Nonprofits First Hosts Summit

Funders Panel (L-R)- Trudy Crowetz, Lisa LaFrance, Taruna Malhotra, Dr. Lisa Williams-Taylor, Jillian Vukusich and Eric Roby (Nonprofits First)

(Press Release) West Palm Beach, FL – (March 16, 2026) – Nonprofits First, in conjunction with Extraordinary Charities, hosted Pathways to Partnerships and Funding: Building Networks, Opening Doors, a collaborative summit designed to help nonprofit leaders strengthen their organizations through strategic partnerships, collaboration, and expanded access to funding.

Held at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach, the event brought together nonprofit professionals from across Palm Beach County for an afternoon of interactive learning, peer discussion, and expert insights focused on building sustainable partnerships and fostering long‑term organizational success.

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The event was made possible through the generous support of Florida Power & Light (FPL), Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, and Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS), whose commitment to nonprofit capacity building and collaboration continues to strengthen the local nonprofit community.

The program featured an interactive workshop led by Carla Harris, CEO of The People Institute, which focused on helping nonprofit leaders move beyond informal collaboration toward intentional, strategic partnerships. The session emphasized real‑world application and peer engagement, with discussion centered on partnership readiness, aligning mission and values, clarifying roles and expectations, and determining appropriate partnership structures such as memorandums of understanding and contracts.

The event also included a funders panel moderated by Eric Roby, CEO of The Fuller Center. Panelists included Lisa Williams‑Taylor of the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Taruna Malhotra of Palm Beach County, Lisa LaFrance of The LaFrance Project, and Jillian Vukusich of Lost Tree Foundation. Panelists shared candid perspectives on funding priorities, building trust with funders, and how strong partnerships can position organizations for long‑term impact and sustainability.

“Collaboration is essential to a healthy and effective nonprofit sector,” said Trudy Crowetz, CEO of Nonprofits First. “By partnering with Extraordinary Charities, we created a space where nonprofit leaders could engage directly with funders, learn practical strategies, and build relationships that open doors to new opportunities and stronger community impact.”

Pathways to Partnerships and Funding reflects the shared commitment of Nonprofits First and Extraordinary Charities to supporting nonprofit leaders through education, collaboration, and capacity‑building opportunities that strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem throughout Palm Beach County.