Florida Nonprofit Alliance Nonprofits Count! 2025 Conference Inspires Solutions to Critical Challenges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA), a statewide advocate for the nonprofit sector that seeks to protect and elevate nonprofits, convened its Nonprofits Count! Conference in Winter Park, Fla, from September 18-19, 2025. The bi-annual conference gathered nonprofit leaders from around the state to seek solutions for the pressing challenges facing Florida’s more than 22,700 nonprofit organizations: funding shortages, declining individual giving, and a rising demand for services.

“At Florida Nonprofit Alliance, we recognize that leading a nonprofit can often feel isolating,” said Sabeen Perwaiz, President and CEO, Florida Nonprofit Alliance. “That’s why the Nonprofits Count! 2025 Conference was designed to bring our sector together—not just to connect, but to equip. This year’s theme, ‘Meet the Moment,’ was a call to action: to share tools, strategies, and stories that guide our collective impact. Over two days, we sought powerful conversations, expert insights, and renewed commitment to strengthening Florida’s nonprofit sector.”

According to FNA’s 2024 Florida Nonprofits Survey report, released in March 2025, the top three challenges facing Florida’s nonprofits are:

• Funding cuts from local, state and federal governments
• Decline in individual giving (donations)
• Increased need in the community for programmatic services

Speakers addressed these challenges through the lens of government legislation, communications strategies, and inspirational strength.

Senator George S. LeMieux, Chairman of the Board of the Gunster law firm and founder and chair of the LeMieux Center for Public Policy at Palm Beach Atlantic University, encouraged nonprofits to engage in public policy to make an impact on funding legislation. “Visit with your elected officials, share your stories and demonstrate your impact,” LeMieux said. “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”

Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, inspired attendees with a message of resilience. “Nonprofits across the country are facing profound challenges, yet they continue to work with courage, unity, and resilience. From responding to natural disasters to meeting daily community needs, nonprofits are proving that together, we get it done.”

This year’s conference included exclusive content and networking opportunities with nonprofit leaders from across Florida. Attendees were privy to polling data on the nonprofit sector, advice on how boards should navigate current challenges, tools on how to communicate messages effectively, and a preview of the upcoming legislative session.

The FNA’s next nonprofit gathering is the Florida Nonprofit Day in Tallahassee in February 2026.

Sponsors of the conference included JPMorganChase, VyStar, First Horizon Bank, Central Florida Foundation and Winter Park Health Foundation.

About the Florida Nonprofit Alliance

The Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA) is a statewide coalition of nonprofits focused on research, collaboration and advocacy. Our mission is to inform, promote and strengthen Florida’s nonprofit sector. We provide a collective voice at the state and national levels, educating elected officials and constituents, and serve as a central resource and referral center for and about nonprofits. Florida's nonprofit sector is a powerful economic driver. The state’s 22,710 nonprofits employ more than 456,000 people and pay annual wages of over $27 billion. This equates to seven percent of Florida's workforce, in line with the construction and manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit www.flnonprofits.org.