GEO’s Learning Conferences are designed to expose participants to cutting-edge practices in equity-informed, community-driven grantmaking, while giving them the knowledge and tools needed to apply learning in all aspects of their work. Through a mix of session formats, participants explore ways to design and implement evaluation and learning approaches that generate shifts in philanthropic culture and practice.
We are now seeking session proposals for our 2023 Learning Conference: Courageous Unlearning, which will take place in Washington, DC from May 22 to May 23. All GEO members, evaluators and other philanthropic practitioners are invited to submit session proposals that provide our community with the knowledge and resources needed to improve learning and evaluation practices.
As an additional resource, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to support those interested in submitting session ideas. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the GEO team at programs@geofunders.org.
What are the formats that GEO is looking for in session proposals?
- Framework or Resource Presentation: A short, 30-minute session, typically led by one presenter, to share a specific resource, framework, model, template or some other practical tool to implement ideas.
- Emergent Space: 60-minute sessions that fully engage participants through Salon Conversations, games or other community building activities. In this format type, presenters will be fully immersed with attendees in these highly participatory sessions.
- Breakout Session: A traditional 60- to 75-minute session that can include workshops, presentations or panel discussions led by 3 or fewer presenters.
What is the conference committee looking for during session review?
The conference committee is looking for sessions that highlight and collaborate with the perspectives of nonprofit leaders and community members. In alignment with GEO’s value of collaboration, sessions should aim to incorporate the lived experiences of our nonprofit partners and those in the communities we seek to serve.
In addition, session proposals should speak to the various intersections of racial and ethnic, gender and sexual identities – as well as language, socioeconomic status, national origin and disability – and the impact of equitable grantmaking on the communities that sit as these intersections. At GEO, we believe it is critical to infuse inclusion into session content, as well as in the speakers presenting and the organizations that they represent.
As such, session submitters are asked to commit to designing sessions that feature at least two-thirds Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) speakers and/or presenters. Other session design considerations include:
- Attention to inclusivity during session design. This includes the accessibility of the session format as well as presenting content applicable to a diverse community of grantmakers.
- A focus on applying ideas to grantmakers’ work and demonstrating results. Adults learn through a process that moves from description (what happened here?) to analysis (why is this happening?) to application (if I tried this in my community, what might happen?) to implementation (what can I do to make this happen or improve how I think it might happen in my community?)
- Creative session design. We encourage interactivity and thinking outside the “panel” box. How can this session stand out from the other programming?
I have an idea for a session, but not sure if it fits the theme of courageous unlearning.
(Un)learning happens in many forms! Your session idea may fit an emerging space or could spark inspiration for future GEO programming or publications. Feel free to reach out to programs@geofunders.org if you have questions.