Women’s History Month: Female Non-Profit Experts Panel Discussion & Breakfast – Houston
Women’s History Month breakfast event in Houston brings together female nonprofit professionals and executives for an unfiltered panel discussion about the realities of nonprofit leadership.
Nonprofit events rarely showcase the complete picture. That includes the grant rejections, the donor manipulation, or the mission drift when major gifts come with strings attached. They also don’t show the emotional exhaustion from carrying other people’s trauma. Meanwhile, your own salary barely covers bills.
Our women leaders aren’t presenting polished fundraising success stories. Instead, they’re sharing authentic experiences from the nonprofit sector. For example, writing grants at midnight after full workdays. They also share what it’s like navigating nonprofit boards dominated by wealthy men who’ve never done the ground-level work. There is the specific toll of being expected to save the world on food bank wages.
Expect honest conversation about nonprofit burnout and compassion fatigue in social services. We’ll also cover the gender dynamics in nonprofit management. In many organizations, women do the majority of direct service work while men hold executive director positions. In addition, our nonprofit experts will discuss mission-driven work that demands everything while offering little job security. We will address the nonprofit funding cycles that create constant instability. Lastly, you’ll hear strategies for sustainable nonprofit careers that don’t require martyrdom.
These female leaders will share which nonprofit grants actually funded their vision versus those that forced compromise. They’ll also highlight the donor relationships worth cultivating versus the ones that compromise values. Additionally, they’ll discuss the leadership development programs that advanced their nonprofit careers. They’ll share the mental health resources that kept them functional. They’ll address nonprofit salary negotiations and work-life balance in mission-driven organizations. They will also talk about building nonprofit teams that center staff wellbeing alongside community impact.
Come ready for real discussion about the invisible labor in nonprofit work. We will talk about the frustration when passion gets weaponized against fair compensation. You will hear about the resilience required for long-term nonprofit leadership as a woman.
Complimentary breakfast included. Because nonprofit professionals constantly give – this morning, we’re filling your cup first.
Be an accomplice in supporting women transforming communities through nonprofit work.
Moderator: Adam Chaney (Foster Care Advocacy Center) Adam Chaney brings a deep commitment to systemic change through his work with the Foster Care Advocacy Center. As a leader in the advocacy space, Adam understands that non-profit work is often a delicate balance between mission-driven passion and the harsh realities of funding and policy. He joins us as moderator to guide a raw, honest conversation that moves past the “fundraising highlights” to address the gender dynamics, donor politics, and invisible labor that define the experiences of women in Houston’s non-profit sector.
Panelists:
Tara Green (Foster Care Advocacy Center) As a leader at the Foster Care Advocacy Center, Tara Green is no stranger to the ground-level work that keeps a community supported. Tara’s career is defined by her ability to navigate complex social service systems while advocating for the most vulnerable. She joins the panel to share her unfiltered perspective on the emotional exhaustion of the field, the reality of writing grants at midnight, and how she has built a resilient leadership style that centers staff well-being alongside community impact.
Lisa Prusak, MA, SHRM-SCP Lisa Prusak brings a sophisticated HR and organizational lens to the non-profit world. With her advanced background in human resources and strategic management, Lisa understands that a non-profit’s greatest asset is its people—and that those people are often the most at risk for burnout. On this panel, Lisa shares her expertise on building sustainable career paths within the sector, negotiating fair compensation in mission-driven organizations, and navigating boards that often feel disconnected from the daily work.
Janae Fulsom (The Lumen Foundation of Enrichment and Advancement) Through her work with The Lumen Foundation of Enrichment and Advancement, Janae Fulsom is a fierce advocate for community empowerment. Janae understands the specific toll of being expected to “save the world” on limited resources. She has spent her career learning how to cultivate donor relationships that align with her values rather than compromising them. She joins the conversation to talk about the resilience required for long-term leadership and how to drive transformation without falling into the trap of nonprofit martyrdom.
Would you like to work with us the day of the panel? Book a day office, conference room or get a day pass so you can fuel your productivity after an inspiring and uplifting event!
