Charitable giving and philanthropy have long been central to conceptions of American national identity, understood since the nation’s founding to be vital to the maintenance of a robust civil society and of democratic life. From mutual aid networks to community foundations and digital crowdfunding, Americans have consistently turned to voluntary giving to meet shared needs and express shared values. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this tradition of charitable giving invites both celebration and honest examination as it maintains deep continuities and experiences profound changes. The past decade has brought significant pressure to bear on the landscape of giving: Shifting tax policy has altered incentives for everyday donors, public funding gaps have increased need, and declining institutional trust has changed where and how people choose to give. At the same time, new models of collective and community-led giving are emerging in response. 

As part of its 30th anniversary, the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy brings together researchers, philanthropic leaders, policymakers, and sector infrastructure actors to examine the evolving landscape of charitable giving and philanthropy in its fifth Giving Innovation Summit. As part of this convening, we will explore the evolution of the infrastructure of everyday and collective giving, probe the policy pressures reshaping charitable behavior today, and examine how the charitable and philanthropic sectors are responding to widening gaps in public funding. Together, we will ask what these transformations mean for the future of giving in America. 

Speakers:

• Sara Barba, Managing Partner, Integer
• Jon Bergdoll, Associate Director of Data Partnerships, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University Indianapolis 
• Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Instructor, Sociology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities 
• Asha Curran, Chief Executive Officer, GivingTuesday
• Michael Layton, W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy 
• Robert McClelland, Senior Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center 
• Faith Mitchell, Institute Fellow, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute 
• Robert Rosenbaum, Cofounder, Project Resource Optimization Initiative 
• Benjamin Soskis, Senior Research Associate, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute
• Laura Tomasko, Senior Policy Program Manager and Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy Practice Area Lead, Urban Institute
• Victoria Vrana, Chief Executive Officer, GlobalGiving

More speakers to be announced. 

Thirty years ago, the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy was founded to build knowledge about the nonprofit and philanthropic sector through rigorous research and accessible data. This year, we honor that legacy through a series of convenings, bringing leaders and researchers together to share evidence, advance insights, and strengthen collaboration across the field. 

Support for this event is provided by the Gates Foundation. For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to urban.org/about/our-funding. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.