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September 2026 Edition
e-newsletter
| | STRENGTHENING PHILANTHROPY IN OUR COMMUNITY | | | | |
FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK:
Showing Up for Our Community
There are moments when we are reminded just how important community really is. I believe this is one of those moments.
Nonprofits throughout San Diego County continue to face extraordinary challenges, increasing needs, uncertain funding, stretched resources, and a world that seems to change almost daily. Yet every day, I see organizations and individuals continuing to
show up, solve problems, care for people, and strengthen our community.
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That is resilience. And it is something we create together.
This month, we have two wonderful opportunities to put that belief into action:
supporting local nonprofits through the San Diego Gives Day of Giving and investing in
the people who will lead our sector forward.
On September 17, San Diego Gives provides all of us with an opportunity to celebrate
and support the nonprofits doing incredible work throughout our region.
Of course, we hope people will give. But supporting the Day of Giving doesn't have to
begin with your wallet. One of the most powerful things each of us can do is simply get
the word out.
Tell a friend. Send an email. Share a post. Talk about it at work. Mention it to your
Board. Encourage your colleagues and neighbors to participate.
Imagine if everyone connected to NCPC helped make sure that all of San Diego knows
that September 17 is our Day of Giving. Collectively, we can introduce thousands of
people to organizations and causes they may never have encountered otherwise.
And while we invest in our organizations, we must also invest in our people.
Given the state of the world, I can't think of a more important time to develop strong,
thoughtful, compassionate leaders. Our sector needs people who can navigate
uncertainty, bring others together, make difficult decisions, inspire teams, and continue
moving their missions forward even when the path isn't clear.
That is why leadership development is such an important part of NCPC'swork.
Our Impact Leadership Accelerator (ILA) launches this month, bringing together
nonprofit professionals for eight months of learning, coaching, connection, and growth.
ILA is an investment not simply in someone's professional skills, but in their potential to
make a greater difference within their organization and our community.
Maybe that person is you.
Or maybe there is someone on your team whose potential you see every day.
Encourage them. Nominate them. Invest in them. Give someone the gift of leadership.
Because ultimately, giving and leadership are deeply connected.
Giving says, I believe in the work you are doing.
Leadership says, I believe in what you can become.
And when we do both, when we support our nonprofits and invest in the people leading
them, we demonstrate just how strong and resilient our sector can be.
This September, I hope you will join us.
Share September 17. Support a local nonprofit. Invest in a leader.
Together, let's show San Diego what our nonprofit community can do.
Warmly,
Jim Davis
Executive Director
North County Philanthropy Council
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Add Your Team
Your NCPC membership already covers your entire staff and board. Add them under ‘Company Contacts’ in your account so they're included in event invitations, workshops, and networking opportunities. It takes two minutes and makes sure no one on your team misses out.
Not yet a Member? Click HERE for more details.
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Shape NCPC's Future: Board & Committee Opportunities
Looking for a way to give back beyond your day job? NCPC's Board of Directors and committees are always looking for people ready to help shape what comes next, whether that's strategic leadership or hands-on program support. Email jim@ncphilanthropy.org to find out what's open right now.
| | NCPC & PARTNER EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES | | Upcoming opportunities for professional development, service, and connection -- | | |
SAN DIEGO GIVES:
OUR DAY OF GIVING IS SEPTEMBER 17
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On September 17, nonprofits across San Diego County come together for one day of coordinated giving. Last year, 111 organizations raised over $900,000 in 24 hours, proof of what this community can do when it shows up together.
The best thing you can do right now doesn't require a donation. It just takes getting the word out. Tell a friend. Send an email. Share a post. Mention it to your board. Encourage your coworkers and neighbors to take part. If everyone connected to NCPC helps spread the word, we introduce thousands of people to organizations and causes they may never have found otherwise.
Mark your calendar for September 17. Follow along. And when the day comes, give to what matters most to you.
See participating organizations..
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Impact Leadership Accelerator:
2026-2027 Registration Now Open
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Eight months. Eight leaders in the field. One cohort built to help you lead with more clarity, confidence, and skill.
Every leader hits a point where good instincts aren't quite enough. You need frameworks, feedback, and a group of peers who are working through the same challenges.
That's what the Impact Leadership Accelerator is built for: eight months of expert-led sessions, paired with in-person cohort coaching, so you're not just absorbing the material, you're applying it to how you actually lead.
Program runs October 2026 to May 2027 with cohort kick-off on September 23.
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Here's the full lineup:
Fundraising Innovation & Diversification | Dr. Courtney Laddusaw
Building Healthy Cultures & Developing Talent | Javier Guerrero
Executive Presence & Communication | Neville Billimoria & Panel
AI for Leaders: Leading Smarter, Faster & More Strategically | Ross Hartmann
Leading Through Change | Idara Inwek Ogunsaju
Leading Yourself: Emotional Intelligence & Leadership Style, Pt. 1 | Dr. Ihan Anita Ip
Building Capacity: Reflection, Presence & System Awareness, Pt. 2 | Dr. Ihan Anita Ip
Board Governance & Stakeholder Engagement | Jim Floros
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Whatever stage you're at, there's a session in here that speaks directly to the gap you feel most. That's the point: this isn't generic leadership theory, it's a full year of the specific skills that turn good leaders into great ones.
$550 for all 8 months. Cost a barrier? Ask about a scholarship, we don't want that to be the reason you sit this one out.
And there's a bonus waiting at the finish line: every NCPC membership extends to your entire organization, staff, board, and volunteers alike, and ILA graduation is worth an extra year of it. Current members get their organizational membership extended a year, new members get their first year free.
| | "As a leader, I've definitely been given a better and more extensive vocabulary for under-standing what it means to be a leader, where I want to be as a leader. The ILA workshops really did a good job of putting me on track for that." Christian Solis, 365Connect, 2025–2026 Cohort | | | | |
Fundraising Fridays
Every Friday from 9:00 – 10:00 AM, PT
| Join local colleagues in philanthropy for this informal, virtual time to check in with one another, ask questions, and get advice on fundraising matters. | | |
The Hive, Encinitas
A mile from the beach, The Hive is a vibrant coworking community rooted in Jewish values, where nonprofit professionals work, connect, and grow alongside 27 organizations focused on Jewish life, sustainable agriculture, mental health, food rescue, and more.
Members enjoy indoor and outdoor workspaces, conference rooms, networking events, professional development, and complimentary coffee and snacks. Planning a meeting or event of your own? The Hive offers versatile event venues at discounted nonprofit rates, with additional savings for members, plus the option to incorporate immersive experiences at neighboring Coastal Roots Farm.
Hot Desk memberships start at $200/month.
Learn more or get in touch at hiveadmin@thehivesd.org.
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Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative (NSI)
San Diego: New Pooled Fund Launching
NSI San Diego, a new charitable pooled fund fiscally sponsored by Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, will begin accepting applications on September 1, 2026 for nonprofits exploring or implementing sustained collaboration partnerships, including shared services, jointly managed programs, strategic alliances, and mergers. The initiative offers Exploratory and Implementation Grants to help organizations assess opportunities and navigate transitions toward stronger, more resilient structures. Priority will go to partnerships that improve outcomes in health, education, economic mobility, civic participation, and environmental justice.
Learn more: catalystsd.org/nsi-san-diego/
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28th Annual Cause Conference —
September 24
Mark your calendars for Harnessing the Power of Business & CommUNITY, the 28th Annual Cause Conference hosted by Cause San Diego on September 24, 2026, from 8am to 5pm in San Diego.
This full-day event brings together 400+ business, nonprofit, government, and academic professionals alongside college students and grads for a day of learning, inspiration, and new connections aimed at building a stronger, more stable region and world. The day will also honor the 2026 Social Impact Scholars and this year's Social Impact Professionals and Organizations of the Year.
NCPC is proud to be presenting a breakout session at this year's conference, by Executive Director Jim Davis alongside Connie Archbold Robinson, Director of the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative San Diego.
NCPC is also a community partner for this year's conference, alongside TCWGlobal, Enterprise Bank & Trust, B Local San Diego, Business For Good San Diego, University of San Diego School of Peace Studies, Citrin Cooperman, Casa Sur Hacienda, Chase for Business, Wakeland Housing, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Burnham Center for Community Advancement, EleeHub CalNonprofits Insurance Services, and Reidinger Public Relations.
NCPC members save 25% on tickets with code CC26Presenter2 ($75).
Learn more and register here
| | Upcoming opportunities for professional development, services, and connection. | | |
NEW ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS
Cohen Family Military Clinic at VVSD
Family Health Centers of San Diego
Generational Black Pioneers
Healing Wave Aquatics
Housing as a Platform, Inc. (HAPI)
San Diego Rescue Mission
Vista Teen Outreach
Voices for Children
W2OMG (Where 2 Or More Gather) Petals of Hope
NEW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Stephanie Alband
Misty Morgan
Meagan Schmidt
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Assistance League North Coast
Casa de Amistad
Elizabeth Hospice, The
Feeding San Diego
Floros & Associates
I Love a Clean San Diego
North County African American Women's Association
Robin's Nest
Carolyn Royer
Shelter to Soldier
TERI, Inc.
Woman's Club of Carlsbad
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Scatena Media Group is a fully integrated communications agency that helps brands attract attention, build credibility, and inspire action.
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Led by CEO and Founder Denise Scatena, the certified woman- and minority-owned agency collaborates with mission-driven brands and organizations across Southern California, connecting them with the right audiences through insightful, inclusive media relations, social media, and copywriting. For over 16 years, they have been a trusted partner for more than 100 organizations looking to amplify their community presence, including Alzheimer’s San Diego, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
Learn more
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Rooted in the rich heritage of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Sycuan Casino Resort embraces the spirit of giving back.
Through Sycuan Cares, they are dedicated to investing in the
well-being and future of the community.
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Sycuan Casino Resort's relationship with NCPC isn't tied to a single event, it's a year-round partnership built through San Diego Gives, where Sycuan has worked alongside NCPC and philanthropic organizations across the county for multiple years running.
That same commitment to giving back shows up throughout Sycuan's own calendar too, through Sycuan Cares: this June's 35th Annual Sycuan Cup Golf Tournament awarded $100,000 to four local nonprofits, and Sycuan is already preparing its 2026 Holiday Gift Giving Ceremony.
It's the kind of organization NCPC is glad to call a partner, one whose commitment to community extends well beyond any single campaign.
Read the full spotlight
| | CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PHILANTHROPY | | Looking to make a difference? Check out the latest job opportunities posted on our website. Whether you're seeking a new challenge or know someone who is, there's no shortage of rewarding roles waiting to be filled! | | |
Donor Relations Specialist
La Jolla Playhouse
LEARN MORE
Development Officer
MiraCosta College
LEARN MORE
Executive Director
Friends of the Children - San Diego
LEARN MORE
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Development Specialist
Poinsettia Center for the Arts (DBA Star Theatre Company)
LEARN MORE
Treasurer
San Diego Art Directory
LEARN MORE
Managing Director
Poinsettia Center for the Arts (DBA Star Theatre Company)
LEARN MORE
| | | NEWS OF STRENGTHENING PHILANTHROPY | | |
Want your organization in front of the whole NCPC community? Premier members get a dedicated eBlast, and Sustaining members get a feature in our Meet Our Members newsletter series.
Email donna@ncphilanthropy.org for scheduling.
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Our tremendous thanks go to our moderator, Neville Billimoria, and our outstanding panelists, Courtney Stone, Giannina Perez, Angel Mason Broadus, and Megan Thomas.
Their willingness to share their experiences, perspectives, wisdom, and heart created a powerful conversation about what leadership looks like today and, perhaps more importantly, what it can become.
The recording of the Women in Leadership Panel is available here >> Passcode: A%yw3vD6
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August 31, 2026
WOMEN in LEADERSHIP
Leading with Confidence, Authenticity, and Purpose
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Interested in hosting a networking connector or one of our quarterly programs at your space?
Email donna@ncphilanthropy.org, we'd love to talk it through.
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Post to Our Community Board
Your membership comes with a direct line to the NCPC community: post your job openings, volunteer opportunities, and events on our website any time. Not yet a member? Click HERE for more details.
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See You On Social
More from San Diego's nonprofit community, all week long.
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