KPMG OFFICES, AON CENTER
200 E. Randolph Street, 55th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
(Attire is business casual)
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2025
Kickoff Reception
Bureau Bar and Restaurant
2115 S. State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60616
5:30 to 7:30 pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
Click Buttons to Jump Directly to Sessions
8:00 am Registration, Breakfast and Networking
(Attire is business casual)
9:00 am Introductions and Welcome
Sports has the power to change the world. Join thought leaders from around the world that are using sports philanthropy to change lives and transform communities. Connect with people who have the interest and capacity to help your organization grow into a powerful force.
TRAVIS HUNTER, JR.
Managing Partner
KPMG Chicago
ROY KESSEL
Founder
Sports Philanthropy Network
9:20 am Opening Session–Debut of GIVE-DEX: Sports Fan Giving Index
SBRnet and Sports Philanthropy Network have teamed up to launch GIVE-DEX. This tool is designed to highlight the culture of giving and to provide tangible data on the giving habits of fans, across various sports, teams and leagues.
This initial presentation highlights incredible generosity and giving patterns of sports fans and demonstrates where we can leverage the power of sports to enhance generosity.
NEIL SCHWARTZ
Founder
SBRnet
ROY KESSEL
Founder
Sports Philanthropy Network
10:00 am Networking Break
10:15 am MAIN STAGE PANEL #1--
Social Entrepreneurship:
Why Purpose and Profit are Great Partners.
CASIE MILLHOUSE
Founder
Sashiyu (AI Glasses)
JOEL PUTHOFF
Founder
Linxy
NELI ROWLAND
Founder
GOLZ
ROBERT C. BUSH JR.
President & CEO
Mutombo Coffee
ROBERT CLAYTON
Founder
Sports Analytics Club Program
11:00 am BREAKOUT SESSION #1
- Mental Health Track–Breaking the Silence
- Skill Development Track–Measuring and Defining Impact
- Education Track–Financial Literacy
- Inclusion Track–LGBTQIA+
- Athletes Track–NIL4Good
- Fundraising Track–Leveraging Donor Advised Funds and Philanthropic Capital
- Concussion and Brain Health Track–Vestibular Rehab
- Fundraising Track–Training Your Board of Directors
- Wildcard Track–Empowering Generosity: Current Trends with Family Offices and Philanthropy
Mental Health Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
BREAKING THE SILENCE
Mental Health is a major issue at every level of sports, every profession in society and is a universal challenge across the board. Why is it so difficult to open this conversation and break the silence?
DERRICK BOLES
Founder
UnstoppaBoles
ERIC KUSSIN
Founder
#SameHere
Global Mental Health Movement
JACK CALLAHAN
Senior National Director of Programs
Up2Us Sports
Skill Development Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
MEASURING AND DEFINING IMPACT
The lifeblood of receiving financial support is the ability to measure and define the impact of the organization’s work. Identifying the best way to demonstrate impact is an critical skill for every nonprofit to master.
JED PEARSALL
President
Performance Research
NEIL SCHWARTZ
Founder
SBRnet
Education Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
FINANCIAL LITERACY
Financial literacy is an ongoing concern in the world of sports. Many athletes (at all levels) struggle with the mechanics of financial literacy. We see current and former players struggling to hold onto the wealth they have amassed as they fall prey to unscrupulous actors. The rise of NIL has created greater urgency for training athletes in high school and college. Learn from some of those that are on the forefront of protecting wealth.
TANAHA HAIRSTON
Founder
RISE The Movement
Inclusion Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
LGBTQ+
TRAYER MARTINEZ
VP SPORTS
Compete Sports Network
Athletes Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
NIL4Good
NIL has become one of the biggest topics in sports. Name, Image and Likeness compensation has been available for professional athletes for decades. This new opportunity for college athletes has brought with it the need for an understanding of branding, marketing, sales and promotion. One key element that is often neglected is how college athletes can leverage their passion for a particular cause to enhance their overall marketability. Learn from some of the best minds in this space that help guide athletes and institutions about how they can make that impact!
JAMESETTA CLEVELAND
Founder
Sports Mom University
MEREDITH GEISLER
Assistant Professor,
Sports Management
George Washington Univ.
STEFANIE SANTOS MCLEESE
Chief Branding Strategist
CEO
Santos McLeese, LLC
Fundraising Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Leveraging Donor Advised Funds and Philanthropic Capital
Demystifying Donor Advised Funds – What They Are, Who Uses Them, And How They Work. John LaFleur, Managing Director of Strategic Philanthropy Ltd. and Jordan Richardson of REN will be discussing:
What a Donor Advised Fund (commonly called a DAF) is
How donors who don’t want to start foundations work with them
What non-profits should and should not expect from DAF’s
Making donations of non-cash asset (stocks, land, collectible, etc. i.e. everything else)
This session will also explore the many roles of a Philanthropy Advisor:
Helps individuals, familes or organizations plan and manage charitable giving
Aligns philanthropic goals, including legacy planning, with personal values and giving strategies
Researches nonprofits, assesses impact, and recommends giving opportunities
Ensures legal and tax compliance for donations
Maximizes the impact of a clients’ generosity by helping them reach their goals
JOHN LAFLEUR
Managing Director
Strategic Philanthropy
JORDAN RICHARDSON
Charitable Strategist
Ren
Concussion and Brain Health Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
VESTIBULAR REHAB
Concussions and brain injuries continue to cause concern around the sports world. New strategies and technologies are being developed that help manage and improve the treatment and care. Learn about options for vestibular training and rehabilitation and see how these tools are impacting organizations around the world.
SHEILA THELEN
Founder
Vestibular Training Services
Fundraising Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
TRAINING YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANTONIA COTEUS
Account Executive
Board Developer
Wildcard Track
Breakout Session #1--11:00 am--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Empowering Generosity: Current Trends with Family Offices and Philanthropy
LAKOYA GARDNER
Director of Programs & Associate Director of Development
Mays Family Institute
TRACEY SPIVEY
Partner
KPMG
Lunch Sponsor
12:00 pm Lunch and Networking
12:30 pm Lunch Keynote
PROTECTING OUR BRAINS
Leigh was one of the first sports agents who focused on empowering his clients to take an active role in their communities. Leigh helped his athletes identify their passion and select their causes. But perhaps his most important contribution to the sports philanthropy sector has been Leigh’s recognition of the power an athlete has as a role model. By taking a leadership role, the athlete can empower thousands of people to take an active role in supporting that cause. Leigh recently launched the Leigh Steinberg Foundation For Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health. which is driven by a singular mission: to transform the landscape of brain health by advancing understanding, prevention and treatment of concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other related challenges.
LEIGH STEINBERG
Founder
Steinberg Sports & Entertainment
Steinberg Foundation for Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health
1:00 pm MAIN STAGE PANEL #2--
Teams and Owners: Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Professional sports teams have financial resources, huge followings and star power. How can these organizations create a culture of philanthropy and maximize their impact? Learn how some of the best organizations use these strengths to transform lives and build stronger, healthier and more inclusive communities.
OMAR WOODARD
Executive Director
HRS MANAGEMENT
ROBERT CASTELLINI, JR.
Managing Director, Sentinal Wealth Management Group, Wells Fargo Advisors
Owner,
Cincinnati Reds
2:00 pm BREAKOUT SESSION #2
- Mental Health Track–Resilience
- Skill Development Track–Building Empathy, Inclusion and Connection in Sports Communities
- Education Track–The Power of Sports and Faith
- Inclusion Track–Adaptive Sports
- Athletes Track–Starting Your Own Foundation and Athlete Risks
- Fundraising Track–Sponsorship: Unlocking Corporate Support: Strategies to Identify, Approach and Secure Corporate Funds
- Concussion and Brain Health Track–Leigh Steinberg Foundation: For Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health
Mental Health Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
RESILIENCE
Resilience is not just about bouncing back from stress and trauma—it’s about growing stronger through challenges.
This session will focus on five key elements of stress resilience: self-belief, cognitive agility, self-compassion, optimism, and emotional regulation. Learn how to harness those skills and transform your life. This session will empower you to embrace change confidently, build self-belief, and cultivate the cognitive agility needed to thrive in today’s world. As a former FBI Agent who trains police departments, Cory will lead this interactive session to allow you to develop some the skills needed for today’s challenges.
KHALID CANNON
President
Put Me In
LATASHA HENRY
Founder
Slaying Resilience Network
Skill Development Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Building Empathy, Inclusion and
Connection in Sports Communities
Step into a transformative experience where sport, conversation, and connection collide. This breakout session introduces participants to Keep It Real, an inclusion and mental wellness dialogue game utilized in over 1,000 U.S. Universities, that breaks down barriers and builds trust within teams, schools, organizations, and communities.
Through guided gameplay, participants will engage in structured, thought-provoking conversations that foster vulnerability, understanding, and belonging—skills essential for both leadership and team cohesion in the sports world. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, nonprofit leader, or mental health advocate, you’ll leave with tools you can bring back to your own community.
Key Takeaways:
Experience how structured, game-based dialogue can break stigma and build emotional intelligence.
– Learn facilitation strategies for using Keep It Real in locker rooms, boardrooms, classrooms, or community outreach.
– Discover how inclusive conversations can strengthen mental health and belonging in sports settings.
Leslie Robinson
Founder/CEO
Trance4mation Nation
Wildcard Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Fighting Human Trafficking
CRAIG SAWYER
Founder
Veterans for Child Rescue
Inclusion Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
ADAPTIVE SPORTS
JOSLYNN BIGELOW
President
United Adaptive Soccer Association
Athletes Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Starting Your Own Foundation and Athlete Risks
Starting a nonprofit involves a lot more than simply filing an application for 501(c)(3) status. The legal ramifications of starting and operating a nonprofit can carry great weight. Getting the right advice and counsel at the outset can significantly facilitate your ability to scale your organization, minimize your risk and identify operational challenges.
ANDREW MORTON
Chair,
Sports & Entertaiment Philanthropy Law
Handler Law
Fundraising Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
SPONSORSHIP: Unlocking Corporate Support:
Strategies to Identify, Approach and Secure Corporate Funds
In today’s evolving philanthropic landscape, companies are increasingly aligning their giving with business values, employee engagement, and measurable impact. This hands-on workshop will equip nonprofit professionals with the insights and tools needed to identify promising corporate prospects, understand what motivates today’s corporate funders, and build lasting partnerships.
Areas covered will include current trends in corporate giving, benefits most sought by companies and how to navigate corporate structures to connect with the right stakeholders—from social impact teams to marketing, HR, and employee resource groups—and how to tailor your pitch to resonate with each.
Attendees will walk away with actionable tips on packaging their mission, showcasing impact, and building mutually beneficial relationships with corporate philanthropic leaders. Whether you’re new to corporate fundraising or looking to refine your approach, this session will help you move from prospecting to partnership with confidence.
DON LIIMATAINEN
Founder
Best Christmas Ever
RICH MAIORE
CEO/Founder
Rocket Social Impact
Concussion and Brain Health Track
Breakout Session #2--2:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
LEIGH STEINBERG FOUNDATION:
For Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health
Leigh recently launched the Leigh Steinberg Foundation For Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health. which is driven by a singular mission: to transform the landscape of brain health by advancing understanding, prevention and treatment of concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other related challenges.
LEIGH STEINBERG
Founder
Steinberg Sports & Entertainment
NICK LOWERY
Ambassador
Project MAX
3:00 pm BREAKOUT SESSION #3
- Mental Health Track–Mental Health Checkup
- Skill Development Track–Speak for Success
- Wildcard Track–Social Justice
- Education Track–Teaching Leadership
- Inclusion Track–Creating an Inclusive Environment for those with Visual Impairment
- Fundraising Track–It’s Not Just About the Ask
- Concussion and Brain Health Track–Medical Treatment Advances
Mental Health Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
MENTAL HEALTH CHECKUP
Adam Nemer is shifting the conversation surrounding mental health in the workplace; educating leaders on the business case, and inspiring them on the human case, to become mental health literate and normalize the topic of mental health in their organizations.
Adam spent 20 years as a CFO & Sr Operations Executive at Kaiser Permanente, all the while struggling with severe, yet undiagnosed anxiety and depression. His life changed when a compassionate colleague encouraged him to seek help, a simple act that revealed the profound impact leaders can have on their team’s mental well-being. Simple Mental Health helps leaders address mental wellbeing in the workplace in a different way — culturally and holistically, with compassion, facts, respect and vulnerability.
The sporting world is in a mental health crisis — from athletes, to grass roots volunteers, to our organizations, teams and business leaders. Thankfully, as a community, the sports philanthropy network is in a unique position to drive meaningful, societal change here by spreading the key concepts of mental health first aid across the sporting landscape. In this breakout session, you’ll be introduced to the core principles of mental health first aid such as how to recognize colleagues who may be struggling with their mental wellbeing, and how to encourage them to get help.
ADAM NEMER
Founder
Simple Mental Health
Skill Development Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
SPEAK FOR SUCCESS
Speaking and presenting in a clear and articulate manner is crucial to the success of your organization. Having the ability to convey your organization’s mission and vision helps build credibility, raise money and gain support. Speaking skills are crucial to every aspect of an organization and will help bolster your career. Learn from some of the top speakers and speaking coaches that can help you develop the most important skills.
LOUIE SHARP
Founder
The Gifted Leader
STEFANIE SANTOS MCLEESE
Chief Branding Strategist
CEO
Santos McLeese, LLC
CEO
Wildcard Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social Justice is an often misunderstood term. How do we look at the elements that allow us to use sports as a tool and a resource to transform our communities and improve lives. As a former FBI Agent who trains police departments, Quentin will lead this interactive session to allow you to develop some the skills needed for today’s challenges.
Khalid Cannon
President
Put Me In
Education Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Teaching Leadership
Learn about two top organizations teaching leadership.
Positive Athlete is quickly becoming a premier platform to reach the high school sports community, offering strategies for authentic community engagement at a grass roots level, multi-generational reach, measurable impact, and year-round participation. With the mission of transitioning high school athletes into life after sports while changing culture, Positive Athlete is helping prepare thousands of young people to recognize the value of the soft skills they’ve learned as an athlete to a workforce desperate to find high character, teamwork-oriented leaders. This national program has already built strategic alliances with high school administrators, national governing bodies, professional sports franchises, and corporate partners. And the platform is relevant to the entire sports industry.
COMMON GROUND FOUNDATION, INC. involves fostering youth development through sports and education. Our efforts are grounded in mentoring and public engagement, which have been pivotal in delivering strategic solutions for students’ academic and athletic success.
KARL KEMP
Executive Director
Common Ground Foundation
SCOTT PEDERSON
Founder
Positive Athlete
Inclusion Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
Creating an Inclusive Environment
for those with Visual Impairments
Fans, workers and others engaged in the sports world face a variety of hurdles due to visual impairments that are avoidable with relatively low burden on the organizations hosting the event. Learn how your organization can build a more collaborative and inclusive environment.
BRYCE WEILER
Founder
The Beautiful Lives Project
Fundraising Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE ASK
Making the ask in any fundraising situation is not the entry point. It is the culmination of months (or years) of nuturing, stewardship and relationship building with the donor. By the time you get to the ask, the donor should be well aware of your goals and expectations. Getting to that point requires a lot of time, research and a deep understanding of the donors’ interests and motivations!
ELIZABETH FINLAYSON
CEO
The Nonprofit Coach
Concussion and Brain Health Track
Breakout Session #3--3:00 pm--Thursday, June 26, 2025
MEDICAL TREATMENT ADVANCES
Learn about new acute medical treatment advances in the world of concussions. Increasingly, the medical community is identifying a significant number of rapid metabolic failures shortly after a head injury of all magnitudes, causing far-reaching health impacts from a concussion. These impacts often extend beyond the brain injury, affecting many other body systems.
DR. ROBERT BARIC
Founder
MyConcussionDR and MyBrainDR
4:00 pm MAIN STAGE PANEL #3--
Media Panel: The Power of Leveraging Media
AUSTIN CARR
President
Intentional Sports
DARRIN GRAY
Executive Director of Media Strategies
FRED MITCHELL
Sportswriter & Author
The Chicago Tribune
5:00 pm Thursday Evening Keynote
Scaling Philanthropic Organizations
DON LIIMATAINEN
Founder
Best Christmas Ever
SCOTT PEDERSON
Founder
Positive Athlete
MACELLO CUCINA DI PUGLIA
1235 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
SPW2025 SPONSORS
We would like to thank all of our sponsors who are supporting
the sports philanthropy community and making SPW2025 a reality.
Host Sponsor
Name Badge Sponsor
Event Host Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Community Sponsors
Media
Partners
