Longtime Nonprofit Center leader will guide organization’s work to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, collaboration and leadership across Northeast Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — September 23, 2026 — The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida (NPC) today announced the appointment of Callan Brown as Chief Executive Officer, following her service as Interim CEO and nearly a decade of leadership with the organization. In her new role, Brown will lead the Nonprofit Center’s expanded focus on strengthening the infrastructure, leadership and long-term sustainability of Northeast Florida’s nonprofit sector.
Brown assumes the permanent position as the Nonprofit Center advances its 2026-2029 strategic plan, a three-phase roadmap focused on innovation in nonprofit services, leadership development, regional advocacy, and long-term financial sustainability. The organization currently serves 350 members nonprofits across Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. It is the central regional resource for the nonprofit sector in Northeast Florida, which is the third largest employer in the region with a workforce of over 78,000 employees.
“Callan has demonstrated throughout her career at the Nonprofit Center that she understands both the day-to-day realities facing nonprofit leaders and the larger forces shaping the future of our sector today,” said Sam Inman, Chair of the NPC’s Board of Directors. “She is a collaborative leader with a clear vision for how the Nonprofit Center can help organizations respond to change and remain strong. The board is confident in her ability to lead the organization into this next chapter.”
Brown has played an integral role in the Nonprofit Center’s evolution over the last decade, advancing through senior leadership positions and most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Development, Partnerships & Operations before being named Interim CEO in July. Before joining the Nonprofit Center in 2016, she served as Program Director for Take Stock in Children Clay County at the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast and began her nonprofit career through AmeriCorps service. Brown holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from the University of North Florida and a bachelor’s degree in art history and museum studies from Florida State University
As CEO, Brown will focus on positioning the Nonprofit Center as an essential infrastructure partner for Northeast Florida’s nonprofit community — helping organizations build capacity, share resources and data, develop leaders and pursue new models for collaboration. A major priority will be moving the Center’s shared services initiative from feasibility into implementation, a process made possible by recent philanthropic investment from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and several private donors. This will give nonprofit organizations greater access to financial expertise and infrastructure without requiring every organization to build that capacity independently.
“The environment nonprofits operate in is changing rapidly. Our role is to help organizations anticipate and adapt to those changes, rather than simply respond to them,” Brown said. “That means building stronger infrastructure, creating opportunities to share resources and expertise, developing the next generation of leaders, and bringing nonprofits, philanthropy, government and business together around the challenges and opportunities facing our region. At the heart of this work is the mission the Nonprofit Center has always carried forward: to connect, strengthen and advocate for Northeast Florida’s nonprofit sector.”
Brown will also continue expanding the NPC’s sustained collaboration work, which provides programming, resources, facilitation and consulting to help nonprofits proactively explore strategic partnerships and restructuring options. The organization works with nonprofit leaders, boards and the local funding community to support organizations considering strategic mergers, shared services and other forms of collaboration.
Developing and retaining nonprofit leaders will be another central focus. Under her leadership, the Center recently launched the Community Coaching Network, bringing together a cohort of CEOs from major nonprofit institutions across the region to expand CEO and board development, governance and strategic planning support.
“I have seen firsthand Callan’s commitment to bringing people together around shared challenges and creating the conditions for organizations to become stronger and more sustainable,” said Kathleen Shaw, Executive Director of the Terry Family Foundation and member of the NPC’s Board of Directors. “She understands how nonprofit organizations, funders and community partners can work together to build a stronger sector, and she has the ability to turn big ideas into practical strategies that organizations can use.”
The Nonprofit Center will continue strengthening its role as a nonpartisan, evidence-based convener and advocate for the sector ensuring the sector’s experiences and perspectives are represented in broader community conversations. Recent efforts include the expansion of Bridging the Sector and Catalyst Northeast Florida, along with convenings around significant policy, funding and organizational sustainability issues.
“Our nonprofit sector is essential to the strength and vitality of this region, but the organizations doing this work cannot be expected to navigate increasingly complex challenges alone,” said Brown. “The Nonprofit Center has an opportunity to build the framework to help the entire sector become stronger — through shared infrastructure, better data, stronger leaders, deeper collaboration and a collective voice. I am honored to lead that work and the exceptional team behind it.”
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About the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida
The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida is a vital support system for our nonprofits. It offers services, programs, and information resources for 350 members while advocating for the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector locally and at the state level. It provides local government, civic and business leaders, and the media insights and information to promote smart decision-making and public support for local nonprofits. Visit nonprofitctr.org to learn more.