June 2026
Investing In Our Team So We Can Show Up For Yours
Summer is a season of alignment for Empowered Nonprofits. It's when we step back from the pace of execution and ask ourselves — how are we growing, where can we sharpen, and how do we show up even better for the organizations we serve? This June, we practiced what we preach. We held our team summer retreat and we hosted an event for our clients and partners to build relationships outside of work. Here's a look at both!
Our Summer Alignment Retreat
Empowered holds a few internal retreats throughout the year and our summer retreat is always about learning and alignment. How do we continue to grow as consultants, as collaborators, and as social impact leaders? This year, we chose to focus on event strategy and execution.
Physical alignment came next, with a Gua Sha and ear seeding workshop led by Dr. Zahava Berkowitz of Imma Wellness.
Both practices are rooted in the idea that everything in the body is connected — a reminder that taking care of ourselves is the foundation for everything else we do. We believe that when our team feels good, we do good work.
Professional alignment followed. After making sure our bodies were taken care of, we were able to step into the professional aspect with our whole selves. Empowered runs 16+ major events each year, and our standard is high — not just for execution, but for impact.
When we're hired for a gala or an event, it goes far beyond vendor management and program planning. It encompasses fundraising strategy, donor communications, look and feel, paddle raise structure, making sure every guest has a seat at the table, and so much more.
We spent time looking under the hood and giving ourselves a “maintenance check" to be sure we are running efficiently and effectively. We mapped our full event lifecycle, identified where we could be sharper, and built out standardized timelines that can be streamlined for every type of event.
External alignment closed out the day — The whole team went home with an upgraded event attire featuring branded polos, fanny packs, Empowered notebooks, and a few other goodies. When we're on-site we not only play the part, we look the part too.
And of course, we always leave room for a little fun. We ended the evening at dinner, a time of unstructured connection, where we shared a delicious meal, laughed and reflected on the day.
Summer Social: Client Stewardship
For Empowered, client stewardship is a core part of how we operate. We believe that the best partnerships are built on trust, and trust is built in the spaces between deliverables. The relationships we have with our clients go far beyond the scope of work, and we never take that for granted.
This month we hosted a client and partner brunch and pickleball event at Dinx Social Club. No formal program, no ask — just good people, good food, and some friendly competition on the pickleball court.
We encourage the organizations we work with to think the same way about their donors and communities. Not every event needs a fundraising goal attached to it. Some of the most powerful investments you can make are the ones where the only intention is genuine connection. Show up for your people, and they will show up for you.
To all of our clients — thank you for allowing us to build a better world through you.
