Guided Wellness Activity

Early Morning

A combination of guided stretching and somatic breathing will get your mind and body ready for the summit, and allow you to center yourself.

Opening Main Stage – Why Democracy Depends on a Healthy Nonprofit Sector

Main Stage

Every day we see headlines (and, increasingly, TikTok videos) describing how the fate of our democracy hangs in the balance. And, of course, those of us leading the nonprofit and philanthropic sector know we are doings things — big and small — to maintain the trust of the American public, keep our democracy strong for future generations, and ensure all people and communities are thriving. Doing all of these things requires that our sector is healthy and equitable. And that begs the question, “How healthy are we?” In this Main Stage conversation, you’ll hear more about the latest research released …

I Just Want To Help: Understanding the Problematic Roots of Volunteerism and Moving Forward With Compassion

Workshop

The desire to help others can be a powerful motivation to volunteer, but when that desire is rooted in pity and paternalism, or a need to save someone seen as less fortunate, it can do more harm than good. Too often, organizations use language based in saviorism to recruit and motivate volunteers, especially volunteers coming from outside the community being served. Jennifer Bennett, CVA from VolunteerMatch, along with Faiza Venzant, CVA from the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, will lead a dynamic conversation exploring how the principles of white supremacy culture show up in our work leading volunteers and …

How To Strengthen American Democracy by Cultivating Engaged Citizens

Spark Talk

This is an urgent moment for the nation and for democracy. Across political parties and demographics, there is a lack of faith that our system can work for everyone. Deep polarization, mistrust, and misinformation stymie progress. Still, there are reasons for optimism in our ideals, our history, and the ambition of Gen Z. Cultivating more informed, engaged, and committed citizens now will power a more stable and inclusive democracy in the future. This session will make the case for investing in the civic engagement of young people as the underestimated solution to what ails our democracy. It will suggest specific …

Impact Investing: Identifying the Role You Can Play in the Ecosystem

Workshop

Have you heard about “impact investing” but you’re not sure what the term includes or how it relates to you and your organization? Have you wondered how mission-driven investing can benefit the communities you serve? Come to this session prepared for a discussion directly with workshop leaders. Together you will unpack the terms and map out on paper how each ecosystem actor can take a role in advancing impact by using or attracting a variety of investment types and tools that complement grant funding. This session is intended to be relevant not just to foundations and not-for-profit organizations, but to …

Transparency, Trust, and Ethical Practice in the Nonprofit Sector

Workshop

Independent Sector’s 33 Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice offer standards for nonprofits and foundations to self-regulate – which is essential to maintaining public trust. As distrust in nonprofits and philanthropy grows, we know that the general public continues to demand transparency and accountability from our institutions in return for their trust. Join Independent Sector in this interactive workshop as we assess how the 33 principles, last updated a decade ago, might best be contemporized to meet not only public expectations, but also a dramatically shifting environment in which nonprofits and philanthropy are operating. Join us to discuss legal …

Catalyzing Change: A New Philanthropic Model for Addressing Homelessness

Workshop

Housing Forward is the lead agency in addressing homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties. Through a unique philanthropic partnership with the Homeless Funders Collaborative led by The Meadows Foundation, they have combined the power of private and public funding to make an immense impact on the homeless response system. This new model has played an integral role in significantly reducing unsheltered chronic homelessness and transformed our system to allow placement of more neighbors in stable housing faster than ever before. They will dive into the story behind this visionary collaboration and discover how philanthropy is turning the tide on addressing …

Fort Worth’s Fund to Advance Racial Equity: Perspectives From Two Grantees

Workshop

Hear from March to the Polls and Community Frontline, two Fort Worth-area nonprofits that have received grants and capacity-building support under the Fund to Advance Racial Equity at the North Texas Community Foundation. Nonprofit leaders will share about their programming, as well as their experience participating in a cohort-based grant program. You’ll learn about strategies to increase civic engagement, improve policy-community relations, and advance racial justice. Furthermore, presenters will share an approach to grantmaking that includes diverse community input for decision-making and capacity-building resources that extend beyond financial support.

Giving Big: Lessons Learned From a Radical Approach to Philanthropy

Workshop

MacKenzie Scott’s massive unrestricted gifts to nonprofits, including many seeking to advance equity, represented a radical departure from the proscriptive approach of many of her peers —which is often characterized by much smaller, frequently restricted grants. What can funders and nonprofits alike learn from the experience of the recipients of Scott’s grants? What have been the effects — intended or unintended — of her gifts on organizations, fields, communities, and equity efforts? This session will offer a sneak preview of new, not-yet-released findings from year two of a multiyear study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy to track the uses, …

Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Voter Engagement

Workshop

To achieve our shared goals of healthier, thriving, and equitable communities, our voters must reflect our communities. As funders, conveners, collaborators, and catalyzers, foundations can inspire and support voter engagement work that builds a more inclusive and equitable democracy and ensures local communities are heard in our democratic process. Whether your mission is healthier environments, improving social determinants of health, or increased investment in arts education, foundations have a role to play in prioritizing voter engagement in your work. This fall, Nonprofit VOTE will unveil its latest resource — the Philanthropy for Voter Engagement Toolkit — to help foundations foster a philanthropic system that …