2023 Learning Conference

As a community of funders committed to transforming philanthropic culture and practice, GEO convened the 2023 Learning Conference to support peer sharing of emergent learning practices. At the 2023 Learning Conference, we sought to offer a range of perspectives and ideas about learning and evaluation. We welcomed presenters from a variety of roles and perspectives to support an expansive view of what the tools of learning can achieve. Through a mix of session formats, presenters from inside and outside our sector, structured networking and informal discussions with peers, participants explored ways to use evaluation and learning in service of greater impact for the communities we serve.

We lifted up the bold steps funders are taking alongside their communities and innovative ways they are shifting or unlearning practices. We want to hear the courageous stories of learning in partnership with communities and bringing boards of trustees along in that journey.

The conference program featured a mix of session formats, structured networking,and time for community building:

Breakout Session: 60-minute presentations or panel discussions designed by members of the GEO community that exposed participants to new ideas centered on courageous unlearning.

Tool & Framework Presentation: A new short-form presentation that shared specific resources, frameworks, templates and tools that help implement learning and evaluation practices. 

Emergent Space: A new session format that offered participants a full-immersion experience through a blend of interactive conversations, community-building activities and peer-to-peer connection. 

Community Building: Community building events offered an opportunity for peers to gather during the GEO conference separate from the formal conference program.

Plenaries: Our plenary mainstage showcased a variety of speakers, highlighting works from individuals in philanthropy, movement spaces, arts and culture, and beyond, to dive deep and provide both big ideas and actionable takeaways on our theme of courageous unlearning. These plenaries were also livestreamed to virtual conference participants.

Short Talks: We held three Short Talks, engaging 10- to 15-minute, keynote style presentations that challenge current philanthropic culture and practice or inspire participants to think about the topic, their work and/or lives differently on our plenary mainstage.

To view a full list of our breakouts, emergent spaces, and tool & framework presentations, check out our schedule at a glance here.

Conference Host Committee

Thank you to our conference host and program committees for offering support and insight in shaping the conference program, incorporating DC and tackling courageous unlearning together.

• George Askew, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
• Tamira Benitez, Diverse City Fund
• Kimberlin Butler, Mathematica
• Rebecca Cisek, The Bainum Family Foundation
• Rick Cruz, Arabella Advisors
• Caitlin Duffy, Amalgamated Bank/Foundation
• Aracelis Gray, DC Bar Foundation
• Candice Jones (Chair/Co-chair), Public Welfare Foundation
• Rella Kaplowitz, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
• Jackie Kaye, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
• Ruth LaToison Ifill (Conference Partner), Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
• Hanh Le (Chair/Co-chair), if, A Foundation for Radical Possibility
• Mardell Moffett, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
• alicia sanchez gill, Emergent Fund
• Tonia Wellons, Greater Washington Community Foundation
• Nat Williams, Hill-Snowdon Foundation
• Leslie Wingender, Humanity United

Conference Program Committee

• Temi Bennett, if, a foundation for radical possibility
• Anna Cruz, The Kresge Foundation
• Stacey Easterling, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
• Lorrie Fair Allen, Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project
• Efraín Gutiérrez, Center for Evaluation Innovation
• Karris Jackson, POISE Foundation
• Fontane Lo (Chair/Co-chair), Blue Shield of California Foundation
• Robert Medina, Sobrato Philanthropies
• Katrina Mitchell, United Way of Greater Atlanta
• Mary Mulcahy, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
• Rory Neuner, Barr Foundation
• Trish Tchume, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation
• Brandi Yee, ACT for Alexandria