I start this October MAGNOLIA Monthly with a FULL HEART!

We just wrapped the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls’ 3rd Annual SHE LEADS: Empowering Nonprofit Leaders for Girls Conference and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible women who traveled from across the country to join us in Los Angeles for two unforgettable days of leadership, connection, inspiration and sisterhood.

This year was something truly special.

We learned from each other, supported each other - we laughed, we cried, we danced and celebrated!

One of the most unforgettable moments was welcoming former Vice President Kamala Harris to SHE LEADS. The room erupted in applause as she walked in, and the excitement was absolutely electric! In a powerful conversation moderated by Fatima Goss Graves, President of the National Women’s Law Center, the Vice President addressed the challenging political climate affecting nonprofits and the organizations working tirelessly to serve their communities.

But she also left us with something just as important: HOPE. Her words inspired and energized the women in that room, reminding us of the importance of continuing to lead with courage, conviction, and a commitment to the girls who need us most.

Another special moment was honoring my friend Janiece Evans-Page with our MAGNOLIA Award for Leadership. As CEO of TIDES, Janiece has been a tireless advocate for social justice and has led with Courage, Purpose and a deep sense of Community. We were grateful to celebrate her.

Throughout this month’s MAGNOLIA Monthly, we are celebrating all the incredible speakers who shared their wisdom, the leaders who showed up ready to learn and grow, and the special moments that made this gathering so memorable.

One of my favorite things about this year’s conference was the beautiful blend of familiar faces and new connections. Half of our attendees were returning SHE LEADS participants, while the other half were joining us for the very first time! That balance created exactly the kind of community I envisioned when I launched this conference: experienced leaders welcoming newcomers, women exchanging ideas, doors opening, and relationships taking root.

I also want to extend my heartfelt THANK YOU to our generous sponsors and partners. Your belief in SHE LEADS and your investment in the women who lead girl-centered nonprofits made this gathering possible. You helped us create a space where leaders could fill their cups, strengthen their skills, expand their networks, and return to their organizations with renewed energy and inspiration. We are deeply grateful for your partnership.

As you scroll through this month’s newsletter, I hope you feel the excitement, joy, and love that filled the room. The photographs capture some wonderful moments, but what they cannot fully convey is the feeling in that space - the shared purpose, the genuine connections, the laughter, and the collective determination to keep showing up for girls.

That is the magic of SHE LEADS.

With gratitude and love,

Shaun

Shaun Robinson

President and Founder

S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls

Program Spotlight: SHE LEADS 2026

The S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls hosted our 3rd Annual SHE LEADS: Empowering Nonprofit Leaders for Girls Conference last month, convening 100 women nonprofit leaders from across the country for two meaningful days in Los Angeles.

We’re grateful to every leader who joined us this year and to our growing SHE LEADS sisterhood - a powerful community dedicated to lifting up girls and one another.

Together, we connected, reflected, learned, and - just as importantly - made space to unwind, speak truth, share stories, and laugh together.

It was a much-needed opportunity to pause from the demands of this work, recharge alongside women who understand it, and celebrate the collective impact we can make when we come together.

At the heart of SHE LEADS is a shared commitment to creating greater opportunities for girls and young women to thrive. We're proud to honor that commitment by awarding general operating grants to two exceptional nonprofits represented at this year's conference: The Collective Identity Mentoring and You Grow Girl!

We’re excited to welcome these organizations as new S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls partners and look forward to sharing more about their work in upcoming newsletters.

Our phenomenal speakers and panelists brought expertise, honesty, inspiration, and heart to SHE LEADS 2026:

• DELORES DRUILHET MORTON, CEO, Step Up
• FATIMA GOSS GRAVES, President & CEO, National Women's Law Center
• JANIECE EVANS-PAGE, CEO, Tides
• JOANNA S. JACKSON, President & CEO, Weingart Foundation
• KAMALA D. HARRIS, 49th Vice President of the United States
• DR. MONIQUE COUVSON, President & CEO, G4GC
• MY LO COOK, Co-CEO & Chief Program Officer, Girl Up
• SHANNON NASH, COO/CFO, Vibrant Planet
• SWIN CASH, CEO & Founder of She's Got Time, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, NBA and WNBA on Prime Analyst

We're deeply thankful for the wisdom, candor, and perspectives they shared - helping our leaders "fill their cup" and leave SHE LEADS energized to make an even greater impact in their communities and for the girls they serve.

It takes a village to bring SHE LEADS to life!

A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated team, board members, sponsors and donors for helping make our 3rd annual convening our best yet.

Your generosity and support make it possible to bring together the powerhouse women who are leading change for girls and young women every day. We’re so grateful for your partnership and for being part of the SHE LEADS community! 💜

The S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls is a grant-making, 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented girls and young women. We support initiatives empowering girls in the key areas of our mission: (S)TEM, (H)EALTH, (A)RTS, (U)NITY and (N)EIGHBORHOODS.