As an avid runner, I’m anxiously awaiting the opening of the 2019 Boston Marathon registration. It is one of the premier events in the running world, and I’ll be refreshing my browser next Wednesday at 10am the second that runners in my qualifying timeframe are allowed to register.
While I’m still waiting impatiently for that, the other registration that I had been eagerly anticipating is finally here: early bird registration for CEP’s 2019 national conference, Stronger Philanthropy. The conference will be held in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN at the Hilton Minneapolis from Tuesday, May 7 – Thursday, May 9, 2019.
In short, what’s the CEP Conference about? Our biennial national conferences are can’t-miss events for foundation executives, trustees, donors, and senior leaders to come together, learn, and return to their organizations with the resources and inspiration to help maximize their effectiveness. Our 2019 conference will engage with the most pressing issues facing the field and is shaping up to be an event you’ll want to make sure is on your calendar next spring.
The conference program is already taking shape, and our lineup of confirmed speakers thus far includes foundation and nonprofit leaders, bestselling authors, and leading researchers. Scheduled speakers, among others, include:
- Anand Giridharadas — political analyst and former New York Times foreign correspondent and columnist. Giridharadas will discuss his recently published book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, and challenge us with some hard questions about the intersection of philanthropy, democracy, and inequality.
- Michael Sandel — political philosopher, Harvard University professor, and author of two New York Times bestsellers: Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? and What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. Sandel’s work focuses on justice and democracy, and he’ll challenge us to examine the ethical dilemmas we confront in our work, politics, and everyday lives.
- Amy Chua — Yale Law School professor and author of several books, including the international bestselling memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and the recently released Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. Drawing from this most recent book, Chua will discuss philanthropy’s role in moving beyond political tribalism.
- Nancy Giles — CBS Sunday Morning contributor, comedian, and actress. Giles, who is known for her blending of humor and social and political commentary, will deliver the conference’s dinner plenary.
- Matthew Desmond — sociologist and author of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winner in General Nonfiction, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Desmond will discuss his research on the prevalence of eviction in low-income communities in America and how it functions as a cause, not just a condition, of poverty.
If you are new to CEP’s conferences, I recommend checking out this highlight video from our most recent conference last year in Boston for a concise introduction.
Register now to take advantage of early bird registration rates — and if you’re a CEP assessment and advisory services client or a member of Minnesota Council on Foundations, you’re eligible for an additional discount. We’re expecting the conference to sell out, so don’t miss this opportunity to reserve your spot at the lowest price.
Reserved your place and ready to pack your bags? Let everyone know by tweeting with the official conference hashtag, #CEP2019!
You can learn more about our speakers, agenda, and accommodation on our conference website. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at yingt@cep.org or 617-492-0800 x186.
We look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis-St. Paul!
Ying Tao is manager, programming and external relations, at CEP.
