Lisa Brown Alexander, CEO, International Keynote Speaker & Author

Engaging keynote presentations that inspire event attendees to break down barriers and challenge the status quo!

Lisa“If an organization can strengthen its internal talent capacity, it can better serve the community and those in need.” That is Lisa Brown Alexander’s mantra, and she has been beating the drum for it for nearly 20 years! Driven to serve the often-overlooked human resources needs for the social-impact sector, Lisa set out to build a market where one didn’t exist. She founded Nonprofit HR, the leading talent management firm in the country that works exclusively with the nonprofit sector. Today, fueled by the passion of 100-plus employees and consultants nationwide, the thriving company is helping many of the nation’s most prominent nonprofit organizations get ahead through smart people management strategies. In the process, they’re changing the way an entire sector thinks about talent and culture.

Lisa has inspired Nonprofit HR to become a force that thousands of nonprofit and talent management leaders look to for consulting services, thought partnership, sector-specific hiring and executive search needs, professional development and information. Lisa’s leadership and the work of her firm have proven that better talent practices can play an integral role in nonprofit success. Nonprofits have benefited from her wealth of knowledge and experience to make their people-driven initiatives successful. Lisa’s goal is to ensure that every Nonprofit HR engagement inspires social sector leaders to strengthen their most important asset: their people.

A leader within the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan region and the national nonprofit sector, author, international speaker, and key industry influencer, Lisa actively contributes to the strength of the sector through her advisory roles with Fund the People and Equity in the Center initiatives. She frequently addresses national conferences and events and has authored scores of articles in nonprofit and HR publications on human resources issues. Lisa also serves on the board of directors of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince George’s Cultural Arts Foundation, and is a former board member of the D.C. Rape Crisis Center and Community Youth Advance (formerlyMentoring to Manhood). A proud Canadian-American, mother and wife, Lisa is also the co-owner of Wellspring Manor and Spa, an upscale retreat destination and full-service bed and breakfast located in suburban Maryland. Lisa operates Wellspring Manor alongside her husband where they also lead an experienced staff of hospitality professionals. And, known in both her personal and professional circles as a trailblazer and a champion for excellence, Lisa set out to infuse a little soul into the luxury gift box market by creating Wellspring Wishes, which launched in 2020. 

Does your organization need a keynote presenter or panel speaker who can focus on talent management for social impact? Request Lisa Brown Alexander to speak! Complete the below form to initiate the speaker request process.

Featured Interview: WTOP interviewed Lisa Brown Alexander and Rebecca Dixon, Executive Director of National Employment Law Project (NELP) on the results of the 2023 Nonprofit Talent Retention Practices Survey report and the ways nonprofits can win at talent management in 2023. Click here to read the article and watch the full interview!


Lisa Brown Alexander was also featured on WJLA ABC7’s Working Woman Series. The segment not only details Lisa’s journey to start and grow the leading HR firm in the country that works exclusively with the nonprofit sector, but also highlights the strength and size of the nonprofit sector.

Lisa Brown Morton - WJLA


“The mission that you’re trying to realize, whether it is to eradicate hunger, eliminate poverty or to advocate for social justice is disproportionately impacted by the lack of investment in talent.”

— Lisa Brown Alexander



Over the course of her career, Lisa has presented to hundreds of organizations, staff and leadership teams, covering all things talent management for the social sector.

To hire Lisa for your upcoming event, contact Nonprofit HR for speaker details. 202.785.2060.


Lisa’s most popular speaking topics:

  • How To Turn Your HR Department Into a Powerhouse
  • The Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey: Key Findings and What They Mean to Your Nonprofit
  • Workplace Culture: Is Yours Healthy?
  • Employee Engagement: What Every Organization Should be Doing Now
  • Collaborative & Strategic Thinking for HR
  • The State of HR in the Nonprofit Sector
  • Executive Director Reviews: Aligning with Organizational Goals, Performance & Outcomes
  • Finding Top Talent to Drive Your Mission Forward
  • Making the Business Case for HR in Nonprofits
  • The Talent Factor: How Top Talent Can Make Your Nonprofit’s Mission a Reality
  • Overcoming the “Dark Side” of Entrepreneurship
  • Unemployable? Why Unemployed Individuals May Be Just the Type of Talent Your Nonprofit Needs
  • The X Factor: Why Some Nonprofit Leaders Succeed and Others Fail
  • Talent Underinvestment: Why the Nonprofit Sector Undervalues Talent and What We Can Do About It
  • Underpaid, Overworked and Undervalued? Combatting Stereotypes About Nonprofit Employment
  • Goodbye Glass Ceiling: Is Gender and Race Still Holding Us Back in the Workplace?
  • Understanding Overhead: Reimagining the Role of Staff in the 21st Century Nonprofit
  • Building Mission-Driven Leaders from Within
  • The Retention Equation: Why Your Best Talent is Leaving and What You Can Do About It

Lisa in the Media

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Tovia Smith, NPR News National Desk Correspondent, turned to Lisa Brown Alexander to share her insights on the responsibilities human resources professionals have in investigating, reporting and resolving sexual harassment cases. Listen to the podcast to learn more about HR’s role in helping victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Listen Now


Business of givingLisa Brown Alexander recently joined Denver Frederick of The Business of Giving to discuss the importance of talent and culture in the nonprofit sector.

Listen to the full interview to hear more about the intersection between talent, culture, mission and sustainability.

Listen Now


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Lisa Brown Alexander recently sat down with Habitat for Humanity to share her HR expertise and discuss effective talent management, succession planning and change management strategies within the nonprofit sector.

Listen to the full interview to learn about the importance of building an effective talent management framework within your organization.

Listen Now


Speaking Engagements

Coming soon.


To inquire about Lisa's availability to speak at your next event, fill out the form below.