my.CSMD
15th Annual Nonprofit Institute Conference Program
8:30-8:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks from CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson
8:45 a.m. Keynote Presentation: Nonprofit Institute Director Stephanie Rolle and Strategic Partner Council
9:30-10:45 a.m. Breakout Session 1
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Breakout Session 2
12:30-2 p.m. Lunch with a Purpose
2-3:15 p.m. Breakout Session 3
3:30-4 p.m. Wind Down and Lift Up
Breakout Session 1
AI for Nonprofits
Dominic Fragman
Program Manager
Leadership Southern Maryland
Dr. Sybol Anderson
Executive Director
Leadership Southern Maryland
In this hands-on session, participants will directly engage with AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to see how they can be applied to real-world nonprofit tasks. Through live demonstrations, the audience will guide the conversation by sharing their challenges and projects, prompting AI to generate solutions in real-time for tasks like content creation, event design, report analysis, creative brainstorming, and more. This interactive approach allows attendees to experience firsthand how AI can support and enhance their daily work!
Maximizing Momentum: Fundraising Strategies to Leverage in Community
Kelly McLaughlin
CEO
From Scratch Fundraising
Nonprofits today are facing unprecedented challenges, but the primary solutions being touted by experts today are big tech, AI, and marketing "efficiencies." What if the solution was in fact what nonprofits were built for originally? Community. While nonprofits enjoy partnering on mission delivery, they rarely look at how they can partner to pool resources when it comes to fundraising. Rather than collaborate, we see funding streams as a competitive field. This session will help organizations see how they can raise funds more effectively and efficiently by focusing on community and collaboration, leveraging lesser known and innovative forms of fundraising to do it together – making fundraising success more accessible, equitable, and efficient. We will talk about revenue sharing fundraising models, peer-to-peer and alternative giving day efforts, and other innovative ways of raising resources in collaborative and community-minded ways.
Automated Advocacy 101
Ashley Teagle
CEO
Southern Maryland Regional Library Association
Maryland's fast-paced legislative session requires constant monitoring to track legislation that may impact your nonprofit. Learn how to set up free alerts and access state resources to secure funding and support for your projects.
Diversifying Revenue to Achieve Nonprofit Sustainability
Michelle Sullivan
Director of Philanthropy
Chesapeake Charities
Successful nonprofits have diverse revenue streams. Come and explore possibilities for expanding, diversifying, and sustaining your organization's funding base. Topics include building strategic partnerships; leveraging technology for fundraising; engaging donors; planned giving; and monitoring and adjusting to trends. These strategies help diversify revenue and strengthen community ties, helping to enhance the overall mission of the nonprofit.
Find Your North Star: Manage Your Health and Wellness to be your Best You
Dr. Kandace Foreman
Assistant Professor
College of Southern Maryland
Work does not stop when the clock strikes five, but it is crucial to set boundaries and create a routine that keeps you healthy and ready for new challenges. In this session, we will explore practical tips and map out a plan to help you maintain a balanced life, even when work is always present. Learn about tools to maintain your well-being, which in turn fuels your momentum and mobility toward long-term success.
Breakout Session 2
Connecting with the For-Profit Business Sector
Darin Nielsen
CEO
ACE Consulting Group, LLC
Learn how to more effectively engage with and leverage the for-profit business sector to propel your nonprofit organization forward, from the eyes of a for-profit executive. Discover how to effectively approach for-profit businesses for funding, volunteer and/or expert resources, how to establish relationships so that the resource support has persistence and predictability.
Stronger Boards, Stronger Nonprofits: Building Momentum in Governance
Wendy Jeffries
Founder and Lead Consultant
Spark Solutions Consulting
Strong nonprofit boards don’t happen by accident — they are built through intentional structure, clarity of roles, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This interactive session will equip board members and nonprofit leaders with the essential knowledge and tools to improve their boards. Whether an emerging nonprofit looking to build strong foundations or an established organization seeking fresh approaches to governance, this session will provide immediate, practical takeaways to strengthen your board’s effectiveness and long-term success.
The Future of AI in Nonprofit Marketing: Trends and Tools for 2025
Chris Ripley
Assistant Professor
College of Southern Maryland
This session will show how AI provides access to advanced marketing tools once reserved for large organizations, enabling Southern Maryland nonprofits to compete effectively. It fuels momentum by automating outreach, optimizing donor engagement, and streamlining operations, ensuring sustained growth. AI enhances mobility by empowering nonprofits to reach wider audiences, adapt to digital trends, and engage donors across multiple platforms. Tailored for Southern Maryland’s nonprofit community, the session highlights practical, cost-effective AI tools that help local organizations expand their impact while staying resource-efficient and mission-driven.
Resilience: Program Evaluation as a Strategy for Health Reckoning
Dr. Ashima Singh
Owner and Principal Consultant
AshimaSingh.org
Dr. Tristi Nichols
Principal, Program Evaluation and International Development
MANiTOU, Inc.
Making sense of the right data is fundamental to nonprofit organizations’ healthy resilience and longevity. Good data helps demonstrate successes to funders and make compelling arguments for sustainability and growth. Program evaluation helps identify gathering the right data, from the right people, at optimal time(s), and make meaning of those data through every stage of the program. It is a health monitoring plan for a program. Given the current threats to funding and sustainability for nonprofits, our session helps nonprofit professionals gain an understanding of what program evaluation is, the kinds of questions it can answer, and how it can help build resilience through troubled times.
Creative Tools for an Engaging Leader
Ann Davis
Day and Community Program Supervisor
Spring Dell Center
A fun and interactive session that will share tools to assist you in being an engaging leader. We will discuss how to make your meetings meaningful, how to build relationships with your staff, and creative ways to express gratitude to your team. This session is sure to spark ideas and creativity that you will want to implement at your organization.
Lunch with a Purpose is an interactive opportunity to network with fellow nonprofit colleagues about topics of interest and to share best practices and resources. Be prepared to share and hear from others about relevant issues our nonprofits face! Lunch with a Purpose is led by NPI Conference Advisory Group members Tiffany Barber, Christie Burnett, and Corae Young.
Meet the Funders
Elisabeth Hyleck, Moderator
Vice President of Programs and Engagement
Maryland Philanthropy Network
Christie Burnett, Panelist
Executive Director
Charles County Charitable Trust
Megan D’Arcy, Panelist
Program Administrator
Rural Maryland Council
Maisha Douyon-Cover, Panelist
Program Officer
Community Health and Social Impact
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
Want to get inside the heads of funders? This session will feature a panel of various funders who will share current priorities, practical advice for grantseekers, and insights about how they are thinking about their work. The discussion topics will include equity in grantmaking; hot topics in philanthropy; how funders are investing in leadership; the best ways to engage with funders; and tips for compelling applications for funding. This session aims to provide direct access to several funders so nonprofit leaders have a greater understanding of grantmakers' perspectives.
Progress Through Uncertainty: How to Keep Your Strategic Plan Moving Forward
Matt Gayer
Executive Director
Spur Local
Chiara Frechette
Director of Nonprofit Programs
Spur Local
In today’s ever-changing landscape, nonprofits face new challenges and uncertainties that can slow down or even derail the best-laid strategic plans. However, even amid unpredictability, progress and achievement is possible. In this session, we’ll explore practical strategies for maintaining momentum and driving meaningful results with your strategic plan – from discussing key decision points to embedding accountability best-practices. Whether you're facing external disruption or internal change, this session will equip you with the tools to move your nonprofit’s strategic vision forward – no matter what comes your way.
Communication Strategies for Nonprofits
Joseph Corbe
CEO
1631 Digital
Kevin Maljak
Chief Systems Officer
1631 Digital
Communication is one of the most important elements to achieving success for nonprofits but how can an organization communicate effectively in a world bombarded with constant messaging? This session will focus on developing and utilizing a paid media strategy to communicate the mission of your nonprofit to both a broad and a targeted audience. Discussion topics include paid vs. earned vs. social media; messaging focus; identifying your target audience; budgets; communication channels, and Google Grants for nonprofits.
Partnerships in Motion: Sustaining Programs for Access, Momentum, and Mobility
Dynell Kellyman, Ed.D.
Founder and Principal Consultant
Purposed for Partnership
This session will explore strategies for sustaining nonprofit programming by focusing on intentional partnerships and capacity-building practices. Discover practical insights on how nonprofits can align their work with long-term sustainability goals while creating pathways for access, momentum, and mobility in the communities they serve. Participants will learn how to navigate challenges in program continuity, engage stakeholders effectively, and build adaptable systems that ensure lasting impact. This session will equip nonprofits with tools to remain resilient and innovative in serving diverse populations across Southern Maryland.
What is Your Resilience P.L.A.N?
Sacha Thompson
CEO
The Equity Equation, LLC
In nonprofit work, resilience is not just about bouncing back from challenges; it’s about sustaining personal and professional wellness in the face of ongoing demands. This session introduces participants to the Resilience P.L.A.N., a model that provides a structured approach to building resilience by focusing on Purpose, identifying Limitations, setting realistic Actions, strengthening one’s Network, and incorporating self-care as a critical component of success. Participants will walk away with a personalized Resilience P.L.A.N. tailored to their unique challenges and roles, along with actionable steps for maintaining well-being and avoiding burnout.
Wind Down and Lift Up
Dr. Trenace Richardson
CEO
REAL Women Inc.
Trenace Richardson Enterprises
Wrap up your conference day from 3:30 to 4 p.m. with some time to wind down and lift up.
Please join us for a post-conference social gathering / Everyone is welcome!
Copper Compass Craft Distilling Co.
4317 Charles Crossing Dr.
White Plains, MD 20695
4-7 p.m.
Hosted by the Charles County Charitable Trust and the Charles County Chamber of Commerce.
The cost is $65 per attendee. Registration opens on March 18 and closes on April 7 at 11:59 p.m. (Cancellation with a full refund is available through 11:59 p.m. on April 7.) Please contact nonprofit@csmd.edu if you wish to cancel your registration.