2026 Conference
We’re seeking dynamic, engaging, and actionable sessions that help nonprofit professionals, leaders, and partners strengthen their work, deepen their community impact, and stay rooted in purpose through change and growth.*
Interested in presenting? Click here to submit a presentation. Deadline for presentations is November 15th!
*Presenters receive free registration to the conference, complimentary hotel accommodations, and other benefits.
What We’re Looking For:
We invite proposals that:
- Provide practical tools, strategies, and efficiencies for nonprofit success
- Highlight collaboration, partnership, and community impact
- Explore emerging issues and innovative approaches shaping the sector
- Spark inspiration while keeping “Rooted Together” at the core
Sessions should be designed for a range of audiences—executive leaders, staff, board members, funders, and community partners—and promote learning, connection, and reflection.
Sample Topics to Spark Ideas:
(These are examples—not an exhaustive list!)
- Building strong partnerships: From grassroots to regional impact
- Fundraising strategies rooted in authentic community relationships
- Succession planning & leadership development for resilient organizations
- Equity and inclusion: Creating lasting cultural roots in nonprofits
- Technology and data: Grounding innovation in mission and values
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Harnessing AI tools ethically and effectively in nonprofit work
- Storytelling: Strengthening donor and community connections through compelling narratives
- Volunteer engagement: Growing from transactional to transformational relationships
- Navigating burnout & cultivating well-being for leaders and staff
- Grants and fundraising for operations: Sustaining what keeps your mission thriving
Email info@nonprofitleaders.info with any questions!
2026 Keynote Speaker
Michael Brown is the Vice-President of Community Programs at The Seattle Foundation. Michael oversees the Foundation’s community impact efforts, strategic grantmaking initiatives, convening activities, and plays a lead role with the Foundation’s impact investing program.
From 1997 to 2000, Michael served as a legislative aide to City of Seattle Councilmember Richard McIver. Michael also served as Deputy Director for the Washington Association for Community Economic Development, a non-profit organization that provided training and technical assistance to statewide community-based development organizations.
A native of New Orleans, Michael received his Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Loyola University (New Orleans). Michael is board member of Building Changes, Impact Capital, the King County Housing Authority, and the Washington State Budget and Policy Center.
Michael is also an American Marshall Memorial Fellow and a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow.
2026 Sponsors
Premium Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsor
Did you know that the Nonprofit Leaders Conference was created in response to the Great Recession? In those times, nonprofits were tasked with providing critical resources to our communities while navigating new and unfamiliar territory and many unknowns.
“In the midst of the ‘Great Recession,’ many nonprofits were struggling to survive in an environment of lost jobs and hunger where their work was needed most. Also, local governments were struggling and unable to provide needed services to local residents. With these points in mind, the Conference was organized to provide opportunities for nonprofits in Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific and Wahkiakum counties in particular, for 1) training by professionals with extensive nonprofit experience, 2) networking and identifying common goals and needs, and 3) to hear from and meet with foundation leaders in plenary sessions and speed meets.”
Mayor Crystal Dingler, NPLC Founding Member, 2007
Then and now—we remain deeply dedicated to our mission of strengthening rural and coastal nonprofits. We’ll get through this, together.
As information is available about new learning and networking activities,
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Honest Reviews
The biggest challenge in leadership is change: the social landscape, trends in volunteering, nonprofit board turnover, unpredictable funding. Professional development and connecting with peers are keys to success for nonprofit leaders in organizations of all sizes. By learning and evolving, leaders can become effective stewards of their cause and their stakeholders so they can become sustainable now and into the future.
Sheila Siden Resource Strategies
As an Executive Director at a non profit I don’t often get the time to sit and soak in the years of experience that are out in the non profit world. I can get so busy with day to day operations that I live in my whirlwind hole of doing good, that I forget to connect. This conference was amazing as there were so many other amazing everyday super hero’s in the room sharing their passions, struggles, successes and wisdom that the room literally vibrated with love.
Beth G. – The HUB Center for Seniors
This experience was priceless and will forever change the way that I run my non profit and also the way that I live my life. The power of good that can be accomplished by human beings willing to do for others is an extraordinary thing and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.