Annual Conference
Our field is rapidly evolving, transforming faster than ever. What remains the same is how Grantmakers for Education and our members are dedicated to helping every learner receive the best education possible. Every single one. We produce conferences so that we can come together to learn how to make this happen. Mark your calendar for our next conference in Atlanta, Georgia, October 10-12, 2023.
In Pursuit of Justice: Creating Contexts for Young People and Adult Learners to Thrive
“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963
“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom… [are those] more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice…” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963
We are at an inflection point, one that compels us to invest in creating contexts that enable young people, adult learners and communities to thrive. We can support the development of comprehensive and inclusive systems of learning where everyone benefits – students, educators, families and communities – even as we strengthen short-term investments that mitigate the harms of immediate injustices. We recognize that old ideas of education and conventional approaches to philanthropy will not enable us to build these systems. We know that the world demands something more of all of us: a new set of workforce skills; new tools to strengthen democracy; new ways of sharing and distributing wealth, power and information. We see that we can’t get there without working with each other, partnering for justice.
At the close of our 2022 conference, our speakers invited us to embrace the importance of learning contexts and their intersection with broader social systems in order to help students understand the purpose and value of learning, and to help adults help them truly thrive. The closing panel of Black leaders challenged us to think about the dynamics of wealth and power, including systems that empower a few and disempower others. At our 2023 conference, let’s move these ideas from abstraction to action. Let’s focus on what learners need today and what major shifts are needed for tomorrow. Let’s build the path from here to there together.
Join us in Atlanta, the heart of the civil rights movement and the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., October 10-12, 2023, to start building the path to a future where learning lifts all people up, creates economic mobility, builds citizenship and grows empathy. Let’s not be satisfied with “a negative peace,” but instead strive to fulfill Dr. King’s vision of positive peace with justice.
Become a Conference Sponsor
Five reasons to become a sponsor of the 2023 annual conference:
- Proudly show your support for the advancement of equity in education and philanthropy.
- Further important conversations that dig deep and inspire new thinking.
- Foster tools and learning that empower grantmakers to boost their impact on education.
- Enable networking and collaborations that collectively address challenges not approachable on our own.
- Enjoy a large array of conference benefits.
Conference Session Proposals
The conference session proposal period closed on March 27.
- Read the conference session proposal guide.
- Contact us to submit your proposal if you arranged for an extension but no longer have the link to the portal.
- Conference Session Proposal Q+A took place on February 24. Recording and resources available here.
Contact programs@edfunders.org with questions.
What attendees say about our conferences.
