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.

Participants are invited to attend GEO’s 2023 Learning Conference by joining us in Washington D.C. or by tuning into livestream sessions and interactive discussions from home.

In 2020 when the world was disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, many events scrambled to become virtual as it was the only way to safely convene; however, members of the disability justice community had long advocated for virtual convenings. While we are eager and excited to convene members of our community in person in Washington DC, we must not forget that for many, in person conferences were never truly accessible.

As COVID-19 remains a threat for many of our peers in the immunocompromised and/or disability community, GEO is committed to ensuring portions of our conference are accessible virtually. For GEO’s 2023 Learning Conference, virtual conference participants are invited to view conference livestreaming of our mainstage, as well as participate in interactive virtual talkbacks on the learnings provided by our plenary discussions and short talks.

GEO’s commitment to interactive, accessible virtual programming is year-round through our many peer communities, remote learning opportunities, webinars, member calls, and more. We always invite feedback on how we can continue to ensure our programming is accessible to all. A full virtual schedule will be available when registration launches in early 2023.

Conference Host Committee

• 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