Executive Director's Message | | |
This month, I’ve been making my annual rounds visiting as many of our Leaders Circles as I can. This member-exclusive program is now in its 15th season and remains one of our most popular offerings. Groups meet monthly with a volunteer facilitator for frank, confidential conversations. The program really exemplifies what our annual member survey tells us members value most: 80% say the top reason they joined Leadership Council was to network with peers.
Personally, it’s incredibly important to hear directly from participants about the issues they’re navigating and processing together. I was honored to facilitate a Circle for the first time this year (communications and marketing — back to my roots!). Through that experience and conversations with other Circles, I heard many common themes: HR challenges, funding pressure, board relationships, community awareness, and more. I also heard stories of big wins, challenges successfully weathered, and meaningful mission moments. The comments members share about bonding, peer support, and resource-sharing truly bring that survey statistic to life. To participate in 2026-27 Circles, please keep an eye out for registration to open June 1, and be sure that your membership is current!
We’re working to weave that same sense of connection into more of our programs, including our new HR and Executive Forums and the Securing the Future conference. Do you have ideas for fostering connection in our sector? I’d love to hear them.
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Beth Benson
Executive Director
P.S. Sponsorships are now open for our Oct. 20 Securing the Future conference – reach out if you’re interested!
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Fall BOLD cohort now enrolling!
BOLD has been streamlined to 4 in-person sessions with even more networking.
| | Designed for aspiring or novice board members, our core BOLD program will help you turn your passion into action and elevate your impact in our community! | | |
Check out what BOLD graduates are saying...
"I really enjoyed the in-person sessions and the overall format of the program. The interview and conversation style made it engaging. It felt more like a real discussion than a lecture, which made it comfortable to learn from others. Jay did a great job guiding the conversations, and the variety of speakers added great perspectives." –BOLD 24 graduate
"The guest presenters were amazing, Jay was a great moderator for the panels, and the other participants were very engaged with the subject matter. I think it was great having a good mix of current board members, prospective members, and nonprofit staff, as it gave way to multiple perspectives." –BOLD 24 graduate
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BOLD Next Level
We are planning to offer at least one session of BOLD Next Level in 2026, the “201” level of BOLD for more experienced board members. To learn more and make sure we notify you of the dates, click here.
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Have you renewed your Leadership Council membership for 2026? As part of a regional network of 200+ organizations, our members enjoy access to exclusive programming, valuable resources, and meaningful connections throughout the year. Visit our membership page to join or renew today. Thank you to all of our new and renewing members!
Please extend a warm welcome to our brand-new Leadership Council member:
| | Join Leadership Council and take advantage of our many programs and opportunities for cost saving and networking! Whether your organization is large or small, Leadership Council is here to help you tackle your unique challenges and achieve your mission. Plus, one membership covers your entire team! Learn more and join or renew today. | | | UST Unemployment Savings & Workforce Solutions | | |
Elevate your nonprofit's success with UST’s innovative workforce solutions! UST offers cost-saving programs designed to improve cash flow, mitigate risk, ensure HR compliance, and add operational efficiencies so you can do more to impact your local communities. Whether your primary focus is to protect your assets, ensure compliance, reduce unemployment costs, or to build a thriving work culture to keep your employees engaged, UST has a solution for you. Learn more about UST today!
UST Workforce Solutions Webinar
June 10, 2026: Join UST for a short webinar highlighting the exclusive benefits available to our members through our longtime partnership. Register today to learn more about a little-known tax exemption available exclusively to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and discover how you can streamline internal processes, ensure compliance, and create operational efficiencies—all while mitigating risk and unnecessary expenses.
Join us to learn how to:
- Save money on unemployment expenses
- Effectively manage unemployment claims, protests, and hearings
- Partner with UST to address your nonprofit's unique needs
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Leadership Council Job Board
Are you taking advantage of this FREE member benefit? As a Leadership Council member, you have exclusive access to our job board for posting your organization's job openings – absolutely free! Take advantage of this valuable resource today.
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Quarterly Nonprofit HR Forum
Join us for our quarterly Nonprofit HR Forum to meet with your peers for presentations and discussions on high-level issues affecting our nonprofit workforce.
Topic: Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Speaker: Samantha Kelly, Beyond Neurodiversity
Thanks to our sponsor Clark Schaefer Strategic HR!
Date: May 20, 2026
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Quarterly Nonprofit Executive Forum
Topic: Turning Data into Insights
Speaker: Kevin Finn, President/CEO, Strategies to End Homelessness
Please note: These in-person meetings are limited to current CEOs and Executive Directors only. Registrations from individuals not serving in these roles will not be accepted.
Thanks to our sponsor UHY (formerly Flynn & Co, CPAs)!
Date: May 21, 2026
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2026 Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Study Presentation
Leadership Council commissions a study of nonprofit compensation and benefits in even years. Key findings from the study will be presented by the researchers from MRA, with time for discussion and Q&A.
Organizations who completed the survey earlier this year will automatically be sent the study report to the survey contact on June 10. Others can purchase the report after June 10 by visiting the survey page.
Date: June 10, 2026
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PBPO Quarterly Employment Webinar Series
Join us to hear from the experts at KMK Law on important issues faced by nonprofit employers.
Each 1-hour session gives an overview of the latest legal developments, practical solutions, and a chance for you to ask your questions live. Topic coming soon.
Date: June 10, 2026
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How AI Can Create Security Risks – And What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know
May 26: Join Dean Dorton for an insightful webinar exploring the hidden risks of artificial intelligence—and what your nonprofit can do to stay protected. Whether you're already using AI tools or just beginning to explore them, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge to make informed, secure decisions. Learn more and sign up here.
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Reviewing Our Interorganizational Options in 2026
June 18: Mergers are just one among many relationships that can be explored in the course of investigating solutions for a business model that may no longer be working. This webinar will explore research on the costs/benefits of nonprofit mergers, key elements for successful completion, and highlight alternative options. Learn more and sign up here.
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2026 Emerging Leader Award Nominations
OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence is accepting nominations for their Emerging Leader Award to recognize talented nonprofit professionals who demonstrate exceptional promise and a commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector. The Award provides a full scholarship for the selected honoree to participate in the EXCEL Executive Leadership Program, including one year of executive coaching. Learn more and nominate here.
| | Leadership Council Annual Sponsors | | Collaborator Level Sponsors: | | | | |
