Lester Salamon, Director
Center for Civil Society Studies
Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies
Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD

• Current Challenges and Opportunities for Nonprofit Organizations
  Salamon is the director of The Listening Post Project and the author of the book The Resilient Sector: The State of Nonprofit America. Salamon will converse with a panel of Alliance member executives regarding his research in which he has identified six key challenges facing nonprofit organizations. To frame this interactive facilitated discussion, conference attendees will receive Chapter 3, “The Challenges,” of Salamon’s book upon registration.

Heather Peeler, Managing Director
Community Wealth Ventures Inc. - Washington, D.C.

• Reinventing Ourselves Through Community Wealth
  It is not enough for child- and family-serving organizations to think more “business-like,” they must be “more business-like.” For many, this means leveraging organizational assets in order to pursue opportunities that will create new revenue streams while advancing the organization’s mission. Community wealth, also known as earned income or social enterprise, is not new to the nonprofit sector. However, few have approached social enterprise as a strategic priority and a mission imperative. Peeler will share lessons learned and best practices in wealth generation among child- and family-service organizations. This interactive workshop will include a case study, individual and group exercises, and a guest speaker who will share first-hand experiences and insights. Participants will leave the conference informed, inspired, and ready to take action.

Mike Eichler, Executive Director
Consensus Organizing Center
San Diego State University - San Diego. CA

• Reinventing How We Do Advocacy Through Consensus Organizing
  Just as we anticipate new funding partners and relationships for the future, we must continue to bridge the growing divide between the people we serve and other interest groups. Eichler, author of the book Consensus Organizing: Building Communities of Mutual Self Interest, will discuss the importance of finding ways to bring diverse stakeholders together to identify common interests in order to build social and community capital. Using colorful stories from 40 years of organizing, Eichler will describe how consensus organizing can be applied in a variety of arenas. A panel of Alliance member executives who have successfully integrated trategic direction will also share their experiences.