Dates: November 17-19, 2026
Hotel: The Starling Atlanta Midtown, Curio Collection by Hilton
Location: 118 14th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30361
PLEASE READ: NEW INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION
Per the July 2025 Board approved resolution,
- One Voting Director (or designate if Voting Director is unable to attend) from each member current firm (as named by each firm) can register for the November and March meetings at no charge. Please use the code Voting26 at checkout.
- Additional registrants from the same member firm will be charged $500 per person to help cover hotel meeting space and food & beverage expenses incurred by the Giving Institute.
Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders Registration
The Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders offers two registration options:
- Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders Only – This ticket provides access to the Practice Forum on November 17 only.
- Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders + Main Meeting – This ticket includes access to both the Practice Forum on November 17 and the Main Meeting.
Please note that if you are your firm’s Voting Director, your complimentary registration applies only to the Main Meeting. If you would also like to attend the Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders, you must purchase the Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders Only ticket in addition to your complimentary Main Meeting registration.
GI November 2026 Board Meeting – Rooted in Purpose: Growing the Future of Giving
Theme: Atlanta’s tree canopy has survived fire, war, and reinvention as has the philanthropic impulse. As the largest wealth transfer in American history takes root, the next generation of giving is being shaped not just by generosity, but by strategy. Qualified charitable distributions, donor-advised funds, and non-cash assets are becoming the language of legacy. From campaign design and donor engagement to gift planning, capacity building, and the research that grounds it all, the profession is evolving and the sector leaders who grow with it will define what grows next.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 – Practice Forum for Emerging Leaders
We invite you to join us for the 2026 Practice Forum, a day of professional development for new and emerging talent at Giving Institute member firms or firms interested in joining. This workshop will take place on November 17 in Atlanta immediately preceding the official start of the November Meeting.
This day-long intensive is for early- and mid-career staff and is focused on skill-building: strategic thinking, clear client communication, exceptional professionalism, and decision making. Sessions will be led by seasoned Giving Institute faculty, mid-career Giving Institute members, and an outside facilitator. It also provides a chance for your team to build relationships with peers at other member firms. The cost is $675 per person.
We encourage you to register your staff attending the Practice Forum for the subsequent days of the Giving Institute meeting for continued learning, networking, and connection across the sector. Forum attendees can register for the main Giving Institute meeting for the reduced fee of $250.
| 8:45am | Meet & Greet Breakfast Get to know your fellow Practice Forum attendees and session leaders. Location: Altair |
| 9:15am | Welcome and Opening The Giving Institute is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders in our field. This program is all about investing in the future consultants, agency leaders, and tech innovators who serve the nonprofit sector. Facilitators: Paul Koreen, GI Chair, Partner & COO, KCI. Jim Bush, Principal & CEO, Winkler Group. Location: Station |
| 9:30am | Strategic Thinking, In Practice In this moderated panel, leaders will share real decisions they have faced, including the tradeoffs and the lessons learned. Participants will hear how strategic thinking works in practice and leave with ideas for shaping their own work, so it connects to the outcomes that matter most. Panelists: Rachel Kimble, Senior Consultant, The Curtis Group. Laura Hutyra, President, M. Gale. Moderator: Brenda Asare, President & CEO, Alford Group. Location: Station |
| 10:30am | Effective Communication Workshop A hands-on workshop led by a professional outside facilitator focusing on effective communication (including giving and receiving feedback, having difficult conversations, and professional communications) Facilitator: Theresa Ward, Founder & Chief Momentum Officer, Fiery Feather. Location: Station |
| 12:00pm | Lunch Group tables arranged by cohorts based on attendees with guiding questions for discussion. Location: Altair |
| 1:00pm | Judgement and Boundaries in Client and Customer Engagement Every client relationship eventually raises a tough call. In this small-group session, you will work through realistic case studies on ethics, confidentiality, and professionalism, and practice deciding when to handle a situation yourself and when to escalate. Faculty will guide the conversation, and you will leave with practical ways to approach difficult moments with confidence and professionalism. Facilitator: Sarah Clough, Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President, Marts & Lundy. Charlie Melichar, Principal, Foster Avenue. Location: Station |
| 2:00pm | Break Location: TBD |
| 2:15pm | What I Wish I Knew: Lessons from the Experts Seasoned leaders from Giving Institute member firms will share key career learning moments, opportunities, missteps, and advice that shaped their careers. Participants will hear what panelists wish they had known sooner, what the most valuable skills are for rising leaders to develop, and there will be time to ask questions in an open conversation. Facilitators: Deb Taft, CEO, Lindauer. Kate Roosevelt, Co-President, Campbell & Company. Leya Simmons, CEO & Co-Founder, BetterUnite. Location: Station |
| 3:30pm | Turning Insights into Action: Applied Capstone Put the day’s learning to work on a real-world scenario drawn from case studies. In small groups mixed by firm type and career stage, you will decide where to focus, sequence a plan, and weigh what is realistic. Faculty will coach along the way, and you will leave with a framework you can use in your own work. Facilitator: Summers Hammel, Senior Consultant, Benefactor Group. Jim Bush, Principal & CEO, Winkler Group. Location: Station |
| 4:30pm | Closing Remarks Closing remarks and transition to the evening reception. All Practice Forum attendees are encouraged to attend! Facilitator: Summers Hammel, Senior Consultant, Benefactor Group. Location: Station |
| 5:00pm | Happy Hour Informal happy hour at The Starling Atlanta Midtown for Practice Forum attendees and Giving Institute November Meeting attendees. Location: Lantana |
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
| 7:30am | Breakfast & Networking Location: The Commons Dining Room |
| 8:30am | Welcome, Framing, and Orientation Join Giving Institute leadership as we open the November meeting, ground ourselves in our theme – Rooted in Purpose: Growing the Future of Giving – and recognizing volunteer and committee leaders across the sector. Facilitator: Paul Koreen, GI Chair, Partner & COO, KCI. Location: Station |
| 8:45am | Co-Chairs Remarks & Opening Networking Facilitators: Susannah Darrow, CEO & Founding Partner, Purpose Possible. Dave Smith, Founder & CEO, Heaton Smith, LLC. Location: Station |
| 9:00am | Theme: Confront Confronting the Wealth Transfer: New Data & Strategies in Planned Giving Dive into recent research and practical takeaways on non-cash assets, QCDs, and planned giving trends redefining generational wealth. A data presentation from leading researchers is followed by a candid panel discussion and audience Q&A. Panelists: Tina Olidge, JD, Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning, Emory University. Josh Birkholz, CEO, BWF Zuri. Nathan Stelter, President, The Stelter Company. Moderator: Dave Smith, Founder & CEO, Heaton Smith, LLC Location: Station |
| 10:30am | Break Location: TBD |
| 10:45am | Theme: Confront N1 Philanthropy: Precision AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Giving Drawing from his latest book co-authored with Nathan Chappell, N1 Philanthropy, Gabe Cooper explores how ethical, donor-centric AI can move organizations past generic mass fundraising toward treating every supporter as an individual (“an N of one.”) Discover how sector leaders can leverage responsible AI to automate operations while deepening genuine donor trust and connection. Facilitator: Gabe Cooper, GUSA Chair, Founder & CEO, Virtuous. Location: Station |
| 12:00pm | Lunch Location: The Commons Dining Room |
| 1:30pm | Theme: Explore Women in Philanthropy: The Future of Giving is Female Women are driving unprecedented momentum across wealth creation, family legacy, and community impact. Sector leaders examine modern women’s philanthropy through the distinct lenses of higher education, institutional foundations, and collective giving. Panelists: Meg George, George Philanthropy. Christian Murphy, Spelman College. Lauren Amos, WISH Foundation. Elizabeth Burdette, Bloom Collective. Moderator: Meg George, Co-Founder & President Location: Station |
| 2:30pm | Break Location: TBD |
| 2:45pm | Theme: Explore Executive Roundtables: Business Leadership, Operations and Market Dynamics Participate in facilitated peer-to-peer discussions on the operational realities of managing philanthropic firms. Topics focus on firm strategy, capacity building, and navigating private equity and acquisition trends. Location: Station |
| 3:30pm | Break Location: TBD |
| 3:45pm | Theme: Explore Next Gen(erosity): The Evolving Landscape of Volunteerism and Giving Discover how next-generation donors are integrating time, talent, and financial resources to create sustained social change. Featuring insights from Points of Light, this session outlines actionable approaches to engaging emerging philanthropic leaders. Facilitator: Megan Singer, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Org Effectiveness, Points of Light. Location: Station |
| TBD | Dine-Arounds Please click HERE to select your restaurant. |
Thursday, November 19, 2026
| 7:30am | Breakfast Location: Altair |
| 8:30am | Theme: Commit Generosity Committee Update Facilitators: TBD Location: Station |
| 9:30am | Meeting Closing Facilitators: Susannah Darrow, CEO & Founding Partner, Purpose Possible. Dave Smith, Founder & CEO, Heaton Smith, LLC. Location: Station |
| 10:00am | GUSA & GI Board Meetings & Combined Annual Meeting Begins Facilitators: Gabe Cooper, GUSA Chair, Founder & CEO, Virtuous Software. Paul Koreen, GI Chair, Partner & COO, KCI. Location: Station |
| 12:00pm | November Meeting Concludes |