Last Thursday, September 19, nonprofit leaders gathered at 2020 K Street NW for the sold-out Capacity Building Conference. It was a full day dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and capacity of nonprofit organizations. With over 80 attendees, the event was not only informative but also filled with lively interactions, networking, and even some competitive fun during lunch!
A Day of Learning and Innovation
The conference featured a stellar lineup of speakers, each sharing practical tools and strategies to address the unique challenges of nonprofit work.
Kicking off the day, Pratichi Shah, CEO of Flourish Talent Management Solutions, led a thought-provoking session on What Really Matters in Equity and Inclusion? She provided real-life strategies for embedding DEI into organizational culture and shared how to navigate the current climate while sustaining meaningful change.
Next, Howard Levy, President of Red Rooster Group, captivated the audience with his session on Combining AI & Emotional Intelligence to Craft Your Fundraising Letter. Howard demonstrated how AI tools like ChatGPT, combined with donor sentiment analysis, can transform fundraising efforts by making them more personal and effective.
For those focused on strategic development, Ginny Waller, Principal Advisor at Waller Consulting
, LLC, offered a hands-on session titled Game Plan for Greatness: Strategic Planning. Attendees learned key steps for creating mission-focused strategies that align with leadership development and succession planning.
In the mid-morning sessions, Nikki Porcher, Founder of Buy From A Black Woman, shared her journey in forming successful partnerships with large corporations like H&M and PayPal in her session, How to Build Strategic Partnerships With Large Corporations. She inspired attendees with actionable strategies for cultivating mutually beneficial relationships between businesses and nonprofits.
Gregory Nielsen, CEO of Nielsen Training & Consulting, engaged participants with his session, Is Your Board Ready for a Checkup? Enhancing Impact Through Board Assessment. He explained the importance of board evaluations and how to use them as tools for improving governance and overall organizational effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Amy Cress, Executive Director and Beverly Ross, Program Directors of Compass Pro Bono, presented Turning One-Time Volunteers into Lifelong Organizational Champions. They drew from their combined 20+ years of experience to show how nonprofits can cultivate reliable, engaged volunteer bases that sustain their missions.
The afternoon continued with Abbi Haggerty, Executive Director of Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, delivering an energetic session on Why Us? Attendees learned how to identify and communicate their organizations’ unique value propositions to inspire greater community support and funding.
Eddrick Martin, CEO of Elevated Momentum, took the stage with his practical session on The 10 Steps to Creating a Board Development & Recruitment Program. He outlined a clear rubric to help organizations improve their board recruitment efforts and create long-lasting impact.
Closing out the day, Elizabeth Scott, PhD, CEO of Brighter Strategies, hosted a timely session on Cultivating a Resilient Organizational Culture in Nonprofits: Navigating the Hybrid Work Era. With many nonprofits shifting to hybrid models, Elizabeth provided crucial strategies for building adaptable cultures that keep teams engaged and mission-aligned.
Networking and Fun Over Lunch
As much as the day was packed with educational value, we also made room for some fun! During the lunch hour, attendees participated in a trivia game that brought tables of nonprofit professionals together to collaborate.. Laughter and excitement filled the room as teams worked to win, and our trivia champions was … “THE table”
- Sheika Reid
- Remy Reya
- Malik Waleed
- Charlie Gussom
- Steve Nash
- Sean Noyes
A Memorable Experience
The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant stating:
“Thanks so much for the work you and others invested into yesterday’s event. I’ve attended a ton of events over many years, week long, one-day, etc. Yours was one of the best I’ve attended…so organized, fun, informative, met some new friends and contacts and potential biz partners, and generous to attendees with all the valuable content and complimentary food/bevs.”
Growing Engagement
The excitement from the event carried over into our social media performance as well. In the weeks leading up to the event, our Instagram saw a 100.7% increase in reach, engaging 1.1K accounts and boosting our follower count to 1,450. We’re thrilled that our message of capacity building is resonating across platforms!
The Capacity Building Conference was truly an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. With a diverse range of topics and inspiring speakers, it offered something for every nonprofit leader in attendance. We look forward to continuing this important work, and we hope to see even more of you at our next event!
A special thanks to our co-host, Serve DC, for their ongoing support, and to JLL for hosting us.
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