Coffee & Learn Series: Leading Through Change: Strategies for Uncertain Times, Sponsored by Amplifi

 Right now, nonprofit leaders are navigating an increasingly complex reality with tight resources, shifting priorities, and constant change. The question isn’t whether change is happening; it’s how we lead through it.

Generously sponsored by Amplifi, this AFP-DC Coffee & Conversation is part of AFP-DC’s Lunch & Learn series that brings the fundraising community together for a focused dialogue, open discussion, and an opportunity to connect with other nonprofit professionals and industry partners. September’s topic is Leading Through Change, designed to provide practical strategies for leading teams, making decisions under constraint, and sustaining impact. If you’re in the sector and feeling the weight of doing more with less, this conversation is for you.

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Speaker: Jennifer Pelton, MA, CFRE, Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Education

Jennifer K. Pelton, MA, CFRE, is a fundraiser and nonprofit manager with more than 30 years of professional experience. She joined the Johns Hopkins University School of Education in June 2023 as Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations. Ms. Pelton’s career has included leadership positions with arts, human services, and civil legal services organizations. She has raised funds for organizations focused locally, nationally, and internationally. As a consultant, Ms. Pelton focuses on nurturing organizations to new strategic heights and creating effective boards. She has co-authored a toolkit for strategic development plans and has taught fundraising in small and large settings.

Speaker: Kristyn Peck, Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA)

Kristyn Peck is the Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA). Since joining LSSNCA in 2020, she has led the organization through unprecedented expansion, increasing annual revenue nearly fivefold while growing the workforce from fewer than 70 employees to more than 250. She successfully steered the organization through a sudden 68% reduction in federal revenue in FY25 due to policy shifts, executing a comprehensive operational restructuring to protect core services and maintain fiscal health.

Prior to LSSNCA, Kristyn served as the founding CEO of West Michigan Partnership for Children and held leadership roles at USCCB Migration and Refugee Services. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland and was awarded the 2023 Innovation in Social Work Award. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Board of Directors.

About the Course The nonprofit sector is experiencing rapid structural shifts driven by economic fluctuations, policy updates, and evolving funding streams. Leading through these transitions requires more than reactive decision-making; it demands clear communication, strategic alignment, and operational adaptability.

This interactive session brings together senior fundraising and executive leadership to explore real-world approaches to organizational resilience. Attendees will engage in an open dialogue examining how to lead teams through periods of tight resources, navigate sudden revenue adjustments, and maintain organizational mission and morale during times of constraint. Whether you are managing staff through operational changes or adapting your development strategy to shifting external priorities, this course provides practical insights to help you guide your organization forward with confidence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify practical strategies for leading teams through organizational transition and uncertainty.

• Learn methods for making high-impact decisions and prioritizing resources under budget constraints.

• Explore approaches to maintaining operational strength, protecting core mission services, and sustaining long-term community impact.

Audience: Beginner (0-5 years experience), Intermediate (6-10 years experience), Advanced (10 years+ experience), Small organizations/teams, Large organizations/teams

Specific Sector Focus: Nonprofit Leadership, Executive Management, Strategic Planning, Change Management

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