GPA Austin-Central Texas 2026 Funders Forum
About this Event
Join us for the GPA Austin-Central Texas 2026 Funders Forum on Friday, November 13—a full day of networking, learning, and conversations with funders and peers. The program will feature general sessions, roundtable relays, and participants including Austin Community Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Episcopal Health Foundation, Impact Austin, Hogg Foundation, St. David’s Foundation, Truist Foundation, and Texas Grants Resource Center.
Key Note Speaker is BiNi Coleman, founder and CEO of the nonprofit consultancy 212 Catalysts.
Workshops and Panels:
- Workshop 1: The Compliance-Revenue Nexus: Navigating Risk as a Partner, facilitated by Dr. Shmeka Gibson, Executive Director of Changing the Mindset
- Workshop 2: Thinking Like a Funder: How Funding Decisions Really Get Made, facilitated by Rona Walton, Founder of The Collection Plate
- Panel: Cross-Functional Collaboration: Building Bridges Between Departments
Agenda
8:00-9:30 - Registration, Breakfast, and Networking
9:30-9:40 - Welcome Remarks
9:40-10:10 - Keynote
10:15-11:00 - Panel
11:15-12:00 - Workshop #1
12:00-12:30 - Lunch and Member Spotlight, Raffles, Giving Star Award
12:35-1:30 - Workshop #2
1:45-2:30 - Funder Relationship Relays
2:30-3:00 - Networking
Facilitators and Panelists
As the founder and CEO of the nonprofit consultancy 212 Catalysts, BiNi Coleman brings nearly 30 years of experience partnering with organizations ranging from 1 to 12,000 employees—including nonprofits, corporations, funders, and educational and government agencies—to achieve catalytic results. Her work has earned recognition for best practices from prominent institutions such as the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Texas State University, and the U.S. Department of Education, while she and her team have helped secure over $26 million for African American-led nonprofits since 2010 and provided technical assistance for more than $600 million in funded projects across Texas. Locally, her recent initiatives include the African American Leadership Institute (AALI), the Black Men’s Health Clinic, the Travis County juvenile diversion project, and Texas’ first community-based Trauma Recovery Center, alongside spearheading an AALI policy effort that generated $75 million for affordable childcare. Holding an MBA, BiNi is also a dedicated mentor and frequent guest speaker at institutions like the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Shmeka Gibson is an author, international speaker, business owner, and college professor. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and leadership. Gibson serves as a Business Analyst assisting businesses with organizational infrastructure development, programming, and scaling their business. Gibson’s philanthropic work (serving as a board member and volunteer for many US and international organizations) and grant writing skills have allowed her to assist more than 30 organizations in securing over $ 84 million in funding to sustain their organization and helping with the start -up and scaling of over 80 businesses.
Rona Walton is the Founder of The Collection Plate, a firm dedicated to assisting women founders and mission-driven organizations claim grant opportunities as revenue. Previously, she served as the Director of Development of a local private school, becoming the institution's first Black female to hold this position. Rona stewarded a $500,000 budget at 99.8% compliance, secured over $1M in grant funding, and is a contributing author of the international bestseller, "Faith, Funding and the Female Founder," in three literary categories. As a graduate of the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Leadership Austin, she writes, leads, and consults from one conviction: "It's Not About ME!"
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 124.56
