The Office of Partnerships and Outreach at Towson University recently hosted the 2025 Baltimore Nonprofit Summit, a gathering of over 150 individuals representing the Greater Baltimore nonprofit ecosystem that focused on strengthening and supporting Black and minority-led organizations.

The day-long event kicked off with an opening plenary that focused on leadership challenges faced by nonprofits. Throughout the day, attendees engaged in concurrent sessions, led by TU faculty and staff, local stakeholders, nonprofit peers, and organizations committed to advancing the work of area nonprofits. Sessions addressed current challenges such as grant writing, social entrepreneurship, market research, and change management. 

A networking event closed out the day and helped to forge connections among nonprofit peers and TU students, faculty, and staff to increase collaboration, and internship and employment opportunities.

Donn Worgs, director of African American Studies at Towson University, Brittany Young, founder and director of B-360, and Eric Jackson, co-founder and director of Black Yield Institute, discuss leadership challenges. 
Donn Worgs, director of African American Studies at Towson University, Brittany Young, founder and director of B-360, and Eric Jackson, co-founder and director of Black Yield Institute. 
Leaders from the Center for GIS share how story maps can highlight an organization’s reach and impact during a concurrent session. 
Keala Travers ’24, program manager at Neighborhood Companions, speaks about her transition from a student to a leader in the nonprofit sector. 
Keala Travers ’24, program manager at Neighborhood Companions, speaks about her transition from a student to a nonprofit leader. 

Resources for nonprofits

To further support and strengthen the work of area nonprofits, the Office of Partnerships and Outreach, with the help of Maryland Nonprofits and Towson University faculty, developed a nonprofit resource guide to:

  • strengthen TU’s community engagement activities
  • connect Greater Baltimore nonprofits with TU and external resources
  • showcase and elevate the community-focused work supported by BTU (Baltimore-Towson University)

Explore an overview of available resources from TU and local organizations, including toolkits and training to get started.

2025 Baltimore Nonprofit Summit

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s event a success

The Baltimore Nonprofit Summit would not have happened without the great speakers and facilitators. We admire their willingness to share their expertise and knowledge of resources available among the Baltimore nonprofit community. Many thanks to:

Community members:

  • Brittany Young, B-360
  • Eric Jackson, Black Yield Institute
  • The Keur Khaleyi African Dance Company
  • Jim Howard Kucher, University of Maryland, Baltimore
  • Eric Johnson, Innovation Works
  • Tonee Lawson, The Be. Org
  • Dezanae Boston-Bernier, T. Howard Foundation
  • Shelby Truxon, The Nonprofit Alliance
  • Mark Mason, Tech Impact 
  • Amy Coates Madsen, Maryland Nonprofits  
  • Patty Prasada-Rao, Maryland Nonprofits
  • Rachel Mygatt, Maryland Nonprofits
  • Keala Travers, Neighborhood Companions
  • Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
  • Maryland Humanities
  • Bmore Empowered
  • Associated Black Charities
  • France-Merrick Foundation
  • Northeast Towson Improvement Association
  • Maryland Philanthropy Network

Towson University representatives:

  • Donn Worgs, Department of Political Science
  • Zosha Stuckey, Department of English
  • Carrie Grant, Department of English
  • TU Grantwriting In Value Environments (G.I.V.E.)
  • Kathleen Crostic, Office of Partnerships & Outreach
  • Emma Johns, Office of Partnerships & Outreach
  • Chaz Walters, Career Center
  • Rosemary Riel, Career Center
  • Wil Preston, Career Center
  • Lorie Logan-Bennett, Career Center
  • Christina Bell, Center for GIS
  • Arianna Cacic, Center for GIS 
  • Shana Gass, Cook Library
  • Joyce Garczynski, Cook Library
  • Emilio Osso, Office of Technology Services
  • Dena Barnwell, Office of Technology Services
Interested in learning more about the 2027 Nonprofit Summit? Email us.