Call for Sessions

The 2017 Annual Conference entitled Leading Together will offer attendees the opportunity to participate in a world-class conference experience and to see some of the Dallas – Ft. Worth region’s unique philanthropic achievements. The Council will ensure that the conference provides high-quality opportunities to learn, connect, and share with their peers. The conference will showcase philanthropy’s diverse successes, best practices, and leadership insights from compelling speakers and presenters that will bring both a U.S. and global perspective and the vibrant communities in which they reside.

What is a Vibrant Community? 

A truly vibrant community thinks holistically about the kinds of opportunities afforded its residents. This year’s issue-based programming will focus on the importance of place. By looking at how certain important issues connect with the broader community, we will examine what builds a truly vibrant community.

This programming will examine communities holistically, but we will place special emphasis on how funders may address:

• Civility – Efforts to build courtesy and mutual respect in the conduct of a city’s affairs.
• Culture – Efforts to support expression and artistry and to increase access to culture.
• Economic Development – Efforts to grow a city’s economy responsibly.
• Food and Water – Efforts to ensure the availability of quality food and water.
• Health – Efforts to improve community health outcomes.

What is a Call for Sessions?

A Call for Sessions provides the philanthropic sector the opportunity to suggest sessions to be highlighted at the Annual Conference based on this year’s programmatic frame. Members can share their ideas, innovative approaches, knowledge and expertise to help strengthen this year’s programming. Moreover, the Call for Sessions serves as a more proactive means of connecting with thought leaders who are taking innovative approaches in philanthropy.

This meeting presents a unique opportunity to further engage in an active and ongoing process that affirms diversity in its many forms, encompassing but not limited to ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation and identification, economic circumstance, disability, and political philosophy. We strongly encourage you to incorporate diverse voices, philosophies, perspectives, and ideologies, and to think about creative ways to better reflect the global diversity of philanthropy.