• Registration will be open from 8:30am-2pm
• Breakfast will be from 8:30am-9:30am

Join thought leaders for a fireside chat on bold strategies for driving systemic change. Panelists will explore how nonprofits can leverage advocacy and coalition-building to confront racial inequities and create meaningful change. This conversation will frame the day’s sessions by emphasizing actionable pathways to advance equity and systems change in organizational practices.

Opening Performance by Porsha Olayiwola, City of Boston Poet Laureate

Opening Plenary Welcome: Elaine Ng, President & CEO, TSNE

Moderator: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director, Lawyers for Civil Rights

Panel: Beth Huang, Civic Engagement and Democracy Program Officer, Tides Foundation and Anthony Poore, President & CEO, New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity

In this session, we will challenge traditional leadership paradigms and explore how leaders can drive meaningful, sustainable change towards inclusivity and equity within their organizations. Through powerful storytelling and real-world examples, this panel conversation will uncover the ways in which leadership can shape policies, culture, and behaviors that create a more inclusive future. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to drive meaningful change in their teams and organizations, making equity a cornerstone of their leadership practice.

Please choose one session per 10:45am time slot.

Moderator: Michael Ibrahim, Chief Program & Impact Officer, TSNE

Panel: Wyona Lynch McWhite, Executive Director of Social Innovation Forum & Harold Steward, Executive Director of New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)

Nonprofits are facing unprecedented workforce challenges due to economic uncertainty, rising operational costs, and increasing demand for services. This session will examine how coordinated advocacy can drive systemic solutions to inequitable wages, housing instability, healthcare access, and the overall sustainability of nonprofit employment.

Panelists will discuss strategies for advancing workforce protections, securing funding for equitable pay, and strengthening sector-wide advocacy coalitions. The conversation will focus on how nonprofits can advocate for structural change while ensuring organizational sustainability, helping leaders retain and protect talent during a time of instability.

Please choose one session per 10:45am time slot.

Moderator: Gloria Ramón, Chief Strategy Officer, TSNE

Panel: Donna Murray-Brown, Consultant, DMB Coaching and Consulting, and Bill Yelenak, President & CEO, Providers’ Council

What can we do to ensure that funding practices are centered on equity? We'll discuss current and promising practices and explore what additional strategies are needed to ensure that funding truly supports equitable outcomes for all.

Please choose one session per 10:45am time slot.

Moderator: Jay Kim, TSNE Board, Executive Director, Community Foundation for MetroWest

Panel: Megan Burke, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Giles Li, Senior Program Officer, Arts & Creativity, Barr Foundation

How can we embed equity and justice into daily organizational practices and community engagement? This session will discuss practical strategies organizations can foster in an environment that prioritizes equity and justice, ultimately leading to stronger community engagement and more equitable outcomes.

Please choose one session per 10:45am time slot.

Moderator: Ellen Wang, Senior Director of Shared Services TSNE

Panel: Akia Callum, Deputy Director, Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership, Shineika Fareus, Executive Director, CT Black & Brown Student Union, and Devin Morris, Co-Founder & Executive Director, The Teachers’ Lounge

Join us in UMass Boston's Campus Center for the Luncheon Plenary. Please follow the directional signage.

Explore how organizations transform internal leadership structures to reflect equity principles. Panelists will share lessons on embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging during leadership transitions, highlighting strategies for aligning board leadership, management, and community partners. The panel will share lessons learned in change management and the vital relationship between board leadership, management, partners, and funders in fostering an equitable organizational culture.

Performance by: Odaiko New England

Luncheon Plenary Welcome Speaker: Jaye Smith, TSNE Board Chair, and Founder & CEO of FSG Consultants

Moderator: Miki Akimoto, Chief Impact Officer, National Center for Family Philanthropy

Panel: Elaine Ng, President & CEO, TSNE, Shaheer Mustafa, President & CEO, HopeWell Inc., and Tammy Dowley-Blackman, CEO, Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group, LLC

 Join us in UMass Boston's University Hall for more conference sessions. Please follow the directional signage.

 The Wellness Zone is a place to pause, re-charge, and prioritize your well-being throughout the conference.

From 1:30pm-4:30pm you're welcome to sign up for a 10min chair massage by Imani Massage, or learn about Aromatherapy practices by We Heal Holistically.

Massages will be coordinated on a sign up sheet, first come, first serve basis.

Leadership isn’t about best practices or top-down empowerment—it’s about co-creating spaces where people recognize and activate the power they already hold. In this session, we will explore smartest practices that foster belonging, mutual care, and deep reflection across intergenerational leadership spaces. By centering resilience and diverse lived experiences, we ensure that leadership development is relational, liberatory, and community-rooted. Together, we’ll examine how leaders can build sustainable, inclusive ecosystems that reflect their values and lived experiences, without forcing prescriptive solutions.

Please choose one session per 1:45pm time slot.

Presenter: Elliot Rivera, Resilient Leadership & Belonging Consultant

Advocacy is a powerful tool for driving systems change, yet many organizations—especially those newer to advocacy—struggle with where to begin, how to build sustainable advocacy efforts, and how to navigate socio-political challenges. This session will provide actionable strategies for developing effective, equity-driven advocacy agendas while addressing real-time issues that affect policy, funding, and systemic reform.

Panelists from diverse sectors will share how they have strategically mobilized advocacy efforts to drive policy and structural change. Attendees will leave feeling informed, empowered, and equipped to refine their own advocacy strategies in alignment with their mission and communities.

Please choose one session per 1:45pm time slot.

Moderator: Catherine T. Morris, Director of Arts & Creativity, The Boston Foundation also the Founder and Executive Director of Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest

Panel: Emily Ruddock, Executive Director, MASSCreative, and Erin McAleer, President & CEO, Project Bread

Philanthropy has the potential to advance equity and drive transformative social change. But too often, traditional funding structures reinforce inequitable power dynamics, inhibiting progress and stifling coordination as organizations compete with one another over limited funds. It is a persistent problem that will likely intensify as the communities most impacted by philanthropy begin to feel the effects of sweeping public policy changes and budget cuts.

In this candid and timely session, Rachel D’Souza will explore how fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and funders can reimagine philanthropy by cultivating equitable relationships and disrupting entrenched systems that are harming the communities we serve; Rachel will challenge attendees to rethink their approach to fundraising and grantmaking, reject divisive scarcity mindsets, and lean into trust-based systems and radical collaboration; and she’ll offer real-world examples of organizations who have embraced this approach, arming participants with practical strategies to consider as we face this moment of uncertainty.

Please choose one session per 1:45pm time slot.

Presenter: Rachel D’Souza, Founder & President, Gladiator Consulting, and a Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council Member

Explore how implementing effective financial practices can promote equity and drive systemic change within nonprofit organizations. Practicum Sessions center around application of knowledge through practice on a specific topic.

Please choose one session per 1:45pm time slot.

Presenter: Dana Britto, Founder & Principal, Cultivar Consulting, LLC

In a rapidly shifting policy and economic landscape, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations must be prepared for multiple possible futures. This one-hour session introduces leaders to the fundamentals of scenario planning, distinct from contingency planning, and is an essential tool for strategic foresight and decision-making.

Participants will:

• Identify Critical Uncertainties – Explore key drivers of change shaping the sector.
• Develop Rapid Scenarios – Explore ways to identify plausible future scenarios.
• Assess Strategic Implications – Consider how different futures might impact organizational strategy, funding, and advocacy.
• Take Action – Leave with concrete next steps for integrating scenario thinking into your organization's planning
• This session is designed to provide a high-level yet impactful introduction to scenario planning, equipping leaders with a structured approach to navigating uncertainty.

Please choose one session per 1:45pm time slot.

Presenter: Sandi McKinley, Founder, SectorWind

Birds of a Feather Networking Sessions are intimate gatherings designed to build community, learn with each other, and share challenges and successes. Connect with with our TSNE staff and network with leaders on a range of topics such as evaluation, organizational development, marketing/communications and more, as they facilitate discussions and opportunities to learn and deepen your expertise.

Topics include:

1. Strengthening the Nonprofit Ecosystem by Grounding Capacity Building in Equity
   1. Room 4190, 4th floor, led by TSNE Shared Services staff
2. What Role Does Accounting Play in Demonstrating Organizational Commitments to Equity?
   1. Room 4180, 4th floor, led by TSNE Finance staff
3. Curating Connection Through Marketing & Communications
   1. Room 4140, 4th floor, led by TSNE Marketing & Communications staff
4. What Does Organizational Readiness Look Like for a Successful Leadership Transition?
   1. Room 4130, 4th floor, led by TSNE Executive Search staff
5. Building a Culture of Learning at Your Organization: Key Strategies for Continuous Improvement
   1. Room 4120, 4th floor, led by TSNE Learning & Evaluation staff
6. How to Design and Implement Accessible Programming
   1. Room 4110, 4th floor, led by TSNE Cohort Learning staff
7. Recruitment Meets Retention: The Employee Experience Journey
   1. Room 4100, 4th floor, led by People & Culture/HR staff
8. Improving Accessibility and Belonging in Fiscal Sponsorship Programs
   1. Room 2330, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Fiscal Sponsorship staff
9. Equity in Property: Building Inclusive Spaces & Opportunities
   1. Room 2320, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Properties staff
10. Leading Change in Turbulent Times
    1. Room 2100, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Organizational Development & Consulting staff
11. The Uncertain Future of Corporate DEIB Programs
    1. Room 2110, 2nd floor, led by TSNE Legal staff
12. Shaping Culture Through Learning and Growth
    1. Room 2130, 2nd floor, led by TSNE People & Culture/HR staff
13.  

Some traditional governance structures fall short in addressing the needs of modern nonprofits. Explore how boards can transition from traditional governance to become active advocates for racial justice and equity in the nonprofit sector.

Please choose one session for the 4:00pm time slot.

Presenter: Vernetta Walker, CEO of Vernetta Walker & Associates

Burnout has been a persistent issue in the nonprofit sector, and recent events, particularly the pandemic, have heightened its impact. This session will focus on effective strategies for prioritizing mental health, alleviating stress, and fostering a culture of well-being within organizations.

Please choose one session per 4:00pm time slot.

Presenter: Åsa Fanelli, Founder and Chief Strategist of IdeaLift Group

Nonprofits are at the forefront of social change, yet many organizations—particularly those led by BIPOC leaders—struggle with chronic underfunding, inequitable power dynamics, and donor-driven priorities that do not align with their communities' needs. In this thought-provoking session, Brooke Richie-Babbage will explore the intersection of fundraising, organizational resilience, and equity, offering strategies for leaders to strengthen financial sustainability while challenging harmful philanthropic norms.

This discussion will share insights on how nonprofit leaders can cultivate funding ecosystems that align with their missions, shift power in donor relationships, and integrate trust-based philanthropy principles into their work. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for navigating power dynamics, securing unrestricted funding, and advocating for equitable partnerships that sustain their organizations for the long term.

Please choose one session per 4:00pm time slot.

Presenter: Brooke Richie-Babbage, Founder & CEO, Bending Arc

This interactive session will demystify pay equity and equip participants with practical tools and strategies to build fair, transparent compensation systems. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises to analyze pay equity, debunk common myths, and explore best practices for structuring equitable pay policies. Practicum Sessions center around application of knowledge through practice on a specific topic.

Please choose one session per 4:00pm time slot.

Presenters: TSNE's Luzdy Rivera, Chief People and Culture Officer & Bobby Brickey, Director of People & Culture

Join TSNE as we celebrate 65 years of impact at our 65 Forward Reception! Enjoy delicious passed hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and live music. Take a moment to connect with fellow attendees and discover TSNE's journey, milestones, and vision for the future.

Music performed by Zumix, Marmalade Jazz Band

Closing Remarks: Andrea J. Campbell, Attorney General of Massachusetts