COF Announces Call for "Common Spaces" Submissions

[Source: Council on Foundations, February 17, 2011]

2011 Council on Foundations Annual Conference Offers New Opportunities to Collaborate, Customize, and Connect

ARLINGTON, Virginia - 02/14/2011

Arlington, VA – The Council on Foundations this week launched a new online tool inviting 2011 Annual Conference participants a more direct hand in shaping the program for the April 10-12 conference in Philadelphia. With its theme of “Windows,” the conference will focus on transparency in the field of philanthropy.

Traditionally, the Council issues a general call for sessions in the fall prior to the meeting. This year, in addition to the conference program established through the call for sessions, the Council presents Common Spaces … Beyond the Roundtable, a collection of 10 collaborative 40-minute conversations on Sunday, April 10 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Attendees can submit their Common Spaces session topics via a link provided in their registration confirmation or on the Council website. Submissions will be accepted until March 4 or until there are 50 ideas. Then, from March 14-25, attendees can vote on the topics of greatest interest. The 10 most popular topics will become the on-site sessions during Common Spaces. Once those choices are made, session leaders will use the Council’s blog, RE: Philanthropy, to conduct conversations before, during, and after the conference. Participants must be registered for the 2011 Annual Conference in order to submit topics and vote on sessions.

Also new this year are Full Circle Dialogues, which draw expertise from the Council’s Affinity Groups and include topics such as the arts, education, environment, families, health, and workforce issues. The Full Circle Dialogues will launch online with a series of preconference discussions leading up to the six interactive sessions scheduled for Monday, April 11, from 12–1:30 p.m.

The 2011 Annual Conference is the most important annual gathering within the philanthropic community. In addition to Common Spaces and Full Circle Dialogues, the conference offers more than 40 concurrent sessions, 10 off-site learning experiences, and four plenary sessions. Early bird registration is now open and offers a $150 discount for those who register by February 25. To register for the conference or to submit a topic for Common Spaces, please visit www.cof.org. 

The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,750 independent, operating, community, public, and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good. 

Press Contact(s)

Ashley Mills

Council on Foundations
milla@cof.org
703-879-0771