On January 8, 2026, United Way of Galveston convened nonprofit leaders from across Galveston Island for Bring Your Calendar: A 2026 Planning Lab for Nonprofits, hosted in Rosenberg Library’s Wortham Auditorium.

This was not a presentation. It was a working session of thoughtful nonprofit leaders, gathered around real calendars, real constraints, and a shared desire to plan well. Lunch from the always-amazing Old Moon Deli helped set the tone for a productive, collegial afternoon.

Participants spent time reviewing their real 2026 calendars, identifying major events, deadlines, and capacity pressure points, and then stepping back together to share observations and compare notes. Attendees generously shared ideas, tools, and practical approaches they use to manage competing demands, offering one another concrete examples of how planning happens inside real-world constraints.

The goal of the session was not to solve every challenge in the room, but to create space for visibility and reflection. Having time to look closely at calendars, alongside peers doing the same work, helped ground conversations in reality rather than aspiration.

We also shared a simple coordination tool available through United Way of Galveston. Our community calendar is a shared visibility resource. It helps community members find volunteer opportunities and gives nonprofit leaders a way to see what else is happening across Galveston as they plan their work. It is not a solution for every scheduling challenge, but having key dates visible earlier can reduce unintentional overlap and support better coordination over time.

We are grateful to the organizations that participated and contributed ideas, tools, and thoughtful perspectives throughout the session:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast
• St. Vincent’s House
• Groundswell
• SMART Family Literacy
• Teen Health Center, Inc.
• Sunshine Center, Inc.
• Nia Cultural Center
• MarMo Innovation
• Family Service Center of Galveston County
• Libbie’s Place
• Fanfare! Lutheran Music Academy
• Family Houston
• ARTS Downtown GTX

And because this is Galveston, the day also included a joyful pause. When we realized it was one Amy Musick’s birthday, the room broke into song, a reminder that even while doing serious work, community and connection still matter.

We also extend our thanks to Rosenberg Library for their hospitality and for providing such a welcoming, well-equipped meeting space. The Wortham Auditorium offered an ideal setting for focused work and thoughtful conversation, and we appreciate the library’s continued support of community learning and collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who showed up prepared and for sharing ideas and tools that made the session more useful for the group as a whole.

What’s next

Our next Lunch & Learn is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at 11:00 a.m. and will focus on designing strong group volunteer projects. This session is designed to support nonprofit organizations interested in serving as host sites for GISD Give Back Day, helping ensure volunteer experiences are meaningful for both agencies and volunteers.