Nonprofits First and Extraordinary Charities Host Collaborative Summit

Event focuses on building strategic partnerships and expanding funding access for local nonprofits

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:51pm

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Nonprofits First, in conjunction with Extraordinary Charities, hosted a collaborative summit called "Pathways to Partnerships and Funding: Building Networks, Opening Doors" in West Palm Beach. The event brought together nonprofit professionals from across Palm Beach County to learn about strengthening their organizations through strategic partnerships, collaboration, and expanded access to funding.

Why it matters

The summit reflects the shared commitment of Nonprofits First and Extraordinary Charities to supporting nonprofit leaders and strengthening the overall nonprofit ecosystem in Palm Beach County. Building sustainable partnerships and accessing diverse funding sources are critical for nonprofit organizations to achieve long-term impact and community success.

The details

The event featured an interactive workshop led by Carla Harris, CEO of The People Institute, focused on helping nonprofit leaders move beyond informal collaboration toward intentional, strategic partnerships. The summit also included a funders panel moderated by Eric Roby, CEO of The Fuller Center, with panelists from the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County, The LaFrance Project, and Lost Tree Foundation.

  • The summit was held on March 21, 2026 at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach.
  • The event was made possible through the support of Florida Power & Light (FPL), Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, and Grant Easy Management Software (GEMS).

The players

Nonprofits First

A nonprofit organization that supports other nonprofits in Palm Beach County through education, collaboration, and capacity-building opportunities.

Extraordinary Charities

A nonprofit organization that partners with Nonprofits First to strengthen the local nonprofit ecosystem.

Carla Harris

CEO of The People Institute, who led an interactive workshop on building strategic partnerships.

Eric Roby

CEO of The Fuller Center, who moderated the funders panel.

Lisa Williams-Taylor

Representative from the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, who served on the funders panel.

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What they’re saying

“Collaboration is essential to a healthy and effective nonprofit sector. By partnering with Extraordinary Charities, we created a space where nonprofit leaders could engage directly with funders, learn practical strategies, and build relationships that open doors to new opportunities and stronger community impact.”

— Trudy Crowetz, CEO of Nonprofits First

The takeaway

The Pathways to Partnerships and Funding summit demonstrates the value of collaboration and strategic partnerships in the nonprofit sector. By bringing together nonprofit leaders, funders, and capacity-building organizations, the event provided practical tools and resources to help local nonprofits strengthen their organizations, access diverse funding sources, and increase their long-term impact in the community.