It happens every three years. It sells out. It is one-of-a-kind. And, previous attendees have called it “inspiring,” “thought-provoking,” and “galvanizing.”
“It” is the triennial Women’s Philanthropy Institute’s symposium. The 2020 symposium, Philanthropy Plugged In: Creating community in the digital age, is March 31-April 1 in Chicago. Registration opens today. We hope you’ll join us for a look at how the digital transformation is reshaping the way we connect, build community, fundraise, and give.
It is hard to believe that just 15 years ago, Facebook was only available to college students and Gmail was introduced in limited beta format. This fundamental shift in how we connect and communicate has affected all of us, especially women. In general, more women (78 percent) than men (65 percent) use social media. Women are more likely to use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
We are so busy engaging digitally that we haven’t stopped to assess how the digital age is affecting our philanthropic behavior. At Philanthropy Plugged In, we will pause and reflect on how technology is influencing women’s ability to connect through philanthropy, encourages more strategic giving, builds a more diverse community of engaged citizens and donors, and increases giving.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Women Give research series, we will release Women Give 2020 at the symposium. We want to celebrate this milestone with you! The new research looks at the intersection of gender, technology, and giving to better understand differences between how men and women use technology for the common good.
We’ll also look at the power of community in philanthropy—how women are being intentional about creating community online and offline. You’ll learn from inspiring leaders like Sloane Davidson, founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor, and Sheryl Olitzsky, co-founder and executive director of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.
We’ll discuss the risks and rewards of technology. Is technology empowering us to give? How is the rise of online giving affecting donor engagement, loyalty, and retention? Does technology enable us to reach new and more diverse donors? Are female social entrepreneurs accounting for implicit bias in their algorithms? Amany Killawi, co-founder and COO of LaunchGood, and Rachel Klausner, founder and CEO of Millie, are among the leaders who will share their experiences with us at the 2020 symposium.
Amidst the panel discussions, short talks, breakout sessions, and action labs, we’ll also take time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and explore how our foremothers created community to achieve its passage.
There are technology conferences, fundraising conferences, and marketing conferences. But, seldom do all three big topics converge in one place at one time to enlighten, inform, and prompt action. With more than 20 speakers and a robust agenda, Philanthropy Plugged In explores the landscape today and anticipates what tomorrow might look like.
Consider these important words from Theresa Butler-Porter, who leads philanthropic relations at Lakefield College School Foundation: “As fundraisers, and facilitators of transformational relationships, we will fail catastrophically if we turn down opportunities like this one to understand more fully the underpinnings and impending power of women philanthropists.”
Register today and join us in Chicago March 31-April 1. Add your voice to this timely conversation.
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