Measure
Measure 2026 Virtual Conference

A virtual training day for BIPOC-led organizations

Presented byAmplify Credit Union logo

Financially Lit & Funding Ready.

Turn financial knowledge into greater community impact.

Whether you're leading a nonprofit, launching a community initiative, or growing a mission-driven organization, sustainable impact begins with financial confidence. Join nonprofit leaders, grant experts, financial professionals, and changemakers from across the country for practical strategies designed to help your organization become financially stronger and funding ready.

  • Friday, October 23, 2026
  • Virtual Conference
  • 60-minute expert sessions
  • Free registration
Register nowView the agenda
BIPOC nonprofit and community leaders collaborating, presenting data, and celebrating organizational growth
Communities thriving, on purpose

Why attend?

Today's nonprofit landscape is changing rapidly. Funding expectations are evolving, grantmakers are demanding stronger evidence of impact, and organizations need more than passion — they need financial strategy.

Financially Lit & Funding Ready brings together experts who share practical tools, real-world experiences, and proven strategies that help organizations build financial resilience and compete for funding. You'll leave with actionable knowledge you can implement immediately.

What you'll learn

Financial Leadership

Develop stronger financial practices that help your organization grow sustainably.

Grant Readiness

Learn what funders are looking for and how to position your organization for success.

Fundraising Strategies

Explore innovative approaches to diversifying revenue and building long-term sustainability.

Data & Impact

Discover how meaningful data and evaluation strengthen grant applications and donor confidence.

Organizational Capacity

Build systems that prepare your organization for growth, partnerships, and larger funding opportunities.

★ CARE Model Empowered OrganizationWe Can Now logo

$500K+

Funding secured after the CARE Model

Impact story

From lived experience to half a million in funding

Antony Jackson Sr. founded We Can Now after experiencing homelessness himself in Austin. Today his team meets neighbors where they are with street outreach, a wellness pantry, healthy food access, and a new navigation center in North Austin.

Through Measure's CARE Model, We Can Now learned to collect, tell, and own its data story. Empowered by that evidence, the organization has secured over $500,000 as a direct result.

Antony Jackson Sr., CEO · View LinkedIn profile →
Learn more about We Can NowDonate to We Can Now
Live storytelling

The Good, the Bad & the Necessary

Local BIPOC-led organization leaders take the mic to tell the truth about their philanthropic journey — what funded them, what failed them, and what they had to build anyway. No polished case studies. Real numbers, real lessons, real strategy.

The Good

The grants that changed everything, the funders who showed up as partners, and the wins BIPOC-led organizations rarely get to celebrate out loud.

The Bad

Honest talk about restricted dollars, reporting burdens, delayed reimbursements, and the trust gap that keeps community organizations underfunded.

The Necessary

What leaders did anyway — the systems, boundaries, budgets, and boldness it takes to stay mission-true while becoming funding ready.

Conference agenda

Friday, October 23, 2026 · all times CT. Select the sessions you want and add them straight to your calendar. Speaker announcements coming soon.

  1. 9:00 AM

    to 9:30 AM CT

    Welcome

    Opening: Turning Financial Knowledge Into Community Impact

    Measure opens the day with why financial confidence is the foundation of sustainable community impact, and how to get the most out of every session.

    Meme Styles, President & Founder, Measure

    Meme Styles

    Meme Styles

    President & Founder, Measure

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  2. 9:30 AM

    to 10:30 AM CT

    Financial Leadership★ Presenting Sponsor Session

    Building Financially Healthy Organizations

    The practices, policies, and habits that keep mission-driven organizations solvent, audit-ready, and able to grow without burning out their teams.

    Hosted by Amplify Credit Union

    Julie Macaluso, AAP — Amplify Credit Union (Presenting Sponsor)

    JM

    Julie Macaluso, AAP

    Amplify Credit Union

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  3. 10:30 AM

    to 11:30 AM CT

    Financial Leadership◆ Impact Partner Sponsor

    Nonprofit Structure & Compliance

    Explore nonprofit financial structures, most often missed opportunities and mistakes on 990s, and the potential impacts of current tax law changes on funding strategies. Includes practical examples of a variety of funding strategies.

    Hosted by Sarah Loghin, CPA CMA CFE (she/her)

    Director, Forvis Mazars Nonprofit Advisory Services

    SL

    Sarah Loghin, CPA CMA CFE

    Director, Forvis Mazars Nonprofit Advisory Services

    Forvis Mazars

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  4. 11:30 AM

    to 12:00 PM CT

    Grant Readiness

    What Funders Really Want

    A candid look at how grantmakers read applications, what evidence moves a decision, and how to position your organization before the RFP drops.

    Panel: Meme Styles (Measure), Kenneth Jones (MacArthur Foundation), Asia Hadley (Candid), Piper Nelson (I Live Here, I Give Here)

    Meme Styles

    Meme Styles

    President & Founder, Measure

    Measure

    View LinkedIn profile →

    KJ

    Kenneth Jones

    MacArthur Foundation

    MacArthur Foundation

    View LinkedIn profile →

    AH

    Asia Hadley

    Candid

    Candid

    View LinkedIn profile →

    PN

    Piper Nelson

    I Live Here, I Give Here

    I Live Here, I Give Here

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  5. 12:00 PM

    to 1:00 PM CT

    Networking★ Presenting Sponsor Session

    Networking Rooms

    MeetAmplify Credit Union

    Optional breakout rooms by region and organization size — meet peers navigating the same funding landscape. Plus a dedicated Meet Amplify Credit Union room: drop in to talk one-on-one with the Amplify team about budgeting, cash flow, and banking options for your organization.

    Hosted by Amplify Credit Union
    Google Calendar

  6. 1:00 PM

    to 2:00 PM CT

    Grant Readiness

    Get R.E.A.D.Y. Before You Write

    Winning grants is not only about writing strong proposals — organizations must be ready before the application ever opens. In this practical, interactive workshop, Michelle Goodwine helps nonprofit and community leaders evaluate whether their organization and proposed program are truly ready to pursue grant funding. Participants use the R.E.A.D.Y. Grant Check to examine five critical areas: Requirements & Fit, Evidence & Outcomes, Administrative Readiness, Dollars & Budget Alignment, and Your Capacity to Deliver. The session also covers common, preventable mistakes — chasing funding that doesn't fit, starting too late, submitting generic narratives, confusing activities with outcomes, using unsupported claims, creating budgets that don't match the proposal, missing required documents, overpromising results, and waiting until the deadline to submit. Participants leave with a readiness score, a go/no-go decision tool, and a prioritized action plan for strengthening their organization.

    Hosted by Michelle Goodwine

    Founder/CEO, Maverick HR Consulting; Program Director, LIFELine Support & Services and the BizNess Center at Abundant LIFE CDC

    MG

    Michelle Goodwine

    Founder/CEO, Maverick HR Consulting

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  7. 2:00 PM

    to 2:30 PM CT

    Financial Leadership◆ Impact Partner Sponsor

    Financial Literacy and Aligning Metrics to Facilitate Mission Sustainability

    Shifting mindset and process to strategic budgeting, setting appropriate metrics, and evaluating reserves and related strategies. Includes practical considerations for establishing/maintaining banking relationships and communicating financial metrics to stakeholders.

    Hosted by Sarah Loghin, CPA CMA CFE (she/her)

    Director, Forvis Mazars Nonprofit Advisory Services

    SL

    Sarah Loghin, CPA CMA CFE

    Director, Forvis Mazars Nonprofit Advisory Services

    Forvis Mazars

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  8. 2:30 PM

    to 3:00 PM CT

    Data & Impact

    Measuring Outcomes That Matter & Storytelling With Data

    Choose outcomes funders and community both trust, then turn your numbers into a story that strengthens applications and donor confidence.

    Meme Styles

    President, Measure

    Meme Styles

    Meme Styles

    President & Founder, Measure

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  9. 3:00 PM

    to 3:30 PM CT

    Data & Impact

    Equity-Centered AI Governance

    How community-led AI governance keeps technology accountable to the people it affects, and what funders should require before backing AI-driven work.

    Hosted by Dominique Oquendo

    Intentional Data

    DO

    Dominique Oquendo

    Intentional Data

    Intentional Data

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  10. 3:30 PM

    to 4:00 PM CT

    Data & Impact

    Grant Writing with AI: Faster, Smarter, Funded

    Llyas Salahud-din, CEO of GrantAppli, demonstrates how this AI-powered platform helps nonprofits and schools write, manage, and research grants faster — so teams spend less time chasing deadlines and more time delivering on mission.

    Llyas Salahud-din, MPA, CNP

    CEO, GrantAppli

    LS

    Llyas Salahud-din, MPA, CNP

    CEO, GrantAppli

    GrantAppli

    View LinkedIn profile →

    Google Calendar

  11. 5:00 PM

    to 6:30 PM CT

    In Person

    Happy Hour Mixer at Teakeasy (In Person)

    Friends laughing together over drinks at a tea house happy hour

    Close the day face to face. Join Measure, sponsors, funders, and fellow nonprofit leaders for a happy hour at Teakeasy in Pflugerville, Texas — drinks, bites, and the kind of relationship building that funding actually runs on. Separate RSVP required; space is limited.

    Teakeasy, Pflugerville, TX (address sent to confirmed guests)

    Google Calendar

Promotional Partners

Thank you for spreading the word

We're grateful to our promotional partners for helping us reach nonprofit leaders and changemakers across Central Texas and beyond.

The Black Fund of Central Texas logo
The Black Fund of Central Texas
African American Leadership Institute (Austin, TX) logo
African American Leadership Institute (Austin, TX)

Who should attend?

Whether your organization is just getting started or preparing for its next million-dollar grant, this conference offers valuable insights for every stage of growth.

  • Executive Directors
  • Nonprofit CEOs
  • Development Directors
  • Grant Writers
  • Program Managers
  • Finance Professionals
  • Community Leaders
  • Board Members
  • Faith-Based Organizations
  • Emerging Nonprofit Founders
  • Philanthropic Partners
  • Government & Community Organizations

What makes this conference different?

Unlike traditional fundraising conferences, Financially Lit & Funding Ready focuses on the intersection of financial literacy, organizational strategy, evaluation, and long-term sustainability. Sessions are practical, interactive, and designed specifically for mission-driven organizations serving communities.

Included with registration

  • Access to all live sessions
  • Conference resources
  • Downloadable tools and templates
  • Access to presentation materials
  • Networking opportunities
  • Conference recordings (where available)
  • Future funding and professional development updates from Measure

About Measure

Measure is a Black woman-led research and evaluation organization that equips nonprofits, governments, and community organizations with the data, strategy, and accountability tools they need to create measurable change. Through evaluation, capacity building, and community-centered learning, Measure has helped organizations strengthen programs, secure funding, and increase their impact across the country.

Frequently asked questions

Reserve your spot today

Strong organizations are built on strong financial foundations. Join nonprofit leaders from across the country as we learn practical strategies for building organizations that are financially resilient, funding ready, and positioned for lasting community impact.

Friday, October 23, 2026 · Virtual · Free registration

Register now

Measure your own progress

Take the 5-minute pre-conference survey — anyone can take it, registered or not. It captures how confident you feel today about your finances and about asking funders for money. The matching post-conference survey opens Friday, October 23, 2026 · 9:00 AM CT so you can see exactly what changed.

Take the pre-survey Post-survey · opens Oct 23

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