Ann Mei Chang is the CEO of Candid, a nonprofit that provides the most comprehensive data about the social sector—where money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Ann Mei leads Candid in increasing the social sector’s ability to do good using data, technology, and compassion. She is a social innovator and author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good. Ann Mei served as chief innovation officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development and executive director of its U.S. Global Development Lab. She was chief innovation officer for Pete for America, chief innovation officer at Mercy Corps, and senior advisor for women and technology at the U.S. Department of State. She has more than 20 years of experience at Google, Apple, and Intuit. Ann Mei earned a B.S. in computer science from Stanford University.

Amani Austin (she/her), founder of Austin Advocates With, is a culturally responsive evaluator and program development leader with a deep commitment to racial justice and continuous quality improvement. Amani has much experience in community driven work with a deep knowledge in multicultural education and access to opportunity. She has been persistent both in research and in practice in cultivating brave spaces that are equitable and diverse. Amani has 12 years of youth development experience within the nonprofit sector and 10 years of research and data experience engaging communities of color. Amani is a process-oriented systems thinker with a human centered approach. Her collaboration style lends well to team leadership models and prioritizes an iterative process of making revisions and including reflection time within the evaluation process. When it comes to her facilitation skills, she aims to create brave space for folks by setting the stage and making room for diverse perspectives. In collaboration with evaluation, she has experience conducting research and facilitating racial equity-focused training related to inclusive workplace culture, mentorship, youth development, measuring impact, and accountability for organizations. The field of culturally responsive research and evaluation has given her important tools to be able to cultivate, honor, and bring attention to the voice of communities of color. Amani holds a BA from California State University of Northridge in Urban Studies and Planning and a MPP from Portland State University in Policy Analysis with an emphasis in Education and Racial Justice. She is a current board member of the Oregon Values and Belief Center and a board member for HOLLA Mentors.

With background in both the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, Sonia brings strategy development, program planning, organizational development, adaptive leadership, leading and managing change, and research and evaluation expertise together to transform communities. She is the owner of Strategy For Impact, a consultancy focused on helping organizations and nonprofits increase their community impact. Sonia helps organizations deepen their impact through collaborative visioning, design, planning, implementation and assessment. She strives to create a learning culture in which curiosity is encouraged and reflection and learning inform strategy and programs. Her work is guided by a commitment to equity and a belief that the best solutions are the result of collaborative effort, a commitment to listening and learning, and an openness to creativity and new ideas. Sonia has extensive experience with organizational, strategy, and program development. She has led organization-wide strategic planning efforts and has overseen strategy development, implementation, and evaluation across multiple impact areas. Prior to launching a consulting practice, Sonia served as the Chief Community Impact Officer for Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) where she led the development and implementation of the foundation’s impact strategies. Prior to her tenure at OCF she led program evaluations and other social policy research teams at several human services research and evaluation firms and started her career in the nonprofit youth services field.

Kim is a researcher, evaluator, facilitator, collaborator, and communicator with over 15 years of experience in program evaluation and improvement. As Founder and Principal of Leonard Research & Evaluation and a Co-Founder/Partner of The Camassia Group Kim works collaboratively with foundations and nonprofits in Oregon and beyond to help people gather, make sense of and use information, infusing fun and joy whenever possible.

Ciara Pressler is the founder of Pregame and author of Game Plan: Achieve Your Goals in Life, Career, and Business. She has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, and creative professionals to create their Game Plan for success. Pregame is changing the game in strategic planning with clients including the City of Portland, Washington County, Home Forward, and Portland Fire & Rescue. Over the past 20 years, Ciara has also collaborated on professional development programs for teams at MTV, A&E Networks, Conde Nast, Hearst, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Wanderlust, Travel Portland, the City of Portland, Home Forward, and for teams innovating across the U.S. and around the world. More at www.ciarapressler.com.

Kristin Fay Venus is the founder of Envision Impact Consulting and a seasoned nonprofit leader, specializing in strategic alignment, leadership development, and sustainable growth for mission-driven organizations. With deep experience in nonprofit governance, fundraising, and organizational development, Venus has helped organizations create mission-driven strategies that foster engagement, financial sustainability, and workplace well-being. Over the years, Venus has worked with and led various nonprofit organizations, she is co-founder of Community Supported Shelters (a nationally recognized shelter and advocacy model program for the unhoused), the Blanche Fischer Foundation (providing grants for low income Oregonians with permanent physical disabilities), and with Oregon Parkinson’s Warriors Foundation (opening the first Parkinson's dedicated gym in Lane County), as well as other mission-driven entities. Through these experiences, Venus has gained firsthand insight into the challenges of nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and balancing growth with mission alignment. Passionate about helping leaders remove obstacles to success, Venus integrates both professional expertise and lived experience to guide nonprofit professionals toward ease, abundance, and lasting impact. Believing that personal transformation fuels organizational success, Venus empowers leaders to develop self-awareness, resilience, and values-aligned decision-making for stronger, more effective workplaces.

Brittany is the Founder and President of Cloudbreak Collective, partnering with nonprofits to enhance their mission-driven work through expert fundraising strategies. Cloudbreak specializes in fundraising for organizations who are small, volunteer-run, working in rural or small town communities, or new to fundraising. The team at Cloudbreak has secured $100M+ in public and private funding, and supports organizations in grants, campaigns, annual fund, and major gift fundraising. Individually, Brittany has collaborated with over 130 organizations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Brittany has directly raised multi-year grants, operational gifts, capital dollars, and federal contracts, from funders like the Murdock Charitable Trust, Boeing, Gates Foundation, and all levels of government from city to federal. Brittany's work as a fundraiser is rooted in a commitment to clarity and simplicity. She specializes in crafting strategic grant applications that serve as catalysts for organizational growth and impact, weaving together mission, values, programs, finance, and more into compelling narratives. Brittany's expertise is complemented by an MPA from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Governance and Public Policy. She is a respected presenter at Puget Sound Grantwriters’ Association, Washington Nonprofits, and other prominent forums, and serves on the Bainbridge Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

Dan Tritch, CPA, first joined YPTC in 2012 after a then 3-year career in public accounting but left to become a math teacher at a charter school in North Philadelphia, before returning to the audit world. While visiting his brother in Phoenix, Dan heard a YPTC ad on the radio and realized how much he missed his YPTC family! In April 2019, Dan rejoined YPTC as a Manager in the Phoenix market where he has been fortunate to combine his love of teaching with his love of nonprofit accounting! Dan shares two girls (Wren and Opal) with his wife of nine years, Kim.

Samhir is an educator and designer with over a decade of experience supporting the digital transformation of social impact and mission-driven organizations. Samhir's specialty lies in demystifying and simplifying complex emerging tools and techniques, like generative AI and data storytelling — translating them into practical, bite-sized tips for people working in resource-constrained contexts like nonprofits. Samhir has trained over 1,000 young leaders, government officials, nonprofit staff, and entrepreneurs across dozens of countries around the world. His training pedigree has been entrusted by organizations like the World Bank, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Georgetown University, where he serves as an adjunct professor. Based in Oregon's Willamette Valley after 15 years serving social impact actors in Washington DC, Samhir now helps people build digital skills through his design and digital literacy studio, Dev (https://dev.design).

Corey got her start as a teacher at Summerbridge Cincinnati in the early 1990s and has been involved in educational equity and social justice movements ever since. She founded Public Profit to build a team that would seamlessly blend social science research methods, organizational change strategy, and a deep commitment to supporting changemakers. Corey loves data, and wants you to love it, too.

Scott Schaffer, Principal of Public Interest Management Group, is an experienced nonprofit leader and consultant with a background in economics, finance and behavioral science. He is a four-time past CEO of regional, statewide and national nonprofits. He's directed growth, designed financial turnarounds and built high-performance organizations in the food security, environmental and housing fields. Scott's consulting practice links expertise in financial analysis and organizational development, and radiates from a core principle that social change requires passion and great ideas along with smart strategy and skillful execution. His work with a range of clients is an extension of this philosophy. He's played a key role in over twenty nonprofit mergers and restructuring projects, and launched social enterprises promoting affordable housing, technology adoption and environmental conservation. Scott has also developed a range of innovative business strategy methods, and delivers training workshops on strategic nonprofit management. Scott's education includes the Harvard Kennedy School, Carnegie Mellon University, and Columbia Business School. His writing on organizational development, finance and public policy appears in his blog. Off the clock, he's a guitarist, runner, and frequent hiker in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

My career in human resources began years ago as a HR Generalist doing ALL the HR Things. My career grew as the organizations I was a part of grew, allowing me to build to a director level running teams, payroll, strategic projects, consulting for partner organizations and integrating diversity, equity and inclusion into organizational culture. I’m passionate that human resources should be meeting the needs of your specific business rather than applying a broad brush stroke of “best practice” that serves neither the business nor the employees. My services are tailored to the organizational needs. I specialize in supporting non-profits and small businesses with their unique challenges. Employee relations is another area of support that I specialize in, from supervisor consultations through difficult situations to workplace investigations. I’m trained in mediation and have a base of trauma-informed care principles that I operate from when approaching delicate matters. I live in Portland, Oregon, though originally hail from rural Eastern Oregon. I love traveling to all corners of this beautiful state to meet the amazing people living here.

I have been producing successful applications for over fifteen years. After studying grant writing with Rick Levine, I taught grant writing at Portland State University. I built on my MBA and Certificate in Nonprofit Management with experience in nonprofit budgeting, fundraising, management, and governance. Sitting on federal and state grant review panels has provided experience from the other side of the grants table. I am active in the professional community serving Grant Professionals Association of Oregon & SW Washington for three years as treasurer and now as strategic relations and conference coordinator. At Portland Community College, I teach both for-credit and continuing education grant writing courses, working at Portland Community College and Central Oregon Community College. I am active in our professional community, serving as lead conference organizer for Grant Professionals Association (GPA) of Oregon & SW Washington. I am proud to hold a Grant Professionals Certification (GPC). This 360 degree view ensures that we present a plan funders find realistic and credible. I help nonprofits grow. As the co-founder of The School and Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP), I wrote the capacity-building grants that transformed the organization from a $30,000 to a $300,000 nonprofit. At KBOO Community Radio, I led the work to nearly double the number of donors and agency budget. At Macdonald Center, Oregon MESA, The Environmental Center, and Constructing Hope, I wrote major capacity building proposals, and I have presented on capacity building at the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Grant Professionals Association National Conferences and 2014 Willamette Valley Development Officers annual conference. Recent awards include $125,000 for capacity building from Meyer Memorial Trust and Oregon Community Foundation, $200,000 from Oregon Youth Development Council for youth mentoring, $245,000 for program expansion from Oregon Community Foundation, $425,000 for an education contract from Portland Public Schools, $706,000 for program operations from Lemelson Foundation, and an $8 million Department of Labor award.

As OPHI’s executive director, Emily’s primary focus is guiding OPHI’s organizational strategy, people, and partnerships to achieve greater health equity impact. A nationally-recognized leader in cross-sector collaboration and systems change, Emily became OPHI’s executive director in 2019 after five years of service to OPHI in staff and consultant roles. She has co-founded two of OPHI’s cornerstone initiatives: The Oregon Health & Outdoors Initiative, which advances equity by connecting communities with nature; and Tracing Health, the community-based COVID-19 response program that has provided equity-focused pandemic response services to over 25 health departments and school districts on the west coast. Emily is a de Beaumont Foundation “40 Under 40 in Public Health” leader and a member of Portland Business Journal’s 2021 “40 Under 40” class. She holds a Master of Public Health from Portland State University and a B.A. from Lewis & Clark College. She is a mother of two young children and an accomplished musician.

Rebeckah Berry, MS, MCHES, is the Grant Program Director at the Roundhouse Foundation. The foundation supports innovative solutions to the unique challenges faced by rural communities and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Rebeckah collaborates with rural, remote, and Tribal communities across Oregon to improve access to healthcare, including reproductive health, pharmacy services, and mental health and well-being. She has nearly 20 years of experience in various public health roles, with the last eight years focused on grant-making and philanthropy. Before her work at Roundhouse, Rebeckah led the development of Regional Health Assessments and Health Improvement Plans in partnership with coordinated care organizations, hospital systems, public health departments, and educational institutions. She is motivated by investing in urgent and critical needs, believing that building genuine relationships and trust opens doors for larger systems-level changes.

Se-ah-dom Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce and Yakama) brings deep experience in community organizing for racial and social justice work across the nation. Prior to joining Seeding Justice, Se-ah-dom served as the Sovereignty Program Director at Western States Center where she was the coalition convener of Tribal History: Shared History (Senate Bill 13, 2017) in Oregon, which established and funded the teaching of Indian History and Sovereignty in K – 12 schools across the state. Se-ah-dom is also the co-editor of the Tribal Equity Toolkit 3.0: Tribal Resolutions and Codes for Two Spirit and LGBT Justice in Indian Country and American Indian Identity: Citizenship, Membership & Blood. A hallmark of her career has been fostering relationships and collaborations between tribes and organizations doing social, racial, environmental, and economic justice work across the region. She is an ALF Senior Fellow and a member of the Philanthropy Northwest Board and Oregon Worker Relief Board, and the chair of the board of Oregon Consumer Justice. Se-ah-dom joined Seeding Justice in December 2018.

As a former elite athlete and business owner, Libra Forde is a dynamic leader who champions high-performance personal and professional behavior. Drawing on her background in athletics and education, she cultivates actionable, manageable, and sustainable thought partnerships. With over 25 years of experience in corporate/non-profit executive leadership, racial and social justice work, and public speaking, Libra excels at connecting with diverse communities, professional groups, and individuals. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Women's Foundation of Oregon, a philanthropic organization focused on dismantling systems that impede gender and racial justice, Libra is committed to driving meaningful change. She has also held key leadership roles, including Interim Executive Director of the Western States Center and Chief Operating Officer for one of Oregon's largest culturally specific non-profits, Self Enhancement, Inc. Libra's impact extends to the educational sector, where she led the North Clackamas School District to become the first in Oregon to name a high school after a person of color. As an elected member and chair of the North Clackamas School Board, she played a pivotal role during the pandemic. With over 25 years of education advocacy in both Hawaii and Oregon, Libra has spearheaded innovative reforms, including the creation of the first active-duty military child scholarship program and a hybrid charter school in Hawaii. Her current volunteer work includes serving on the Executive Board of the Maurice Lucas Foundation, Oregon State Commission for Women, and the Oregon State Board of Education. Libra is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has received numerous awards in racial and social justice, innovation, and international speech. A devoted solo parent to three children—one a recent college graduate in mathematics, another a current college marine biology student, and a high school student-athlete—Libra calls her children her superpowers, inspiring her drive and success. She believes in leaving a legacy for future generations, embracing the mindset that "someone did this for us; now we are that ‘someone’." Libra brings a justice heart and a systems mind, ready to create a world we can all be proud of.

Tyler Hobbs (he/him) is a philanthropy and nonprofit professional with a background in education, fundraising, and organizational development. He began his career as a high school teacher and school administrator in East Los Angeles and Spokane, before transitioning to fundraising in 2018. In 2020, he was recruited to support the growth of the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. As a leader in the foundation’s development, he has helped to build the foundation’s early infrastructure and grant-making strategy. Today the Foundation distributes more than $20 million annually to hundreds of organizations across Oregon.

Jim White joined the Nonprofit Association of Oregon as the Executive Director in October 2012. He is deeply committed to the social change through private action and has worked in the nonprofit sector both domestically and internationally for more than 25 years. Jim has a passion for affecting systemic change in the way that the public, private and nonprofit sectors work together to support and strengthen our communities and civil society. He believes that one of the purest democratic values is having private individuals identify needs and solutions, and lead change in their communities for the greater good. Through NAO, Jim is proud to help build the capacity, leadership and voice of Oregon’s vibrant nonprofit sector. Before joining NAO, Jim worked for Mercy Corps both overseas and in Oregon. He has also worked for the International Organization for Migration and the American Red Cross. He has a M.A. in Eurasian Studies from Indiana University and a B.S. in Engineering Technology from Temple University.

Michael is deeply committed to community engagement and social justice. In 2017, he founded Rational Unicorn Legal Services, a community-based business law firm offering pay-as-you-go legal services to small businesses, nonprofits, and creatives. In 2024, Michael sold the firm and ran for Congress in Oregon’s 3rd District. While he did not win the primary, his dedication to collaborative, creative problem-solving for community progress remains steadfast. In addition to his academic background, Michael has completed several public service and leadership training programs. Passionate about volunteerism, he actively supports various nonprofits, serving in both board and non-board roles. Through Narwhal Nonprofit Consulting, Michael is eager to help nonprofits with their growth, development, and sustainability. With extensive experience advising and forming community organizations of all sizes and types, he brings a wealth of legal and practical knowledge to the table.

Laurel McCombs brings more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector and a passion for the role philanthropy can play in changing the world to her work as a consultant, partner, and trainer. Laurel has worked closely with clients on a variety of topics, including donor retention, development operations, planning, donor management, board development and more. Current and recent clients include the ACLU, Mosaic Medical, Earthjustice, and Cal State Fullerton. In addition to well-received workshops at national conferences, such as League of Conservation Voters and State Voices, Laurel has presented at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference, AFP Congress, CASE-NAIS, and several local development professional associations. Prior to joining TOG, Laurel worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America where she coordinated capacity-building support to agencies across the country. Laurel has a degree from USC and lives in Damascus, OR.

Agnes has a wealth of expertise in operational and strategic leadership within nonprofit organizations and over 30 years of experience in governmental affairs and financial services. For 12 years, she was Executive Director for Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO) where she created a number of programs focused on teaching the art and science of professional fundraising to help nonprofits thrive. Under her leadership, WVDO started the Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising in 2011 for 40 weeks of basic fundraising skills training, and in 2012, the Leadership Academy for advanced fundraisers who wanted to move into director-level roles. In 2017, they launched the Management Academy to help mid-level nonprofit managers grow their skills, and in 2019, the Grants Academy for hands-on grant writing tools and techniques. In 2012, NPN formed as a WVDO program out of a growing number of program participants who wanted to know where they might find success and enjoy their work, alongside nonprofits who wanted to hire professionals dedicated to long-term growth within their organization. NPN served as the middle piece to make those partnerships happen. In 2016, NPN became a wholly-owned corporation of WVDO, and Agnes served as leadership to both until 2020 when she began dedicating herself to NPN full-time. Agnes is passionate about identifying what drives people in their professional roles, supporting them in their careers, and helping them find success and fulfillment in their work. Most of all, she’s driven by finding the right partnerships to help nonprofits achieve long-term success. She holds a master’s in business administration from Willamette University Atkinson School of Management, Seth Godin’s altMBA, and a bachelor’s in business from Carroll College.

Donald Summers is one of the social sector’s leading advisors and entrepreneurs. He is the Founder and CEO of Altruist Partners, an advisory boutique that has catalyzed over $1 billion in new revenue and program growth for nonprofits around the world, work that has directly improved the lives of millions. His recent book, Scaling Altruism (Wiley, 2024), open-sources the firm’s methodology, and it also serves as the curriculum for the newly launched Altruist Impact Accelerator, the firm’s nonprofit arm founded to provide affordable guidance for every nonprofit to maximize their social impact. A frequent speaker, lecturer and widely published author, he holds degrees from Middlebury College and Harvard University.

Erica Briggs is a learning facilitator, DEIB consultant, community caretaker, creative artist, and writer. In each capacity, she is a storyteller, sharing connections that equip, inspire, and support healing and growth. Born and raised in Oregon, Erica has traversed the globe, living and working in various locations. Currently, she is a Nonprofit Education Specialist at NAO, the owner and residential manager of a co-operative living community, and the founder and CEO of a small arts and nature nonprofit based in Troutdale. As a single mother, she earned a BA in Communications at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and a Master's in Africana Studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where she studied the social construction of race in America through literature. For over 25 years, she has served various roles in nonprofits, and both traditional and alternative learning environments from elementary through college. When she is at play, you will likely find her wandering in her garden, making a mess in her art studio, or hiking with her children to the nearest body of water.

T. Aisha Edwards, LMHC (xey/xem) is a somatic trauma therapist, embodiment facilitator and traditional healer based in Vancouver, WA. Xey received xer Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University and has concentrated on socialized oppressions, interpersonal violence, abuse and neglect in marginalized populations throughout xer decade-plus career. Prior to private practice, xey worked in community mental health, high acuity treatment settings and as an adjunct faculty at Portland Community College. Aisha is the Vision Guide and founder of Radical Rest, a nonprofit that provides collective healing events for BIPOC folks and trauma informed education for the communities that serve us. Xey are also the co-host of Emergent Liberation Collective, a podcast about somatics and spirituality as instruments for personal healing and collective transformation.

Hello, my name is Toye Jones. I am a lifelong Oregonian with over 15 years of Management Team leadership experience in Human Resources at several Portland area nonprofits. I’ve established partnerships with Portland Public Schools and led PTAs and Site Councils throughout my career working as an advocate in both children’s Alternative Education and Foster Care. I am a member of SHRM, I have an HRCI certification and earned a B.S. in Social Sciences from Portland State University. I have a passion for empowering those who feel powerless. My lived experience as a member of America’s marginalized communities and my commitment to helping children and families is what I view as my life’s purpose. I’m always looking forward to an opportunity to meet and discuss our mutual dedication to our children, families, and fighting for a more equitable society.

Chris has an extensive background in non-profit leadership, strategic planning, facilitation, program development, and social impact. Since founding Catalysis, Chris has successfully guided over 25 organizational strategic plans and supported award-winning volunteer programs. She serves mission-driven organizations throughout the U.S. and around the world. A sought-after facilitator for complex and challenging conversations, Chris helps leaders and teams meet their most urgent challenges. Chris is a certified leadership coach and serves as faculty for the Institute for Equity-Centered Coaching.

Lauren is an experienced professional with a passion for helping teams and individuals thrive. Lauren supports clients with a broad range of services including strategic planning, program strategy, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation of collaborative gatherings. She creates spaces and systems that unleash the power of a group to envision and realize the future they want to see. Lauren centers the needs of communities her clients serve. By adeptly synthesizing diverse perspectives, stakeholder input, and research, she often reveals critical insight to help clients make data-informed decisions and address complex problems. Lauren has deep experience in non-profit leadership, fundraising, program evaluation, and project management. She holds expertise in science communication and STEM education. Lauren has served as Principal Investigator for National Science Foundation education grants, served on the board of the Institute for Learning Innovation, and is a Senior Advisor to the Association for Science Communicators.

Steve Patty, Ph.D., spent over thirteen years as a professor and administrator in higher education before stepping out of the university context to work with organizations in the nonprofit and public sectors. For the past two decades, he has been developing the capacity of agencies that work with people to design strategy, develop people, and evaluate impact. He has taught thousands of leaders throughout North America and internationally how to design and implement a kind of evaluation that gets below the surface and into the heart of human change and transformation. He has also been facilitating leadership development cohorts for public and nonprofit leaders in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Steve lives in Portland, Oregon