Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is creating space for connection, collaboration, and real visibility across the TX VOAD network and external awareness. This isn’t just another meeting—it’s a platform to elevate the work happening across Texas and strengthen coordination before, during, and after disasters.

Why it matters:

• Strengthens cross-organizational awareness
• Highlights disaster capabilities and programming
• Creates flexible ways to engage and add value

On June 17, you can learn about work from:

• Feeding Texas
• Church World Services
• All Hand & Hearts

Gain a clearer understanding of today’s philanthropic landscape and what the latest giving trends could mean for your organization’s future.

Join us for a focused session on the Giving USA 2025 Report, where nationally recognized fundraising expert Dave Sternberg will break down the latest charitable giving data and explore the trends shaping the nonprofit sector. This session will examine what may be driving shifts in donor behavior, how organizations can better interpret the numbers behind the headlines, and what nonprofit leaders should be paying attention to moving forward.

Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand the realities of today’s fundraising environment and prepare your organization for what’s ahead. Connect with fellow nonprofit leaders and walk away with practical insights you can apply to your fundraising and strategic planning efforts right away. Mark your calendar and secure your spot today.

Please register here: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3x5tLIAsx5XFT2S

Please register here: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23MxpQlLqpXwT0G

Hop on over to Edna on May 21st for Stronger Together: Building Your Nonprofit Network, a relaxed Lunch & Learn designed to bring our nonprofit community closer together. Whether you are a nonprofit professional, board member, or community partner, this event is an opportunity to build meaningful connections, exchange ideas and best practices, discover opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen your impact across our region. We are proud to co-host this event alongside the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, bringing together organizations and community partners who care about making a difference.

This event is free, and registration is open until Wednesday May 20th! Simply call 361-782-7146 to register!

Event Details:
📅 Thursday, May 21
🕘 11:45AM – 1:00PM
📍 116 W Cypress St., Edna

This comprehensive seminar is designed specifically for nonprofit program directors, managers, and board members who are seeking to enhance their leadership capabilities. The session will focus on key skills and strategies that are critical for leading nonprofit organizations, empowering leaders to drive their missions forward with confidence and effectiveness.

• Stop Leading Softly: Strategic Leadership for Nonprofit Impact. Speaker Colton Strawser, Ph.D.
• Leadership That Performs Under Pressure: Think clearly. Act decisively. Lead effectively when it matters most. Speaker Irish Burch
• Crucial Conversations for Nonprofit Leaders: How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Damaging Relationships. Speaker Joshua Hart
• Be The Buffalo: Resilient Leadership in the Face of Storms. Speaker Kenny Lange

INP warmly welcomes Shawn Dove–acclaimed visionary, organizer, and co-author of I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys–to our Leadership Learning Series.

Shawn is a trailblazer who co-curates New Profit’s efforts to bring together a multiracial, intergenerational, cross-sector coalition pursuing a new era of justice, opportunity, trust, and collaboration in America. His work successfully merges community building with philanthropy, leveraging a diversity of funds and networks to fuel organizations that invest in under-resourced communities.

Drawing on his extensive experience–including spearheading the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, launched at the Open Society Foundations, which leveraged over $320 million in funding and built a national movement of over 3,000 organizations, and his role as key advisor for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative–Shawn will impart proven insights on breaking down silos to advance collective progress, while realizing systemic transformation and personal growth.

Shawn’s presentation is more than a mere lecture; it is an inspirational, interactive masterclass on the craft of movement-building and resource mobilization for the greater good. You’ll discover how to develop genuine cross-sector partnerships that spur lasting community impact. Look no further than this session for inspiration on optimizing teamwork to achieve your calling as a leader.

The mounting pressure of shifting funding streams, economic uncertainty, and evolving priorities is forcing organizations to confront one of the most painful decisions a leader can face: workforce reductions. Navigating this reality requires more than just careful planning–it demands a deep commitment to your team’s values, all while strictly adhering to complex legal requirements.

Don’t go it alone. Gain the clarity you need from a trusted voice at the highest levels of law and public service: Join us for a tactical conversation with Emma Leheny, a leading nonprofit attorney who has navigated multifaceted policy issues as Acting General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education and as Senior Counsel for organizations representing millions of employees. Drawing on real-world examples, she will provide the legal advice you need to thoughtfully and strategically navigate:

• At-will employment principles and their limits
• Contractual obligations and key areas of legal risk
• Anti-discrimination laws and equity considerations
• Documentation and communication best practices

Come away with tangible guidance to help you lead through workforce changes in a manner that is legally sound, transparent, and remains true to your vital mission. Register today for this essential Leadership Learning Series session.

Looking to leave annual reviews in the past and embrace an environment of continuous growth? Join INP in conversation with Laura Sullivan and Sean Richmond of State Street–one of the world’s leading financial services firms–for an essential how-to on transforming performance management for the better.

State Street’s commitment to people-centered practices and deep investment in workforce culture has earned them wide recognition and multiple honors from the likes of DiversityInc and Seramount, making their method a vital case study for any leader.

Their best-in-class strategy was built on a fundamental belief that sustained investment in people is the catalyst for strong organizational performance. In this Leadership Learning Series session, Laura and Sean will detail State Street’s blueprint for replacing traditional annual reviews with a dynamic system that shifts focus from yearly compliance to real-time development. You’ll gain exclusive insight into how a large, global firm successfully implemented a fresh approach centered around priority alignment, ongoing dialogue, and professional growth.

Whether your goal is to develop future talent, cultivate a climate of high-velocity feedback, or propel organizational impact, State Street’s evolution offers a concrete roadmap toward more timely and effective performance management that promises to bolster any leader’s toolkit.

We’ve all been there – you’re in a difficult situation with a volunteer and you don’t know what to do. Sometimes it’s just a situation where you can’t make everyone happy, but sometimes you’re in an ethical dilemma – torn between two or more of the core values for leading and managing volunteers. How do you know if you’re in an ethical dilemma, and what should you do to ensure that you make the right decision? Join Faiza Venzant, CVA, Executive Director for the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration and Jennifer Bennett, CVA to learn about those core values and how to incorporate ethical decision making into your work. This highly interactive session will help you think through a real ethical dilemma faced by a leader of volunteers, and practice the steps needed to implement this practice in your own work.

Prevention programs now sit with Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), creating an important opportunity to strengthen and better coordinate support for families across Texas. As implementation continues, how is HHS approaching prevention, community-based services, and efforts to keep families safely together?

Join Deputy Executive Commissioner for Family Health Services, Crystal Starkey, and Casey Family Programs’ Public Policy Director, Carol Self, for a conversation about the state’s vision for prevention, current priorities, and where philanthropic partners can help expand and sustain this work.

Civic & Community Engagement Collaborative Webinar Series

Harness the Power of Philanthropy for Transformative Change

Rural communities are rich in leadership, relationships, and local pride, yet are but often overlooked in broader civic strategies. This session explores practical ways to strengthen civic participation, build community trust, and spark lasting engagement in rural communities throughout the Southwest through partnerships, local leadership, and place-based investment.

Powered by Houston Endowment, May’s webinar will explore effective grantmaking strategies and best practices to effective engage within rural communities across Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. The session will highlight lessons learned, practical strategies, and innovative approaches for funders to engage rural communities from the following organizations:

• Texas Rural Funders is the leading membership organization for philanthropy dedicated to rural Texas, mobilizing the power of funders to strengthen rural communities through collaboration, resources, and strategic investment across the state
• The Denver Foundation is a community foundation dedicated to strengthening Colorado through philanthropy, community partnerships, and initiatives like Belonging Colorado that foster connection, civic trust, and opportunity across differences. Belonging Colorado is a statewide initiative that brings people together across differences to foster connection, strengthen civic trust, and build a deeper sense of belonging throughout Colorado.
• Trust for Civic Life works to strengthen democracy by building trust, connection, and cross-sector collaboration that helps communities across Colorado thrive.
• Vitalyst Health Foundation is an Arizona-based foundation that improves community well-being by connecting, supporting, and informing efforts that address the root causes of health across the state, with priorities including civic health, housing, and integrated care.

This session teaches participants the key components of successful federal grant proposals, providing practical writing strategies to improve clarity and competitiveness, and guiding them through the essential elements of effective federal grant proposal writing.

Today’s affluent donors are increasingly sophisticated in their approach to giving. Beyond traditional giving, they use a variety of strategies to achieve their philanthropic goals. There is increasing use of giving vehicles such as donor advised funds. Today’s philanthropists are more likely to measure the impact of their giving when compared with other donors.

The future of affluent American philanthropy shows great promise. However, it is important to understand how these donors are making their giving decisions, particularly with respect to the next generation of philanthropists. In the face of economic uncertainty and evolving social challenges, it will be more important that nonprofit fundraisers tailor their practices to current realities.

Join us for this in-depth exploration of the 2025 Bank of America’s Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households. Learn how you can adapt your fundraising strategies to tap into this essential donor base.

Effective conflict management is crucial for maintaining a productive and harmonious workplace. This workshop, “The Power of Conflict Management,” provides participants with the tools and strategies to navigate and resolve conflicts constructively, fostering a positive organizational culture.
Focus: Participants will learn how to identify the sources of conflict, understand different conflict styles, and apply conflict resolution techniques to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The workshop emphasizes the importance of communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills in managing conflicts effectively.
Additional Content: Participants will engage in interactive exercises and case studies to practice conflict resolution skills. Pre-reading materials and assessments will be provided before the session (included in the fee). Registration closes three weeks before the class date to allow time for these preparations.
Prework or Assessment: Complete TKI assessment.
NOTE: Registration closes 3 weeks before class to allow participants to complete the assessment.
Investment for this class: $155
REGISTER NOW

Resilience is a hallmark of effective leadership. Developing resilience requires acceptance, focus, and a willingness to effectively prioritize one’s time through self-management practices. Resilience has gained more importance as work/life balance has diminished, as crisis, workplace transformation, and time demands have contributed to higher levels of stress in our careers and lives.
Focus: The “Power of Resilience” workshop explores barriers to resilience and illustrates how changes in attitude and mindset can help you develop and grow this critical leadership trait.  In this class, you will complete the Johari Window assessment.
Prework or Assessment: Complete Johari’s Window reading and assessment.
Who Should Attend: It is suitable for staff at all levels, new learners, and those who may want to revisit previous learning.
NOTE: Registration closes 3 weeks in advance of class to allow participants to complete the assessment
Investment for this class: $120
REGISTER NOW