2026 Annual Nonprofit Conference
LEAD. GROW. INSPIRE.
Bayou Community Foundation you to attend our annual one-day learning and networking conference on Thursday, October 8 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College!
This year’s theme, “LEAD, GROW, INSPIRE!”, will bring together nonprofit professionals, Board members, volunteers and community leaders for a day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Full Agenda Coming Soon!
Bayou Community Foundation invites you to attend our annual one-day learning and networking conference on Thursday, October 8 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College!
This year’s theme, “LEAD, GROW, INSPIRE!”, will bring together nonprofit professionals, Board members, volunteers and community leaders for a day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Full Agenda Coming Soon!
Date:
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Location:
Fletcher Technical Community College
1407 LA-311, Schriever
Time:
8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Time:
8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Early Bird Registration tickets ($75) available Wednesday, July 8 through Tuesday, September 1.
Regular Registration Tickets ($90) Available Wednesday, September 2 through Monday, October 5.
- If paying for registration tickets by CHECK, please email your completed registration form to Kati@BayouCF.org, and mail both the form and your check to: Bayou Community Foundation, 315 Barrow Street, Houma, LA 70360.
- Early Bird Registration Tickets are $75/person and includes keynote presentation, your choice of two breakout sessions, breakfast, lunch and networking opportunities with other local nonprofit leaders.
- Registration Tickets are nonrefundable.
Questions? Contact Community Impact Officer Kati Lee at Kati@BayouCF.org or call 985-219-0048
Interested in Becoming a Sponsor or Exhibitor? Contact President/CEO Jennifer Armand at Jennifer@BayouCF.org or call 985-219-0047 to learn how you can connect with local nonprofits while supporting this impactful event.
Stay tuned for speaker announcements, session details and more!
Want to be the first to know? Subscribe to BCF’s eNewsletter to receive the latest conference updates and announcements delivered directly to your inbox.
About Our Conference:
Lead Boldly. Grow Intentionally. Inspire Lasting Impact.
With the theme, “Lead, Grow, Inspire,“ our 8th Annual Nonprofit Conference is designed to empower nonprofit professionals with the knowledge, tools and connections needed to strengthen their organizations and increase their community impact.
Through an engaging lineup of general sessions and breakout workshops, participants will explore practical strategies for effective leadership, organizational growth, fundraising, marketing and innovative approaches to advancing their missions. Every session is thoughtfully designed around this year’s theme, providing valuable insights that nonprofit professionals can PUT INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY. Whether you are an executive director, staff member, board leader or volunteer, you will leave inspired by new ideas, meaningful connections and proven strategies to help your organization thrive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your organization’s future during this day-long conference JUST FOR US!
Breakfast and lunch are included. Register now to secure your spot!
About Our Conference:
Lead Boldly. Grow Intentionally. Inspire Lasting Impact.
With the theme, “Lead, Grow, Inspire,“ our 8th Annual Nonprofit Conference is designed to empower nonprofit professionals with the knowledge, tools and connections needed to strengthen their organizations and increase their community impact.
Through an engaging lineup of general sessions and breakout workshops, participants will explore practical strategies for effective leadership, organizational growth, fundraising, marketing and innovative approaches to advancing their missions. Every session is thoughtfully designed around this year’s theme, providing valuable insights that nonprofit professionals can PUT INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY. Whether you are an executive director, staff member, board leader or volunteer, you will leave inspired by new ideas, meaningful connections and proven strategies to help your organization thrive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your organization’s future during this day-long conference JUST FOR US!
Breakfast and lunch are included. Register now to secure your spot!
Conference Agenda
Full Conference Agenda Coming Soon!
Printable Conference Schedule HERE
General and Breakout Session Information
Full Session Information Coming Soon!
Opening Keynote:
Kristina Joy Carlson – Founder and CEO of Outrageous Kindness
Kristina Joy Carlson is an author, experienced entrepreneur, corporate leader, and global philanthropy expert. She has helped raise billions of dollars around the globe and maximize the philanthropic engagement of former US Presidents and other heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, Forbes 400 individuals, faith leaders, celebrities, and everyday people.
Kristina also knows how to navigate change and turn challenges into opportunities. While leading businesses and driving global philanthropic growth, she managed nearly a decade of intense caregiving, profound grief, and her own cancer battle—experiences that reinforced the power of purpose, perspective, and action.
Today, as Founder and CEO of Outrageous Kindness, she is applying that wisdom to create a movement that inspires leaders, philanthropists, and individuals to take bold, high-impact action, embrace accountability, and experience the magic of small acts that create big results.
In her Keynote presentation, “Outrageous Kindness: Fueling the Courage to Lead, Grow, and Inspire,” Kristina invites us to see leadership through a different lens.
We all want to lead well. We all hope to grow. We all long to inspire others. But those things don’t happen by accident. They happen through the choices we make every day—how we treat people, how we respond to setbacks, how we build trust, and how we help others discover the difference they can make.
Every day, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, board members, and community advocates make decisions that shape the future of their organizations and the communities they serve. Yet in the face of limited resources, growing needs, and constant change, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose that called us to this work in the first place.
Outrageous Kindness isn’t simply about being nice—it’s about having the courage to choose curiosity over judgment, relationships over transactions, purpose over perfection, and hope over fear. Those choices don’t just change our own lives; they shape our organizations, strengthen our communities, and inspire others to do the same.
Whether you lead an organization, serve on a board, champion a cause, or simply want to make a greater difference, you’ll leave reminded that extraordinary impact rarely begins with extraordinary resources. It begins with ordinary people who choose—again and again—to lead with purpose, grow with intention, and inspire others through the power of Outrageous Kindness.
Kristina Joy Carlson is an author, experienced entrepreneur, corporate leader, and global philanthropy expert. She has helped raise billions of dollars around the globe and maximize the philanthropic engagement of former US Presidents and other heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, Forbes 400 individuals, faith leaders, celebrities, and everyday people.
Kristina also knows how to navigate change and turn challenges into opportunities. While leading businesses and driving global philanthropic growth, she managed nearly a decade of intense caregiving, profound grief, and her own cancer battle—experiences that reinforced the power of purpose, perspective, and action.
Today, as Founder and CEO of Outrageous Kindness, she is applying that wisdom to create a movement that inspires leaders, philanthropists, and individuals to take bold, high-impact action, embrace accountability, and experience the magic of small acts that create big results.
In her Keynote presentation, “Outrageous Kindness: Fueling the Courage to Lead, Grow, and Inspire,” Kristina invites us to see leadership through a different lens.
We all want to lead well. We all hope to grow. We all long to inspire others. But those things don’t happen by accident. They happen through the choices we make every day—how we treat people, how we respond to setbacks, how we build trust, and how we help others discover the difference they can make.
Every day, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, board members, and community advocates make decisions that shape the future of their organizations and the communities they serve. Yet in the face of limited resources, growing needs, and constant change, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose that called us to this work in the first place.
Outrageous Kindness isn’t simply about being nice—it’s about having the courage to choose curiosity over judgment, relationships over transactions, purpose over perfection, and hope over fear. Those choices don’t just change our own lives; they shape our organizations, strengthen our communities, and inspire others to do the same.
Whether you lead an organization, serve on a board, champion a cause, or simply want to make a greater difference, you’ll leave reminded that extraordinary impact rarely begins with extraordinary resources. It begins with ordinary people who choose—again and again—to lead with purpose, grow with intention, and inspire others through the power of Outrageous Kindness.
Afternoon Session Speaker:
Norisha Kirts Glover – Founder and Owner of NRK Construction, LLC
Unreserved, determined, and passionate are a few words that describe Norisha Kirts Glover. A native of Tioga, LA, Norisha first joined the Baton Rouge community after graduating with a Bachelors in Mass Communication and a Masters in Public Relations. Her care for education and the nonprofit space led her to Washington, DC and then to California to work for education reform startups. She returned to Baton Rouge, to work for her alma mater raising funds for the LSU Foundation. In a desire to use her skills in budgeting, managing human capital and projects, Norisha shifted careers and founded NRK Construction, LLC. A woman and minority owned firmed, NRK Construction specializes in commercial construction performing work in renovations, tenant buildouts, new construction and multifamily housing. Under her leadership, the firm has quickly grown to become a trusted and respected general contractor in Louisiana.
Norisha uses her passion for education and health care to support the strategic activities of several organizations. Because of her knowledge of K-12, higher education and construction industries, Norisha is a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). She serves as a board member of Currency Bank, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Baton Rouge Community College Foundation, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and the Montessori School of Baton Rouge. She is past board chair of the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation, past President of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and past member of the Louisiana and the Workforce Investment Commission (WIC). Norisha has been recognized for her success by participation in CABL’s Leadership Louisiana, the BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge, Goldman’s Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, the Baton Rouge Business Report Top Forty Under 40 and Influential Women in Business. In her spare time, Norisha enjoys spending time with her two girls, reading and traveling.
In her afternoon presentation, “Leading Loud, Turning Purpose into Power,” Norish invites us to own our voice, embrace our purpose, and lead with confindence.
Unreserved, determined, and passionate are a few words that describe Norisha Kirts Glover. A native of Tioga, LA, Norisha first joined the Baton Rouge community after graduating with a Bachelors in Mass Communication and a Masters in Public Relations. Her care for education and the nonprofit space led her to Washington, DC and then to California to work for education reform startups. She returned to Baton Rouge, to work for her alma mater raising funds for the LSU Foundation. In a desire to use her skills in budgeting, managing human capital and projects, Norisha shifted careers and founded NRK Construction, LLC. A woman and minority owned firmed, NRK Construction specializes in commercial construction performing work in renovations, tenant buildouts, new construction and multifamily housing. Under her leadership, the firm has quickly grown to become a trusted and respected general contractor in Louisiana.
Norisha uses her passion for education and health care to support the strategic activities of several organizations. Because of her knowledge of K-12, higher education and construction industries, Norisha is a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). She serves as a board member of Currency Bank, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Baton Rouge Community College Foundation, the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and the Montessori School of Baton Rouge. She is past board chair of the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation, past President of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and past member of the Louisiana and the Workforce Investment Commission (WIC). Norisha has been recognized for her success by participation in CABL’s Leadership Louisiana, the BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge, Goldman’s Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, the Baton Rouge Business Report Top Forty Under 40 and Influential Women in Business. In her spare time, Norisha enjoys spending time with her two girls, reading and traveling.
In her afternoon presentation, “Leading Loud, Turning Purpose into Power,” Norish invites us to own our voice, embrace our purpose, and lead with confindence.
BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS
Full Breakout Session Speaker List Coming Soon!
John Edwards spent more than 20 years as a U.S. Coast Guard Public Information Officer, helping steer federal, state, and local agencies through hundreds of real-world crises, including Deepwater Horizon, the ATHOS I oil spill, and the Coast Guard’s COVID-19 response. He has briefed Cabinet secretaries, appeared live on CNN, Good Morning America, and The Weather Channel, and has trained thousands of responders and public servants. Today, as founder of SignalPoint Strategies, he helps mission-driven nonprofits and public-sector teams navigate crises with the same clarity and confidence he brought to federal emergencies, especially when every minute counts.
WHEN A CRISIS HITS,THE FIRST 60 MINUTES DETERMINE WHAT COMES NEXT. “Crisis Clarity: How to Respond with Confidence in the First Hour of Any Crisis,” is a focused, high impact workshop designed to help leaders take control of that critical window.
Participants learn exactly what to say, who should say it and how to structure a response that protects trust, reduces confusion and prevents small issues from escalating into major problems. This session emphasizes simple, practical tools that can be applied immediately. Attendees walk away with a clear understanding of roles, messaging priorities and the core principles of effective crisis communication—so when the pressure is on, they’re not figuring it out in real time.
Allison Welch, M.Ed., GPC, is the founder and CEO of Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, LLC, with more than 25 years of experience as a grant writer, reviewer and trainer. She is an approved trainer with the Grant Professionals Association, and Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, LLC is an approved provider for both the Grant Professionals Certification Institute and CFRE International. She has trained more than 7,000 individuals across all fifty states and globally and is the author of The “Of Course” Factor: A Guide to Meaningful Grant Writing (October 2026).
Whether you have never submitted a grant proposal or you have written dozens, there is always a next level. “Level Up Your Grant Writing: Fundamentals That Get You Funded!,” is a hands-on session that will cover both the foundational steps for people who are new to grant seeking and the sharper strategy that helps experienced writers move from complete to compelling.
We will start with where grant opportunities actually come from and how to tell which ones are worth your time. From there, we will walk through the key elements of a strong grant proposal, including the community insight statement, the logic model that ties your work together, and the budget narrative that has to match the story you just told.
Then we will get practical. We will open the BCF’s own letter of inquiry and grant application and go question by question, looking at how reviewers read each one and what a strong answer actually does. We will also name the answers that quietly cost applicants points: the vague response, the question that gets half answered, and the grant speak that fills space without telling the reviewer anything. Along the way, we will touch on where AI tools fit in a grant writing practice, as a thought partner rather than a replacement.
John Edwards spent more than 20 years as a U.S. Coast Guard Public Information Officer, helping steer federal, state, and local agencies through hundreds of real-world crises, including Deepwater Horizon, the ATHOS I oil spill, and the Coast Guard’s COVID-19 response. He has briefed Cabinet secretaries, appeared live on CNN, Good Morning America, and The Weather Channel, and has trained thousands of responders and public servants. Today, as founder of SignalPoint Strategies, he helps mission-driven nonprofits and public-sector teams navigate crises with the same clarity and confidence he brought to federal emergencies, especially when every minute counts.
WHEN A CRISIS HITS,THE FIRST 60 MINUTES DETERMINE WHAT COMES NEXT. “Crisis Clarity: How to Respond with Confidence in the First Hour of Any Crisis,” is a focused, high impact workshop designed to help leaders take control of that critical window.
Participants learn exactly what to say, who should say it and how to structure a response that protects trust, reduces confusion and prevents small issues from escalating into major problems. This session emphasizes simple, practical tools that can be applied immediately. Attendees walk away with a clear understanding of roles, messaging priorities and the core principles of effective crisis communication—so when the pressure is on, they’re not figuring it out in real time.
Allison Welch, M.Ed., GPC, is the founder and CEO of Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, LLC, with more than 25 years of experience as a grant writer, reviewer and trainer. She is an approved trainer with the Grant Professionals Association, and Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, LLC is an approved provider for both the Grant Professionals Certification Institute and CFRE International. She has trained more than 7,000 individuals across all fifty states and globally and is the author of The “Of Course” Factor: A Guide to Meaningful Grant Writing (October 2026).
Whether you have never submitted a grant proposal or you have written dozens, there is always a next level. “Level Up Your Grant Writing: Fundamentals That Get You Funded!,” is a hands-on session that will cover both the foundational steps for people who are new to grant seeking and the sharper strategy that helps experienced writers move from complete to compelling.
We will start with where grant opportunities actually come from and how to tell which ones are worth your time. From there, we will walk through the key elements of a strong grant proposal, including the community insight statement, the logic model that ties your work together, and the budget narrative that has to match the story you just told.
Then we will get practical. We will open the BCF’s own letter of inquiry and grant application and go question by question, looking at how reviewers read each one and what a strong answer actually does. We will also name the answers that quietly cost applicants points: the vague response, the question that gets half answered, and the grant speak that fills space without telling the reviewer anything. Along the way, we will touch on where AI tools fit in a grant writing practice, as a thought partner rather than a replacement.
Michelle White, CFRE, is a nonprofit professional with nearly 30 years of experience in fundraising, leadership and community engagement. Currently Director of Partnerships and Development for Iris Domestic Violence Center, she has led development programs, capital campaigns, and nonprofit organizations throughout her career. A CFRE since 2009, Michelle is
passionate about ethical fundraising, authentic relationship building and helping nonprofits strengthen their impact.
What if we looked at development differently? “Back to the Basics: Building Your House of Development” is an interactive session that takes familiar fundraising fundamentals and approaches them through a fresh, visual lens designed to spark creativity and those important “aha” moments.
Together, we will rethink how we identify prospective supporters, build meaningful relationships and create pathways for deeper engagement. We will move beyond the traditional donor pyramid and explore practical approaches to relationship-based fundraising and moves management.
Participants will leave with a fresh perspective and practical tools they can take back to their organizations to strengthen relationships and grow support for their mission.
Michelle White, CFRE, is a nonprofit professional with nearly 30 years of experience in fundraising, leadership and community engagement. Currently Director of Partnerships and Development for Iris Domestic Violence Center, she has led development programs, capital campaigns, and nonprofit organizations throughout her career. A CFRE since 2009, Michelle is
passionate about ethical fundraising, authentic relationship building and helping nonprofits strengthen their impact.
What if we looked at development differently? “Back to the Basics: Building Your House of Development” is an interactive session that takes familiar fundraising fundamentals and approaches them through a fresh, visual lens designed to spark creativity and those important “aha” moments.
Together, we will rethink how we identify prospective supporters, build meaningful relationships and create pathways for deeper engagement. We will move beyond the traditional donor pyramid and explore practical approaches to relationship-based fundraising and moves management.
Participants will leave with a fresh perspective and practical tools they can take back to their organizations to strengthen relationships and grow support for their mission.
This Conference is POWERED by:
Interested in Becoming a Sponsor or Exhibitor?
Contact President/CEO Jennifer Armand at Jennifer@BayouCF.org or call 985-219-0047 to learn how you can connect with local nonprofits while supporting this impactful event.
Our Generous Donors make this Conference and ALL BCF’s Nonprofit Programing Possible!
