We met, as many of us do these days, over Zoom. Bess Rothenberg from Ford Foundation and Angelique Power from The Skillman Foundation. We both eagerly said yes to working with a national group of philanthropic leaders over the course of a year to shape the GEO 2026 National Conference through GEO’s deeply engaged Program Committee.
Bess, with orange framed glasses and Angelique with a colorful print top – took a deep breath simultaneously and asked in overlapping fashion: how we can make these roles as co-chairs not performative or perfunctory at a time the world is calling for our better angles and our nation is asking for our best thinking?
Ah, soul sisters.
Over the past year, we have had the good fortune to bring these questions and new ones from our thoughtful and innovative conference committee and GEO staff partners.
Yes, this is a conference, but more so, it is a call to action. A mandate to collaboratively reflect and plan for the unfinished American democratic work the 250th anniversary of our nation demands of us. Hours of planning virtually, days spent together planning in DC, and here we are – ready to experience a panoply of programming.
What We’re Looking Forward To
Get ready to root deeply in Boston through our opening plenary, Grounded in Place and Purpose. Through short vignettes from nonprofits, community leaders and philanthropic partners, we’ll highlight how movements across the Northeast have advanced change through commitment to community, collaboration and care. Throughout intimate breakout sessions, the conference will showcase some of the most innovative philanthropic work across the country. We will hear the brightest concepts on the most pressing issues and opportunities from AI to democracy, from the Census and Data Integrity, to protecting movement building and communities overwhelmed with the shifting federal policies.
This conference offers space for soul nourishment and spirit elevation. We will reflect on our roles, courage, ways to continue to build trust and practice love –yes love in leadership. Angelique will join Rodney McKenzie and Marcus Walton on Tuesday’s lunch plenary to center the value of love as a guiding force in transforming philanthropic culture and practice.
In short, we are excited and optimistic about our time together.
Why This Matters Now
Many of us are conference veterans. We know the routine and format, and even have moments where conference experiences can blend together. But this is not the time for that. Philanthropy has had an unprecedented year – one that has seen attacks not only on broader democracy and rule of law, but also on the foundations of civil society. We have seen threats to nonprofit organizations and also challenges to philanthropy itself. And we have also seen the beauty of philanthropy coming together – united – to defend the importance of the sector for the broader public good.
The GEO 2026 National Conference is a further expression of this. The conference will be an opportunity for many important positives at once: to be reminded of the solidarity and value of philanthropy as a sector; to continue to exchange ideas and practices about what good grantmaking is and how to do it with principle and equity, and to connect with old friends and colleagues and make new ones.
It’s a great chance to come together. It’s an even better chance to be reminded of our purpose and collective mission. And finally, it’s a chance to dream of what we will create together next, a new world, a new way, one not in opposition to, but in service of a future of our boldest ideas.
We encourage you to be intentional about meeting someone new and sharing concrete practices on how to meet the needs and nonprofits and communities now and for the long run. We look forward to dreaming with each of you soon.
Bess and Angelique
Bess Rothenberg is the Deputy Vice President of Strategy and Impact at the Ford Foundation, where she has led strategy development, evaluation, cross-programmatic learning, and grantmaking effectiveness for 10 years.
Angelique Power is the President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation, a private, independent foundation that works with grassroots and grasstops advocates to transform the education system.
