Every year when we gather Ohio’s nonprofit leaders in one room, I’m reminded of why this work matters so much. This year was no different, and in many ways, it was even more meaningful.
On June 4th, Rea hosted the 2026 Not-for-Profit Symposium at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The theme, Building Stronger Foundations: Navigate Today’s Challenges, Shape Tomorrow’s Impact, wasn’t just a tagline. It reflected exactly what nonprofit leaders across Ohio are grappling with right now and why coming together to talk honestly about those challenges makes a real difference.
Here’s a look at what we covered and why I think the conversations from that morning matter well beyond the event itself.
Technology and Cybersecurity: A Roadmap, Not a Roadblock
We opened the program with Jeff Rapp and Travis Strong from Rea Information Services, and they set the right tone. Too often, technology and cybersecurity feel like sources of dread for nonprofit organizations, especially when budgets are tight and IT bandwidth is limited. Jeff and Travis flipped that script. Their message was practical and direct: you don’t need a massive IT department or an unlimited budget to protect your organization. What you need is the right plan.
They walked through realistic, actionable steps that NFPs can take to reduce risk and modernize their operations without breaking the bank. It’s the kind of guidance I wish more of our clients had access to earlier, and I was glad we could put it in the room.
The Legal Landscape: Know What’s Coming
Alexander Campbell from BakerHostetler brought clarity to a complicated topic: the evolving regulatory and compliance environment for Ohio nonprofits. Regulatory change doesn’t wait for convenient timing, and for organizations already stretched thin, being caught off guard by a compliance requirement can cause serious disruption.
Alex translated the complexity into clear, actionable steps. That’s the kind of practical legal guidance that helps executive directors and board members make informed decisions without needing a law degree. His session reinforced something I believe deeply: the best advisors help you see around corners, not just respond to what’s already hit you.
Economic Outlook: Following the Funding
The economic session brought two important perspectives together. Eric Weinheimer from Bank of America shared national data on the state of philanthropy — where giving is trending, what’s driving donor behavior, and what that means for your fundraising strategy. Then the Cleveland Foundation team — Jason Weiner, and Dylan Anders — brought it closer to home, grounding the national picture in Northeast Ohio’s reality.
Understanding funding trends isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s a planning tool. When you know where philanthropic dollars are flowing, you can make smarter decisions about grant strategy, diversifying revenue, and how you position your organization with major donors. That’s the kind of strategic lens that separates organizations that weather economic uncertainty from those that are blindsided by it.
The Leadership Panel: What’s Actually Working
For me, this was the heart of the morning.
Julie Clark of Business Volunteers Unlimited facilitated a candid leadership panel with four nonprofit executives: Tania Menesse from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Linda Uveges from The City Mission, Maria Campanelli from The Children’s Museum of Cleveland, and Marty Uhle from Community West Foundation.
These are leaders who are in the thick of it — managing workforce challenges, navigating federal funding uncertainty, adapting to a changing donor landscape, and still finding ways to serve their communities with excellence. They weren’t sharing theory. They were sharing what’s working right now, in their organizations, with real constraints and real stakes.
That kind of peer perspective is irreplaceable. You can read all the white papers you want, but there’s something different about hearing a fellow executive director say, “Here’s what we tried, here’s what didn’t work, and here’s what finally made a difference.”
Why These Conversations Matter
Ohio’s nonprofit sector is navigating a genuinely difficult moment with federal funding uncertainty, workforce pressures, increasing demand for services, and growing expectations around transparency and compliance. None of those challenges have simple solutions.
But what I saw in that room on June 4th was something I find consistently true in this sector: nonprofit leaders are resourceful, mission-driven, and deeply committed to getting it right. They show up, they ask hard questions, and they’re willing to share what they’ve learned with their peers.
That’s what Rea’s NFP Symposium is designed to support. Not just CPE credits or networking boxes checked, but genuine, practical conversations that help Ohio’s nonprofits build the kind of foundations that let their missions thrive for the long term.
If you weren’t able to join us this year, watch the full recording here and keep an eye out for future events. We’d love to see you at the next one.
Questions from the day? Ready to talk through what these conversations mean for your organization? Connect with Rea’s Not-for-Profit team.
About the Author
Adam Schultz, CPA, is a Principal and Not-for-Profit Industry Leader at Rea. He brings a wealth of experience in assurance, financial reporting, and single audits for nonprofit organizations, Adam works closely with NFP executives and boards to navigate compliance requirements and strengthen organizational operations. Adam serves on the boards of Engage! Cleveland and the Rea Foundation and is also a founding board member of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance and serves on the Ohio Wesleyan University Cleveland Regional Alumni Board. He is based in Rea’s Avon office.
