A 99 Year Legacy of Leadership!
- Grace Anne Alfiero
- May 20
- 3 min read
Are you ready to join this incredible family of choice?
For nearly a century, the Blue Ridge Leadership Institute has stood as a cornerstone of
leadership development, professional renewal, and community among nonprofit
executives and changemakers across the Southeast and beyond. Since 1927, the organization has empowered nonprofit leaders through a unique model that blends
high-level professional development with authentic connection, wellness, and retreat-
style reflection.
As the organization prepares for its 99th annual conference in July 2026, excitement is
building not only for this year’s gathering, but also for the historic milestone that lies just
ahead—the celebration of 100 years of cultivating nonprofit leadership excellence.
Set for July 19–23, 2026, at the scenic Unicoi State Park & Lodge in Helen, Georgia, the upcoming conference will once again bring together nonprofit executives,
community leaders, emerging professionals, and mission-driven organizations for a
week centered on the Institute’s enduring philosophy: Learn, Lead, and Renew.
What has made the Blue Ridge Leadership Institute so distinctive over the decades is its ability to create more than a conference—it creates a professional family. In an
increasingly demanding nonprofit environment marked by workforce challenges,
fundraising pressures, and growing community needs, BRI has continued to provide a
space where leaders can step away from daily demands to reconnect with their
purpose, strengthen their leadership skills, and build lasting relationships with peers
who understand the unique challenges of mission-based work.
The 2026 conference with the theme: This is My Inside Voice, Using Advocacy and
Resistance to Move Communities Forward, promises to continue that legacy with an
inspiring and nationally respected lineup of speakers and presenters from across the
nonprofit, communications, policy, and leadership sectors. Featured presenters include
CNN Analyst Attorney Bakari Sellers, a few amazing members of The Carter Center
team including Matthew De Galan, Dr. Neetu Abad, and Sarah Catherine Phillips, MPA, the founder of Equality Florida, Nadine Smith, and award-winning storyteller and TedX
Presenter, Donna Marie Todd! This year’s SkillLabs will include Beth Ellen Holimon,
Lila Anna Sauls, and Lindsey Nickel. Sessions throughout the week will explore
nonprofit leadership, communications strategy, advocacy, organizational resilience,
mission-driven governance, and the future of community impact in an evolving nonprofit
landscape.
In addition to keynote sessions and workshops, attendees will experience the hallmark
elements that have defined BRI for generations: meaningful networking, mentorship,
collaborative learning, family-friendly activities, and opportunities for personal renewal in the natural beauty of the North Georgia mountains.
As the Institute approaches its centennial celebration in 2027, the 99th conference
serves as both a reflection and a launching point. It is an opportunity to honor the
countless nonprofit leaders who have passed through the organization over the last 99 years while also preparing the next generation of executives, advocates, and community builders to lead with compassion, courage, and innovation. Very few organizations in the nonprofit leadership space can claim a century-long legacy of continuous service and impact. The Blue Ridge Leadership Institute’s longevity speaks not only to the quality of its programming, but also to the enduring importance of investing in those who dedicate their lives to serving others.
As nonprofit leaders gather this July in Helen, Georgia, they will not simply be attending
another conference—they will be participating in a living legacy nearly 100 years in the
making.
As this year’s Program Chair, I am so thrilled to invite all nonprofit leaders to be
included in this incredible family of choice!
To register for the 2026 conference, follow this link:
To join BRI, follow this link: https://blueridgeleaders.org/membership/join-bri/
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