Launched in 2004, the Yale Philanthropy Conference is a student-run convening held at the Yale School of Management and host to philanthropic and nonprofit leaders who seek to tackle the social sector's most pressing challenges.

Now in its twentieth year, the Yale Philanthropy Conference is hosted by the Yale School of Management and is the only convening of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector planned entirely by graduate students. Bringing together thinkers, students, and professionals from leading institutions and foundations across the country, the conference fosters discussions about the role of philanthropy in contemporary society, strengthens professional networks, builds management acumen necessary for vibrant institutions, and cultivates leadership in the social sector and beyond.

A Letter from the Faculty: Professor Judy Chevalier

William S. Beinecke Professor of Finance and Economics and Faculty Director for the Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact 

Every year, I find myself genuinely looking forward to the Yale Philanthropy Conference. It is one of the few gatherings where people working in different corners of the philanthropic world can step back from day-to-day demands and learn how peers are navigating the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

This student-run Conference brings together leaders from foundations, family offices, nonprofits, community foundations, and the public and private sectors for substantive conversations about philanthropy. The sessions are thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real experience — with discussions that span strategy, implementation, and emerging trends in the field. Participants consistently note that the panels and discussions help them surface new ideas, sharpen their thinking, and connect with colleagues whose work intersects with their own.

As faculty director of the Program for Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact, I am pleased to support this event and the students who organize it. I look forward to a day of useful insights and engaging conversation.

professor-chevalier

OUR HISTORY:

The Yale Philanthropy Conference (YPC) grew out of a class at the Yale School of Management, Philanthropic Foundations. Students, wanting to engage more deeply with best practices and innovation in the social sector, decided to bring experts and practitioners to the School of Management campus. Now in its nineteenth year, the conference remains entirely planned and executed by Yale graduate students. YPC has hosted leaders in the field including Hilary Pennington, Vice President of the Ford Foundation; Edgar Villanueva, author of Decolonizing Wealth; and La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO of W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

 

PREVIOUS CONFERENCE THEMES:

2025: Legacy, Reality, Possibility

2024: Catalyzing Change

2023: Advancing Justice

2022: Beyond the New Normal

2021: Reimagining Philanthropy

2020: A Vision for the Future

2019: Values in Action

2018: Adaptive Philanthropy, Resilient Sector

2017: Transformations

2016: Fostering Ecosystems of Change

2015: Reflect. Innovate. Impact.

2014: Rooted in History, Growing with Purpose

2013: Integrated Perspectives Across the Sector

2012: Beyond Best Practices

2010: Fostering Innovative Ideas for Social Change

2009: Harnessing Resources & Leveraging Strengths

2008: Collaboration and Leadership in Philanthropy

2007: Achieving Effectiveness in Philanthropy

2006: Future of Philanthropy

2005: Yale Philanthropy Conference