Emcee/Host
Chris Looney
CEO
Fulcrum
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Brian T. Hervey, CGPP, CFRE
President, UC Irvine Foundation
UC Irvine
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Robert Santana
CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast
Facilitator
John Kobara
Social Entrepreneur and Facilitator of Change
Random Acts of Progress
LEARNING SESSION
Edward R Amey, MS
CEO
Jay Nolan Community Services
LEARNING SESSION
Betsy Biern
CEO
Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area
LEARNING SESSION
Nancy Weintraub
Chief Advancement Officer
Easterseals Southern California
LEARNING SESSION
Jeffrey R. Wilcox, CFRE
CEO
Third Sector Company
PANEL DISCUSSION
Joseph Costa
Co-founder and Principal
Partners for Impact
PANEL DISCUSSION
Charlene Dimas-Peinado
President & CEO
Wellnest
PANEL DISCUSSION
Lizette Espinosa, Esq.
Co-Founder
System + Soul AI Institute
PANEL DISCUSSION
Miki Jordan
President & CEO
Martha’s Village & Kitchen
PANEL DISCUSSION
Janie Ximena Marquez
Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager
Enterprise Bank & Trust
PANEL DISCUSSION
Tom Mitchell
Philanthropic Futurist
MM & Associates
PANEL DISCUSSION
Ann Spira
Vice Chancellor of Advancement and Executive Vice President of the UC San Diego Foundation
UC San Diego
PANEL DISCUSSION
Jacqueline Tapia
Empowerment Creator
Living Macro, Inc.
Registration
Registration Rate: $950
Member Rate: Members save an additional $100 off registration, refer to promo code in newsletter or contact events@fulcrumleader.com for promo code. (Fulcrum Members only).
Ticket grants full access to all general sessions, curated learning experiences, networking opportunities, Awards Ceremony and meals (Luncheon and Reception on Day 1 and Breakfast and Luncheon on Day 2). Hotel, parking, airfare and incidentals are not included.
Not a Fulcrum Member? Apply today!
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.
2nd Annual Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership Conference
September 14–15, 2026
UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art | Costa Mesa, CA
Join hundreds of the nation’s most accomplished nonprofit executives for two transformative days of learning and connection around the topic of Future Ready Leadership.
In a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by emerging technologies, workforce changes, and growing community needs, the leaders who thrive will be those who anticipate, adapt, and act with clarity and confidence.
This is not a typical conference. It is a highly curated experience built exclusively for senior leaders who carry the responsibility of vision, strategy, and results.
You will engage with an exceptional lineup of speakers, participate in thoughtfully designed sessions tailored to the realities of nonprofit leadership, and connect with true peers who understand the complexity of your role. From high-level strategy to practical execution, every moment is designed to move you forward.
You will leave not only inspired, but equipped with clear, actionable ways to strengthen your leadership, align and elevate your team, and position your organization for long-term impact.
This experience is built for leaders who are ready to think differently, lead decisively, and shape what comes next for their organizations and the sector as a whole.
Here are the top six compelling reasons to join this conference.
- Connect with Purpose – Build meaningful relationships with high-caliber nonprofit leaders who challenge your thinking and expand your perspective.
- Future Ready Insights – Engage in forward-looking conversations and learning that prepare you for what is ahead, not just what is now.
- Action You Can Take Immediately – Walk away with practical strategies and tools you can implement right away to drive results.
- Stronger Leadership, Stronger Teams – Enhance your ability to lead at the highest level while developing the people and culture that sustain success.
- Clarity in a Complex Environment – Gain frameworks and perspective to navigate uncertainty with confidence and intention.
- Recognition and Inspiration – Celebrate excellence across the sector and reconnect with the purpose that drives your work.
Throughout the conference, you will experience dynamic sessions, meaningful dialogue, and moments that challenge, energize, and inspire.
If you are committed to leading with vision, preparing your organization for what is next, and maximizing your impact in a changing world, this is where you need to be.
Agenda – September 14-15, 2026
Monday September 14, 2026
11:30 am - Opening Remarks and Lunch Buffet
Opening Remarks and Lunch Buffet
12:25 pm - Opening Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
Leading Through the Unexpected
The future rarely unfolds according to plan. Drawing on lessons from a career shaped by unexpected opportunities and challenges, Brian Hervey, President of the UC Irvine Foundation and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UC Irvine, explores what it means to lead with adaptability, resilience and purpose in times of change. From building future-ready teams and boards to navigating technological transformation, he offers practical insights for leaders seeking to strengthen their organizations for the years ahead. This session will challenge attendees to think differently about how they prepare for a future they cannot fully predict.
1:30 pm - Networking Icebreaker
Networking Icebreaker
2:15 pm - Breakout Session with Betsy Biern
Sleep Soundly: Be Better Prepared for the Leadership Challenges You Know Are Coming
Every nonprofit leader faces challenges that keep them up at night. Whether it’s an uncertain budget, a difficult board dynamic, staff turnover, fundraising pressures, emerging technologies, or program sustainability, today’s realities require leaders to think ahead rather than simply react.
Kick off the conference by connecting with fellow nonprofit leaders through a highly interactive session designed to tackle the real-world challenges executives face every day. Following a brief framework for becoming a future-ready leader, participants will join facilitated roundtable discussions focused on the most common leadership issues confronting nonprofit organizations. Together, you’ll share experiences, exchange practical strategies, identify proactive solutions, and report key insights back to the larger group, helping transform today’s concerns into tomorrow’s preparedness.
Leadership can be isolating, and some of the most difficult decisions are made without the benefit of trusted peers. This session offers a unique opportunity to think through your biggest challenges alongside experienced nonprofit leaders, while building relationships that can continue to serve as valuable sounding boards long after the conference concludes.
You’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical strategies, new perspectives from fellow nonprofit leaders, and greater confidence to anticipate challenges, respond with purpose, and become a more future-ready leader.
2:15 pm - Breakout Session with John Kobra
Future Ready Begins With One Question: Who’s In Charge?
You’ve future-proofed your organization. Updated the strategic plan. Embraced AI. Added dashboards.
But when did you last future-proof yourself?
We worry about AI taking our jobs. We should be more worried about something already underway: the robotization of ourselves. The formulaic treadmill of productivity and impact metrics has helped us forget who we are. We execute the role. We perform success. And when the tank runs dry, we’re handed the usual prescriptions — self-care, a sabbatical, doubling down on resilience. None of it touches the real problem.
The most under-resourced asset in the nonprofit sector isn’t funding — it’s the inner clarity of its leaders. When purpose goes unexamined, we perform adequacy. We execute the job description while the reason we took it quietly fades.
Facilitator and author John Kobara hands you a mirror — and a toolkit.
Using selected questions from Quest: 121 Questions of Liberation from the Prison of Self-Domestication (your copy to keep), you’ll excavate the purpose and energy that make your leadership irreplaceable — not just effective. Then you’ll be introduced to Work Portfolio Design, a framework to do something most leaders never attempt: use purpose and energy as the lens to actively redesign the job itself.
The goal isn’t inspiration. It’s clarity. The kind that comes when you stop performing and start owning your authentic leadership edge.
For leaders who are future ready — and ready to get honest about the future of themselves.
4:15 pm - Breakout Session with Women Leaders
Charlene Dimas-Peinado (speaker bio)
Lizette Espinosa (speaker bio)
Janie Rodriguez (speaker bio)
Jacqueline Tapia (speaker bio)
The Future Is Human: Women Leaders Navigating AI, Finance, Influence, and Purpose
Leadership is evolving. Economic uncertainty, emerging technologies, changing workforce expectations, new models of influence, and increasing demands for transparency and accountability are reshaping what organizations need from their leaders. The skills and approaches that brought leaders to where they are today may not be enough to lead successfully into the future.
This dynamic panel brings together accomplished women leaders from finance, technology, marketing, and executive leadership to explore how leadership must evolve to meet the opportunities and complexities ahead. Drawing on perspectives from across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, panelists will examine what the next generation of leadership requires and why distinctly human capabilities such as judgment, curiosity, adaptability, empathy, courage, and the ability to build trust will become even more valuable as the world around us changes.
The conversation will explore how leaders are navigating uncertainty, making consequential decisions with imperfect information, building influence and organizational resilience, embracing innovation without chasing every new trend, and creating cultures where people and organizations can adapt and thrive.
Attendees will gain practical insights into the evolving demands of leadership, real-world lessons from accomplished women leading across sectors, and new perspectives on how to strengthen their own leadership for what comes next.
The tools will change. The environment will change. The expectations of leaders will change. But our ability to lead people, build trust, exercise judgment, and inspire others around a shared purpose will remain at the heart of extraordinary leadership.
The future is changing. And the future is human.
4:15 pm - Breakout Session with Jeffrey Wilcox
FORWARD-THINKING LEADERSHIP
What Strategic Interim Executives Can Teach the Rest of Us
The most significant hurdle that forward-thinking leaders must face is how to bring others along. The pace of forward movement can be so significantly slowed and executive enthusiasm can be so easily squelched when executives face undue reluctance from direct reports, the board, and long-time supporters who can’t seem to lean into planful progress. For the past 25 years, Jeffrey Wilcox and Interim Executives Academy has been teaching nonprofit executives a methodical approach to engaging and evolving organizations in preparation for new leadership. In this session, Jeff will briefly review the methods that are the foundation of their nationally-acclaimed models and challenge all forward-thinking leaders to adapt six specific strategies from their experiences to help leaders to navigate the inevitable headwinds of forward-thinking cultures.
5:30 pm - Social Hour
Social Hour
Tuesday September 15, 2026
8:00 am - Breakfast
Breakfast
9:15 am - Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
9:30 am - Panel Discussion
Joe Costa (speaker bio)
Miki Jordan (speaker bio)
Tom Mitchell (speaker bio)
Ann Spira (speaker bio)
Learning at the Speed of Change: Leadership, Culture, and Talent for the Future-Ready Nonprofit
The pace of change has never been faster, and it will never be this slow again.
In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, evolving workforce expectations, and increasing complexity, the organizations that thrive will not necessarily be the largest or best funded. They will be the ones that learn, adapt, and innovate faster than the challenges they face.
This dynamic panel brings together nonprofit leaders who are building organizations designed for continuous learning and long-term resilience. Together, they will explore how leaders can cultivate learning velocity across their organizations, create cultures rooted in curiosity and adaptability, and prepare talent to flourish alongside rapidly advancing technologies.
The discussion will examine what it means to lead in an age where AI expands what’s possible while uniquely human capabilities such as judgment, empathy, creativity, trust, and purpose become even more valuable. Panelists will share practical examples of developing leadership pipelines, creating learning ecosystems, encouraging experimentation, and asking bold “”What if?”” questions that unlock innovation and multiply mission impact.
Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen their leadership, build a culture that embraces continuous learning, future-proof their talent, and position their organizations to thrive in a world defined by constant change.
11:00 am - Breakout Session with Nancy Weintraub
11:00 am - Breakout Session with Edward Amey
Building a Culture of Loyalty and Leadership: Stop Managing Turnover, Start Leading Culture
This presentation delivers actionable insights for organizational leaders seeking to build a company culture that prioritizes employee development, which profoundly impacts employee retention, engagement, and performance. Drawing on national workforce data and Jay Nolan Community Services’ (JNCS) own experience, it highlights the persistent challenge of staff turnover, which can average between 43–50% nationwide, with significant financial and operational impacts.
Edward will showcase a proven strategy for reducing turnover and building a thriving workplace, through intentional leadership practices, incentivizing the “right” things, and data-driven culture management.
Core Takeaways include:
- Purposeful leadership and accountability are essential for building loyalty and engagement.
- Incentivizing desired culture and providing the right tools drive measurable results.
- Transparent communication and recognition foster a sense of value and loyalty.
- Using metrics and data validates success and supports culture development.
12:15 pm - Closing Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker – Closing Luncheon
1:30 pm - Awards
Awards
Speakers
More speakers coming soon…
Plan Your Trip
Location
UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
Costa Mesa, CA
3333 Avenue of the Arts
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hotel Accommodations
Make the most of your Fulcrum Conference experience by staying at one of our partner hotels offering special discounted rates exclusively for conference attendees. We encourage you to book early, as room blocks and discounted rates are available for a limited time and may sell out before the reservation deadline.
Located in the heart of Southern California, Costa Mesa is a vibrant destination known for its beautiful year-round weather, exceptional dining, world-class shopping, and thriving arts and culture scene. Whether you’re extending your stay to explore nearby beaches, visit local attractions, or connect with colleagues after conference sessions, Costa Mesa offers something for everyone.
View the hotels below to take advantage of exclusive Fulcrum Conference rates and enjoy a comfortable, convenient stay just walking distance from conference activities. We look forward to welcoming you to Costa Mesa this September!
Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Starting at 209.00 USD per night
Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
Starting at 249.00 USD per night
Book the Westin South Coast Plaza at the Fulcrum Attendee rate
Things to Do in Costa Mesa
Enhance your Fulcrum Conference experience by exploring all that Costa Mesa and the surrounding Orange County area have to offer before and after conference activities. Whether you’re arriving early, staying an extra day, or looking for ways to unwind between sessions, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to relax, connect, and discover the best of Southern California.
From beautiful beaches and scenic coastal trails to exceptional dining, shopping, arts, and entertainment, Costa Mesa is a destination that blends business and leisure seamlessly. Visit renowned cultural attractions, enjoy outdoor recreation in the California sunshine, explore nearby Newport Beach, or gather with fellow attendees for memorable networking experiences beyond the conference venue.
We’ve highlighted a selection of local attractions, restaurants, and activities below to help you make the most of your visit. We hope you’ll take advantage of your time in Orange County and enjoy everything this vibrant community has to offer while attending the Fulcrum Conference.
Angels Stadium, Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners
September 14, 15, 16, 2026 6:38PM all nights
Irvine Improv, Irvine
Ryan Hamilton
September 10-12, 2026
September 10: 7:30PM
September 11: 7:30PM
September 12: 7:00 & 9:00PM
Nice Bits with Kenny Weber
September 15, 2026, 7:30PM
Samueli Theater, Costa Mesa
Krysta Rodriguez
September 10-12, 2026, 7:00PM all nights
Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa
My Hero Academia in Concert
September 15, 2026, 7:30PM
South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa
Into the Woods
September 12-October 10, 2026
September 12: 8:00PM
September 13: 7:00PM
September 15: 7:00PM
Awards
At Fulcrum’s Conference, we are proud to provide 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.
2025 Recipient: Sisters in Good Orange County
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.
2025 Recipient: Bill Littlejohn, CEO and Sr. VP, Sharp Healthcare Foundation
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.
2025 Recipient: Father Gregory Boyle, Founder, Homeboy Industries
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.
2025 Recipient: Robert Santana, CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Coast
Rising Leadership Award
This award recognizes a nonprofit executive who exemplifies bold, values-driven leadership who leads a growing nonprofit organization capably into the future. This individual will also demonstrate a powerful blend of vision, action, and integrity. Though not always a founder, Fulcrum does have an interest in recognizing founders of nonprofits with this award.
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.
2025 Recipient: Ifesinachi Nwatu, Founder and CEO, Rose Nwatu Cancer Foundation
FAQ’s
When and where is the Fulcrum Non-Profit Leadership Conference taking place?
The 2nd Annual Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership Conference will take place September 14-15, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CA at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. We are excited to welcome you to our event!
How can I book my accommodations at the negotiated rate?
Fulcrum is partnered with Avenue of the Arts and the Westin Southcoast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA to provide discounted hotel rates for our attendees. You must be a registered attendee to take advantage of these rates. All hotel charges, resort fees, parking fees, taxes, and incidentals are the responsibility of the guest.
What is the cost to attend the Fulcrum Non-Profit Leadership Conference?
A conference ticket is $850 before July 15, 2026 and $950 starting July 16, 2026. Fulcrum members receive an additional $100 off the registration fees, refer to the promo code in the member newsletter or reach out to events@fulcrumleader.com. Registration tickets can be purchased via credit card during the registration process. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please reach out to us at events@fulcrumleader.com.
I’m having trouble registering. Who can I contact?
For any issues related to registering, please contact events@fulcrumleader.com.
Sponsorship
WHY SPONSOR?
To support Fulcrum’s 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 are as follows:
Presenting Sponsor* | $25,000
The highest level of sponsorship recognized as “The 2026 Fulcrum Leadership Conference Presented by [Your Organization]”, including top-tier benefits such as premier logo placement, speaking role during the Opening Luncheon, acknowledgement during all general sessions, full page ad, 3 conference registrations, premium sponsor table space and social media spotlights pre and post event. (1 available)
Luncheon Sponsor* (day 1) | $15,000
A premium sponsorship level including benefits such as premier logo placement, speaking role during the Opening Luncheon, mention at Awards Luncheon, half page ad, 3 conference registrations, premium sponsor table space and social media spotlights pre and post event. (1 available)
SOLD OUT Awards Luncheon Sponsor* (day 2) | $15,000
A premium sponsorship level including benefits such as premier logo placement, speaking role during the Awards Luncheon, mention at Opening Luncheon, half page ad, 3 conference registrations, premium sponsor table space and social media spotlights pre and post event. (1 available)
SOLD OUT Visionary Sponsor* | $10,000
Includes 2 conference registrations, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
Breakfast Sponsor | $6500
Includes 2 conference registrations, speaking opportunity at breakfast, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
SOLD OUT Social Event Sponsor | $6500
Includes 2 conference registrations, speaking opportunity at social event, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
Break Sponsor (2 available) | $3500
Includes 1 conference registration, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
Education Sponsor (6 available) | $3500
Includes 1 conference registration, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
SOLD OUT Swag Bag Sponsor (Exclusive) | $3500
Includes 1 conference registration, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
Coffee Sponsor (Exclusive) | $3500
Includes 1 conference registration, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
SOLD OUT Lanyard Sponsor (Exclusive) | $3500
Includes 1 conference registration, sponsor mentions at Opening Luncheon and Awards Luncheon, logo placement, quarter page ad, sponsor table and social media spotlights pre and post event.
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 Luncheon Sponsor:
Sterling Search
Awards Luncheon Sponsor:
Covenant
Social Event Sponsor:
Beacon Pointe
Visionary Sponsor:
CARS
Breakfast Sponsor:
Gallagher
Coffee Sponsor:
Wellnest
Lanyard Sponsor:
Heaton Smith Group
Swag Bag Sponsor:
Idea Hall
Print Sponsor:
The Dot Corp.
