Thursday, May 8, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA | 8:30am – 4:30pm
Welcome Networking Reception | May 7 | 5:00 – 7:00pm
Rising Leaders Summit 2025
Join your nonprofit industry peers from nonprofit organizations and agencies serving nonprofits for a day of inspiration, professional development, and networking.
As a rising leader, you divide your time and focus between three levels of impact: ME, yourself as a smart and savvy professional with a track record of success and a list of ambitious goals; WE, your organization, team, or other growing circle of influence; and COMMUNITY, the social impact sector as a whole, your professional “why.” Balancing all three requires intentional practice. If you are ready to up your game, you’re in the right place.
Participation is recommended for midlevel managers and future executives who:
- have a solid foundation of tactical skills;
- are increasingly being recognized as subject matter experts;
- lead a team and/or manage one or more direct reports; and
- are motivated to “think big” and develop strategic planning skills.
The TNPA Rising Leaders Summit blends peer conversations and podium speakers. We use Liberating Structures, facilitation techniques that stimulate critical conversations and elevate the expertise in the room. Attendees will take these facilitation tools and skills back to their own organizations to help ensure all voices are being heard and to spur greater engagement and innovation.
Registration Rates
TNPA Member – Nonprofit | $195
TNPA Member – Corporate | $295
Non-Member – Nonprofit | $245
Non-Member Corporate | Not Available
Seating will be capped at 90.
Apply for a Jennifer Bielat Legacy Scholarship!
Questions? Email agraf@tnpa.org.
Special Presentation…
How to See in the Dark: Navigating Uncertainty with Purpose and Confidence
Leaders must often stretch beyond what they already know. New roles with new responsibilities will, by definition, introduce new challenges and opportunities. Political, technological, and economic changes affect the entire nonprofit ecosystem. Organizations are adapting to meet the moment, and so must we all. More and more, today’s leaders need strategies for facing the unknown.
In this interactive session, you will learn how successful leaders navigate uncertainty, even when they don’t have all the answers. You will explore the wisdom of “I don’t know” and the importance of trust. You will consider how to sustain your most important work without burning out. And, you will develop a personal toolkit for leading yourself and your team with purpose and confidence—through today’s challenges and into the future.
Presented by Jennifer Phillips, Ph.D. Schedule
Wednesday, May 7
Welcome Networking Reception | 5 – 7 p.m.
Condesa, 1830 Ludlow Street
Join us for a drink and appetizers. Your registration for the Rising Leaders Summit includes your attendance at the Welcome Networking Reception, although we will ask for a separate RSVP for the Welcome Reception.
Thursday, May 8
Rising Leaders Summit Program | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Convene, 2001 Market Street, 2nd Floor
8:00 – 9:00am Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 Morning Program What are the biggest challenges in your role today? What if you could flip those, turning barriers into opportunities — for you, your team, and the greater good? We will leverage the experience in the room to set the focus for the day and ensure you leave with new ideas and strategies for immediate implementation.
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 Special Presentation: Managing Uncertainty, with Jennifer L. Phillips of JLP Strategy
12:00 – 1:00 pm Networking Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 Identifying the Key Leadership Qualities & Traits
1:30 – 2:45 The Wisdom Panel Hear from accomplished leaders in the nonprofit sector to learn about their paths, explore their current projects and challenges, and ask for advice.
- Erica O’Brien – Principal/Owner, Fuse Fundraising Group
- Rebecca Middleton – Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, World Food Program USA
- Rich Kostro – Sr. Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry
2:45 – 3:15 What, So What, Now What?
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:15 Peer Consulting One of the favorite activities of many TNPA conferences, this workshop allows you to bring a specific work or leadership challenge you are facing to a small group of peers to learn from each other and create possible paths forward.
4:15 – 4:30 The Path Forward
4:30 Wrap Up
Summit Location: Convene at Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Getting There: Convene is an easy 5-10 minute walk from the main Amtrak stop at 30th Street Station.
Parking: Parking is available in the same building at 2 Commerce Square for $28 per day. Several parking lots are nearby.
Where to stay? There are several hotels convenient to Convene in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. If you have any questions about Philadelphia or would like help making a choice, please reach out to Abby Graf, VP of Programs, agraf@tnpa.org.
Planning Committee
Co-Chair: SB Birnie Vice President, Analytics, Avalon Consulting Group
Co-Chair: Seiko Yoshitake, Director, Digital Marketing, USA for UNHCR
Zoe Eprile, Manager, Sustainer Acquisition Training, The Nature Conservancy
Leanne Guessford, Contact Center Manager, Moore RMG
Goldie Pyka, Brand Director, World Food Program USA
Turner Scott, Team Leader, Production, The PMG Family
Jade Swanson, Director of Client Services, MESG Marketing
Brad Tucker, Director of Compliance, Compassion & Choices
What Past Participants Are Saying…
Loved this event so much! I came back with a positive attitude, motivated to do my job better, and so many good ideas of next steps. I’ve already shared with a couple of our partners how helpful this was and plan to “borrow” some ideas in our upcoming company retreat.
Incredibly appreciative of the interactive and actionable content of the conference. As someone looking to step up in my career, I walked away with a plan of action and about a dozen new peer connections.
Good sessions that were different from the usual career development material.
I rarely give 5s, but this felt so fresh and different — and also very actionable. I gained so many key insights from the panel and also the [peer consulting] session, in particular.
This is the first conference I’ve been to in my career where I’ve walked away feeling like I have an action plan to solve the current problems I’m facing. Additionally, it was geared toward me and where I am at in my career.
Loved the interaction, networking, movement and stretching of the mind in terms of thinking through things differently.
Networking was invaluable and the wisdom panel was second to none in terms of other events I have attended within the nonprofit industry.
I loved how interactive and convicting it was. It was interesting, engaging, helpful and refreshingly unique. I often don’t leave one-day events with any ah-ha’s or big takeaways or action plans, but I did with this Summit.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Cancellation Policy:
- Full refunds will be available on all cancellations emailed to The Nonprofit Alliance 30 business days or more prior to the start of the event minus a $50.00 processing fee.
- No refunds will be issued 29 days before the first day of the event.
- Registrants failing to attend the event will not be eligible for a refund.
- Substitution of registration is permitted up until two weeks before the event with written consent. Any substitution must be of the same type (Member for Member, Nonprofit for Nonprofit, Commercial for Commercial). The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations.
- If the event is canceled by The Nonprofit Alliance for any reason, registrants will receive a full refund for registration fees, or said registration fees can be credited to a future program. However, The Nonprofit Alliance cannot and does not assume responsibility for any other expenses, including the purchase of hotel reservations or train/airline tickets, incurred by the registrant in connection with attending the event.
- All applicable refunds will be issued following the close of the event. A refund will be returned in the original purchase format. If paying with a credit card, a refund will take an additional 10 business days to post to your account.
Code of Conduct:
- The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) exists to foster the development and growth of nonprofit organizations and to protect the donors, members, partners, and volunteers that support them. At all educational offerings and conferences, we commit to fostering an environment free from physical, emotional, and psychological harm. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, and intimidation of any form. All individuals must exhibit professionalism, must demonstrate respect for others, must act with civility, and must refrain from inappropriate and unwelcomed physical contact, sexual references, and aggressive advances.
- Anyone who experiences or witnesses a violation to these standards, should immediately contact TNPA CEO Shannon McCracken. Anyone found in violation of the TNPA Code of Conduct by any means may receive a warning, have membership suspended, registration forfeited, or experience escalation to legal authorities.
Site Selection Policy
- The Nonprofit Alliance and The Nonprofit Alliance Foundation (collectively, TNPA) are committed to fostering effective networking, professional development, and advocacy among its members through conferences and other events. To view our site selection policy click here.
