Colleagues,
Remember the new year, brimming with possibilities and ambition? With January in the rearview mirror, February can be a springboard with those bold 2024 plans coming into fruition. By regaining clarity, leveraging your teams, and refocusing on your vision, each one of us can seize this moment as an opportunity to create the next chapter of success for our organizations and for The Giving Institute.
Our dedicated committee chairs have been hard at work planning for joyful and educational connections, gathering valuable insights to enhance member experience, and driving impactful research that will solidify our industry leadership, and activating tools so members are equipped to maximize their participation in our association. I remain humbled by the collaborative way we work together and the eagerness upon which so many of you are willing to carve out time to contribute to many activities underway.
Among all the incredible work currently underway, there a few things exciting opportunities for your planning purposes that I would like to elevate:
- Don’t Miss the March Meeting (March 7-8, St. Petersburg, FL): We already have 59 registrations and would like to surpass 2023 attendance of 64. The cut-off date for the Hilton’s group rate is Thursday, February 15th. Betsy Chapin Taylor and Chad Paris have planned dynamic educational sessions that will take your firms to the next level.
Ryan Woroniecki, the ultimate Giving Institute connector and Ambassador, is already organizing a spring training baseball gathering the night before the Board meeting. If you have not registered yet for the March meeting, please use this link to register as soon as possible so we have head count for the meeting and if you are interested can be in touch with Ryan about securing tickets.
- Save the Date! Summer Symposium 2024 (Westin Downtown, July 17-19, Philadelphia): Co-leads Sarah Clough and Nikkii Kashub along with their Committee Chairs: Tim Sarrantonio – Marketing; Erik Tomalis and Suzanne Hilser-Wiles- Programming and Kate Hughes- Hospitality are pulling out all the stops for a red-carpet experience that only the City of Brotherly (and Sisterly) can deliver.
As the Giving Institute continues to advance its commitment and intentionality of creating a more inclusive and welcoming culture, I encourage each one of us to remember Black History Month as being more than just a dedicated month on the calendar. Recognizing and celebrating Black history isn’t confined to February. It’s a continuous journey of learning, appreciating, and dismantling systemic barriers. Black history is American history. Let’s use this time as a catalyst to deepen our understanding, commit to dismantling systems of oppression, and work towards a brighter future for all.
I am inspired by our collaborative spirit and dedication to making a difference. Together, we can make this year truly exceptional for The Giving Institute. See you in St. Petersburg!
Warmly,
Brenda
