Leading Locally 2025 - Suggested Sessions
Suggested Sessions
We get it, the full Leading Locally 2025 schedule can be overwhelming! How do you find the sessions that make sense for you?
We've put together lists of suggested sessions for just about every job role at your organization. Want to find the best sessions for a new CEO? Interested in public policy? Making recommendations for your colleague in communications? We've got you covered.
Get started with these suggestions, then see the full list of Leading Locally 2025 Programming to plan your conference experience.
CEOs, presidents, and executive directors are leading organizations through times of immense change. The energy, comfort, and joy that comes from being in a space with your peers can help you navigate the unique challenges you face.
Come join the more than 150 foundation CEOs already registered for Leading Locally and access the CEO-only sessions we’ve crafted just for you, including our CEO and Trustee Reception on Tuesday evening.
Sessions:
- Roundtable for CEOs: Joining in Solidarity to Defend the Philanthropic Sector
- Resourcing Our Organizations During Complex Times
- Bold Strategies to Uplift Humanity in Uncertain Times
- Building Strong Communities Across Divides
- Caring for Ourselves and Others
What others are saying: “Just amazing. I learned so much, and I've been leading a foundation for 15 years.”
Having the tools to tell the story of your work in a way that inspires both understanding and action is a constant challenge for communicators working in the charitable sector. Join your peers to learn new skills to talk about your work across multiple audiences.
Sessions:
- Leveraging Narrative Power to Inspire Stronger Communities
- Increasing Trust Amid Decreasing Attention
- Philanthropy, Journalism, and Bridging Divides (Hosted by Chronicle of Philanthropy)
- Improve the Civic Health of Communities by Collaborating with Local & Hyperlocal News
- Building Trust with Policymakers Using the Science of Storytelling
What others are saying: "I was able to connect with my peers, learn new skills, and be inspired with fresh ideas."
If you manage an organization’s most precious resource – its people – you know there is important work to do to support your staff and volunteers as you navigate an uncertain legal environment and support people who are being negatively impacted by shifting directives.
We’re offering a number of pre-conference opportunities and sessions that will address these topics.
There’s much more on the agenda, so if you have staff or board members looking for professional development opportunities, share the program with them!
Pre-Conference:
Sessions:
- Reduce Burnout and Be More Relevant by Being a Learning Organization
- Looking to the Future of Board Governance
- Responsible AI in Philanthropy
- Resilience and Trauma-Informed Leadership
What others are saying: "This validated my personal vision for the work I do. Thank you."
Finding innovative ways to take on community problems is what you do best. Gather with your peers to hear about new ideas, lessons learned and best practices from across the country.
Pre-Conference:
Sessions:
- Revolutionizing Proposal Data Sharing for Funders and Changemakers
- Investing in Creative People to Build Healthier Local Economies and Communities
- Partnering with Youth Programs to Expand Impact
- Raising the Rural Voice in Foundation Giving
- Community Foundations, Nonprofit Service Providers, and Local Government Working Collaboratively
What others are saying: “I loved hearing real-life examples of innovative ways to approach community problems.”
Staying informed and exchanging perspectives on how the evolving policy environment could impact philanthropy has never been more important—and challenging! Gain the knowledge and connections that will support you and your work during this tumultuous time.
Pre-Conference:
Sessions:
- Navigating the 119th Congress
- How Place-Based Funders Can Shape State-Level Public Policy Through Consensus
- Lessons From a Community Funder’s Journey to Advance Equitable Policy Change
- Building Trust with Policymakers Using the Science of Storytelling
What others are saying: "The content was thoughtful and on-point."
Connect with your peers to exchange ideas and learn new skills to engage donors.
Sessions:
- Development Pecha Kucha: A Rapid Share of Ideas
- Engaging Communities Across Geography
- DAF Punk: Donor-in-Movement Funds (DMFs) as an Alternative to Traditional DAFs
- What Makes Nonprofits Stand Out to Funders?
- Activating Community Leadership Through the Lens of Indigenous Philanthropy
What others are saying: "I didn't realize how much I missed having one on one conversations with my peers from around the country."
Feel like you’re weathering a storm of impacts from both the perspective of your company as well as your philanthropy? Connect with your peers and hear about how they are supporting local communities and building partnerships to increase impact.
Sessions:
- Building Trust in Community Through National-Local Collaboration
- Advancing Health and Wealth Equity Through a Community-Centered Economic Inclusion Model
- Breaking Barriers to Business in the Southeast
- Insights from a Place-Based Minority Business Learning Cohort
- Developing Community Co-Designed Strategy
- Supporting Local Priorities with a Global Portfolio