Know Before You Go: What to Expect at the National Gathering 2024
Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect at this year’s big event. To hear from members of the organizing committee, check out the latest episode of Network Exchange, NNFS’ podcast. And view our full National Gathering 2024 schedule, including descriptions of all the breakout sessions.
We are so excited to see you in Atlanta! The 2024 National Gathering kicks off on Tuesday night with a casual reception (5-7 p.m.) at Dunwoody Suite, which is located in the Crowne Plaza Ravinia within the conference floor. Meet or reconnect with a room full of passionate folks who have traveled to the ATL to improve their communities and careers, and grow the fiscal sponsor ecosystem.
Don’t worry. There’s no early start on Wednesday. Make your way over to the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia — or down in the elevator — between 9 and 10 a.m. to register and grab something to eat from a continental breakfast spread. If you’re looking to stretch your legs before a long day of sessions and sharing, take a stroll in Ravinia Gardens, an adjacent park complete with comfortable seating and a babbling water feature.
At 10:15 a.m., the opening plenary takes place, featuring an appearance by Ashlee Haze, a local poet and spoken word artist, and a welcome from two regional fiscal sponsors.
This year, the breakout sessions have been categorized into two tracks. “Emerging track” presentations are geared towards those who are newer to fiscal sponsorship or representatives from small and/or nascent organizations. All sessions are open to everyone, but the hope is that this will help each attendee curate their own experience and get the most out of the Gathering.
After an on-site lunch, there is a full menu of breakout sessions to choose from over two time blocks. Block one features topics such as “Fiscal Sponsorship 101” (emerging track), “Harnessing AI in Fiscal Sponsorship: Best Practices, Security and Privacy in the Digital Age,” and “Decolonizing Fiscal Sponsorship: Creating a More Collaborative Fiscal Sponsorship Model for BIPOC-Led Projects.” Block two offers seven distinct sessions, including “Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Engaging Across Teams to Strengthen Systems and Processes,” “Resourcing the Next Generation: Fiscal Sponsorship for Youth-Centered Projects,” and an emerging track presentation on “Model A Finance.”
At 5 p.m., it’s time for happy hour at the Dunwoody Suite. Enjoy a drink while you digest the day and make new connections.
On Thursday, the schedule kicks off at 8:15 a.m. with breakfast and coffee. The day-two plenary will showcase Ruth Wiliams, president and CEO of Community Initiatives, Mike Salamon from Alliance for Justice and Andrea Granda with Movement Strategy Center, speaking about fiscal sponsorship as a vehicle for change. This session weaves in this year’s theme of Advancing Collective Power Through Fiscal Sponsorship by exploring ways in which fiscal sponsorship can be used in collective action and movement building to influence policy.
The small affinity sessions that follow are an opportunity to connect with fiscal sponsorship professionals in your specific field or community. Options include New and Emerging Fiscal Sponsors, LBGTQIA+, Arts, and more. One session also boasts a chance to ask legal questions of attorneys Erin Bradrick and Karl Mill.
After lunch, two more blocks of breakout sessions beckon, covering topics such as “HR/Employment Law for Fiscal Sponsors” (emerging track), “The Solidarity Economy and Fiscal Sponsorship: Approaches to Power Sharing,” and “Protect Your Projects from Cyber Risk.”
NNFS wants to encourage attendees to explore Atlanta, so you have Thursday night off. And while there are plenty of dining options at Perimeter Mall across the street, the MARTA Dunwoody Station is less than a 10-minute walk from the host hotel. The hotel has a free shuttle (call 770-296-2752) to take you within a 1-½ mile radius, including the Dunwoody Marta station (just be sure to tip the driver to show appreciation!). The red line will take you into central Atlanta. Explore the city’s restaurants and shops in vibrant neighborhoods such as Buckhead and Midtown. You can also hop in a car and head to Inman Park for a walk along the eastside section of the Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile loop of trails and parks that connects breweries, restaurants and cultural attractions.
Breakfast on Friday starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by a final slate of breakout sessions, including “How to Design an Equitable Retirement Plan,” “Generative Conflict Playspace” (lead facilitator Blair Franklin recently chatted about this topic on Network Exchange), and “Intentional Marketing with Google Ads for Fiscal Sponsors.”
The closing plenary will be emceed by Ema Angulo-Rodriquez and will feature another performance by Ashlee Haze along with words from the NNFS Steering Committee Chair. It’s a final chance to reflect on an incredible week of learning and collaboration.
National Gathering 2024 will wrap up by 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Safe travels and we’ll see you next year!
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