With more than 2,500 giving circles around the world, We Give Summit is the place for giving circle members, community leaders, philanthropy experts, and social impact newcomers to come together, forge new bonds, strengthen our work towards community change, and celebrate the power of collective giving! With live and on-demand sessions, We Give Summit will inspire and connect individuals across a growing grassroots movement. Last year, We Give Summit attracted 1,100+ giving circle members and supporters and we can’t wait to see what next year holds!

This year’s theme, Bolder Together, calls on the collective giving community to ask ourselves: How can we give with deep meaning and intention while remaining true to our values? How can we most boldly and imaginatively strengthen the growing collective giving movement? How do we embrace and continue developing powerful innovative tools, ideas, and methods? What unique and bold solutions can we explore to support today’s most pressing challenges? At We Give Summit 2023, we’ll explore these questions and push ourselves as a collective giving field to further disrupt institutional philanthropy in creative ways.

We Give Summit is seeking session proposals from giving circle members, donor collaboratives, community leaders, organizational and company leaders, major corporations, philanthropy networks, high net worth individuals, and community foundations that represent a diversity of identities, experiences, geographic locations, and communities. Special consideration will be given to proposals that highlight the voices of youth, Native Americans, individuals with disabilities, and those from rural communities. In true spirit of collective giving, we strongly encourage collaboration among groups and giving circles of different racial and class backgrounds. Please note: the We Give Summit team may propose modifications to your session if accepted, including recommending speakers and requesting multiple organizers collaborate.

 

What are the different types of sessions?

  • Fireside Chat (1-2 speakers): Cover high-level findings and perspectives on topics that are timely, innovative, and thought-provoking (eg. Wealth & Power Sharing, State of Women & Girls)
  • 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, How to Create Your First Impression Toolkit, Starting an Endowment, Useful Technologies to Know, Designing Engaging Virtual Membership Events, Membership Retention)
  • Panel Discussion (3-4 speakers): Present diverse perspectives on specific issues and/or communities (e.g. State of LGBTQ Rights, Women of Color in Climate Justice, The Excellence of Black Philanthropy, Young People in Philanthropy, Strengthening Local Ties)
  • Lightning Talk (1-2 speakers): Short, 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, Building a Multigenerational Giving Circle)

 

This year, we particularly hope to see more workshops, interactive sessions, facilitated open conversations, and case studies. The final curated sessions aim to reflect the interests and needs of our diverse audience across the field. Note: All session proposals should have a clear, direct link to collective giving.

We hope to provide our attendees, who last year represented 275+ giving circles and 25 countries, with a rich diversity of perspectives, topics, and ideas on how the giving circle movement can move bolder together.

Please submit your proposal using the form below by December 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This is the final deadline to submit session proposals.

All sessions will be held virtually over Zoom May 2-4, 2023 and will be scheduled for 50 minutes. If you’re unable to present live, we are able to accommodate pre-recordings.

When is the Submission deadline?

We Give Summit session proposals must be submitted by December 1, 2022.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

No, we ask that you do not submit more than one proposal. Given the conference’s short duration, we are only able to accommodate a limited number of sessions.

Do session speakers receive compensation?

Yes, each speaker will be provided with a small but heartfelt honorarium as a token of appreciation for their time, effort, and ideas. This honorarium will be issued within a few weeks after the conference.

Do I need to confirm my speakers before submitting?

You do not need to confirm speakers before submitting your proposal; however, we do ask that you share a general idea of the perspective(s) you’d like represented at your session.

Can I submit a proposal if I dont have any speakers in mind?

Yes, you can submit a proposal if you don’t have any suggested speakers. We do ask that you share a general of the perspective(s) you’d like represented at your session.

When will sessions be held?

All sessions will be live May 2-4, 2023. If you’re unable to attend your scheduled session time, we can record in advance. Each session slot is 50 minutes.

What are tips for a successful proposal?

We Give Summit 2023 is seeking creative proposals that:

  • introduce unique, bold, and/or innovative models, approaches and solutions;
  • uplift and celebrate diverse voices and perspectives;
  • are inclusive;
  • are centered on collective giving; and/or
  • inspire participants to stay connected with one another and the broader movement

Take a look at our We Give Summit 2022 Sessions for examples of session ideas.

What responsibilities do session organizers have?

Session organizers serve as the primary contact for session proposals and will work with the We Give Summit committee, if accepted, to ensure the successful and timely planning of the session. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Submit a session proposal using the online form
  • Coordinate and confirm session speakers
  • Ensure that all deadlines and requirements for the session planning and execution, as defined by the organizing committee, are met
  • Attend an hour-long session orientation to review and troubleshoot production with speakers a week prior to the date of the session
  • Promote session with provided marketing materials
  • Session rehearsals
  • Submit a session proposal using the online form
  • Coordinate and confirm session speakers
  • Ensure that all deadlines and requirements for the session planning and execution, as defined by the organizing committee, are met
  • Attend an hour-long session orientation to review and troubleshoot production with speakers a week prior to the date of the session
  • Promote session with provided marketing materials

Is the information I enter on my proposal final?

No. Once your application is reviewed, the We Give Summit team will be in touch to discuss next steps. At this time, you can discuss any changes you’d like to see before your session is finalized.

Additionally, the We Give Summit team may propose modifications to your session, including recommending speakers and requesting multiple organizers collaborate.

When will I find out if my proposal has been accepted?

Be on the lookout for an email from the We Give Summit team on or shortly after January 23, 2022.

I still have questions!

If you need further assistance, please contact us at WeGiveSummit@PhilanthropyTogether.org.

No Solicitation Policy 

We Give Summit is a place to collaborate and share ideas, and is a non-solicitation environment. This event exists to help each other learn and grow. It’s not a place to spam or promote services. All speakers who present are asked to share their perspective as educators and experts, and shall not use this platform for sales pitches or self-promotion.

 

Commitment to Racial Equity

Philanthropy Together is committed to creating a more just and equitable society. We acknowledge that philanthropy as a sector has been complicit in the unjust treatment and exclusion of Black, Indigenous, people of color, and many other marginalized groups, and we deeply commit to being a force for change, healing, and community building.  The groundswell of racial diversity within the collective giving movement inspires us, and the opportunity to build on its transformative power in service to the overall field of philanthropy gives us much hope.

Everyone has the ability to lead in this work, and we stand resolute in the belief that the collective giving movement is inclusive and made for everyone. Real change is coming, and we are grateful for all those who wish to join us.

 

Commitment to Disability Inclusion

Philanthropy Together is committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in our work given the structural barriers and inequitable law, policy, and norms that the community faces. We seek to engage with people with different priorities or face different levels of exclusion, based on gender, race, poverty, ethnic status, religion and disability. For meaningful and accessible participation in the We Give Summit, please contact us at WeGiveSummit@PhilanthropyTogether.org.

to inform us of your accessibility needs and we will review your accommodation needs or make note of it along with your registration.