Reflections on Our 2024 Annual Conference
Earlier this month, the Exponent Philanthropy community gathered in Austin, TX, to reflect on a year marked by profound challenges and opportunities on local, national, and global levels. Through diverse perspectives and meaningful conversations, we reaffirmed the depth, resilience, and collective power of our community.
Amid these challenges, our annual conference served as a beacon of hope and a call to action—guiding us toward addressing critical issues, strengthening communities, and envisioning a world where everyone can thrive.
Dr. Elisha Smith Arrillaga’s keynote, “Extraordinary Giving in Extraordinary Times,” set the tone for this transformative gathering. Addressing over 600 attendees from 42 states, U.S. territories, and beyond, she illuminated key trends in giving, highlighted the pulse of the nonprofit sector, and shared a personal story demonstrating the remarkable impact of lean funders.
Dr. Smith Arrillaga outlined three guiding principles that resonated throughout the conference:
- Give Courageously
- Give in People-Centric Ways
- Give with Others
These principles anchored our discussions and reflected Exponent Philanthropy’s commitment to fostering learning and meaningful connections.
Highlights from Our Time in Austin
Give Courageously – Center Stage
The conference plenary sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday reinforced the theme of extraordinary giving and leadership. Here are some of the key moments:
- Dr. Elisha Smith Arrillaga’s Opening Keynote
Dr. Smith Arrillaga urged us to embrace our privilege and responsibility as funders to uplift communities, address nonprofit burnout, and outsize impact through collaboration. Her call to action emphasized bold, multi-year, general operating grants and inspired attendees to champion transformative change.
- Mark Updegrove on “The Context of Our Times”
Presidential historian and LBJ Foundation President & CEO, Mark Updegrove, provided historical insights on the 2024 election cycle. He challenged us to reflect on the lessons of history and their application to the challenges and opportunities ahead. - Closing Keynote: Alece H.M. Montez and Outsized Impact
The 2024 Outsized Impact Award recipient, Alece H.M. Montez of the AJL Foundation, shared her incredible community-driven approach, emphasizing the importance of centering community voices with her mantra, “Nothing for us without us.” Her work inspires us to leverage resources with intention, centering community-lived experienced, bridging gaps and creating pathways for all people to thrive.
These moments—and the many others shared throughout the conference—left us inspired and ready to tackle the critical work ahead. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Austin for making this event truly extraordinary.
Give in ‘People-Centric’ Ways – Engaging Discussions
This year’s conference featured over 45 workshop sessions, offering insights on foundational principles, transformational strategies, and innovative practices that drive impact. Key themes centered on uplifting people—both in communities and within nonprofits—to ensure collective thriving.
Our gratitude goes to the expert speakers, panelists, and facilitators who enriched our learning experience. Their efforts help equip funders with tools to embrace people-centric giving and forge impactful partnerships.
Give with Others
Collaboration among philanthropy, communities, and nonprofits emerged as a central theme throughout the conference. A shining example of this collaborative spirit took place during the Annual Members Meeting on Saturday:
2024 Annual Members Meeting: Building Momentum
Exponent Philanthropy Board Chair Dr. Rahsaan Harris led the 2024 Annual Members Meeting, reflecting on the organization’s transformation. Dr. Harris shared,
“Over the past two years, Exponent Philanthropy has achieved significant financial, operational, and governance improvements, thanks to the collective efforts of our board, staff, and members. This momentum underscores the power of collaboration and giving together.”
The meeting highlighted key milestones, including the election of new board members and the unveiling of Exponent Philanthropy’s refreshed strategic plan. Attendees also heard from John Richardson, director of the Blackstone Ranch Institute, about the organization’s commitment to fostering leadership through the Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) initiative. With nearly 200 participants to date, CLIP is equipping funders with tools and strategies to adopt a community-centered leadership approach that is reshaping the philanthropic sector.
Sharing Knowledge and Building Community
“When philanthropy partners, communities prosper” continued to be a guiding principle of our gathering. Structured presentations, peer connections, and dynamic conversations fostered relationship-building and shared learning.
With sessions like Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy, BIPOC Connection, Community & Belonging, and the Next Generation Fellows Program gathering, we affirmed our commitment to cultivating an inclusive and engaged membership community.
Attendees shared these reflections:
“This was a remarkable conference. Both our trustees and staff found the sessions and people beneficial to their work and learning.” — First-time attendee
“As a Next Generation Fellow, the fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, and I was excited to bring that same energy to the broader community at the conference.” — Next Generation Fellow attendee
“Thank you and the Exponent Philanthropy staff for creating and hosting such an amazing annual conference. There was a buzz of excitement and connection among the attendees.” — Long-time member and attendee
Connecting with the Austin Community
Continuing our tradition, we offered conference attendees the opportunity to experience philanthropy in action within the vibrant Austin community. The 2025 local nonprofit partner site visits included:
- Community First! Village
- Texas State Capitol, featuring Foundations Under the Dome: Small Foundations, Big Policy Impact
The Austin Hilton provided a perfect backdrop for learning, cultural exploration, and enjoying live music by talented local performers, including Mariachi Cielo Azul, Trever Helt, and Scott Strickland.
Key Takeaways
Newcomers Orientation
Membership Specialist Brian Bates hosted engaging sessions for new members and first-time attendees, providing a warm welcome and tools for maximizing their conference experience.
990 PF Tax Seminar
Thanks to Baker Tilly’s Brian Yacker and Brenda Jacinto, this highly anticipated pre-conference session returned to rave reviews, offering in-depth learning and actionable tax insights for foundations.
The How & Why of Multi-Year Funding
Leemu Madison of The Daphne Foundation and Meg Ramsey of The Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation explored strategies for relationship-centered, multi-year funding.
Supporting Diverse Leaders and Grassroots Work
Tzedek Social Justice Fund leaders showcased how lean funders can empower underfunded leaders and grassroots initiatives, equipping attendees with tools to support emergent work.
2024 Outsized Impact Award and Closing Reflections
Our time in Austin began with a thought-provoking and data-driven keynote, “Extraordinary Giving in Extraordinary Times,” by Dr. Elisha Smith Arrillaga, and concluded with an equally inspiring closing session from Alece H.M. Montez, Co-Executive Director of the AJL Foundation and recipient of the 2024 Outsized Impact Award.
Alece embodies the spirit of Outsized Impact through her innovative use of lean philanthropy to create meaningful change and opportunities within underrepresented communities. Her work, including initiatives like the Sand Dunes Mushroom Cooperative, demonstrates how thoughtful philanthropy can leverage every resource to drive sustainable impact. Guided by a love-led approach and a deep commitment to equality, Alece shared:
“Centering change in your work can be simple and complex. From ensuring the foundation uses our funds by investing in local banks and investment entities to supporting people and organizations doing the critical work.”
In her powerful closing keynote, Alece emphasized the extraordinary leadership responsibilities we all hold as funders, reminding us to embrace her mantra: “Nothing for us without us.” This guiding principle underscores the importance of inclusive philanthropy—ensuring that the voices of all communities are heard and represented. Whether through our boards, staff, or grantmaking processes, we must strive to invite everyone to the table, creating equitable access to resources.
Continue Reading About Alece and the Other Finalists’ Work »
Exceptional Leadership During Challenging Times
Since 2022, Exponent Philanthropy has benefited from the exceptional leadership of Dr. Rahsaan Harris as Board Chair. Over the past two years, Dr. Harris has been a transformative partner, guiding the organization’s board through challenging times. At this year’s Annual Conference, we celebrated his contributions as he concluded his term as Chair. The board, staff, and members extend our deepest gratitude for his dedication and passion. We are excited that Dr. Harris will continue to serve on the board, helping to shape Exponent Philanthropy’s future.
Celebrating 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025
The conference was a meaningful reminder of how shared efforts and collective action can create thriving communities. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event extraordinary. We are excited to welcome you next year, November 10–13, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio!
About the Author
Paul D. Daugherty is the CEO of Exponent Philanthropy, the country’s largest association of funders and the only one dedicated to serving foundations, philanthropic families, and individual donors who are lean, but have a mighty impact. As someone who has served in different philanthropic roles for nearly 25 years, Paul recognizes the influence and importance of funders, foundations, and private giving of all sizes.