This was the first year hosting the event at the building in Crownsville. Designed intentionally to be smaller than previous years, 65 attendees experienced a day filled with creativity, curiosity, and connection and left with a sense of renewed excitement and inspiration for the work they do in the community.
Carmen Marshall, Interim CEO of Maryland Nonprofits delivered a motivational speech to set the tone for the rest of the day. She stressed the following key points:
- Being a small, new, or emerging organization doesn't mean that you can't and shouldn't think/dream big.
- Funders, and people generally, want to support organizations they can trust and those making impact - think about what gap would be created if your organization did not exist.
- Compliance is critical in maintaining trust - take care of your administrative and operational items.
- Having a need isn't enough because everyone has need.
- How you speak about the work your organization does matters. Your work is impact work.
And her message to leaders:
- Even if it has your name on it, an organization stops being yours the moment you get your 501(c)(3).
- You can not and should not lead from a place of bitterness.
- Surround yourself with people who are willing to challenge you.
- Know when to step away, and
- Rest is not optional.
Breakout sessions were built around three themes: Engaging the Next Generation, Leveraging Relationships, and The Digital Thread
- Relationships Over Rosters: The Art of Volunteer Engagement - Michelle Nusum-Smith (The Word Woman, LLC)
- The Nonprofit Tech Toolkit - Deena Englander (WorkStream Nonprofit)
- Hitting the Reset Button: Defining Board Expectations - Chrissy Thornton (Associated Black Charities)
- Leveraging Technology to Communicate Need & Impact - Bianca Jackson (BrickRose Exchange)
- People, Platforms, & Philanthropy - Leslie Jackson (UMD College Park)
- Deeper than Donorship: Engaging Next-Gen Donors - Lili Leonard (Black Dog Philanthropic Consulting)
- The Power of Partnership: Developing Collaborative Grant Applications - Erin Snell (Charting Careers)
- Using AI for Marketing & Outreach - Sharon Mostyn (Mostyn Marketing Group)
The Nonprofit Center team is grateful for all of the speakers and attendees for making it a great event.
For information about more professional development opportunities at the Nonprofit Center, contact Amber Barnett at exbarn24@aacounty.org.
Event Photo Gallery
