The Nonprofit Alliance: Essential Leadership Lab
2025-01-01 - 2025-12-31 | Virtual
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The TNPA Leadership Steering Committee is thrilled to launch Essential Leadership Lab as the program marks its fifth year. This initiative, a crucial resource for nonprofit leaders, offers virtual cohorts, skill development, and a robust support network. Over the course of a year, the program includes twelve monthly virtual sessions addressing critical nonprofit sector issues. Participants have the flexibility to choose and engage in nine out of the twelve sessions aligned with their interests.

January 2025 | Essential Leadership Lab Reunion
All past, current, and registered-for-the-future Lab participants are INVITED and WELCOME! The Lab Reunion will be a time to learn, network, and celebrate the leaders of our sector.
February 2025 | Leading in a Polarized World
Our world feels more polarized every day. As leaders, we need to be able to navigate this reality to ensure that our teams work together respectfully, regardless of personal opinions. We are responsible for maintaining the integrity of our missions, for ourselves and for our many constituencies. When do we open discussions, when do we set them aside, and how do we guide ourselves, our teams, and our organizations through these polarized times?
March 2025 | Women in Leadership (Not Just for Women!)
Studies show that women often do not feel supported in the workplace. Although nonprofit staffing is more than 75% female, fewer than half of the C-level leadership positions are held by women in nonprofits. Together, we will explore how that lack of support manifests in our teams and organizations, what better support and development could look like, and what we can do it about – both as women and as allies.
April 2025 | HOT TOPIC
What is the most perplexing, vexing, or critical topic you must grapple with right now? Lab participants have input and one HOT TOPIC will be selected for the focus for April.
May 2025 | Creating Culture in a Remote World: What have we learned?
We will be 5 years away from the start of the pandemic and hybrid and remote work have become the norm. This session will be a chance to step back, assess best practices, and consider how our colleagues have tackled some of the challenges.
June 2025 | Ethical Storytelling
Telling the story of missions has evolved radically over the past few years, impacted by the pandemic, the rising awareness of ongoing inequities in our society, and the role that storytelling can play in furthering our organizations’ missions and creating a more responsible world. Join us to learn the most up-to-date state of ethical storytelling, including the ethical use of AI in generating those stories.
July 2025 | Motivating a Workforce
We have got our eyes on the prize, stretching to meet our goals. We expect a lot from our staff, and we cannot do it without each of them. How can you motivate a diverse team of individuals to keep them productive, efficient, and committed to the work? This session will explore current shifts in workforce motivation theory, with real-world discussion of what other organizations and agencies find effective.
August 2025 | HOT TOPIC
What is the most perplexing, vexing, or critical topic you must grapple with right now? Lab participants have input, and one HOT TOPIC will be selected as the focus for August.
September 2025 | Navigating Change
Do you feel like the rate of new approaches to our work has accelerated? Are you facing a shift in your personal work or in the structure of your team or organization? Change is inevitable, but how you manage that change will determine your (and your team’s or organization’s) future success. Learn cutting-edge concepts of change management and how to guide teams through change. Work with your Lab cohort to determine how these ideas apply to your current work.
October 2025 | Leadership Pipeline and the Next Generation of Leaders
As leaders, it is our job to regularly step back from the day-to-day and envision our work—and our teams—in the future. Are you identifying your next generation of leaders? What can we do now to ensure there are top-notch people ready to lead our organizations five, ten, or even twenty years from now?
November 2025 | Breaking Down Silos
We all know how successful a campaign can be with buy-in from more than one department. Our own team’s work can be stronger with support from other teams. In this session, we will explore success stories of work “across silos,” the factors that made it possible, and the results. We will identify places in our own work that would benefit from the input or support of someone outside our department and steps to overcome the perceived barriers.
December 2025 | Providing Challenging Feedback
It’s only human to avoid giving difficult feedback. Yet, it is crucial to deliver that feedback to help your staff grow, deliver, and be the best contributors they can be. In this session, we will consider recent research on best practices in giving feedback, and each develop our own style for giving feedback that feels authentic – and do-able.

DMAW Best of Direct 2025
2025-12-03 16:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Washington, DC
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Wednesday, December 3, 2025
4:30 – 7:30 PM
DMAW Best of Direct 2025
This annual event celebrates excellence and innovation in direct marketing, bringing together professionals from across the industry to honor standout campaigns and creative achievements. It’s an inspiring opportunity to connect with peers, see incredible work on display, and spark new ideas shaping the future of direct response and fundraising.

2026 Meals on Wheels Conference & Expo
2026-02-15 - 2026-02-18
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February 15-18, 2026
We are excited to be attending the Meals on Wheels Annual Conference & Expo! This incredible event provides a unique opportunity to connect with one another, enrich yourselves professionally, and gain actionable insights and skills that will not only advance and support your organizations but also increase your community impact. Since 1974, Meals on Wheels America has been bringing together leaders for an annual gathering like no other. Don’t miss out!

2026 Nonprofit Technology Conference
2026-03-10 - 2026-03-13
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
A-list Engagement: Building a Thriving SMS program
Tired of fighting for attention in crowded inboxes? Bread for the World was too. They needed a fresh way to connect with their supporters — one that would deepen relationships, inspire action, and drive sustained support. In this interactive workshop, you’ll go beyond the case study and roll up your sleeves. Together, we’ll walk through how Bread for the World, with Engaging Networks and Lautman, Maska, Neill & Company, built a thriving SMS program — from making the internal case, to setting up processes, growing the list, developing strategy, and measuring results. We’ll work through the entire process together, from making the internal case for SMS to setting up processes and a growth strategy. You’ll leave with practical tools and templates you can use right away!
Learning Objectives

Why SMS is a key channel to amplify your existing communication priorities.
How to get buy-in from key internal stakeholders to invest in this channel.
Discover how to work effectively with copywriters, agencies, and organizations to craft winning fundraising copy together.

Speakers

SEAN WAGMAN
Digital Account Director
Lautman Maska Neill & Co.

SUSANNA BEAN-JONES
Deputy Director for Membership Giving
Bread for the World
SEAN DOTSON
Account Manager
Engaging Networks

2026 Meals on Wheels California Conference
2026-03-23 - 2026-03-25 | San Diego, CA
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Monday, March 23, 2026
11:00 AM
30 Ideas in 60 Minutes: Your Hour of Creative Power
Looking for fresh, actionable ideas to elevate your fundraising? This fast-paced, high-energy session delivers 30 proven strategies in just 60 minutes from leading experts in direct marketing. You’ll leave with practical tips you can implement immediately to boost revenue, increase donor retention, and reduce costs – all without sacrificing impact.
Presented by:

Lautman Meals on Wheels Fundraising Co-op

2026 Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium
2026-03-25 - 2026-03-27 | Washington, DC
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March 25, 2026 – March 27, 2026
Get ready for an exhilarating experience! Unlock possibilities by exploring innovative strategies and emerging trends to elevate your organization’s fundraising potential. Build meaningful partnerships with nonprofit leaders and service providers to foster collaboration and sector-wide impact. Drive progress with actionable insights and best practices designed to address challenges and ensure sustainable growth. Exclusively tailored for professionals with 10+ years of experience, this transformative event is your chance to unlock new opportunities, forge impactful connections, and confidently shape the future of our sector. Don’t miss out—join us and secure your spot today!

2026 Mid-Level Giving Benchmarking Summit
2026-04-14 - 2026-04-15
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April 14-15, 2026
We’re excited to share that we’ll be attending this year’s Mid-Level Giving Summit, a dynamic gathering that brings together more than 45 organizations and 90+ peers who are shaping the future of mid-level programs. With two full days of workshops, hands-on problem solving, and big-picture insights, the Summit is packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and spark new ideas. We’re looking forward to diving into the data, joining thoughtful conversations, and bringing back fresh strategies to strengthen the mid-level donor experience. It’s going to be an inspiring couple of days, and we can’t wait to be part of it!
