Leadership Conference Event Guide
The Nonprofit Leadership Center looks forward to welcoming you at the 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference. This frequently asked questions guide contains everything you need to know to prepare and plan for a successful event experience.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
When is the conference?
The 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference is hosted by the Nonprofit Leadership Center and co-presented by Community Foundation Tampa Bay and the Helios Education Foundation.
The conference will take place on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Tampa Marriott Water Street.
Check-in, networking, the exhibit hall, and a light breakfast begin at 8 a.m.
The conference program will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 2:30 p.m. Continued networking and keynote speaker book signing will continue until 3 p.m.
Where is this year’s conference located?
The 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference takes place at the Tampa Marriott Water Street, located at 505 Water Street, Tampa, Florida, 33602.
What time should I arrive?
On June 4, 2026, registration, networking, and the exhibit hall begin at 8 a.m. Coffee, tea, and light breakfast items will also be available from 8 to 9 a.m. Although the conference program will begin at 9 a.m., we strongly recommend arriving early to give yourself plenty of time to park and enjoy networking and breakfast time.
What should I wear?
Conference attire is business or business casual. We want you to feel comfortable and come as your authentic self. We recommend bringing a light sweater or jacket because it can get chilly in the ballroom.
What should I bring?
We recommend bringing several things to this year’s conference:
- An open mind and eagerness to learn.
- Lots of business cards. You will meet and network with many peers and potential partners.
- You will receive a personalized name badge when you check in, but feel free to bring your branded name badge if you have one or would prefer to wear your own.
- Any materials that allow you to capture notes and takeaways from the sessions based on your preferred learning style.
What networking opportunities will be available? How much networking time will I have?
Networking and registration will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until the conference starts at 9 a.m., allowing meaningful networking before the conference with peers and potential partners. Networking time will also be available for 30 minutes before breakout sessions begin and another 30 minutes after the conference concludes. Be sure to bring lots of business cards!
How do I choose which breakout sessions to attend?
All participants will have the opportunity to choose two of the following five breakout sessions to attend at the conference. The breakout sessions will take place at 10:45 and 11:45 a.m. before lunch.
While you will NOT need to select breakout sessions in advance, we do suggest familiarizing yourself with the descriptions and speaker bios for each session so you know where you want to go on event day.
- How AI Helps Nonprofits Work Differently with Michael Bresler (Broadheights), Russ Robertson (Cap Ex Advisory Group), and Larry Waddell (prism+spire)
- Self-Care in the Face of Compassion Fatigue with Dr. Leon Battle from One More Child
- Powered by Purpose and Process: Aligning Mission, Operations, and Impact with Dr. Phildra Swagger
- Balancing Culture & Compliance: How to Be a Compassionate Leader Without Creating Legal Risk with Ivelices Linares Thomas (HR & Beyond)
- Managing Up and Holding It Down: The Essential Role of Nonprofit Middle Managers, a panel discussion featuring Camila González (Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside), Voltario “V” Kelley (St. Petersburg Free Clinic), Pam Plager (Seniors in Service), Noel Ramos (Metropolitan Ministries), and moderated by Margarita Sarmiento (ITK Solutions)
I have not received any conference communications yet. Who should I reach out to?
If you were invited to the conference by someone else or are sitting at a team/company table, please reach out to your sponsor or table leader to ensure they have provided us with your correct information.
If you purchased an individual ticket and haven’t received any emails, please first check your spam folder. Then, contact us at info@nlctb.org to ensure you are on our email list. If you have opted out from receiving email from the Nonprofit Leadership Center, you may need to re-subscribe to ensure our emails can reach you.
Is the conference eligible for CFRE continuing education credit?
Yes, full participation in the 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference: Powered by Purpose is applicable for 4 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
PARKING INFORMATION
Where can I park for the conference?
The Nonprofit Leadership Center is delighted to cover the cost of parking for guests who park in the Pam Iorio Garage (recommended: 2-minute walk) or the Fort Brooke Garage (8-minute walk).
The Pam Iorio Garage is located on the corner of Channelside Drive and Florida Avenue. It is closest to the Tampa Marriott Water Street.
The public entrance to the Fort Brooke Garage is located on Whiting Street.
Payment for all other parking options will be your responsibility.
NEW: Important Instructions to Receive Parking Validation
To receive validation for your parking, you must follow these instructions, which are NEW from previous years:
- When you enter the garage, the gates will open automatically. Park your vehicle where desired in the garage.
- Proceed to the nearest pay station machine and follow the prompts on the screen. You must enter your license plate number and code IOIQDD within 15 minutes of parking to activate your session.
- The code will NOT work using the mobile app. You must pay at one of the pay station machines.
- If you do not follow these instructions, you may receive a citation and/or will be responsible for the parking fee.
We highly recommend arriving early (check-in begins at 8 a.m.) and/or carpooling with friends or colleagues. There may be other events taking place in downtown Tampa, and those event-goers will also be utilizing this garage. Please remember, parking in this garage is on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking in any lot other than Pam Iorio or Fort Brooke will be your financial responsibility.
If your office or home is along the route of TECO’s free trolley, you might consider that option (the trolley runs every 15 minutes beginning at 7 a.m.). Click here for trolley details.
LUNCH INFORMATION
What’s for lunch?
Attendees will receive a seated lunch featuring grilled chicken breast with baby spinach, rainbow quinoa, red grapes, carrots, goat cheese, pickled onion, and citrus vinaigrette.
What if I have a dietary restriction?
If you require a vegan meal, you must indicate this preference on your online registration. You must select this in advance to ensure we can accommodate your dietary needs.
To do so, please follow these steps:
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Locate your conference ticket in your inbox. The subject line should read “Your 2026 Nonprofit Leadership Conference: Powered by Purpose Ticket.”
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Click “manage ticket details” to make any necessary changes, including selecting a vegan meal.
If you did not register yourself or cannot find your ticket, please email your request to info@nlctb.org.
The vegan meal features blackened tofu with baby spinach, rainbow quinoa, red grapes, carrots, pickled onion, and citrus vinaigrette.
When you check in at the conference, please confirm with the registration volunteer that you have selected a vegan meal. You will receive a vegan meal ticket to provide to your lunch server.
SOCIAL MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY
What are the social media hashtags and handles for this event?
We encourage you to share your conference experience before, during, and after the event. Please follow and tag the Nonprofit Leadership Center using @nlctb and use the hashtag #PoweredByPurpose. We love to reshare and elevate your posts!
Will you be taking professional photos during the event?
Yes. The Nonprofit Leadership Center will take professional photos and video footage throughout the event. All conference attendees understand that the Nonprofit Leadership Center may include all photos and footage from the event on social media, its website and other digital communications. That means you may appear in photos and videos taken during the event.
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Who are the conference sponsors?
This year’s event is only possible because of the generous support of our passionate partners that believe in the nonprofit community’s importance and impact. Please join us in thanking the sponsors featured below, and be sure to show them some love before, during, and after the event on social media.
Co-Presenting Sponsors
Table Swag Sponsor
Technology & Innovation Sponsor
Networking Sponsor
Light Breakfast Sponsor
Name Badge Sponsor
Year of Training Sponsor
Breakout Sponsors
CONTACT INFORMATION
Who should I contact if I have questions or need more information?
If you have questions about the conference or have feedback to share, please contact the Nonprofit Leadership Center team at info@nlctb.org or 813-287-8779.
What is the Nonprofit Leadership Center?
The Nonprofit Leadership Center develops and connects nonprofit leaders to strengthen organizations and our communities. As a nonprofit organization that exists to support other nonprofits, we offer professional development classes, certificate programs, an annual conference and customized learning experiences for nonprofit leaders of all experience levels. Learn more about us and how we can help you and your nonprofit at nlctb.org.