Registration

Tuesday, October 13 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM MST

Boards of Directors hold tremendous power in the charitable sector. They are among our most important volunteers — charged with fiduciary responsibility, strategic oversight, and institutional stewardship — yet governance structures across the sector are under strain. Leadership transitions are destabilizing funder confidence, boards are often technically compliant but disconnected from the communities they serve, and risk‑averse decision‑making is leaving organizations stuck in crisis response rather than building long‑term resilience. 

This one‑day Pre‑Summit Intensive moves the governance conversation beyond compliance and into purpose. Drawing on current benchmarks and research from leading organizations, participants will examine the structural conditions that build institutional trust and enable effective leadership. 

Through hands‑on labs, peer dialogue, and applied case analysis, attendees will develop concrete strategies to strengthen board–staff relationships, clarify roles and accountability, and cultivate a governance culture that supports mission, credibility, and public trust. Participants will leave equipped to help their organizations govern not just correctly — but courageously and credibly. 

Summit Registration Add-On (per person):

• FREE for Nonprofit Members of Independent Sector
• $100 for Philanthropy and Associate Members of Independent Sector
• $120 for Non-Members

Note: Prices listed are per person and apply as an add-on to a summit ticket. Space is limited —secure your spot by registering early.

Tuesday, October 13 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM MST

The advocacy environment has changed, even as the core principles of good advocacy remain. Civic space is contracting, polarization is shaping what organizations feel they can say publicly, and many nonprofits are hesitating on even nonpartisan issues out of fear of scrutiny or retaliation. At the same time, the charitable sector’s influence has never been more necessary — or more consequential. 

Designed for experienced advocates and senior leaders, this full‑day Pre‑Summit Intensive equips participants to navigate a rapidly shifting and increasingly polarized policy landscape with confidence and credibility. Participants will engage in in‑depth discussions and applied strategy sessions focused on bipartisan relationship‑building, lawful advocacy practice, and coalition development that moves beyond informal relationships to durable infrastructure. 

Integrating legal literacy, narrative strategy, and real‑time coalition design, the intensive helps translate national policy challenges into locally actionable and politically durable positions. Attendees will leave with practical tools, strengthened peer connections, and a sharper strategic posture to advance policy outcomes while supporting the long‑term health and legitimacy of the charitable sector. 

Summit Registration Add-On (per person):

• FREE for Nonprofit Members of Independent Sector
• $100 for Philanthropy and Associate Members of Independent Sector
• $120 for Non-Members

Note: Prices listed are per person and apply as an add-on to a summit ticket. Space is limited —secure your spot by registering early.

Tuesday, October 13 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM MST

The people who power the charitable sector deserve workplaces that invest in them. Today’s nonprofit workforce crisis is structural — defined by chronic underinvestment, inequitable compensation, leadership gaps, burnout, and rapid technological disruption. Independent Sector’s 2025–2026 Nonprofit Workforce Landscape Analysis confirms that these pressures are reshaping job design, skill demands, and organizational sustainability across the sector. 

This Pre‑Summit Intensive equips leaders to move from intention to action by shifting from reactive HR practices to strategic workforce planning grounded in data, equity, and long‑term organizational health. Participants will assess their own organizational conditions, examine what equitable compensation and skills‑based hiring require in practice, and engage directly with how AI governance is reshaping work before most organizations have adapted. 

Balancing rigorous analysis with hands‑on tools, the session supports leaders in building workforce strategies that strengthen retention, culture, leadership pipelines, and organizational resilience. Participants will leave with a practical framework designed for the moment the sector is in — and for the healthier future it must build. 

Summit Registration Add-On (per person):

• FREE for Nonprofit Members of Independent Sector
• $100 for Philanthropy and Associate Members of Independent Sector
• $120 for Non-Members

Note: Prices listed are per person and apply as an add-on to a summit ticket. Space is limited —secure your spot by registering early.

Tuesday, October 13 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM MST

Financial strength is about more than money in the bank. It is the capacity to navigate ongoing disruption with foresight, agility, and leadership alignment amid the dueling realities of resource constraints and mission demands. Across the charitable sector, financial pressure is structural, not episodic — and organizations must be fit to operate under conditions of continual change rather than temporary crisis. 

This Pre‑Summit Intensive brings together leaders from nonprofits, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility to examine the financial structures and decision‑making practices that determine long‑term organizational resilience. Grounded in current research and real‑world case studies, participants will explore sustainable and diversified revenue models, collaboration and partnership as underutilized financial strategies, and dynamic planning and contingency frameworks that prepare organizations for uncertainty. 

The session also addresses structural funding inequities and what it takes to make the case for full and fair investment. Participants will leave with practical tools and a sharper strategic lens for building financial robustness that holds — across cycles, leadership transitions, and external shocks. 

Summit Registration Add-On (per person):

• FREE for Nonprofit Members of Independent Sector
• $100 for Philanthropy and Associate Members of Independent Sector
• $120 for Non-Members

Note: Prices listed are per person and apply as an add-on to a summit ticket. Space is limited —secure your spot by registering early.

Tuesday, October 13 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM MST

The charitable sector is navigating a period of profound transition, and the demands placed on its top leaders have never been more complex. Presidents, CEOs, executive directors, managing directors, and board chairs are expected to steward mission, culture, public trust, and organizational resilience — all while responding to heightened scrutiny, shifting narratives, and rapidly evolving expectations of leadership. Yet few spaces exist where heads of organizations can step back, reflect with peers, and engage candidly on the pressures and possibilities of this moment. 

This Pre‑Summit Intensive convenes the sector’s principal leaders for a high‑level exploration of the challenges shaping organizational effectiveness today. Participants will examine the structural forces influencing executive decision‑making, including the state of sector‑wide advocacy, the evolving role of governance, the narratives shaping public perception of nonprofits, and the conditions required to build and sustain a healthy, future‑ready workforce. This year’s session places particular emphasis on two emerging leadership imperatives: managing a strategic and authentic social media presence, and partnering with boards to develop fair, equitable, and future‑aligned executive employment agreements. 

Through facilitated dialogue, scenario‑based learning, and peer exchange, leaders will engage directly with the tensions and opportunities inherent in modern executive roles. The session creates space for honest reflection on the personal dimensions of leadership — balancing visibility with vulnerability, authority with care, and organizational stewardship with individual sustainability. 

Participants will leave with strengthened peer relationships, clearer strategic footing, and practical approaches to accelerate meaningful impact while affirming their own growth, wellbeing, and leadership longevity.  

Summit Registration Add-On (per person):

• FREE for Nonprofit Members of Independent Sector
• $100 for Philanthropy and Associate Members of Independent Sector
• $120 for Non-Members

Note: This session is reserved for organization CEOs and presidents. Prices listed are per person and apply as an add-on to a summit ticket. Space is limited —secure your spot by registering early.

Friday, October 16 08:40 AM – 11:00 AM MST

After Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026, Independent Sector members (and those interested in membership) are invited to a closed-door Annual Business Meeting, a vital opportunity to reflect on our collective progress, review organizational updates, and engage in the governance of our shared mission.

Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the community, your voice and participation are crucial. We hope you’ll join us to be part of the conversation.