At the 2025 Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, LinkedIn brought the mission of empowering nonprofit professionals to life through a multi-touchpoint experience designed to educate, connect, and inspire.
With over 1,500 global nonprofit leaders in attendance, the Lounge served as a central hub of meaningful interaction, branded storytelling, and hands-on support. From professional headshots to powerful video content creation, LinkedIn demonstrated how its platform and tools can help nonprofits move their missions forward.
OVERVIEW
With fewer than 14% of nonprofit professionals aware of LinkedIn’s discounts for fundraising, hiring, and learning products, the activation was built around a single-minded idea:
“As a nonprofit leader, you’ve learned to make the most out of your resources. Now make the most out of LinkedIn.”
To help nonprofit leaders elevate their digital presence and increase their influence online, we created a multi-touchpoint experience that included
- Storytelling Studio
- Headshot Station
- LinkedIn Coffee Connections.
Each touchpoint was designed to be approachable, actionable, and highly shareable — all while showcasing LinkedIn’s unique value to the nonprofit community.
STORYTELLING STUDIO
The Storytelling Studio gave nonprofit leaders a powerful platform to share their voices and ignite conversation across the sector.
We designed a professional, on-site studio where attendees were guided through thoughtful interviews by our content team. Using a curated framework of prompts, we helped capture authentic stories around leadership, innovation, and the evolving future of nonprofit work.
Each guest received a professionally edited, social-ready video by the end of the day — complete with custom closed captioning, location tags, and branded graphics, making it easy to share their message online.
Notable interviews featured Beth Kanter, Dr. Laurie Santos, and Erin McHugh Saif, with select clips highlighted in a post-event sizzle reel that extended the reach and resonance of the activation well beyond the Summit.
HEADSHOT WALL
One of the most popular features of the Lounge was the Headshot Station, where attendees received professional portraits to elevate their LinkedIn profiles. Each headshot was delivered instantly via email, making it easy for guests to update their profiles in real time.
Over 600 headshots were captured across two days, with guests receiving personalized tips while waiting in line. Animated screen loops provided guidance on optimizing their profiles, reinforcing the importance of a strong presence on LinkedIn. This simple-yet-effective experience offered attendees an instant confidence boost — and a tangible first step in owning their professional brand online.
LINKEDIN COFFEE CONNECTIONS
The Coffee Connections Cart served over 600 complimentary drinks, each one doubling as a warm invite to meaningful conversation.
Branded coffee sleeves featured QR codes linking to the LinkedIn for Nonprofits Resource Hub, while printed napkins prompted thoughtful, mission-driven dialogue with conversation starters like “What’s your favorite story about your work?” or “What was your favorite memory from working at your organization over the past year?”
These analog moments helped fuel digital ones — proving that small gestures can spark big connections.
RESULTS
The LinkedIn Lounge delivered measurable impact across all touchpoints:
- 🎥 135 videos recorded and edited for social and internal use
- 📸 600+ professional headshots captured
- ☕ 600+ coffees served, with countless new connections formed
- 📈 1,800+ new followers to the LinkedIn for Nonprofits page
More importantly, the activation built trust, fostered authentic content, and solidified LinkedIn’s position as a strategic partner for nonprofit professionals around the world.
