A Better Conference 2025

Ready to transform your nonprofit?

Don’t miss A Better Conference—an exclusive retreat designed to empower bold executives like you! Created by BetterUnite in collaboration with Big Mission Consulting, this is far from your typical conference.

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Sept. 11 - 12, 2025

A Better Conference is your opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and revolutionize your leadership and nonprofit's impact

WHAT TO EXPECT

Here’s all the good stuff

Prepare for an exhilarating experience that kicks off with an inspiring afternoon/evening program (optional) and continues with a full day of transformation.

Picture yourself diving into powerful workshops, recharging through wellness activities, and forging invaluable connections—all in a tranquil, enriching environment. Join a limited 120 nonprofit executives from diverse sectors as you uncover cutting-edge strategies to lead with impact in today’s fast-paced world.

Emcee

TiWanna-Kenney-Emcee-2

TiWanna Kenney
Astounding Auctions

Keynote Speakers

Brooke-Stubbs-MD

Brooke Stubbs, MD
Rooted Femme

The Lifestyle Prescription for a Healthier Life

Monique-Parker-Murchison

Monique Parker
Little Bit of Good

The New Reality of Philanthropy

Friday

Breakout Sessions #1

Brynne-Krispin-Headshot LinkedIn for Impact: A No-Stress Strategy to Attract Funders, Partners & Visibility with Brynne Krispin, Cause Fokus 
Miki-Headshot

 

Building A Strong Non-Profit Board: A Panel Discission With Non-Profit Leaders and Board Leaders. with Miki Woodard, Amalgamation LLC

 

Dean-Headshot Top 3 Must-Have Revenue Streams for Your Gala with Dean Crownover, My Benefit Auctioneer 
Julie-and-Jaime

 

Executive Roundtable with Julie Shannan, Big Mission Consulting and Jaime La Fuente Garcia, MBA, Andy Roddick Foundation

 

Friday

Breakout Sessions #2

Austin-Community-Logo Unlocking Opportunity: How to Partner with your Local Community Foundation with Austin Community Foundation  
Laura-Headshot Cultivating Generosity: Nurturing a Culture of Philanthropy for Nonprofit Success with Laura Huytra, CFRE, M. Gale

 

Clarena-Headshot Leading with Wellness: Building Resilience in the Nonprofit Space with Clarena Tobon, ASHwell
Bobby-Headshot Get your Board on Board: Techniques that your Board can influence the success of your event with Bobby D. Ehlert, Call to Auction

 

Friday

Speed Learning Sessions

JJ-Langston-Headshot Nothing without Joy! Add a Game (or Two!) to Your Next Meeting and See What Happens! with JJ Langston, Paul Philanthropy Partners
Rob-Giardinelli-Headshot The Magic Three Elements of Truly Unforgettable Events with Rob Giardinelli
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Efficiencies for your Nonprofit with Major Oswald, BetterUnite

 

Angel-Theodore-Headshot Think you don't have time for self-care or mental wellness with Angel Theodore, M. Gale
Life-Event-Staffing-Headshot A Joyful Event Checkin Experience with Life Event Staffing
beard-and-bowler-headshot-logo Mission Moment Magic: Using Stories to Elevate Events & Fundraising with Beard & Bowler

 

Thursday

Technology Masterclass

Canva-Headshot Canva for Nonprofits with Canva
Rachel-Headshot Clean Data and Emails: How to have a squeaky clean email list of active subscribers who can't wait to hear from you with Rachel Muir, CFRE

 

Antonio-Delgado-Headshot AI Prompts for New Possibilities with Antonio Delgado, Latinitas
Kandice-Headshot Supercharge Your Event with Kandice Luisi, Knockout Fundraising

 

Thank you to our sponsors

Breakout Sessions #1

Brynne-Krispin-Headshot LinkedIn for Impact: A No-Stress Strategy to Attract Funders, Partners & Visibility with Brynne Krispin, Cause Fokus 
Miki-Headshot Building a Strong Nonprofit Board with Miki Woodard, Amalgamation LLC
Dean-Headshot Top 3 Must-Have Revenue Streams for Your Gala with Dean Crownover, My Benefit Auctioneer 
Julie-Headshot Executive Roundtable with Julie Shannan, Big Mission Consulting

 

Breakout Sessions #2

Austin-Community-Logo Engaging Corporations and Foundations in Philanthropy with Austin Community Foundation  
Laura-Headshot Cultivating Generosity: Nurturing a Culture of Philanthropy for Nonprofit Success with Laura Huytra, CFRE, M. Gale Group
Clarena-Headshot NAMI Mental Health Bites with Clarena Tobon, NAMI of Central Texas
Bobby-Headshot Get your Board on Board: Techniques that your Board can influence the success of your event with Bobby D. Ehlert, Call to Auction

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jeff Lerner

Master of all things. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jeff Lerner

Master of all things. 

LEYA SIMMONS
Founder and CEO, BetterUnite
LEYA SIMMONS
Founder and CEO, BetterUnite
LEYA SIMMONS
Founder and CEO, BetterUnite
LEYA SIMMONS
Founder and CEO, BetterUnite
AGENDA

Check Out The Conference Schedule:

Thursday, Sept 11th @3pm: Technology Masterclass

This optional event add-on is a place to...

Friday Sept 12th @8am: Welcome

Join us for...

Friday Sept 12th @8am: Welcome

Join us for...

Friday Sept 12th @8am: Welcome

Join us for...

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Expert-led sessions

Learn from the most experienced and accomplished nonprofit leaders, consultants, and partners.

..........

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Showered with care

We "care for the caretakers," which means curating exceptional experiences, including wellness breaks, morning yoga, and more!

..........

Better Unite Conference Trending Topics

What's trending

From the latest technology to messaging strategies that drive donations, stay up to date on the latest trends in the nonprofit world.

..........

Better Unite Conference Networking

Networking

Shake hands (or fist-bump!) with fellow nonprofit leaders to share best practices and uncover opportunities for collaboration.

..........

better-unite-sponsor-logo
big-mission-sponsor-logo
logo-life-event-staffing
hga-fundraising-sponsor-logo
engage-and-heal-sponsor-logo
mary-designs-sponsor-logo
beard-and-bowler-sponsor-logo
knockout-fundraising-sponsor-logo

Conference Schedule

Thursday Technology Masterclass

12:15 PM

Clean Data and Emails: How to have a squeaky clean email list of active subscribers who can’t wait to hear from you with Rachel Muir, CFRE

1:00 PM

Canva for Nonprofits with Canva

2:30 PM

AI Prompts for New Possibilities with Antonio Delgado, Latinitas 

3:15 PM

Supercharge Your Event Tech with Kandice Luisi, Knockout Fundraising 

 

Friday Conference Schedule

7:45 AM

Registration Opens

8:00 AM

Yoga

8:15 AM

Breakfast

9:00 AM

Wellness Keynote with Brooke Stubbs, Rooted Femme

10:15 AM

Breakout Sessions #1

  • LinkedIn for Impact: A No-Stress Strategy to Attract Funders, Partners & Visibility with Brynne Krispin, Cause Fokus 

  • Building A Strong Non-Profit Board: A Panel Discission With Non-Profit Leaders and Board Leaders., Panel with Miki Woodard, Amalgamation LLC

  • Top 3 Must-Have Revenue Streams for Your Gala with Dean Crownover, My Benefit Auctioneer 

  • Executive Roundtable with Julie Shannan, Big Mission Consulting 

11:20 AM

Breakout Sessions #2

  • Unlocking Opportunity: How to Partner with your Local Community Foundation with Austin Community Foundation 

  • Cultivating Generosity: Nurturing a Culture of Philanthropy for Nonprofit Success with Laura Huytra, CFRE, M. Gale

  • Leading with Wellness: Building Resilience in the Nonprofit Space with Clarena Tobon, ASHwell

  • Get your Board on Board: Techniques that your Board can influence the success of your event with Bobby D. Ehlert, Call to Auction

12:00 PM

Lunch + Experience Stations

1:30 PM

Afternoon Keynote: Nonprofit Keynote with Monique Parker, Little Bit of Good 

2:35 PM

Speed Learning Sessions: 8-minute power learning sessions from event, nonprofit and wellness experts 

  • Nothing without Joy! Add a Game (or Two!) to Your Next Meeting and See What Happens! with JJ Langston, 
  • Think you don’t have time for self-care or mental wellness? with Angel Theodore, M. Gale
  • Efficiencies for your Nonprofit with Major Oswald, BetterUnite
  • The Magic Three Elements of a Truly Unforgettable Event with Rob Giardinelli
  • A Joyful Event Checkin Experience with Life Event Staffing
  • Mission Moment Magic: Using Stories to Elevate Events & Fundraising with Beard & Bowler

3:30 - 5:30 PM

A Better Happy Hour

 

  • Better-Conferece-Template-03C

    Expert-led sessions

    Learn from the most experienced and accomplished nonprofit leaders, consultants, and partners.

  • Better-Conferece-Template-02

    Showered with care

    We "care for the caretakers," which means curating exceptional experiences, including wellness breaks, morning yoga, and more!

  • Better-Conferece-Template-04B-1

    What's trending

    From the latest technology to messaging strategies that drive donations, stay up to date on the latest trends in the nonprofit world.

  • Better-Conferece-Template-05B

    Networking

    Shake hands (or fist-bump!) with fellow nonprofit leaders to share best practices and uncover opportunities for collaboration.

Juice-Bar-Icon

Juice Bar

yoga-icon

Yoga

Massage-Icon

Massages

Tea-Bar-Icon

Tea Bar

Coffe-Bar-Icon

Coffee Bar

Tarot-Icon

Tarot Card Reading

watercolor-station-icon

Watercolor Station

Plus-Icon

And More!

Thank you to our experience station providers

big-mission-sponsor-logo
creature-coffee-sponsor-logo
Airrosti-sponsor-logo
herb-life-sponsor-logo
yoga-vida-sponsor-logo

Event Details:

Thursday, September 11th: Technology Masterclass

Friday, September 12th: Full Conference

Location: The Junior League of Austin Community Impact Center
5330 Bluffstone Ln
Austin, TX  78759

About the venue:

Make Your Brand Part of the Mission

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Conference Schedule

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Make Your Travel Plans

Get hotel information, including local food and attraction recommendations

See Details >