We are returning to Ocean Shores March 25th & 26th, 2027! Be sure to keep an eye out for early bird registration.
NPLC is currently looking for presenters for the 2027 conference, Connected with Purpose.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, fill out the submission form linked below by December 12th.
Meet Our Keynote Speaker
Michael Brown: Architect of Change and Champion for Community Voices
Michael Brown is a visionary civic leader dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities. As Chief Architect of Civic Commons, he is leading a bold regional movement to strengthen civic muscle and ensure that diverse voices shape decisions driving racial and economic equity.
For more than two decades, Michael has forged powerful partnerships that empower communities to imagine and build the futures they deserve. He has led transformative efforts to dismantle systemic barriers facing low-income communities and communities of color—always centering community voice, bridging sectors, and tackling challenges in affordable housing, economic justice, and policy reform.
During his tenure as Vice President of Community Programs at Seattle Foundation, Michael redefined how philanthropy partners with community. He launched the Center for Community Partnerships, which seeded groundbreaking initiatives including Communities of Opportunity, the Vibrant Democracy Initiative, and the Voter Education Fund—earning national recognition with the HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.
In 2018, Michael founded Civic Commons to give regions the tools, relationships, and shared responsibility needed to solve complex issues. Current initiatives such as the Black Home Initiative, Scorecard for Shared Prosperity, and Communities of Belonging demonstrate his deep belief in collaboration as the foundation for equity and shared prosperity.
Michael’s leadership spans policy, philanthropy, and civic innovation. He has served as a legislative aide and Chief of Staff for the Seattle City Council, Deputy Director of the Washington Association for Community Economic Development, and a board member for numerous community organizations. His impact has been honored nationally, including with the 2018 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy.
A proud graduate of Loyola University New Orleans (B.A.) and the University of Washington (M.P.A.), Michael is also an American Marshall Memorial Fellow and a Leadership Tomorrow alumnus. For him, the greatest recognition comes not from awards, but from communities themselves—when they are heard, empowered, and equipped to shape their own futures.
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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.