JACKSON — The Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy will host its 2026 Nonprofit and Philanthropy Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting on April 9 at the Jackson Convention Complex, bringing together leaders from across the state to address growing community needs and limited resources.
Held under the theme “United for Impact,” the one-day conference is expected to convene nonprofit executives, funders, philanthropy professionals and community stakeholders for discussions focused on collaboration, innovation and expanding organizational capacity.
Organizers said the event comes at a critical time as nonprofits face increasing demand for services alongside financial and operational challenges. The conference aims to strengthen partnerships and equip organizations with tools to enhance their impact statewide.
The program will include keynote and plenary sessions, along with hands-on workshops covering finance, governance and marketing. A Philanthropy Roundtable will feature a facilitated panel discussion with philanthropic leaders from Mississippi and across the Southeast.
Scheduled speakers include the following:
- Tyeshia “Ty” Wilson, Senior Director of Community, Philanthropy Together (Keynote Speaker)
- Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chair, Delta Regional Authority (Opening Plenary Speaker)
- Jan Eastman, Owner, Mindshare of NE Mississippi
- Tiffiney Carter-Washington, AI Lab Manager and Technical Advisor, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy
- Jessica Abram, MPA, Founder, Bloom Education Group
- George Stewart II, Education Program Officer, Foundation for the Mid South
- Peter Kelly, Founder, Ship To Shore Communications
- Eddrick Martin, CEO and Lead Strategist, Elevated Momentum Consulting, LLC
- Lynn Woo, Associate Director, Center for Population Studies
- Kyra Roby, Principal, Chase Gen Strategy Consultants, LLC
- Melvin L. Smith Jr., MPH, Ph.D. Student, Instructional Systems & Workforce Development
- Nadia Villagrán, Vice President and Rural LISC Director, LISC
- Lloyd Gray, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy; Executive Director, The Phil Hardin Foundation
- Dr. Rhea Williams-Bishop, Director of Mississippi and New Orleans Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Ellen Collins, Executive Director, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy
The conference is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the downtown Jackson venue.
The Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy supports nonprofit and philanthropic organizations statewide through leadership development, training and strategic support aimed at strengthening their ability to address critical issues and serve communities effectively.
