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Held in partnership with Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania

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The scale and complexity of the problems we face require new approaches and bold leadership to tap the creativity and expertise of multiple perspectives. 500 of the field's most innovative colleagues working for change gathered at the 2010 GEO National Conference, held in Pittsburgh in partnership with Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania.

The conference featured more than 40 cutting-edge sessions, thought provoking speeches and an array of special events designed to help attendees learn new strategies and share experiences that have an immediate application in today’s world.

For a searchable version of the conference program, with full session and speaker information and session resources click here.

President and CEO Kathleen P. Enright announced the Scaling What Works initiative at the GEO conference. Scaling What Works is a $4 million, three-year GEO project supported by an independent coalition of 21 grantmakers, in which GEO will serve as an ongoing convener, liaison and information broker between the field of philanthropy and the public agencies involved with the Social Innovation Fund, with the hope of building effective partnerships between philanthropy and the public sector that can speed the pace at which community solutions scale. + more

Sessions were organized in five thematic areas:

Foundation Effectiveness: Sessions focus on organizational strategies, processes and culture for smarter grantmaking.
Leadership: Sessions cover grantmakers’ role in supporting nonprofit leaders for stronger, more effective organizations.
Learning: Sessions look at evaluation, knowledge management and other tools and processes that support organizational learning for improved results.
Money: Sessions focus on types of support grantmakers can provide to strengthen nonprofits’ financial sustainability.
Stakeholder Engagement: Sessions explore how grantmakers can engage grantees and other members of the community for better results.

Sponsors:

GEO is grateful to the following organizations for their financial support:

• Anonymous
• American Eagle Outfitters Foundation
• The Buhl Foundation
• Claneil Foundation
• Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
• The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County 
• The Durfee Foundation
• Eden Hall Foundation
• The Erie Community Foundation
• Fine Foundation
• FISA Foundation
• The Forbes Funds
• The Grable Foundation
• The Heinz Endowments
• IssueLab (in-kind support)
• The Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh
• Lumina Foundation for Education
• The Pittsburgh Foundation
• Roy A. Hunt Foundation
• Staunton Farm Foundation