BerryDunn's 30th Annual EMPOWER Summit Tackles Issues Facing Nonprofits

BerryDunn will host its annual Nonprofit Summit, EMPOWER, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Continuing a 30-year history of providing education for nonprofit leaders, the half-day virtual summit will focus on current industry trends and practical guidance to help leaders in the nonprofit sector confidently navigate an increasingly complex environment. 

Presenters at this year’s summit will address funding pressures and resource constraints, increased federal and state scrutiny, audit readiness and process improvement, better board reporting, and other challenges impacting nonprofits today. 

“EMPOWER is an opportunity for our team to share insights and best practices with nonprofit leaders—and a chance for them to connect with our team,” said Emily Parker, a Principal in the firm’s Nonprofit Audit, Tax, and Consulting Services Practice Group. “Because we partner with nonprofits around the country, we have a unique perspective on the issues they face, what’s on the horizon, and how to grow and thrive going forward.” 

What started 30 years ago as local educational workshops in Portland and Bangor, Maine, grew into a prominent regional conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Today, this premier thought-leadership summit has transitioned into a national virtual event. Led by BerryDunn’s audit and consulting experts, the summit equips diverse nonprofit organizations with the practical insights and strategies needed to successfully fulfill their missions. 

This year’s summit kicks off with a Nonprofit Industry Outlook focused on trends shaping the coming year, presented by BerryDunn Principals Emily Parker and Danielle Bedard.  

• Principals Joseph Byrne, Grant Ballantyne, and Mark LaPrade will provide insights on compliance and better board reporting. 

• Principal Katharine Balukas and Manager Kristen West will discuss tools for audit readiness, organizational transition, and process improvement. 

• Principals Bill Enck and Kristin Courtemanche will explore ways to optimize nonprofit impact while managing costs. 

“The EMPOWER Summit reflects a collaborative, ‘better together’ approach that is one of the firm's core strengths,” said Ryan Gough, a leader in BerryDunn’s Nonprofit Practice Group. “We are uniquely positioned to offer a fresh, national perspective to nonprofit leaders, with insights on emerging issues that our audience values, year after year.” 

BerryDunn’s comprehensive, cross-functional nonprofit team brings together a wide range of services tailored to the needs of each client, including audit, tax, management and IT consulting, grant consulting, executive coaching, and other advisory services.