KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Father Gregory Boyle
Founder
Homeboy Industries
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Len Jessup
Best Selling Author, Former UNLV and CGU President (Claremont Graduate University)
Black Mountain Ventures
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jason Lezak
Olympian, President
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Tom Vozzo
Former Chief Executive Officer, Sr. Advisor
Homeboy Industries
LEARNING SESSION
Nancy Batterman
Executive Coach
ProActive Leadership Group
LEARNING SESSION
Casey Castillo
Chief Executive Officer
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
LEARNING SESSION
Steve Delgado
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Homeboy Industries
LEARNING SESSION
Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA
Immediate Past President and Chief Executive Officer
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
LEARNING SESSION
Tianna Haradon
Chief Development Officer
The Wooden Floor
LEARNING SESSION
Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson
Director
CU Boulder Center for Leadership
LEARNING SESSION
Janine McClintock
Chief Executive Officer
J9 Leading Solutions
LEARNING SESSION
Erin Rank
President and Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
LEARNING SESSION
Dawn Reese
Chief Executive Officer
The Wooden Floor
LEARNING SESSION
Robert Santana
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast
LEARNING SESSION
Shirley Torres
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Homeboy Industries
PANEL DISCUSSION
Art Groeneveld
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley
PANEL DISCUSSION
Lacey Huszcza
President & CEO
Richmond Symphony
PANEL DISCUSSION
Claudia Keller
Chief Executive Officer
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
PANEL DISCUSSION
John Kobara
Chief Facilitator
Random Acts of Progress
The Premier Conference for Leaders
Join hundreds of the most exceptional senior nonprofit executives for an impactful two days of networking and learning designed specifically for senior nonprofit leaders across all sectors. The conference features an all-star lineup of speakers, tailored education sessions for senior leaders, networking with true peers, and a very special awards dinner centered around the theme of “Stronger Teams, Greater Impact”. You will absolutely leave this conference with practical ways to elevate your own leadership and enhance the leadership team within your organization.
Why Attend?
Nonprofit executives face unique challenges that require bold leadership, innovative thinking, and a strong network of support. This conference is designed specifically for leaders like you—those who are ready to deepen their impact, strengthen their teams, and drive meaningful change in their communities. Through immersive learning, powerful connections, and moments of recognition and inspiration, you’ll gain the tools, insights, and energy needed to lead with purpose and confidence. Join us to invest in your growth, your organization, and the future of the nonprofit sector.
some of the many reasons to attend
- Connect & Collaborate – Build a powerful network with extraordinary nonprofit leaders
- Curated Learning – access bespoke education and insights tailored for nonprofit success
- Actionable Strategies – Take home practical tools to maximize your nonprofit’s impact
- Leadership Growth – Strengthen your leadership and enhance leadership within your organization
- Team Excellence – Learn how to develop and empower successful nonprofit teams
- Recognition & Inspiration – Celebrate peers’ extraordinary achievements and get inspired
- Engage in dynamic sessions, meaningful conversations, and memorable moments!
Registration
Save $100 – Register Early!
Early Bird Rate: May 1-July 31 – $850
Regular Rate: August 1-September 9 – $950
Ticket grants full access to all general sessions, curated learning experiences, networking opportunities, Awards Reception and meals (Luncheon and Dinner on Day 1 and Breakfast and Luncheon on Day 2).
Hotel, parking, airfare and incidentals are not included.
If you have any questions about registration fees or need assistance with the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out – events@fulcrumleader.com. We’re here to help! Please note that all registrations are final; we are unable to offer refunds or accept cancellations. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to the event.
Speakers
Location
Awards
At Fulcrum’s Inaugural Conference, we are proud to introduce five signature awards that celebrate the depth, diversity, and brilliance of leadership across the nonprofit and social impact sector. These honors reflect Fulcrum’s commitment to uplifting leaders at every stage—from bold new voices to seasoned changemakers—whose work embodies courage, innovation, and community-rooted impact. During our first-ever Awards Ceremony, we will recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership is not only making a difference today but shaping the future of our sector.
Servant Leader Award
This award honors an individual or group of individuals whose leadership in the nonprofit sector has created tangible, lasting change at the community level. This award recognizes those who are deeply rooted in the communities they serve and who lead with authenticity, accountability, and bold vision.
Recipients of the Servant Leader Award are changemakers who:
- Demonstrated impact in the communities they have served
- Drive measurable outcomes that advance equity, justice, and well-being
- Build deep partnerships and coalitions to address systemic challenges
- Inspire others through humility, resilience, and a commitment to collective power
This award celebrates those who don’t just serve the community within the organization they help to lead—they also galvanize, elevate, and transform other organizations in the community as well.
Fulcrum Leader of the Year Award
This award honors a Fulcrum member who embodies the spirit, purpose, and mission of the organization. This special recognition is reserved for a leader who has shown exceptional dedication to building community, advancing the mission of Fulcrum, and modeling the kind of courageous, collaborative leadership our network exists to elevate.
The Fulcrum Leader of the Year is someone who:
- Actively contributes to the growth and strength of the Fulcrum community
- Demonstrates leadership that is values-driven, equity-centered, and community-informed
- Uplifts and supports fellow leaders through connection, generosity, and shared learning
- Embodies Fulcrum’s vision for a more just, inclusive, and impactful nonprofit sector
- Reflects the best of what Fulcrum stands for—and helps shape what it will become.
Legacy of Leadership Award
This award is Fulcrum’s highest honor—a lifetime achievement award recognizing an extraordinary leader whose career has left an enduring mark on the nonprofit and social impact sector. This award celebrates a visionary and gamechanger whose leadership, influence, and integrity have shaped movements, empowered communities, and paved the way for future generations.
Recipients of the Legacy of Leadership Award have:
- Demonstrated decades of service rooted in equity, justice, and deep community impact
- Mentored and inspired a new generation of changemakers and nonprofit leaders
- Led with humility, resilience, and a long-term commitment to systemic transformation
- Built institutions, networks, or legacies that continue to shape the field
This award honors not just what a leader has accomplished, but how they’ve led—with courage, clarity, and care—and the legacy they’ve created through their work and relationships.
Visionary and Innovative Leadership Award
This award celebrates bold innovation and vision that creates leverage for transformative change. This honor is awarded to an individual, team, or organization that has introduced a powerful new idea, model, or approach—amplifying impact and reshaping what’s possible in the nonprofit sector.
The recipient of the Leadership Lever Award is someone who:
- Introduced a breakthrough strategy, tool, or practice that advances equity or systems change
- Demonstrates how innovation can unlock greater impact, access, or effectiveness
- Challenges conventional thinking while remaining grounded in community wisdom
- Inspires others to take risks, think differently, and lead with creativity and courage
Whether it’s a new model of leadership, a reimagined service delivery approach, or a disruptive organizational structure, this award honors innovation as a lever for justice, sustainability, and change.
Rising Leadership Award
This award recognizes a nonprofit executive within the first five years of their tenure who exemplifies bold, values-driven leadership and has demonstrated a powerful blend of vision, action, and integrity.
Nominees should have a clear track record of:
- Leading with courage and conviction in the face of complex challenges
- Building trust and alignment among teams, boards, and community stakeholders
- Driving meaningful progress toward equity, justice, or systems-level change
- Demonstrating innovation while remaining grounded in the mission
This award celebrates the promise and impact of those who are charting a new course—not just for their organizations, but for the future of leadership itself. The Rising Leadership Award uplifts those who are not only stepping into power but reshaping it for the better.
Agenda – September 8-9, 2025
Monday September 8, 2025, program runs from 10 am – 9 pm
10:00 am - Registration Opens
12:00 pm - Opening Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
Selfless Leadership is a Better Way to Lead People Through Change: And it Feels Better Too
Len has captured much of his incredible leadership journey in his recent book, Self Less: Lessons Learned from a Life Devoted to Servant Leadership, in Five Acts, published by Forbes and an Amazon Best Seller. In Len’s presentation, based on his compelling leadership memoir, he makes a strong case for proactive, selfless leadership as a powerful tool for leading others through transformational organizational changes. Through fun and interesting personal stories, in narrative form, he builds on the works of Peter Drucker, Tom Peters, Jim Collins, Robert Greenleaf, and others to bring to life compelling personal examples of servant leadership and its role in effecting change. Just for fun, Len follows the five-act structure for plays that are credited to Shakespeare and others. This is a short, fun, somewhat emotional story of personal and professional development that many will find directly useful in their own journey as a leader. Tom Peters, Jack Canfield, Robert Chapman, and other business gurus and leaders have written strong testimonials for the book, and participants in Len’s related presentations and workshops are finding his work deeply thought provoking and immensely helpful in their own leadership journeys. Participants in Len’s presentations and workshops learn how and why to: a) better understand their leadership orientation and how that influences them and their team now, b) better use selfless leadership in managing resistance to change, and c) better understand their leadership impact and legacy.
2:00 pm - Learning Session with Steve Delgado and Shirley Torres
Steve Delgado (speaker bio)
Shirley Torres (speaker bio)
Doubling Down on Dignity: Values-Based Leadership at Homeboy Industries
As Homeboy Industries continues to expand its impact across Los Angeles and beyond, new co-CEOs Shirley Torres and Steve Delgado reflect on how the organization’s extraordinary growth is rooted in its unwavering commitment to values-based leadership. In this conversation, they’ll explore how Homeboy’s “secret sauce”—a leadership philosophy grounded in kinship, compassion, and radical inclusion—is not only a continuation of the organization’s founding strength, but also a bold response to the question: What does it take to lead with values at scale?
Together, Torres and Delgado will share how values-based leadership shows up across all levels of the organization—from social enterprises and reentry programs to global technical assistance—and why doubling down on these principles is key to reshaping societal perceptions of those returning from incarceration. This is more than a leadership model—it’s a movement to redefine belonging, justice, and what’s possible when we lead from the margins.
2:00 pm - Learning Session with Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA
Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA (speaker bio)
Passing the Baton: Building Strong Teams and Creating. Organizational Impact Through Intentional Succession
“Succession is not an event—it’s a long-term strategy. In this insightful session, Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA, immediate past President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) -the largest fundraising association in the world – draws upon decades of leadership experience and his unique vantage point serving tens of thousands of nonprofit professionals to explore the critical role of intentional succession planning. Geiger will share real life lessons learned from his own leadership transitions and those observed across the nonprofit sector (successes AND failures), offering practical guidance on how to develop leadership pipelines, foster organizational resilience, and ensure continuity of mission. Equally important, he will also discuss how to get back on track when situations go sideways. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how proactive succession planning strengthens team dynamics, builds trust, and positions organizations for long-term impact. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, an emerging leader, or a board member, this session will equip you with tools to make succession a shared priority and a powerful catalyst for growth.
2:00 pm - Learning Session with Erin Rank
Defining Your North Star: Strengthening Your Team and Mission Through EOS Traction Principles
Join this engaging session and learn from Erin Rank, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, how completing the Traction Program helped Habitat’s leadership team define their vision and understand their core competencies and areas of excellence, which allowed the team to drive forward with greater clarity and focus. The Traction Program, often associated with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model, helps nonprofit organizations clarify their vision, improve strategic planning, and enhance overall performance. Erin will highlight the key areas of focus her team used to streamline operations and achieve organizational goals, designed to enable nonprofits to have a greater impact in their communities. After participants learn more about the Traction Program and how it was implemented at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, Erin will provide forms and exercises that participants can consider implementing with their own teams to strengthen their team and the mission of their organization.
3:45 pm - Learning Session with Casey Castillo and Nancy Batterman
Nancy Batterman (speaker bio)
Casey Castillo (speaker bio)
Tools for Transformation: Building Strong Teams and a Thriving Organizational Culture
In this practical and engaging session, Casey Castillo, Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Food Bank, and Nancy Batterman, Executive Coach share how integrating key tools and frameworks can drive high-performing teams and a values-aligned organizational culture. Drawing on real-world experience, Casey and Nancy will walk participants through how tools like Metronome for strategic execution, Adaptive Insights for financial planning, and the Five Dysfunctions of a Team model for leadership cohesion have shaped his organization’s success. They will also explore how leveraging organizational self-assessments and tracking Net Promoter Score (NPS) can generate meaningful insights to foster engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their teams, align around shared goals, and build a workplace culture rooted in trust and performance.
3:45 pm - Learning Session with Tianna Haradon and Dawn Reese
Tianna Haradon (speaker bio)
Dawn Reese (speaker bio)
Why a Strong CEO–CDO Relationship is Mission-Critical for Nonprofits
At the heart of every great partnership is high trust — and in the nonprofit world, few relationships are more influential than that between the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Development Officer (CDO).
This presentation explores how an optimized CEO-CDO partnership is essential to:
- Building a Culture of Philanthropy: A shared vision and mutual respect between the CEO and CDO create a ripple effect throughout the organization, fostering collaboration and deepening engagement at every level.
- Aligning Strategy and Fund Development: When strategic priorities and fundraising goals are jointly developed and reinforced by both leaders, nonprofits gain clarity, focus, and momentum toward their mission.
- Driving Stakeholder Engagement: Unified leadership builds credibility and confidence with donors, board members, and community partners, amplifying your message and increasing impact.
Join us to discover how cultivating this crucial partnership can enhance organizational effectiveness and elevate both mission and fundraising outcomes.
3:45 pm - Learning Session with Robert Santana
Future Ready: Preparing People, Boards, and Organizations for What’s Next
What does it truly mean to be “future ready”? In this energizing and forward-focused session, Robert Santana, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast and widely regarded as a “futurist CEO,” shares his holistic approach to preparing every part of a nonprofit organization for the challenges and opportunities ahead. From empowering young people with future-ready skills, to equipping staff with adaptive mindsets, to cultivating a boardroom that embraces long-term thinking, Santana will outline a practical and strategic framework for anticipating the future—without trying to predict it. Drawing on trends, data, and real-world experience, he’ll guide attendees through actionable steps to align mission, culture, and leadership with what’s emerging on the horizon. This session is a must for nonprofit leaders who want to lead with clarity, build resilient organizations, and position their teams and communities for lasting impact.
6:00 - 7:00 pm - Cocktail Reception
Hosted drinks in the Vinoly Ballroom at Vdara Hotel.
7:00 - 9:00 pm - Awards Reception with Keynote Speaker
Gold Medal Teams – Greatness Happens When You Want Others to Win Too
In this inspiring keynote, “Gold Medal Teams – Greatness Happens When You Want Others to Win Too,” Olympic gold medalist Jason Lezak shares the powerful story behind one of the most iconic moments in sports history: the dramatic come-from-behind victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay that secured a record-breaking gold for teammate Michael Phelps. As the team’s anchor and captain, Lezak offers a firsthand account of what it takes to lead under pressure, believe in your team, and rise beyond individual ambition for the sake of collective greatness. With insights that transcend the pool, this keynote delivers a compelling message for nonprofit and organizational leaders: real excellence is achieved not when we focus on winning alone, but when we’re fully invested in helping others succeed.
Tuesday September 9, 2025, program runs from 8 am – 3:30 pm
8:00 am - Breakfast
Continental Breakfast at Vinoly Ballroom at Vdara Hotel
9:00 - 10:15 am - Panel Discussion
Art Groenveld (speaker bio)
Lacey Huszcza (speaker bio)
Claudia Keller (speaker bio)
John Kobara (speaker bio)
Planning for 2026: A Panel Discussion to Uncover the Things to Know About Leading in the New Year
What does it take to lead boldly and effectively into a rapidly evolving future? In this forward-looking panel, author, coach, and thought leader John Kobara moderates a dynamic conversation with three seasoned nonprofit executives: Claudia Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; Lacey Huszcza, President and CEO of the Richmond Symphony; and Art Groeneveld, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley. Together, they will explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities nonprofit leaders must prepare for as they plan for 2026. From shifting donor expectations and workforce dynamics to economic uncertainties and technology’s growing role in mission delivery, this session will uncover the insights and strategies leaders need to navigate the next chapter with clarity and courage. Attendees will gain practical foresight and fresh perspective to strengthen their leadership and shape a thriving future.
10:15 am - Networking Coffee Break
Coffee and conversations at the Vinoly Ballroom at Vdara Hotel
11:00 am - Learning Session with Len Jessup
Origins, Drive, and Visioning: The Past, Present, and Future of your Leadership
Len will draw on themes from his book on Selfless Leadership and lead participants through a series of exercises aimed at helping them to better understand their leadership purpose and how to harness it. The first exercise will help the participants to understand the role that their family and upbringing plays in determining their drive today and their approach to leading. The second exercise helps to the participants to put that into practice, with a combination of meditation, visioning, and a technique called backcasting. Participants find these exercises to be deeply meaningful and easy to apply in their lives and with their teams.
11:00 am - Learning Session with Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson
Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson (speaker bio)
Cultivating Inclusive Teams
In this interactive session, Dr. Johnson will take leaders though a conversation to help them be their best leader selves and create more inclusive teams. Most leaders want to be inclusive but just don’t know what steps to take to get there. Johnson will explain what it takes to make people feel included by digging into our two most basic human needs: to be unique and to belong. The presentation will cover strategies for creating psychological safety in teams and how leaders can amplify voices and create allyship.
11:00 am - Learning Session with Janine McClintock
Janine McClintock (speaker bio)
Building High-Performing Boards: Elevating Team Dynamics for Nonprofit Success
Achieve the ultimate level of board performance by fostering teamwork, collaboration, and strategic alignment. In this dynamic workshop, Nonprofit Executives will explore actionable techniques for transforming their board into a cohesive and effective unit. Learn how to inspire engagement, enhance communication, and cultivate shared purpose among board members, all while driving mission-focused results. Leave with the tools you need to empower your board as a high-performing team.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the Essentials of Team Dynamics and how they apply to nonprofit boards.
- Discover Practical Strategies to enhance communication, trust, and collaboration among board members.
- Learn Techniques to Align Board Members around shared goals and drive collective action toward your nonprofit’s mission.
12:30 - 2:15 pm - Luncheon with Keynote Speakers
Father Gregory Boyle (speaker bio)
Tom Vozzo (speaker bio)
The Heart of the Team: Building Belonging, Purpose, and Impact
In this powerful keynote address, “The Heart of the Team: Building Belonging, Purpose, and Impact,” Fr. Gregory Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Industries, and Thomas Vozzo, its former CEO, explore the transformative principles behind one of the most inspiring social enterprises in the country. Drawing from decades of experience fostering kinship, healing, and second chances, they reveal how authentic leadership, deep compassion, and a shared mission can cultivate extraordinary teams. With the tagline “Great teams aren’t hired—they’re cultivated with compassion, trust, and shared mission,” this session invites nonprofit leaders and changemakers to reimagine how teams are built—not just for productivity, but for belonging and long-term impact.
2:30 - 3:30 pm - Learning & Networking
Conversations with the Authors and Networking at the Vinoly Ballroom at Vdara Hotel
3:30 pm - Event Concludes
Thanks for attending the 1st Fulcrum Conference. See you next year!
FAQ’s
When and where is the Fulcrum Non-Profit Leadership Conference taking place?
How can I book my accommodations at the negotiated rate?
What is the cost to attend the Fulcrum Non-Profit Leadership Conference?
A conference ticket is $850 before July 14, 2025 and $950 after July 15, 2025. You may purchase tickets via credit card during the registration process. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please reach out to us at hello@fulcrumleader.com.
I’m having trouble registering. Who can I contact?
Sponsorship
WHY SPONSOR?
To support Fulcrum’s inaugural Nonprofit Leadership Conference and align your organization with our mission to build stronger nonprofit leaders and teams capable of greater impact
- Empower nonprofit executives through life-long learning and peer connections
- Foster a community committed to making a positive impact in the world
- Gain unparalleled access to key decision-makers in the nonprofit sector
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
PRESENTING SPONSOR – $20,000*
The highest level of sponsorship, including top-tier benefits such as premier logo placement, acknowledgement during all general sessions, full page ad, 5 complimentary tickets to the Awards Dinner, sponsor table, and social media spotlights.
AWARDS DINNER SPONSOR – $15,000*
The second highest level of sponsorship, including benefits such as premiere logo placement, acknowledgement at the Awards Dinner, half page ad, 4 complimentary tickets to the Awards Reception, sponsor table, and social media spotlights.
VISIONARY SPONSOR – $10,000
Includes benefits such as logo placement, half page ad, 3 complimentary tickets to the Awards Dinner, sponsor table, and social media spotlights.
LUNCHEON SPONSOR – $5,000
Includes benefits such as logo placement, quarter page ad, 2 complimentary tickets to the Awards Diner, sponsor table, and social media spotlights.
COCKTAIL SPONSOR – $5,000
Includes benefits such as verbal recognition at the Awards Dinner and Cocktail Reception, logo placement, 2 complimentary tickets to the Reception.
COFFEE SPONSOR – $2,500
Includes benefits such as logo placement, 1 complimentary ticket to the Awards Dinner.
EDUCATION SPONSOR – $2,500
Includes benefits such as logo placement, 1 complimentary ticket to the Awards Dinner.
Please access and/or share the full sponsorship opportunities brochure by clicking the link below.
*Fulcrum is open to customizing benefits for sponsors at this level.
Please click here to ask questions or reserve your sponsorship.
Sponsors
Awards Reception Sponsor:
Covenant
Luncheon Sponsor:
Sterling Search
Luncheon Sponsor:
Beacon Pointe
Print Sponsor:
The Dot Corp.
Learning Session Sponsor:
Five Tool Fundraiser
Learning Session Sponsor:
AltruList
Lanyard Sponsor:
Heaton Smith Group
Coffee Break Sponsor:
Idea Hall
