Conference Theme: Our Hopes, Our Voice, Our Future
November 9-11, Philadelphia

More on the Conference • Conference Program • Speaker Handouts • CEO Track • NGen Program (for emerging leaders) • Public Policy Action Institute • Scholar-in-Residence Program • Conference Sponsors • Program and Host Committees

Panelists for the Closing Plenary (from left): Sterling Speirn, Randall Kennedy, Marie Wilson, Luz Vega-Marquis, and Kelvin Taketa.

More than 900 leaders from throughout the nonprofit community came together to discover the best ways to use our powerful voice to secure brighter futures for people across the country and around the world. Participants identified and developed creative approaches that charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs can use to strengthen our communities and fulfill the hopes of millions of people for better lives.

At the heart of the main program were nearly 40 sessions, including four insightful plenaries.

Highlights included:

• Opening and closing plenaries that examined the importance of the 2008 elections, including how the results will change government and affect nonprofits, and what this year’s campaign tells us about race and gender in America.
• Inspiring and thought-provoking words from IS President and CEO Diana Aviv, IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, and Ford Foundation President Luis Ubiñas.
• Honors to the 2008 John W. Gardner Leadership Award recipient Robert Greenstein, founder and executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and to the Center for Community Change, the recipient of 2008 American Express Building Leadership Award
• Nearly 35 breakout sessions that explored issues vital to our organizations, such as the new Form 990; innovative approaches to enhancing impact; strengthening self-governance; techniques for harnessing creativity; taking advantage of a diverse staff; and developing and renewing leaders.
• Special sessions including the Public Policy Action Institute, the Global Civil Society Dinner, the NGen program for emerging leaders, and the IS members-only CEO Track.

Watch for a special issue of Memo to Members next month with full details from the conference.

Please mark your calendars so you can join us for the 2009 Annual Conference in Detriot, Michigan, November 4-6.