Dear Colleagues in the Work of Caring,
Welcome to one of the most beautiful months of the year. November invites us into a season of reflection and wonder and a time when the trees that grace our communities, highways, and winding Southern Maryland roads turn into a living canvas of divine artistry. The colors remind us that change, though inevitable, can be breathtakingly beautiful. Yet we know that not all change feels that way. Some changes challenge us deeply and the true test is how we navigate them when they do.
A Season to Pause, Reflect, and Dream Ahead
This season calls us to slow down, take stock, and celebrate how far we’ve come. It’s a time to review our successes, close out one chapter, and begin thinking of and planning for the next. As we look ahead, your comments and thoughts have resonated: How do we sustain what we’ve built? How do we do more with what feels like less? As we ask these and similar questions, consider the following:
In every challenge, there is a seed of potential.
In every setback, a spark of renewal.
We gather not to mourn what’s been lost,
but to discover what can be found.
Because there is always a way—
and together, we will find it.
Living the Words: 'There Is Always a Way'
At the Nonprofit Institute, these words have become our compass as we walk beside nonprofits navigating uncertainty and change. Recently, during an orientation for a new pilot program, one of our incredible volunteers led a powerful session on the topic of mindset. Her message was clear (paraphrased): Perhaps it’s time to shift our focus—from scarcity to the possibility of abundance. The lesson is to do more than merely survive; we must intentionally choose to thrive. And thriving has always required a shift in mindset.
I was taught as a child “there is always a way.” When the shock subsides and fear loosens its grip, we find the courage to set our minds, hearts, and vision toward discovery. "Always a Way" speaks to this unshakable truth that even in the most difficult seasons, a path forward exists. It may be hidden, unexpected, or unconventional, but it is always there.
Making the Decision to Thrive
This is about resilience, creativity, and the collective strength of those who refuse to give up. That’s who we are. We are the ones who stepped out on faith to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. We are the ones who built programs from hope and necessity. We are the ones who stood tall after every storm to serve again the next day. Nonprofit people are not just compassionate, they are relentless innovators, resourceful leaders, and steadfast visionaries who always find the way.
Why We Must Keep Going
Let us not shrink back now. Let us not grow weary in doing well or lose sight of why we began this work. There are still families waiting for one more warm meal, children needing a safe place to learn, and individuals searching for healing and hope. There are still communities depending on us to teach, to uplift, to respond, to be there.
Nonprofits are not only vital to the economic engine of Southern Maryland, but they are also the lifeblood of compassion in motion. They meet both the tangible and tender needs of the human heart. And in this season, we must once again stand united—to find the way together.
Carrying the Message Forward
As we look toward a new season of impact we carry this truth with us: there is always a way. It’s in that spirit that we are proud to announce the theme of the 2026 Nonprofit Institute Annual Conference:
"Always a Way: Strong Hope. Determined Action. Strategic Solutions."
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Join us as we come together to celebrate resilience, share strategies, and strengthen the bonds that sustain our work of caring.
With gratitude and unstoppable hope,
Stephanie
Stephanie D. Rolle
Director, Nonprofit Institute at CSM
my.CSMD
November 2025 Newsletter
