September 2026 Nonprofit Institute Newsletter

September 2026 Newsletter

Director's Letter

Dear Colleagues in the Work of Caring,

As we welcome fall, we also welcome a change of season and an opportunity to pause, reflect, reconnect, and prepare for what’s ahead. At the Nonprofit Institute, we are doing just that, with with several exciting opportunities on the horizon.

Making the Net Work:
The Collaboration Collective
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
UPDATED LOCATION:
College of Southern Maryland
Regional Hughesville Campus
Center for Health Sciences (HS Building)
Room 106 A/B
6105 Foster Place, Hughesville, MD 20637
Continental breakfast provided

We know our nonprofit community is ready to connect, collaborate, and build stronger relationships, and this event is designed to make those connections happen!

Have you reserved your spot? Registration closes Sept. 15, 2026, so don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this important conversation.

Register Now

17th Annual Nonprofit Institute Conference
March 16, 2027

Featuring our new theme:
WINNING: Strong Minds. Smart Strategies. Extraordinary Impact.

This year, our breakout sessions become WINNING LABS, interactive experiences designed to strengthen mindsets, introduce creative strategies, and explore meaningful impact. We are now seeking presenters ready to challenge, inspire, and equip our nonprofit community.

Presenter proposals are due Nov. 1, 2026.

Submit a WINNING LAB Proposal

4th Annual Day of Service
April 27, 2027

We are also getting an early start on the 4th Annual CSM Day of Service, April 27, 2027. Nonprofits, start thinking about the project you would like our amazing volunteers to tackle with you!

New project guidelines are in place, so please review the submission form carefully.

Project submissions are due Oct. 15, 2026.

Submit Your Day of Service Project

Be sure to scroll down for more useful information, and thank you for staying connected to the Nonprofit Institute. For nearly 17 years, we have had the privilege of supporting the people who care for the people in our communities. We are proud of where we’ve been, excited about where we’re going, and grateful you’re part of the journey.

With gratitude,

Stephanie
Stephanie D. Rolle
Director, Nonprofit Institute at CSM
Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant

Announcements

Connected to Build - showing a network of lines connected people icons

We know our nonprofit community is ready to connect, collaborate, and build stronger relationships, and this event is designed to make those connections happen!

Making the Net Work:
The Collaboration Collective

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
UPDATED LOCATION:
College of Southern Maryland
Regional Hughesville Campus
Center for Health Sciences (HS Building)
Room 106 A/B
6105 Foster Place, Hughesville, MD 20637
Continental breakfast provided
Register Now

Have you reserved your spot? Registration closes Sept. 15, 2026, so don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this important conversation.

Something BIG is Coming to NPI This Fall: The New Corporate & Community Impact Exchange

When we opened the doors to the new NPI Partners Program, eleven innovative, courageous nonprofits stepped forward. Why courageous? Because they said yes before they knew exactly what the journey would look like. They trusted the vision, embraced the process, and most importantly, they were willing to help us build something new. Because that’s what a pilot program is all about: test, learn, listen, refine, and build better. And this group? They showed up. They leaned in. They stayed the course. Now, the wait is almost over.

This fall, NPI will officially launch an innovative two-year partnership initiative designed to bring corporate expertise and nonprofit needs together in a way that creates meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact. Think shared expertise. Think fresh perspectives. Think stronger organizations. Think new possibilities. Think partnerships that create value for everyone at the table.

We are excited to announce them soon because these nonprofits are trailblazers—and trust us, you’re going to want to see what they’ve been building. The curtain rises this fall. Stay tuned because you may want to be next!

Wellness Matters

10 Reasons to Care About Wellness in the Workplace

This month, let’s keep it simple, according to Vantage Fit, a global corporate wellness company, there are ten good reasons to elevate your focus on workplace wellness. Simply put, here they are:

Improved Mental Health
Improved Physical Health
Help Overcome Chronic Disease Risks
Improve Recruitment and Retention
Improved Morale
Boosts Productivity
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Supports Financial Wellbeing
Enhanced Employer Reputation
Fosters Community Involvement and Engagement

Using the AMSO model (Awareness, Motivation, Skills, and Opportunities), workplace wellness professionals are updating research in real time and developing common-sense reasons and compelling arguments for giving workplace wellness greater attention.

Read the full article

Spark 2026!

The new way to share your ideas — anytime. We are receiving wonderful ideas that help us to understand exactly what you would like to see from the Nonprofit Institute. And we love it and invite you to continue to share.

Submit your idea, and let’s keep building what’s next together!

Submit your idea through NPI Spark

Professional Development

Board Bootcamp is back and filling fast.

There are also new professional development opportunities for nonprofit leaders and teams.

See more Board Bootcamp details

Increasingly, we are hearing from nonprofits that board training is a priority, and that excites us! At the Nonprofit Institute, we believe our resources should always respond to the needs of the nonprofit community we serve.

That is exactly why we created Board Bootcamp, which continues to receive excellent reviews. And we’re not stopping there. We are continually developing new professional development opportunities based on your feedback, your questions, and the challenges you tell us you are facing. So keep an eye on our offerings! We want to help you and your team sharpen skills, strengthen strategies, and build the capacity needed to sustain and scale the important work you do. Because here’s the truth: Running a nonprofit is running a business — the business of caring. And that business deserves the same investment in leadership, strategy, and skills as any other.

Other professional development offerings

Nonprofit Institute Affinity Groups

The Nonprofit Institute is interested in hearing from you about topics you wish to discuss during affinity group meetings. Please send suggested topics for specific meetings to nonprofit@csmd.edu. Your suggestions help shape meaningful conversations. If you are new or simply need a reminder of what each one is, please visit our Affinity Group Definitions Page

Join any Zoom meeting:
csmd.zoom.us/j/4018197023
Meeting ID: 401 819 7023
Password: nonprofits

The Nonprofit ALL Community Call

All affinity specialty groups come together for an opening chat or presentation. Afterward, participants break out into their respective areas of interest — fundraising, marketing, and volunteer coordination — to share ideas with each other.

Next Meeting:
Sept. 15
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Meetings are quarterly. Be sure to place the following 2026 date on your calendar:
Dec. 15

Faith-Based Affinity Group (in person)

Next meeting: November — date and location to be announced

Nonprofit Spotlight

Would you like your nonprofit featured in an upcoming spotlight?

Submit your Request

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Nonprofit Institute at CSM
nonprofit@csmd.edu
PO Box 910
La Plata, MD 20646-0910
301-934-7544

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