2025 Leaders Summit | Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday, March 12

Field Trips:

• Option A | TomKat Ranch: Sustainable agriculture at its best! Explore innovative regenerative practices and their role in food security and climate change.

• Option B | UN Charter Tour: Trace the UN Charter’s San Francisco roots and its impact on global diplomacy.

Registration Opens (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Opening Program (4:00 - 4:15 PM)
The opening plenary at the 2025 Global Philanthropy Leaders Summit will explore how philanthropy, multilateral cooperation, and global leadership can address today’s most pressing challenges.

Sarah Howard, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy Forum
Philip Yun, GPF Steering Committee Chair and Co-CEO and Co-President of Commonwealth Club World Affairs (CCWA)

Panel (4:15 - 5:05 PM) | : Three Tectonic Plates: Climate, Tech, and Governance—The Need for Adaptive Philanthropy in an Unstable World
To remain fit-for-purpose, philanthropy must rethink how it funds, collaborates, and takes risks in a world shaped by climate disruption, emerging technologies, and fragile governance. These forces are not just transforming societies; they are disrupting traditional models of global cooperation, exposing the growing limitations of multilateralism, and demanding more agile, systems-driven funding strategies. As climate crises accelerate, emerging technologies redefine power structures, and governance is re-imagined, funders need to move beyond conventional grantmaking to act as a catalyst for adaptive solutions.

Speakers:
Rajiv Joshi, ED of Regeneration and Founder, Bridging Ventures
Bri Treece, Co-founder and Chief Impact Officer, Fathom AI 
Heba Aly, Director, UN Charter Reform Coalition
Sarah Howard, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF)

Fireside Chat (5:05 - 5:30 PM) | From Bold Strategy to Real-World Impact A Fireside Chat with Natalye Paquin, COO, Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is now over 18 months into a bold strategic realignment, centering climate action alongside human opportunity with a commitment of over $1 billion toward scalable solutions. But what does it really take to turn ambitious vision into tangible impact? In this insightful fireside chat, Natalye Paquin, Chief Operating Officer of The Rockefeller Foundation, will join Gloria Duff to discuss the challenges, lessons learned, and key takeaways from this transformational journey. From navigating execution hurdles to leveraging cross-sector partnerships for systemic change, this conversation will provide practical insights for organizations looking to make similar strategic shifts—or those forced to adapt in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape.

Speakers:
Natalye Paquin, COO, Rockefeller Foundation
Gloria Duffy, CO-CEO, Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Fireside Chat (5:30 - 5:50 PM) | : Defining Risk

Reflection: Being Human: Asking Better Questions (5:55 - 6:00 PM)
In this era of extreme uncertainty and instability, it is critical to ask what it means to be human in the face of mounting need and suffering. In these lightning sessions, we will ask how each of us, as agents of philanthropy, are maintaining our professional and personal values in the face of tremendous crises. What questions about purpose, about values, and about service are we asking, and do we need to ask, to ensure our personal and professional integrity? As we face existential concerns about social deterioration, environmental devastation, and civil unrest, many, perhaps all of us, are asking “what is to be done?”. We will have the opportunity to consider these questions at both the opening and closing of the summit.

Speakers:
David Kim, Founder and Principle, Being Human

Welcome Reception (6:00 - 7:30 PM)

Day 2: Thursday, March 13

Soundbath (7:45 - 8:30 AM)
Attendees can enjoy a Soundbath, with soothing vibrations from instruments like singing bowls and gongs to promote relaxation and clarity.

Registration Opens (8:30 - 9:00 AM)

Opening Remarks (9:00 - 9:10AM)

Speakers:
Sarah Howard, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF)

Lightning Talk (9:10 - 9:25 AM) | Unleashing the Power of Labor Mobility: Building a World of Opportunity

Coming decades will be shaped by two demographic trends: rapid youth population growth in low-income countries, and aging in high-income countries. Bridging this gap offers a chance to reduce inequality of opportunity tied to birthplace. To do so, philanthropy must shift from place-based approaches to supporting mobile jobs and workers. This lightning talk will share solutions that include expanding remote work for youth, and facilitating cross-border labor mobility in current philanthropic efforts.

Speakers:
Rebekah Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Labor Mobility Partnerships

Fireside Chat (9:25 - 9:50 AM) | Building Ecosystems: How Regional Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Global Philanthropy
As philanthropy continues to evolve, regional leaders are redefining how resources are mobilized, partnerships are built, and social impact is scaled. While each region has its own philanthropic traditions and cultures, cross-border collaboration is increasingly essential in addressing global challenges. This session will explore how regional leaders are shaping philanthropy in Latin America and India, how they navigate local complexities, and how they engage with global networks to drive meaningful change. This conversation will highlight the role of leadership in fostering innovation, strengthening ecosystems, and bridging regional approaches with global opportunities.

Speakers:
Luiza Nascimento, Chair of The Institute of Corporate Citizenship (ICE), Brazil
Deval Sanghavi, Co-Founder and Partner, Dasra and GPF Steering Committee Member

Coffee Break + Hall of Imagination - Illuminations Pop-up (9:50 - 10:00 AM)
Illuminations: An illustrated journey through the forces shaping our futures. Illuminations is an art experience for participants to explore the social, psychological, and inertial forces that shape our realities. This pop-up features three of six key exhibits that build on the conference theme of “Embracing Risk” by reflecting on the role of cognitive science and imagination in building more informed and intentional futures.

2nd Floor: Option B | Panel | The Future of Giving: Strengthening Communities Through Social Cohesion and Civic Engagement

Charity has long been a catalyst for building stronger communities and fostering resilient democracies. This session will explore the powerful intersection of cultures of giving—both domestic and global—and its role in promoting social cohesion and civic engagement at home. Drawing on examples from around the world, panelists will examine how acts of giving, whether rooted in cultural traditions or modern philanthropic frameworks, create bridges across socioeconomic divides, empower marginalized communities, and encourage collective action for the greater good. From fostering a sense of shared purpose to driving community-led solutions, philanthropy plays a critical role in addressing systemic challenges while strengthening the civic fabric essential to thriving democracies.

Speakers:
Mark Greer, Managing Director, Charities Aid Foundation
Shazia Maqsood, Executive Director, Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy
Almaz Negash, CEO, African Diaspora Network
Moderator: Paula Fabiani, CEO, IDIS
Asha Curran, CEO, GivingTuesday
John Hewko, General Secretary & CEO, Rotary International
Moderator: Hali Lee, Founder, Radiant Strategies

3rd Floor: Option C | Workshop | Meeting the Moment: Adaptive Philanthropy with a View to the Future

We find ourselves at an inflection point that, in retrospect, might have been more clearly anticipated. The current crisis for democratic institutions and civil society—marked by accelerating authoritarianism and systematic attacks on society's most vulnerable members—is no accident. It is the culmination of decades of patient, well-funded effort by actors on the political right who methodically built their power brick by brick while many of us failed to read the signals or respond at scale. In this interactive workshop, we will introduce Horizon 2045’s Foresight Radar and explore how the careful observation of change underpins more insightful, more foresightful, cooperation between funders and grantees across a spectrum of social, political and environmental challenges.

Speakers:
Erika Gregory, President, Horizon 2045
Morgan Matthews, Executive Director, Horizon 2045

Lunch + Impact Roundtables (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM)

Lightning Talk (12:35 - 12:50 PM) | Reimagining Sacred Spaces: Unlocking Assets for Thriving Communities

Panel (12:50 - 1:55 PM) | Narrative Power: Funding Stories and Culture-Makers That Show Us the Future

Narratives shape how societies understand problems, who they see as change agents, and what solutions they believe are possible. Yet, funding for narrative change work remains limited and often misunderstood. We are at a critical juncture where the meta narratives about where we’ve been and where are going as a species are increasing the linchpin in a post-truth world, with short attention spans and frantic media cycles. This session explores why storytelling matters for systemic transformation, the challenges in resourcing it, and what’s needed to fund narrative work at scale.

Speakers:
Emma Belcher, President, Ploughshares Fund
Adama Sanneh, Co-Founder and CEO, Moleskin Foundation
Aditi Juneja, Executive Director, Democracy 2076
Robyn Scott, Co-Founder and CEO, Apolitical
Derrick Feldmann, Managing Director, Ad Council Research Institute
Moderator: Sarah Howard, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy Forum

Coffee Break + Hall of Imagination - Illuminations Pop-up (1:55 - 2:10 PM)
Illuminations: An illustrated journey through the forces shaping our futures. Illuminations is an art experience for participants to explore the social, psychological, and inertial forces that shape our realities. This pop-up features three of six key exhibits that build on the conference theme of “Embracing Risk” by reflecting on the role of cognitive science and imagination in building more informed and intentional futures.

Breakout Sessions (2:15 - 3:45 PM)

2nd Floor: Option A | Workshop | Global Philanthropy Heat Map

In this interactive workshop, please join a broad group of experts for a highly interactive and provocative exercise focused on the philanthropic trends, approaches and changes likely to impact the field in the coming year. Based on a methodology refined in Davos and at other global events, participants will role play teams of grantors and grantees, and compete to craft winning strategies for maximum impact.

Speakers:
Kevin Steinberg, Founder and Chairman, Ascent Leadership Networks
Kat Randel, President and Co-Founder, Pop Venture

3rd Floor: Option B | Live Podcast | Break Fake Rules: Make Way for a New Era of Philanthropy

Get ready for an exclusive behind-the-scenes recording of philanthropy’s boundary-breaking podcast, “Break Fake Rules!” Join host Glen Galaich of the Stupski Foundation and special guest, Dimple Abichandani, as they spill the tea on Dimple’s highly anticipated new book, A New Era of Philanthropy. In this special breakout session, hear how philanthropy can embrace risk to make a lasting impact and fuel resistance during challenging times. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Dimple to embrace a bolder and more fearless era of giving.

Speakers:
Glen Galaich, CEO, Stupski Foundation
Dimple Abichandani, Board Member, Solidaire Network

Coffee Break + Hall of Imagination - Illuminations Pop-up (3:50 - 4:00 PM)
Illuminations: An illustrated journey through the forces shaping our futures. Illuminations is an art experience for participants to explore the social, psychological, and inertial forces that shape our realities. This pop-up features three of six key exhibits that build on the conference theme of “Embracing Risk” by reflecting on the role of cognitive science and imagination in building more informed and intentional futures.

Fireside Chat (4:00 - 4:15 PM) | Philanthropy as a Market Accelerator: Unlocking Scalable Solutions in Food, Climate, and Land Restoration

Philanthropy has a unique role in driving systems change—not just through direct funding but by unlocking private capital, aligning incentives, and de-risking investment in transformative solutions. However, many funders still operate within traditional grantmaking models that struggle to catalyze large-scale, sustained impact. This fireside chat will explore how philanthropy can act as a market accelerator, using the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes (AARL) as a case study. The AARL initiative, launched at COP28, is a coalition of over 35 global organizations leveraging blended finance to scale regenerative agriculture and landscape restoration in high-impact regions like Brazil’s Cerrado—a biodiversity and food production hotspot facing increasing climate and economic pressures.

Speakers:
Shalini Unnikrishnan, Managing Director & Partner, Consumer & Social Impact, Boston Consulting Group 
Moderator: Eva Goulbourne, CEO, Littlefoot Ventures

Panel (4:15 - 5:10 PM) | Leveraging the Capital Stack: Mobilizing Catalytic Finance to Scale Private Sector Investment in Emerging Markets

With shrinking Official Development Assistance, innovative financing strategies are even more critical to unlocking sustainable development in emerging markets. This session will explore the different roles actors across the philanthropy-impact investing continuum can play in de-risking investments, mobilizing private sector capital, and scaling impactful solutions. Featuring insights from across the capital stack, the discussion will highlight live examples and scalable models for how philanthropy can bridge early funding gaps, align incentives, and create investable opportunities that drive private sector engagement for scaling long-term economic resilience.

Speakers:
Wagner Albuquerque de Almeida, Global Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Kartick Kumar, Managing Director and CEO of Change Forces
Jean Shia, Managing Director, Autodesk Foundation
Peter Laugharn, CEO, Hilton Foundation
Moderator: Sheila Warren, CEO, Project Liberty Institute, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer, Project Liberty

Distributed Dinners (6:30 - 9:30 PM)

Hosted at venues near the Summit, these dinners provide an ambient setting for networking and thought-provoking discussions. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect in a more personal and reflective space.

Day 3: Friday, March 14

Yoga:
We’re starting off Day 3 with a peaceful Yoga session on the rooftop, a serene space to reflect, relax, and reset before the closing sessions.

Registration Opens (8:30 - 9:00 AM)

Opening Remarks (9:00 - 9:10AM)

Speakers:
Sarah Howard, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy Forum

Panel (9:10 - 10:00 AM) | Paving the Future of Philanthropy with Bold Women at the Helm: Leveraging our Greatest Assets for Greatest Impact

The Great Wealth Transfer is upon us and women and underrepresented groups are poised to lead an unprecedented shift in philanthropy and social change. Join us for a dynamic conversation on how women can lean into their greatest assets in human and financial capital to drive impact boldly in this next era of impact. Community, family, wealth, brains and financial vehicles will all have a seat at the table as women meet this historic moment, leading with their values, and with each other.

Speakers:
Stacey Boyd, Founder and CEO of Olivela
Amy Marks Dornbusch, Founder of AtlasDaughters and Director, Marks Family Foundation
Ruby Khan, Strategist, Private Family Office
Yvonne Moore, Managing Director, Moore Philanthropy & President, Moore Impact
Moderator: Kristin Hayden, Founder and President of Vision Powered Ventures

Fireside Chat (10:00 - 10:15 AM) | Rethinking Risk: Leveraging Multicapital Strategies for Transformative Impact

This session explores the risks of misaligning non-economic capital—social, cultural, and symbolic—with an organization’s mission. Using a multicapital framework developed with MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, participants will learn how to align and leverage all forms of capital strategically to drive innovation and impact. This workshop offers practical tools to maximize synergies, mitigate risks, and ensure alignment with mission and values to drive transformative and lasting change.

Speakers:
Vicki Maler, Program Associate for Training and Community Engagement, Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP)
Karine Sarkissian, Founding Partner, Tamar Capital

Coffee Break + Hall of Imagination - Illuminations Pop-up (10:15 - 10:25AM)
Illuminations: An illustrated journey through the forces shaping our futures. Illuminations is an art experience for participants to explore the social, psychological, and inertial forces that shape our realities. This pop-up features three of six key exhibits that build on the conference theme of “Embracing Risk” by reflecting on the role of cognitive science and imagination in building more informed and intentional futures.

Breakout Sessions (10:25 AM - 11:55 PM)

1st Floor: Option A | Unlocking Philanthropy’s Potential to De-Risk Social Innovation: Ethical Tech Solutions Driving Social Transformation in Brazil and Uganda

Over the past decades, philanthropy has played a pivotal yet often overlooked role in de-risking social innovations. From funding early-stage projects to catalyzing groundbreaking solutions, philanthropic investments have frequently served as a driving force behind initiatives considered too risky for governments or politicians to support. Consider the Rockefeller Foundation’s groundbreaking initiatives in reducing food insecurity in Mexico and India, as well as many philanthropic investments in medicine and vaccines to eradicate diseases like polio.

Join us for an interactive session exploring how philanthropy can unlock its full potential to address today’s most pressing global challenges and meet frontline organizations leveraging technology to address the needs of the communities they serve.

Speakers:
Thiago Nascimento, Executive Director, Instituto Decodifica (Brazil)
Solomon King Benge, Founder & Executive Director, Fundi Bots (Uganda)
Moderator: Kady Sylla, Director for Africa & Middle East, Myriad USA

2nd Floor: Option B | Panel | Whose Risk? A Collaborative Path to Inclusive Due Diligence

Funders seek to empower proximate organizations. Yet navigating the complexities of risk – legal, financial, reputational – often hinders this goal. We will challenge conventional approaches to due diligence, and propose a systems-based approach that emphasizes collaborative infrastructure and risk literacy. The panelists, representing funders and local actors, will explore how philanthropy can reimagine its practices to unlock support and ensure risk is a shared responsibility, not a barrier.

Speakers:
Chilande Kuloba Warria, Team Leader/CEO, Warande Advisory Centre
Connie Archbold Robinson, CEO, Panta Rhea Foundation
Ana María Sánchez Rodríguez Director of Philanthropy, Cemefi
Geraldine Moreno, Grants Compliance Manager, AmplifyChange
Rachel Huguet, Senior Partnerships Officer, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Moderator: Melvin Chibole, Managing Director, TechSoup Africa 

3rd Floor: Option C | Workshop |  The Art & Science of Civic Imagination: A Strategic Workshop for Envisioning Collective Futures

Our ability to imagine beyond the present is one of the most powerful cognitive tools we have for problem-solving—yet it's rarely given the space and energy it deserves. Drawing from neuroscience and psychology, this session explores why our minds resist breaking from the status quo and how deliberate exercises in civic imagination can help us build more expansive, strategic, and actionable visions of the future. Participants will engage in a sample exercise to explore the future of knowledge exchange, contributing to an ongoing project that translates collective visions into real world possibilities.

Speakers:
Stephanie Fine Sasse, Founder of The Plenary, Co.
Dr. Crystal Dilworth, Neuroscientist & Science Communicator

Lunch + Impact Roundtables (12:00 - 12:55 PM)

Lightning Talk (1:00 - 1:15 PM) | Investing in Hope: Lessons from Guatemala and Syria

The global economy is evolving at an unprecedented pace, shaped by technological advancements, green transitions, and shifting ownership structures. As we navigate this transformation, how can we rethink the ways the economy is measured, structured, and governed? This session brings together thought leaders who are shaping the future of economic systems—beyond traditional philanthropy and toward systemic change. Moderated by Brian Kettenring, Co-President of The Global Fund for a New Economy, this conversation will explore key signals in the economic ecosystem, the role of inclusive capitalism, and the tension between for-profit and nonprofit models. Panelists will discuss structures that democratize economic power, the implications of rapid wealth accumulation, and the critical role of policy and strategic philanthropy in shaping the future. Are we prepared to engage in designing these systems, or will we simply react to them? Join us as we map out the next frontier of economic possibility.

Speakers:
Sandhya Nakhasi, Co-CEO, Common Future
Andrea Dehlendorf, Senior Advisor, Political Economy of AI, Global Fund for a New Economy
Sarah Schwimmer, Co-CEO, B Lab Global
Moderator: Brian Kettering, CEO, Global Fund for a New Economy

Speakers:
Vilas Dhar, President, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
Moderator: Marci Harris, CEO & Co-Founder, POPVOX

Coffee Break + Hall of Imagination - Illuminations Pop-up (2:30 - 2:45 PM)
Illuminations: An illustrated journey through the forces shaping our futures. Illuminations is an art experience for participants to explore the social, psychological, and inertial forces that shape our realities. This pop-up features three of six key exhibits that build on the conference theme of “Embracing Risk” by reflecting on the role of cognitive science and imagination in building more informed and intentional futures.

Lightning Talk (2:45 - 3:00 PM) | Beyond Borders: Three Lessons from a Decade of Global Learning

In 2015, RWJF launched an intentional effort to pursue global learning. This involved identifying approaches in countries around the globe that could inform their own work to improve health and wellbeing in the United States, as well as creating cross-border communities of practice. In this lightning talk, Shilpa Shankar will share the three big lessons learned from ten years of exploring global ideas for U.S. solutions.

Speakers:
Shilpa Shankar, Program Associate, Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 

Panel (3:00 - 3:50 PM) | Navigating Crisis Together: Taking Bold Action in Unprecedented Times

Global funding for human rights, social movements and peace and security is facing unprecedented change and challenge. Philanthropy is truly at a crossroads. How we mobilize in the face of this crisis, how we collaborate to ensure our reach is as strategic as possible, and what risks we are willing to take will define our field for years to come. In this session, we will assess the scope and impact of the changing funding landscape and take a global perspective on the impact, now and into the future. With speakers from the private sector, philanthropy, and activist-led funding, we will ask the hard questions about what philanthropy can do -- in real terms and in real time. 

Speakers:
Jamaica Maxwell, Civil Society and Leadership Director, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Christelle Delenclos, Global Consultant, GEEMA Consulting
Virisila Buadromo, Co-Lead, Urgent Action Fund Asia and Pacific + the UAF Sisterfunds
Moderator: Kellea Miller, Executive Director, Human Rights Funders Network

Closing Fireside Chat (3:50 - 4:15 PM) | Hope in Motion: Mary Maker’s Journey from Refugee to Global Changemaker

Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with Mary Maker, a former refugee who turned adversity into advocacy, becoming a global voice for education and empowerment. Mary will share her extraordinary story of resilience, the power of education to transform lives, and the role of philanthropy in rewriting futures. This thought-provoking conversation will challenge us to rethink how we invest in human potential and mobilize hope into action. Hear from a visionary changemaker dedicated to breaking barriers and building a brighter tomorrow.

Speakers:
Mary Maker, Global Goodwill Ambassador, UNHCR

Reflection: Being Human: Asking Better Questions (4:15 - 4:25 PM)
In this era of extreme uncertainty and instability, it is critical to ask what it means to be human in the face of mounting need and suffering. In these lightning sessions, we will ask how each of us, as agents of philanthropy, are maintaining our professional and personal values in the face of tremendous crises. What questions about purpose, about values, and about service are we asking, and do we need to ask, to ensure our personal and professional integrity? As we face existential concerns about social deterioration, environmental devastation, and civil unrest, many, perhaps all of us, are asking “what is to be done?”. We will have the opportunity to consider these questions at both the opening and closing of the summit.

Speakers:
David Kim, Founder and Principle, Being Human

Closing (4:25 - 4:30 PM)

Thank you to our partners!