Independent Sector's National Summit 2025: FAQs

The summit is the premier gathering for nonprofit and philanthropic leaders dedicated to building collective power for sector-wide transformation. Unlike other conferences, it prioritizes collaboration between nonprofits and philanthropies and offers practical strategies for implementation, systems change, and cross-sector partnerships.

We welcome proposals from nonprofit leaders, philanthropy professionals, and sector experts who bring innovative approaches, practical tools, and evidence-based insights. Ideal presenters have deep expertise and a strong commitment to advancing equity and driving sector-wide transformation.

The key themes include: 

• Thriving Workforce: Strategies for equitable workforce development and sustainability. 
• Financially Robust Organizations: Maintaining financial health for long-term success. 
• Trusted Voices: Building community trust through authentic partnerships. 
• Active Advocates: Using collective power to advance policies for a just nation. 
• Strategic Volunteer Engagement: Activating volunteers to strengthen organizational capacity. 
• Artificial Intelligence: Navigating AI’s ethical and practical implications in the charitable sector. 
• Equitable Community Development: Building inclusive and sustainable communities. 
• Education Policy: Shaping future-ready learning environments. 
• Transformative Philanthropy: Aligning values, policy awareness, and inclusive practices to maximize funding impact and build stronger communities through intentional giving. 

Look into our Sample Sessions for ideas.

Your proposal should focus on these key elements: 

• Clear connection between your session and the summit’s aims. 
• Specific learning outcomes. 
• Innovative engagement strategies. 
• Practical tools that participants can implement immediately. 
• Thoughtful integration of equity principles. 
• Real-world examples and case studies. 

We recognize that learning occurs in many ways, and different ideas and learning outcomes call for different formats. Please review these session formats. If accepted, your proposal will enter the Co-Create process, where Independent Sector will work with you to shape your idea into one of the sample formats that best conveys your concept and ensures a rich experience for attendees. When submitting your session proposal, we encourage you to consider the format that will most effectively present your idea. 

Each session proposal may include up to three speakers. Speakers must have relevant expertise and experience, and we strongly encourage diverse representation in experience and perspective from nonprofits and philanthropies. 

To submit a session proposal, follow these steps: 

1. Review Requirements 
   1. Confirm session alignment with summit aims. 
   2. Review evaluation criteria and scoring rubric. 
2. Prepare Application Responses 
   1. Provide session title and description. 
   2. Outline learning objectives.  
   3. Share names of speakers (maximum of 3 presenters). 
   4. Detail session format and engagement strategy. 
   5. Share equity integration approach. 
3. Submit Proposal 
   1. Designate a session point of contact who will be responsible for the submission. 
   2. Create an account in our submission portal. 
   3. Complete all required fields. 
   4. Upload supporting materials. 
   5. Submit by March 31, 2025.

Please note that the application does not save, so it is advised to draft responses externally and submit in the portal when ready.

The submission form requires the following information: 

• Session Title and Description: Describe the idea for the session in as best detail as you can. 
• Intended Audience and Learning Objectives: Define who will benefit from the session and what they will learn. 
• Speaker Details: Designate up to 3 speakers per session.
• Session Format: Specify the format you will use to engage participants. Here is a list of sample session formats.  
• Equity Integration: Describe how equity is embedded in your content and your instruction. 

Standard equipment includes: 

• LCD projector and screen 
• Wireless microphones 
• Laptop connection capabilities 
• Basic audio system 
• High-speed internet access 
• Flipcharts and markers 

The deadline for submitting session proposals is March 31, 2025. 

Proposals will be reviewed by a volunteer working group. Final selection will be based on program balance and sector needs. Sessions will be evaluated based on the following rubric: 

• Alignment to the aims of the summit. 
• Innovative session design and interactive engagement. 
• Practical application and implementation of learnings. 
• Equity integration across content and delivery. 
• Insights from field experience. 

Learn more about the evaluation criteria. 

All submitters will receive notification by June 30, 2025, including: 

• Accept/decline decision. 
• Detailed feedback on proposal strengths/areas for improvement. 
• Next steps for accepted proposals. 

Accepted speakers will receive:

• Complimentary pass to the summit for the day of your presentation, with the option to attend the full summit at a 50% discount off the early bird rate.
• Special recognition in summit materials.
• Access to speaker preparation resources.
• Networking opportunities with fellow presenters.

Please note that speakers are responsible for their own travel expenses.

Speakers retain ownership of their materials while granting Independent Sector license to: 

• Share materials with summit participants. 
• Include content in summit proceedings. 
• Use session recordings for promotional purposes. 

For further assistance, please contact summit@independentsector.org.

• Independent Sector’s National Summit
• Call for Session Proposals
• Call for Session Proposal Reviewers
• Registration
• Session Proposals: Sample Session Ideas
• Session Proposals: Understanding the Evaluation Criteria
• Session Proposals: Session Formats