importance and impact of our nonprofit community.

2026 Technology & Innovation Sponsor

2026 Table Swag Sponsor

2026 Networking Sponsor

2026 Light Breakfast Sponsor

Name Badge Sponsor

Year of Training Sponsor

2026 Name Badge Sponsor

2026 Year of Training Sponsor

2026 Breakout Sponsors

High Impact Starts Here: The Nonprofit Audit You’ve Never Been Taught to Run

You’ve accepted the mission, but is your organization truly equipped to carry it out?

Your nonprofit tracks grants, budgets and outcomes, but when was the last time you audited your people power?

This session reframes what an “audit” can be: less about numbers and more about the people systems that fuel your mission. Behind every nonprofit is an invisible infrastructure of staff, volunteers and donor relationships that either drives impact or quietly drains it. In this eye-opening session, Kadian Douglas introduces The Human Balance Sheet™, a diagnostic tool designed to help leaders at every level evaluate what spreadsheets can’t: morale, alignment and an organization’s collective capacity to deliver results.

This isn’t another team-building or culture talk. It’s a bold, strategic framework to uncover hidden gaps, expose operational blind spots, and build the kind of human equity that sustains long-term impact.

You’ll walk away with:

A visual map of your organization’s strengths, gaps, and people systems to support smarter decisions
A repeatable tool to guide team development, engagement, and leadership strategy

Whether you’re scaling, stabilizing or navigating internal fatigue, this is the audit your mission has been waiting for.

About Kadian Douglas

Founder of The Human Balance Sheet, Kadian Douglas is a powerful leadership and peak performance strategist, speaker, and champion for maximizing human capital. 

Drawing from her background as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she developed The Human Balance Sheet framework to help mission-driven organizations identify hidden “leaks” and amplify the assets they already have — time, talent, and donations — for greater impact.

Kadian serves as the director of information security at the second-largest travel company in the world, leading global initiatives around digital transformation, emerging technologies and governance.

An international speaker, Kadian has delivered impactful talks across the globe, from entrepreneurial summits in Africa to major U.S. stages. A former All-American track and field athlete and professional football player, she brings the discipline, focus and resilience of an elite athlete into every room she steps into — helping others lead with clarity and confidence.

Kadian serves as chair of the Tampa Bay Chamber Minority Business Accelerator, where she supports diverse entrepreneurs in building scalable and sustainable ventures. She is also a board member and the Finance Committee chair for the Nonprofit Leadership Center, advancing the development of high-performing nonprofit leaders and organizations across the region.

More Than a Paycheck: Creative Ways to Delight & Retain Your Team

Discover creative, cost-effective ways to engage and delight your employees without financial incentives. During this breakout, you’ll learn the five key pillars that drive motivation and satisfaction more than money. Through practical examples and interactive discussions, you’ll learn how to implement low-cost strategies that enhance employee well-being, retention and commitment. You’ll leave with actionable ideas to boost engagement and morale in your organization.

About Jennifer Currence

Jennifer Currence is a senior partner of HR Soul Consulting where she delivers talent, culture and strategy results through customized training and coaching programs for leaders. Jennifer is the content creator for the Society for Human Resource Management’s People Manager Qualification (PMQ), was named Tampa Bay’s Consultant of the Year in 2017, and was listed as one of the nation’s top 100 Influential HR professionals in Leadership and Development in September 2023.

Jennifer earned her MBA with an emphasis in management and holds nationally accredited advanced certifications in coaching (PCC) and human resources (SHRM-SCP). She served as a professor of management at the University of Tampa’s college of business for 11 years. Jennifer has been published in several industry magazines and is the author of three books on behavioral business competencies in HR.

Next-Gen Board Members: Driving Growth, Impact & Sustainability

A strong, engaged board is one of the most critical assets a nonprofit can have — but what does it take to cultivate high-impact board members who drive real strategic growth, long-term sustainability, and meaningful impact?

During this panel discussion, we’ll explore the essential qualities of high-performing boards, the key roles and responsibilities of board members, and how they can go beyond governance to become true strategic partners.

Moderator

Katie Shultz, Vice President of Communications, Community Foundation Tampa Bay

Panelists

Chris Hackney, President of SBA & USDA Lending, BayFirst National Bank

Jerrica Peets, Program Manager, LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network

The Honorable Alex Sink

Harness the Power of Your Mission

During this breakout session, you’ll explore the importance of aligning your personal motivation with your team’s collective mission to achieve success. You’ll discuss how to find purpose in your work and stay motivated by connecting your role to the broader goal. Learn effective strategies for collaborating with people who have different values and beliefs to foster a unified, high-performing team. Through practical exercises and insights, this session will help you embrace diversity, strengthen teamwork, and contribute meaningfully to your mission.

About Joe Lugo

As a community leader, proud Puerto Rican, and inclusion and leadership coach, Joe Lugo empowers individuals to reevaluate the filters through which they see the world, helping people shape a more inclusive and empathetic outlook.

Joe founded J^3 Creations, a consulting firm that helps organizations embrace inclusion, build equity, and focus on leadership development to unlock their full potential. He also serves as the director of foundation and entrepreneurial services for AMPLIFY Clearwater, where he works to elevate businesses through strategic support, community engagement, and inclusive economic development.

Joe is a published author, co-founder of the first-ever Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Pinellas and serves in leadership and consulting roles with The Hispanic Leadership Council. He currently serves on the board of directors for The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and the Hispanic Outreach Center. He also serves on the Pinellas Council for the Community Foundation Tampa Bay.

Joe has completed three degrees and is pursuing a fourth, constantly striving to grow so he can better serve others. He also founded a nonprofit that provides educational services, giving back to the community that shaped him.

Deepening Connection, Purpose, and Value: Mastering the Art and Science of Mattering

In today’s dynamic business environment, creating a culture where every employee truly matters is the key to unlocking unprecedented potential and performance.

While many leaders try to force this level of performance, Workplace Culture and Leadership Expert Matt Emerzian believes that the best culture and performance exist when a team feels a deep sense of belonging, safety, collaboration, and contribution.

In this immersive and actionable keynote, you’ll delve into how fostering a culture of mattering not only enhances employee well-being and engagement but also drives innovation, resilience, and sustainable mission success.

During this engaging session, you will:

Learn specific tactics to boost belonging, safety, and trust.
Get a proven framework for driving value-based initiatives to build a culture that matters.
Leave with keys to commit to real actions that create lasting culture change.

How to Fortify Your Nonprofit

In a climate of uncertainty, nonprofit organizations must prioritize resilience and ethical integrity. During this engaging workshop, you’ll receive actionable strategies to strengthen your organization from within. You’ll participate in a brief risk assessment and begin strategic planning through a predictive analysis exercise. Attendees will explore internal alignment, emphasizing transparent communication and staff well-being, while reinforcing core values. This session will also acknowledge the institutional imperatives of maintaining open communication with communities through strategic messaging while helping to build powerful coalitions, ensuring your nonprofit not only survives but thrives in challenging times.

About Nestor Ortiz

A seasoned advocate for social justice, Nestor Ortiz brings more than 30 years of experience in organizational and community development work, empowering marginalized communities and the organizations that serve them. Through his firm, 16 Point Compass, Nestor provides strategic planning and alignment, consensus facilitation, leadership coaching, internal strengthening, and community engagement to nonprofits, community-based organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions nationwide. Guiding them through some of the most complicated internal and external challenges facing organizations today, Nestor’s work emphasizes restorative institutional practices and collaborative dynamics, ultimately building bridges and fostering understanding across diverse levels of institutional engagement and investment. Driven by a deep commitment to equity and justice, Nestor leverages his extensive expertise to create substantive positive and sustainable change now and into the future.

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Self Care in the Face of Compassion Fatigue

Caring for others can take a significant toll on our overall well-being, especially when we consistently put the needs of others before our own. Participants will explore the common signs and symptoms of stress and learn how to recognize when it begins to affect their health in different ways. We will also discuss how unmanaged stress can impact resiliency. You will gain practical tools and strategies to strengthen self-care, restore balance, and continue serving your community in a healthy and sustainable way.

About Your Presenters

Tejal Patel

Tejal Patel has been with the Effinity Team since 2020, the professional development program of Metropolitan Ministries. She loves working with the community to share best practices in trauma informed care, self-care, mindfulness, resiliency, and poverty education. Tejal holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross and earned her Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Saige Schill, Ed.M.

Saige Schill is the Effinity training coordinator supporting Metropolitan Ministries’ Virtual Uplift U program. She is a certified training professional specialized in developing trauma informed e-learning experiences.

How AI Helps Nonprofits Work Differently

At a basic level, AI reduces friction, burnout, and wasted effort. But in an advanced setting, AI ideates untested scenarios and creates new opportunities. Should nonprofit organizations continue to view AI with skepticism or embrace this transformative capacity at a time when mission-oriented work faces historic challenges and rising complexity? During this session, you’ll explore how AI can help nonprofits work differently.

About Your Presenters

Michael Bresler

Michael is an operational excellence, technology, and AI consultant who helps mission-driven organizations turn complexity into clear, repeatable ways of working. As founder of Broadheights, he partners with nonprofit and education leaders to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burden, and build practical, responsible AI approaches that support (not replace) the humans doing the work. Michael’s focus is simple: free up time and resources so teams can spend more of their energy on relationships, service, and measurable community impact.

Russ Robertson

As the managing member of Cap Ex Advisory Group, Russ guides institutional and nonprofit real estate owners through a myriad of financial, environmental, and market risks that confront the acquisition, ownership, construction, and development process. Russ bundles a unique combination of aesthetic training and analytical rigor, a pecuniary advantage to any owner’s decision-making process. As a former designer, Russ believes AI’s greatest potential lies in its curated use as a tool for ideation and creation, unlocking solutions the human mind alone would struggle to uncover.

Larry Waddell

Larry is the founder and CEO of prism+spire, a consultancy helping agencies and services firms accelerate growth via smart strategy, AI, and workflow automation. In a world where nonprofits face mounting pressure to improve their visibility with funders and their relevance to public officials, Larry’s approach resonates. Formerly, Larry was COO and then EVP of Business Strategy at Seer Interactive, a certified B Corporation and digital marketing agency supporting companies that use business as a force for good.

Managing Up and Holding It Down: The Essential Role of Nonprofit Middle Managers

This panel of impactful nonprofit professionals highlights middle managers as the “glue” of their organizations. Through stories of unique challenges and earned success, our esteemed panelists will share lessons learned from balancing collaboration with staff and upper management, and from planning for future growth while remaining rooted in current realities.

Panelists

Camila González, Vice President of Mortgage Servicing, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside
Voltario “V” Kelley, Director of Food Access, St. Pete Free Clinic
Pam Plager, Program Manager, Seniors in Service
Noel Ramos, Associate Director, Metropolitan Ministries

Moderator

Margarita Sarmiento, President and Founder, ITK Solutions

Balancing Culture & Compliance: How to Be a Compassionate Leader Without Creating Legal Risk

Mission-driven leaders want to support their people — but without structure, compassion can unintentionally create legal and organizational risk. This session explores how nonprofit leaders can maintain empathy, flexibility, and a strong culture while still setting clear boundaries and protecting the organization. Participants will gain practical strategies to lead with heart and accountability at the same time.

About Your Presenter

Ivelices Linares Thomas

Ivelices Linares Thomas is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HR & Beyond, a leading human capital advisory firm specialized in providing expert, practical, and cost-effective HR outsourcing and consulting solutions for small and mid-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Ivelices is a passionate, results driven human resources executive, an accomplished labor and employment attorney, and a certified Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Court Mediator with more than 20 years of combined legal and human resources expertise.

Ivelices enjoys sharing her experiences and expertise through her volunteer work as a mentor with Women of Tomorrow as well as a SCORE Broward volunteer helping entrepreneurs and business owners start, develop, and grow their business. She has been recognized as one of South Florida’s Most Influential Business Women by the South Florida Business Journal and was previously selected as one of South Florida’s Top 40 Under 40 Black Leaders.

Ivelices received her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Powered by Purpose and Process: Aligning Mission, Operations, and Impact

Nonprofits are deeply committed to their missions, yet many struggle with the operational demands that make impact sustainable.

Without clear processes and shared expectations, even strong teams can experience burnout, slow decision-making, and inconsistent execution. At the same time, overly rigid systems can feel misaligned with culture and values. The most effective organizations find a thoughtful balance between purpose and process.

In this engaging and practical session, Dr. Phildra Swagger introduces The P.O.W.E.R. System™, a nonprofit-friendly operating model designed to strengthen internal structure while preserving mission, values, and heart. Participants will explore practical tools, lightweight AI supports, and simple operating practices that improve clarity, collaboration, accountability, and service delivery.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies they can apply immediately and a renewed confidence that operational excellence isn’t the enemy of purpose, but the support system that allows it to thrive.

About Your Presenter

Dr. Phildra Swagger

Dr. Phildra Swagger is an executive coach, organizational strategist, and former nonprofit executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across education, workforce development, and mission-driven organizations. She has served as a district administrator, charter school founder, nonprofit executive, and trusted advisor to nonprofit and public-sector leaders throughout Florida. Dr. Swagger specializes in helping organizations translate mission into disciplined operations that reduce burnout, strengthen accountability, and improve service delivery. She is the creator of The P.O.W.E.R. System™, a nonprofit-ready operating framework designed to help leaders build sustainable structure without sacrificing values, culture, or purpose.