FUEL THE MISSION FORWARD
Strengthening Fundraising & Leadership Capacity for Sustainable Impact
An executive gathering for senior nonprofit leaders in Houston
October 6, 2026
$175Why This ExistsNonprofit leaders are being asked to lead in ways they’ve never led before while balancing mission, people, boards, finances, and resources in increasingly complex environments.
This gathering creates space for senior leaders to step back from daily pressures and engage in thoughtful, peer-level dialogue around executive leadership capacity, organizational readiness, and sustainable financial stewardship.
This is not a conference. It is a facilitated executive conversation designed to help leaders lead with clarity and confidence in the season ahead.
What To ExpectA keynote conversation with Dr. Rudy Rasmus (Founder of Bread of Life, Inc.) offering perspective on leading through complexity, change, and growing organizational demands.
❋ Executive InsightGuided reflection paired with peer-level conversation, creating space to process insights, share experience, and sharpen thinking alongside fellow leaders.
❋ Reflection & Peer DialogueHands-on sessions that integrate strategy, governance, fundraising focus, and stewardship to help leaders move from insight to actionable next steps.
❋ Practical ApplicationA hosted lunch and informal exchange designed to foster meaningful connection, surface priorities, and clarify commitments for the season ahead.
❋ Clarity & ConnectionRegister Here
Regular Registration: $175
Fuel the Mission Forward, a Houston Nonprofit Executive Gathering.
Location: University of St. Thomas’ Malloy Board Room
Date: October 6th, 2026, from 9am-3pm
Featuring a keynote by Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Founder of Bread of Life, Inc.
Presented by: The Ready Network and TrueWorks Houston
This is not a conference. It is a facilitated executive conversation designed to help leaders lead with clarity and confidence in the season ahead.
Executive Directors, CEOs, Presidents, and Executive Leaders of established nonprofits are invited to join us.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: University of St. Thomas, Malloy Board Room
Event DetailsThis gathering is carefully curated to foster connection and value for busy, nonprofit executives in Houston.
We’ll start the morning learning from Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Founder of Bread of Life, Inc to hear his learnings on founding and scaling multiple nonprofits in Houston. Rudy Rasmus is a pastor emeritus, author, and humanitarian who led St. John’s United Methodist Church in downtown Houston with his wife, Juanita for 31 years. Together, they founded Bread of Life, Inc., which has grown from serving meals to people experiencing homelessness into providing housing, community support, and other vital services across Houston.
Rudy is also a published author, former contributor to O Magazine, and recipient of the Jefferson Award for his commitment to service.
Rudy and Juanita are also the founders of The Temenos Community Development Corporation. Its mission is to alleviate homelessness and support extremely low-income individuals by providing affordable, permanent supportive housing and wrap-around social services.
Its portfolio includes the Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments, a 43-unit Single Room Occupancy development, the 80-unit Temenos II Apartments, and the 100 unit Rasmus-Temenos Apartments all designed to provide permanent-supportive living accommodations for formerly homeless individuals. The recently completed 31 unit Knowles-Rowland House Apartments was developed on the former site of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a project funded in 1999 when Kelly Rowland teamed up with Beyoncé and Tina Knowles to help build the center.
We’ll then learn from Holly Tate, CEO of The Ready Network who helps leaders and teams get ready for growth, and Nathan Rogers, Director of Ecosystems & Programs at TrueWorks Houston.
We’ll close out the day with a facilitated, peer-led conversations about the biggest challenges nonprofit executives are facing today.
Opening9:00am
Keynote: Dr. Rudy Rasmus (Founder, Bread of Life Inc.)9:30am
Session 1: 5 Skills to Future-Proof Your Leadership with Holly Tate (CEO of The Ready Network)10:30am
Break & Seated Lunch11:30pm
Session 3: Roundtable Facilitation on Hot Topics from Group1:00pm
Session 2: Case Study: A Journey on Establishing a Clear Theory of Change with Nathan Rogers (Director of Ecosystem & Programs at TrueWorks Houston)2:00pm
Closing3:00pm
From Leaders Who’ve Been There
"This was the first time I have EVER been in a room of all Christian executive leaders. It was so refreshing to have people in the room who work with the same foundation as I do."
— Justin Collard
Director of Programs & Services | True To Life Ministries
"This event was awesome and we will participate in anything else you offer."
— Chandler James
Chief of Staff | The Riverside Project
Event Partners
Fueling the Mission Forward is designed for leaders who know that sustainable mission impact begins with healthy leadership, clear strategy, and aligned decision-making.
Participants will leave with renewed perspective, practical tools, and greater confidence to lead well—now and into the future.
Register Here
Regular Registration: $175
Fuel the Mission Forward, a Houston Nonprofit Executive Gathering.
Location: University of St. Thomas’ Malloy Board Room
Date: October 6th, 2026, from 9am-3pm
Featuring a keynote by Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Founder of Bread of Life, Inc.
Presented by: The Ready Network and TrueWorks Houston
This is not a conference. It is a facilitated executive conversation designed to help leaders lead with clarity and confidence in the season ahead.
Executive Directors, CEOs, Presidents, and Executive Leaders of established nonprofits are invited to join us.