The Collaboration Conference 2015
Participants tackled collaboration challenges, learned together and dove deeper into what’s needed – both adopting a collaboration mindset and aligning values and practice – for successful collaborations.
Event Details
In recent years, casemaking for collaboration has been consistent and growing in our field. Collaboration allows grantmakers to leverage the expertise and resources of multiple players toward more meaningful impact on systemic problems. It can take many forms, requires time and frequently involves working in ways that run counter to how philanthropy traditionally operates. GEO’s Collaboration Conference 2015 brought together grantmakers who are already collaborating through a variety of formats.
Start: Monday, November 16, 8:00 AM Central
End: Tuesday, November 17, 2:30 PM Central
Hosted in partnership with Philanthropy Southwest.
Participant Roster
Nearly 300 grantmakers came together in Houston to learn with and from each other about what it takes to collaborate successfully.
Program and Resources
Detailed Program
You can find the full program — and resources from every session — here.
Click through on the individual titles at that link to access and download resources from each session.
Sessions at the Collaboration Conference 2015 addressed topics, collectively shaped by the volunteer conference planning committee, such as:
- Relationship building: How do grantmakers build stronger relationships with peer funders, grantees and other stakeholders?
- Setting strategy: What role should foundations play in aligning multiple actors around shared goals?
- Organizational culture and identity: What beliefs or assumptions do grantmakers hold that undermine our ability to collaborate?
- Building internal and grantee capacity for collaboration: How should our commitment to collaboration play out in foundation hiring, staffing and training?
- Assessing collaboration: How do we adapt our approach to evaluation to help collaborators learn together and accelerate results?
Session Videos
Watch what happened
GEO recorded a number of the sessions from the Collaboration Conference 2015, ranging from home team meetups to full-length plenary sessions. Get a taste of the conference and, especially if you were a participant, consider sharing these videos with your colleagues.
View them all here
Event Photos
See how participants strengthened their collaboration muscles together in Houston!
Check out all our photosConference Planning Committee
- Karen Gahl-Mills, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (Chair)
- Vini Bhansali, International Development Exchange (IDEX)
- Yolanda Cabassa, Flamboyan Foundation
- Michele Rone Cooper, McAuley Ministries
- Lisa Courtice, The Columbus Foundation
- Nick Deychakiwsky, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
- Patti Faustini and Angela Frusciante, William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
- Arti Freeman, Ontario Trillium Foundation
- Meghna Goswami, Houston Endowment Inc.
- Pam Jamieson, Philanthropy Southwest
- Peter Long, Blue Shield of California Foundation
- Josh Miller, Jim Joseph Foundation
- Edgar Villanueva, The Schott Foundation for Public Education
Our Regional Partner
Philanthropy Southwest
Founded in 1949, Philanthropy Southwest is the most enduring association of grantmakers in the United States. The association includes trustees and staff with foundations in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Philanthropy Southwest is dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment with members who generously help other members, working together toward a better future.
Learn more
Conference Sponsors
$25,000 and up
- Houston Endowment
Additional Supporters
- The Columbus Foundation
- Episcopal Health Foundation
- Flamboyan Foundation
- Greater Houston Community Foundation
- Jim Joseph Foundation
- Marguerite Casey Foundation
- McAuley Ministries
- OneStar Foundation
- The Patterson Foundation
- St. David’s Foundation
- William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
