In the spirit of collaboration, we invite the entire field of collective giving to help shape this year’s agenda. Recognizing the diversity of perspectives across the collective giving field, we are conducting an open call for ideas this year instead of the open call for sessions format used in previous years. Our open call process seeks ideas from the collective giving community with the intent of more deeply understanding the current needs and interests of the field and shaping the Summit agenda accordingly. Please think of your idea submission as an opportunity to shape the Summit agenda rather than as a fixed session. To highlight unique perspectives, your ideas may be combined with other thoughts and ideas of peers in this movement. Note: Your idea does not need to be fully developed, nor do your speaker recommendations need to be confirmed.
As a global community, 2024 is a crucial year for us to Activate Together. Together we can ignite change using our time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties (also known as the 5 T’s of philanthropy). Share your ideas for session topics centered around these five core areas of focus.
- Time (Volunteering)
- Talent (Sharing your knowledge, skills, or experience)
- Treasure (Providing financial and in-kind support)
- Testimony (Sharing your story and uplifting those of others)
- Ties (Levaraging your connections and relationships for good)
We strongly encourage ideas from collective giving groups and community leaders from a diversity of racial and class backgrounds. Special consideration will be given to ideas and speakers that highlight the voices of youth, Indigenous Peoples, individuals with disabilities, those from the Global South, and the US South, Central, and Mountain West regions. We are also seeking issue area experts who can provide meaningful context for the collective giving community on topics including, but not limited to: LGBTQ+ issues, gender, education, climate justice, peace and justice, resource mobilizing leadership, collective fundraising, and organizing.
Timeline:
Please submit your ideas via the open call form by December 4, 2023. An update on sessions will be sent to those who submit ideas by January 31, 2024.
Session Areas of Focus:
We Give Summit 2024 builds on the past three celebrations — with more than 100 hours of content — filled with collective wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration. As we activate participants to take action in their communities, we welcome session ideas that are connected to the five main focus areas outlined below. Within these areas, we are particularly interested in a focus on democracy, civic engagement, and action. Within your idea, ask yourself: What are the actionable steps participants can take post-summit?
Please submit your idea using this online form by Monday December 4, 2023. Note: Submission of an idea or speaker recommendation does not guarantee acceptance into We Give Summit 2024. Below are some guiding questions for your idea submissions.
Time
- How can you leverage your time through volunteering to actively engage in promoting democracy and drive political change?
- What are the ways in which volunteering can safeguard democracy and drive political change?
- In what ways can the diversification of advisory and corporate boards be used as a tool for advancing social change?
Talent
- How do you find and start sharing your unique talents and skills?
- What concrete actions can collective giving communities take to harness their members’ talents for political action?
- In what ways can we more actively incorporate mentorship and knowledge sharing into civic education and engagement efforts?
Treasure
- What innovative methods and approaches can collective giving groups use to fund and support democratic institutions and initiatives?
- How can we mobilize resources, particularly in polarizing political environments?
- How can financial contributions be strategically utilized to promote civic engagement and electoral participation?
- How can corporations play a direct role in funding and advancing collective action?
- What does a democratic economy look like, and what lessons can be learned from experiments and approaches being tested worldwide?
Ties
- How can collective giving networks proactively support members in participating in democratic processes and engaging civically?
- What practical steps can we take to foster stronger connections and networks among collective giving groups worldwide?
- In what ways can we actively bridge divides across communities that hold different identities and viewpoints?
- What concrete strategies can we use to build and leverage relationships across sectors and interconnected movements to strengthen democracy and amplify impact?
- How do you turn your ties into actionable impact?
- How do you incorporate intersectionality to better drive collective action and advance social movements?
Testimony
- How can we amplify the voices of most impacted communities in the face of injustices?
- How can you use testimony to advocate for reforms and drive policy change across government, the economy, and philanthropy?
- How do you uncover and connect your personal story to making change in your local community?
- In what ways can we utilize traditional and social media to raise awareness, share stories, and generate public support to disrupt existing power structures?
Types of Sessions:
- Skill-Building Workshop (1-2 speakers): Provide an interactive learning experience that creates opportunity for skills development and collaborative learning (e.g. Meeting Facilitation 101, Including Neuro-diverse Participants in Giving Circles, Useful Technologies to Know, Designing Engaging Virtual Membership Events, Membership Retention)
- Panel Discussion (3-4 speakers): Present diverse perspectives and actionable takeaways on specific issues and/or communities (e.g. The Importance of Funding Native-Led Efforts, State of LGBTQ Rights, Women of Color in Climate Justice, The Excellence of Black Philanthropy, Young People in Philanthropy)
- Lightning Talk (1-2 speakers): Brief, engaging pre-recorded presentations that focus on narrating the key points of findings, project goals, research, and insights (e.g. Grassroots Media Relations 101, How to Start a Youth Giving Circle, Family Conversations about Giving)
