LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An upcoming conference plans to empower and educate Louisville-area nonprofits in late October.

20/twenty Strategic Consultants is preparing for its annual Wings Conference, which will be held at the Muhammad Ali Center on Oct. 25 in downtown Louisville. Carl L. Williams Sr., founder and CEO of 20/twenty Strategic Consultants, said it's one of the largest nonprofit conferences in the local area.

Since last year's conference, Williams said they've been focused on learning about specific needs for local nonprofits.

20/twenty Strategic Consultants is preparing for the Wings Conference on Oct. 25 at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

"We learned that a lot of people are really worried about their long-term financial sustainability as a nonprofit, they're really wanting to understand how they can lead with excellence, and also how they can gain access to funding that's available, so that their organization can operate and do the good work that they're doing," Williams said. "So we've built a conference that is going to help nonprofit leaders understand what are what can they put into action tomorrow, to help move their nonprofit forward."

The day will start with networking and breakfast, followed by panel discussions and breakout sessions on leadership development, grant writing, funding and sustainability. 

"It's really designed for those that are ready to get their hands dirty, ready to get just involved and engaged in a networking opportunity. Having other nonprofit leaders there where you can bounce ideas off of where you can network, where you can create an opportunity to be able to learn exactly what are some of your colleagues doing in the same space and getting great results," Williams said. "There is not a number of opportunities like this that occurred during the year."

Joan Garry, a national consultant and author of nonprofit leadership books, is the conference's keynote speaker. Williams said it's the first time Garry has presented in Louisville. 

Other speakers include:

  • Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO at Volunteers of America Mid-States
  • Adria Johnson, president and CEO at Metro United Way
  • Kenya Freeman, CEO at Workwell Industries
  • Amy Luttrell, president and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
  • Jonathon Beatty, founder and CEO of Servonta
  • Jeremy Jarvi, executive director of LouCity & Racing Foundation
  • Wendy Dant Chesser, president and CEO of One Southern Indiana

To see the full lineup of speakers, click here.

The conference plans to help nonprofits identify solutions, give tips for immediate implementation and build relationships between local groups.

"We wanted to make sure that we designed a conference that met the needs of individuals in the community who are doing the good work, we say those people that are helping people, we like to help people that are helping people," Williams said. "That's our theme this year with our conference and if you feel like you've been stuck on the runway, sitting there waiting to take off this nonprofit leadership experience is going to be what you need in order to get your energies flowing and to get you on takeoff and in the air."

The conference goes from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To register, click here.

Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.