Lower Shore
Nonprofit Summit
The
April 23rd & 24th | Salisbury, MD
Program
Schedule
The PACE Showcase event is a chance for our community and campus to celebrate some of the many partnerships between Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Salisbury University. Learn about ongoing partnerships, form new connections and meet the people doing excellent public work in our area.
Mini-consulting session for marketing/social media novices: If you are a small nonprofit with limited capacity and lacking a dedicated marketing/social media expert on your team, take advantage of this opportunity to meet briefly after the PACE Showcase with graduating seniors from Salisbury University's Communications program for a crash course on your choice of the following topics:
Social media/promotional content creation
Media management (how and what to post on different platforms)
Social media analytics
THURSDAY APRIL 23RD
FRIDAY APRIL 24TH
8:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast
Perdue Hall, Atrium/Lobby
9:00 AM | Opening Plenary - Chrissy M. Thornton, Associated Black Charities
Moving Nonprofits from Competition to Coordination
Perdue Hall, PH156
Presented By: Veronique Diriker, Ph.D., CFRE Learn more
Your organization does not need to be extremely prominent, but it must build on the sense of trust you have created in the community. In this interactive session, Veronique will help you assess whether you have all, or almost all, of the pieces in place to get started, create and implement a solid plan, and follow up with your donors and volunteers. You will learn best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and practical tips for successful capital campaigns.
Session Outcomes
Determine if you have, or can build, the organizational capacity to run a capital campaign
Understand the steps of a capital campaign from start to finish
Recognize that once the campaign has met its goal, the work is not over
Presented By: Kevin Hughes Learn more
Everyone is a leader, regardless of title or role. Based on the principles of Situational Leadership II, this interactive session helps participants learn how to provide the right level of direction and support based on competence and commitment. Through activities and discussion, attendees will practice becoming more versatile leaders within their organizations.
Session Outcomes
Understand leadership as a shared responsibility
Practice diagnosing leadership needs within goals and tasks
Apply leadership styles that align with competence and commitment
Presented By: Tanisha Armstrong, MPH Learn more
Small nonprofits often have big ideas but limited resources. This interactive workshop explores practical strategies for connecting with larger organizations to expand funding, resources, and shared impact. Participants will practice outreach techniques and partnership models designed for long-term collaboration.
Session Outcomes
Identify partnership opportunities aligned with mission and goals
Develop effective outreach and pitch strategies
Explore sustainable collaboration models for long-term partnerships
Presented By: Fawn Fitzgerald Learn more
As AI use grows, nonprofits must move beyond experimentation to intentional adoption. This session explores the risks, benefits, and ethical considerations of AI in the workplace, including data privacy, bias, and governance. Designed for decision-makers, it provides a practical framework for creating policies, establishing guardrails, and training staff to adopt AI responsibly.
Session Outcomes
Understand key AI risks and limitations relevant to nonprofit work
Learn the core components of an effective AI use policy
Explore governance models that balance innovation and accountability
Identify staff training and change-management considerations
Begin developing a roadmap for responsible AI adoption
Presented By: Adrianna Weissburg and Sarah Ramsey Learn more
Leadership in dynamic times is most effective when decisions are grounded in shared purpose, values, and a clear sense of direction. This interactive session explores how strategic plans can function as an organizational GPS, keeping leaders aligned, nimble, and focused when conditions shift. Anchored in Due East’s 5 Drivers of Growth & Sustainability, participants will learn practical tools to navigate change, adjust course, and stay rooted in a clear vision while driving greater impact.
Session Outcomes
Explore Due East’s 5 Drivers of Growth & Sustainability as a practical framework for effective, impact-driven strategic planning
Gain a clear understanding of how strategic planning creates an actionable roadmap that amplifies growth, impact, and sustainability
Learn how to apply planning tools to build nimble strategies that allow organizations to pivot confidently while remaining focused
Walk away with strategies for translating vision into priorities that align people, resources, and programs
Presented By: Rob Levit Learn more
Is your organization prepared to shift from merely counting activities and people to genuinely assessing the deep, lasting impact you have within your community? This engaging workshop is designed to lead you on a journey to clearly articulating your organization’s meaningful contribution to the community. You will explore practical frameworks that connect your organization’s vision and mission to tangible results, which can often be difficult to measure.
Session Outcomes
Articulate a clear Theory of Change linking activities to short- and long-term outcomes
Apply a three-tiered metrics system that measures quantity, results, and impact
Select appropriate tools to measure outcomes and participant experience
Combine data and storytelling to communicate impact effectively
Strengthen program strategy to support long-term sustainability
9:45 AM | Breakout Block 1
Presented By: Karen Norris Learn more
Grant awards can provide essential resources, but they come with increasing complexity and requirements. This session explores federal, state, and private funding strategies, including emerging policy considerations affecting grants. Participants will gain insight into building more competitive and informed proposals.
Session Outcomes
Increase awareness of federal requirements, priorities, and selection criteria
Recognize emerging policy considerations affecting grant funding
Identify strategies for state, local, and private funding opportunities
Access practical grant writing resources
Presented By: Benjamin Waples Learn more
New leaders will have various challenges, and this session focuses on practical strategies to manage expectations and priorities, build leadership capital, and draw on trusted and tested references. Participants will explore common pitfalls in the transition from peer to leader, along with immediate actions new leaders can take to set expectations, maintain accountability, and earn respect. The session concludes with curated leadership references that connect these principles to both professional environments and personal life.
Session Outcomes
Develop strategies and tactics to avoid common pitfalls in the transition from peer to leader
Learn strategies to foster trust and improve team performance
Gain trusted references for building leadership skills and culture within your organization
Presented by: Dr. Ladd G. Colston Learn more
This interactive workshop engages nonprofit leaders and board members in applying collaborative, interactive teamwork to achieve measurable outcomes. Participants will learn how to implement the five key components of Collaborative Interactive Teamwork while addressing situational barriers and tracking progress. The session emphasizes leadership, accountability, and team capacity building.
Session Outcomes
Apply leadership styles that build team capacity
Identify situational barriers that limit progress
Track data and deliverables to support accountability
Strengthen team capacity to achieve desired outcomes
Presented By: Dr. Lili Leonard Learn more
Artificial intelligence is already shaping nonprofit fundraising, whether organizations realize it or not. This session takes a practical, plain-language approach to what AI means for fundraising today and how it can be used responsibly. Participants will explore how AI can support donor communications, storytelling, and planning while maintaining the human relationships at the heart of philanthropy.
Session Outcomes
Gain a clear understanding of how AI is currently used in nonprofit fundraising
Learn practical ways AI can support donor communications, storytelling, and planning
Understand the limits of AI and the importance of human judgment
Leave with concrete ideas that can be adapted within their own organizations
Presented By: Senator Cheryl C. Kagan Learn more
Too often, the nonprofit sector is overlooked when laws and regulations are being crafted. This session will offer tips and tools to help nonprofit leaders engage and amplify their voices, grounded in real-world examples and experience. In addition to practical takeaways, there will be ample time for Q&A.
Session Outcomes
Learn how to effectively engage with the legislative branch and the executive branch
Identify practical ways to amplify nonprofit voices in policy and regulatory conversations
Gain confidence initiating and sustaining advocacy relationships and follow-up
Presented By: Annette Johnson Learn more
Nonprofit leaders carry big missions and often even bigger workloads. This practical, interactive session is designed to help mission-driven leaders sustain their energy, protect their well-being, and lead with clarity and confidence. Through reflection, real-world strategies, and discussion, participants will explore how to balance personal wellness with organizational demands and build healthier leadership habits that last.
Session Outcomes
Recognize early warning signs of burnout and chronic stress
Learn tools to reduce overwhelm and improve decision-making
Set healthy boundaries that support leadership effectiveness and well-being
Develop a leadership rhythm that supports both professional success and personal sustainability
11:10 AM | Breakout Block 2
Come grab your lunch in the Perdue Hall atrium/lobby. There is lots of seating in the lobby area, but if it gets a bit crowded, feel free to bring your lunch to one of the breakout session rooms on the second floor or outside (if we luck out with the weather).
Take this time to eat, relax, and network with your Eastern Shore nonprofit peers!
Don't forget to stop by the photo booth!
12:30 PM | Lunch & Networking
Presented By: Cheryl H. Tolbert and Kevin Handley, Ph.D. Learn more
Fundraising often triggers fear, self-doubt, and avoidance, even for experienced professionals. This session explores why asking for money feels uncomfortable and how anxiety shapes fundraising behavior. Through real-world insight and leadership psychology, participants will gain practical tools to move past avoidance and approach donor conversations with clarity and confidence.
Session Outcomes
Understand why fundraising conversations trigger fear and avoidance
Recognize anxiety-driven behaviors that derail asking
Learn tools to manage discomfort before and during donor asks
Increase confidence and consistency in fundraising conversations
Develop healthier rhythms for donor engagement
Presented By: David Reel Learn more
In a post-pandemic environment, being a good nonprofit leader is no longer enough. This session centers on a case study of a leadership partnership between volunteer leaders and professional staff who led a successful transformation at an organization with a proud history but an uncertain future. Participants will explore what it takes to lead change when expectations are higher and challenges are more complex.
Session Outcomes
Understand how leadership challenges shift in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment
Identify leadership styles and assess the strengths and limitations of each
Recognize essential leadership core competencies needed to navigate change effectively
Apply lessons from a real-world case study demonstrating how leadership can transform a struggling nonprofit into a thriving organization
Presented By: Melanie Upright Learn more
Nonprofits rely on collaboration, yet many teams struggle with misalignment and burnout. This interactive session explores what makes teams effective and how leaders can strengthen communication, clarify roles, and align work to shared goals. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately.
Session Outcomes
Identify core characteristics of high-performance nonprofit teams
Recognize common teaming challenges that limit progress
Apply strategies to improve collaboration, communication, and accountability
Align team practices with organizational goals
Leave with a clear next step to strengthen team effectiveness
Presented By: Dr. Lili Leonard Learn more
Artificial intelligence is already shaping nonprofit fundraising, whether organizations realize it or not. This session takes a practical, plain-language approach to what AI means for fundraising today and how it can be used responsibly. Participants will explore how AI can support donor communications, storytelling, and planning while maintaining the human relationships at the heart of philanthropy.
Session Outcomes
Gain a clear understanding of how AI is currently used in nonprofit fundraising
Learn practical ways AI can support donor communications, storytelling, and planning
Understand the limits of AI and the importance of human judgment
Leave with concrete ideas that can be adapted within their own organizations
Presented by: Senator Cheryl C. Kagan Learn more
Too often, the nonprofit sector is overlooked when laws and regulations are being crafted. This session will offer tips and tools to help nonprofit leaders engage and amplify their voices, grounded in real-world examples and experience. In addition to practical takeaways, there will be ample time for Q&A.
Session Outcomes
Learn how to effectively engage with the legislative branch and the executive branch
Identify practical ways to amplify nonprofit voices in policy and regulatory conversations
Gain confidence initiating and sustaining advocacy relationships and follow-up
Presented By: Julie Peters Learn more
Burnout in the nonprofit sector is often attributed to workload and staffing challenges, but communication plays a significant role. This session examines how unclear expectations, constant urgency, and inconsistent messaging contribute to stress and fatigue. Participants will explore practical communication changes that support healthier, more sustainable workplaces.
Session Outcomes
Recognize how communication practices contribute to burnout
Identify common breakdowns that increase stress and fatigue
Understand the connection between clarity, transparency, and well-being
Identify communication changes that support healthier teams
1:45 PM | Breakout Block 3
Presented By: Robert McClure Learn more
Grant writing remains essential but is often misunderstood. This session separates fact from fiction around identifying, applying for, and managing grants in a rapidly changing funding landscape. Participants will learn how to avoid common missteps and improve competitiveness.
Session Outcomes
Identify common misconceptions in grant research and writing
Understand how funders evaluate proposals
Learn strategies to improve alignment and competitiveness
Presented By: Pam Gregory and Erica Joseph Learn more
Strong nonprofit boards don’t happen by accident. They are intentionally recruited, meaningfully engaged, and well supported. This interactive session explores practical best practices for building boards that are diverse, effective, and aligned with mission and strategy. Participants will learn from proven frameworks and, just as importantly, from one another’s real‑world experiences.
Session Outcomes:
Explore best practices for recruiting mission‑aligned, diverse board members
Learn tools for onboarding, engagement, and performance management
Examine common board challenges and how nonprofits address them in practice
Share real examples from your own organizations
Leave with actionable ideas you can apply immediately
Presented By: Amy Thompson Learn more
This workshop distills the core principles of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program into a practical, nonprofit-focused framework. Participants will learn how to think like growth-oriented CEOs, strengthen financial and operational discipline, and build scalable strategies that increase organizational impact, sustainability, and mission delivery. This session connects mission, money, measurement, and management into a single operating system for real world nonprofit leaders.
Session Outcomes
Adopt a CEO growth mindset focused on sustainability, scale, and impact
Define a clear impact growth strategy across programs, funding, and partnerships
Use financial statements as strategic leadership tools
Align people, processes, and performance metrics to support growth
Leave with a 12-month impact growth map and actionable next steps
Presented By: Jose Tizol Learn more
This session shows nonprofit leaders how to use AI to strengthen fundraising, plan more effective events, and improve community engagement using simple, accessible tools. Participants will learn practical workflows they can apply immediately, including donor outreach, content creation, and document organization. The focus is on real strategies that save time and increase impact.
Session Outcomes
Use ChatGPT for donor communications, fundraising messages, and campaign content
Apply AI tools to plan events, promotions, and timelines
Improve community engagement through AI-assisted newsletters and social posts
Learn how to summarize documents and track fundraising work using NotebookLM and Notion
Presented By: Kaitlyn Gallander Learn more
Nonprofits are operating amid constant change, including funding uncertainty, shifting policies, and growing community demand. This session introduces practical adaptive management processes that move beyond linear planning and support real-time decision-making. Using applied examples, participants will learn how to make better decisions with imperfect information and leave with immediate next steps.
Session Outcomes
Make more confident decisions with imperfect information
Understand adaptive management processes that reduce change fatigue
Apply tools such as scenario planning and sentinel indicators
Identify immediate steps to strengthen adaptive capacity
Presented By: Nancy Merrill Learn more
Unlock the practical communication tools you need to better engage and inspire your donors. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn essential messaging techniques that work across multiple channels including newsletters, blogs, annual appeals, grant proposals, and social media. We’ll practice simple ways to frame issues and craft compelling stories that pull readers in, and you’ll leave with strategies you can use immediately to make your communications more effective and engaging.
Session Outcomes
Learn two storytelling techniques that frame issues for donors in engaging ways
Learn how to choose and crop images that grab attention
Learn ways to write headlines donors can’t ignore
Identify seven common mistakes that repel readers
3:10 PM | Breakout Block 4
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