A reporter recently asked me, “How can you seem so hopeful when it feels like the sky is falling?”
My answer was simple: I have children, so I don’t have the luxury of giving up. As tempting as it is to pull the covers over my head, I feel a deep responsibility (as a mom, a nonprofit CEO, and a citizen of the world) to help build a better future.
This Mother’s Day, I’m reflecting on that responsibility while knowing how much of our sector’s strength is powered by women. We’ll be releasing a new fact sheet soon with our partners at United for ALICE reinforcing what we hear from organizations every day and throughout our 2023-2024 National Listening Tour: we must address the challenges facing our workforce.
More than 1 in 5 nonprofit workers – and more than half (53%) of nonprofit workers who are single parents – live paycheck to paycheck. They’re writing grants, staffing food pantries, and curating museum tours — all while carrying the invisible, rarely compensated emotional labor that keeps our sector and society running.
Research helps shine a light on these realities. Once we make something visible, we can organize to change it both nationally and locally. But like so many challenges we are facing at this unprecedented time, we can’t fix it alone. That’s why coming together as a sector matters so much right now.
I’m excited to share that registration is now open for Independent Sector’s National Summit 2025 taking place in Atlanta from October 27-29. We invite you to join us and 1,500 nonprofit and philanthropic professionals from across the country to come together to meet this moment and connect, learn, and lead.
During the pandemic, we spent years disconnected from our peers. But when we’re not in community, hope begins to atrophy. As I traveled the country for our Listening Tour, I saw nonprofit leaders relearning how to be together, rebuilding the muscle of collaboration, and remembering what it feels like to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
In 2025, we’re being called to gather in a new way. To put it plainly, the charitable sector is being squeezed at the very moment demand for its work is soaring (which is also why we’ve launched a Policy Tracker to help leaders stay informed and equipped.) Despite representing 5.2% of the nation’s GDP, our sector still feels underpowered compared to the scale of today’s challenges.
That has to change — and together, we can work towards the reality we want to build. As the national membership organization that brings together the full charitable sector, Independent Sector is committed to building our collective power.
We believe a strong charitable sector helps all people thrive. Together, we can drive solutions to strengthen our sector and its impact, even in this challenging time.
To make that happen, we know we need organizations that are financially robust; powered by a thriving workforce; trusted and effective; and informed and active advocates.
Dr. Akilah Watkins
That’s exactly what the national summit will be focused on. Whether it happens in workshops, at one of the nonprofit site visits, or through networking opportunities, relationships are how movements are born and sustained. Real change starts when we come together.
So, I invite you to join us. From small towns to big cities, from Tribal nations to rural regions, this is your invitation to step into your national community and meet new allies. You’re not alone in this.
After all, the hopeful future we want won’t build itself. We have to build it together.
Register now for Independent Sector’s National Summit 2025. I look forward to seeing you there.
Dr. Akilah Watkins is president and CEO of Independent Sector.
