2026 Panels

Join us for a series of dynamic panel discussions featuring leading voices in philanthropy, social impact, and nonprofit management. Our carefully curated sessions bring together experienced practitioners, innovative funders, and thought leaders to share insights on pressing challenges and opportunities in the philanthropic sector.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization they may be affiliated with, nor do they reflect the views of Yale University and the Yale School of Management.

REFLECTION: TODAY’S LANDSCAPE

Innovating in the Funding Gap: Adaptation in Times of Change

This panel will explore how nonprofits and funders are adapting to shifting funding landscapes by embracing innovation, risk-taking, and new models to sustain and grow impact amid resource constraints.

Meeting the Moment: Proximity, and Accountability in Practice

In a field shaped by unequal access to capital, this session examines how funding decisions and accountability are understood in practice, drawing on perspectives that range from traditional philanthropic institutions to newer, community-led approaches.

Mission and Meaning: Messaging for Impact in Complex Times

In navigating the challenging external landscape, choosing how to message your mission and values can present a challenge. What does your messaging convey? How does it speak to your values? This interactive session will discuss cases and provide practical tips to address the role of a nonprofit’s or funder’s voice and stated mission in today’s landscape.

EVOLUTION: COMPELLING APPROACHES TO PHILANTHROPY

Optimizing Beyond the Check: Redefining What it Means to Invest in Impact

This session will explore how philanthropy is evolving beyond financial support to include strategic partnership, technical assistance, and long-term capacity building through venture-style approaches.

Giving Circles: The Power of Collective Action and Community Engagement

What happens when philanthropy becomes a shared experience rather than a solo act? Giving circles are bringing people together to learn, connect, and decide collectively how to direct their resources. This session will look at how these groups are reshaping the culture of giving—making it more participatory, more relational, and more reflective of the communities they serve.

Endowment Strategy: Perpetuity vs. Urgency

This session examines how foundations navigate long-term stewardship alongside rapid capital deployment. Panelists will discuss the trade-offs between perpetual and spend-down models, exploring how strategic time horizons and endowment structures align with mission-driven impact.

OPPORTUNITY: INSIGHTS FOR THE FUTURE

Emerging Philanthropists: The Next Generation of Giving

This conversation will explore how younger philanthropists are reshaping the sector through new priorities, innovative approaches, and evolving definitions of what it means to give, while surfacing the questions emerging donors are asking as they seek to align values, impact, and responsibility in their philanthropy

Bridging Ideological Divides for Impactful Outcomes

In an era of polarization, funders are increasingly asked to support work that crosses ideological and cultural lines. This session examines how philanthropy can create common ground, foster unlikely partnerships, and deliver lasting outcomes when stakeholders start from different perspectives.

The Architecture of Giving: Rethinking Donor-Advised Funds and Philanthropic Design

As one of the fastest-growing vehicles in philanthropy, donor-advised funds (DAFs) have become a central tool for many high-net-worth donors and family offices. Yet their strategic potential extends far beyond tax efficiency. This panel looks at how DAFs and other philanthropic vehicles are changing how donors give, how nonprofits fundraise, and how capital flows across the philanthropic ecosystem. Panelists will explore emerging practices and what they signal about the future of philanthropy.