CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Thanks to the incredible work on the Conference Planning Committee, we have an exciting program planned. As always, we invited participants to actively participate in shaping the agenda and received many session ideas. Attendees will be able to shape their daily agendas with conversations that are most important to them and their work.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Day 1: Monday, April 28, 2025
9:00 - 10:00
Optional Networking Breakfast
​Plaza del Jubileo and Basement
10:00 - 12:00
-
Movements - intro Session​
Speakers: Jennifer Kamau, Nichola Scherer. Facilitator: Alejandro Jaimes Bahamón.
Open to Movements participating at the Conference
Room:S1
​
-
Members - only Session​
Speakers: Micheal Kourabas, W'qaas Ali Khan, Rajiv Khanna and EDGE staff.
Open to EDGE Members
Room: Plaza del Jubileo
​
-
Getting to know EDGE, Facilitated Networking​
Facilitator: Amanda Gigler.​​​
Room: S4
​
12:00 - 14:00
Rest, Lunch and Disconnect
14:00 - 15:30
Opening Ceremony and Plenary Conversation Showing Mirror: Shifting the paradigm of accountability in philanthropy
​
The opening session of the conference will begin with a welcome and a ceremony celebrating the land and traditions of the Muysca community. This will be followed by a panel discussion focusing on how philanthropy needs to show up in the current context, with emphasis on what it means to be accountable.
​
Speakers: Edgar Villanueva (Decolonizing Wealth Project), Lori Robinson (VidaAfroLatina), Jess Simón Castaño Cuadro (Posá Suto), Jonathas Azevedo (Rede Comuá). Moderator: W'qaas A.Khan (Guerrilla Foundation). ​
Room: Plaza del Jubileo
15:30 - 16:00
Break
16:00 - 17:30
17:30 - 18:00
Reflection PODS​
​
A space for participants to connect, build deeper relationships, reflect on the learnings and challenges of the day, and share anything else that may come up during the conference. All conference attendees will be assigned a reflection pod, and will meet at the end of each day.
​
Room: each pod will be allocated a space at the conference.​​
Side Event
Evening of Culinary Delight and Insightful Dialogue (SOLD OUT): Organised by the Advancing Global Drug Policy Reform team and Open Society Foundations, a dinner and documentary screening at Restaurante Salvo Patria, on Monday, April 28th, from 7pm-9pm. ​
Side Event
Women’s Funding Network (WFN)’s Lunch Strategy Session : Join the lunch hosted by WFN and Justice for Migrant Women on the creation of a movement-led ‘one world’ agenda with migrant activists from the Global South at JW Marriott Hotel Bogotà on Monday, 28th April, from 12:15pm-13:45pm. Connect with Mirenda to register.
Side Event
‘The Encampments’ documentary screening: Join the screening of ‘the Encampments’, a documentary on the student encampment in solidarity with Palestine at Columbia University. The projection will take place at the Conference venue on Tuesday, April 28th, at 18:00pm.
Side Event
Intermediary PODs lunch: Gather with the folks leading the EDGE Intermediary POD and join them at the Venue Cafeteria on Monday April 28th!
Day 2: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
9:00 - 10:30
Stories of Change: Accountability in Practice
​
This panel will focus on recounting and reflecting on stories of change experienced by funders and movement representatives. They will go deeper into what made such changes possible and how such practices can be adopted by others. Speakers will share their personal reflections, and provide some ideas which may be applicable to the current context of philanthropy in particular.
​
Speakers: Rosalee Gonzales (Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas), Sofia AYOO Ogutu (World March of women Kenya), Jo And - Fig (People Support Foundation), Magda Pocheć (FemFund). Moderator: Alexandra Lamb Guevara (AWID).
​
Room: Plaza del Jubileo
​
10:30 - 11:00
Break
11:00 - 12:30
-
Confronting Power & Accountability in Philanthropy
​​
This session is open to grantmakers and philanthropic practitioners joining the EDGE conference and it will provide a critical space for funders to reflect on their power and responsibility in philanthropy. Participants will confront the root causes of inequality in philanthropy, explore the tensions and challenges of accountability, and discuss funder-to-funder accountability as a key mechanism for change. Through power mapping, peer discussions, and facilitated conversations, funders will identify where power is concentrated, what accountability requires, and what shifts are needed.
Speakers: Myroslava Tataryn (Disability Rights Fund), Amalia Brindis Delgado (Panta Rhea Foundation), Auro Fraser (OSF), Erix Cortez (Urgent Action Fund / Latin America). Moderators: W’qaas A. Khan, (Guerrilla Foundation), Sebastian Frias (W.K. Kellogg).
Dedicated to grant makers and philanthropic practitioner
​​
Room: Plaza del Jubileo
​
-
Movements -Only Session
Facilitators: ​Erica Njuguna (ANGRY ALLIANCE), Simón Castaño Cuadro (Posá Suto), Sarah McMains (International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)), Tonya Haynes
(Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit, The UWI Cave Hill).
For movement leaders participating at the conference
​
Room: S1
12:30 - 14:00
Rest, Lunch and Disconnect
14:00 - 15:30
Parallel Participants-Led Sessions
Check the details here.
15:30 - 16:00
Break​
16:00 - 17:30
Parallel Participants-Led Sessions
Check the details here.
17:30 - 18:00
Reflection PODS​​
​
Room: each pod will be allocated a space at the conference.​
20:00 - 23:00
Party ​
​
Room: Plaza del Jubileo.​
Side Event
Guardians of Silence: Protecting Overlooked Territories in South America: Join the event hosted by Ayni Fund and Quipa Collective on Tuesday, April 29th at 12:00pm (Pimento Cucina Italiana - Hotel Marriott). Please, email Jose Proaño at jose@quipa.org for reference.
Side Event
Organizing for Palestine Meetup: Join the lunch hosted by Funders 4 Palestine and Funding Freedom at the EDGE Conference Venue (the dining hall) on Tuesday, April 29th during lunch hours.
Day 3: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
9:00 - 10:30
Two parallel workshops: you are welcome to select the one that fits more your needs and energy!
​
-
Session 1: "Beyond Institutions: Organizing as a sector “ – You are ready to organize the sector, you are committed to EDGE and the work of this moment – come find your inner and fellow organizers!
Facilitators: Bridget Brehen (GGJ Alliance) & charles long (M4BL).
Room: S3A
​
-
Session 2: "Internal Organizing: Shifting Practices Within Our Institutions” – Join this session if you want to shift power and practices from within your institution.
Facilitators: Cuong Hoang & EDGE staff.
Room: S4
10:30 - 11:00
Break
11:00 - 12:00
Reflections PODS: 'Fruits Session'
In this reflection pod, participants will focus on consolidating some of their learnings from the conference, and reflect on how to put them into action. Pod leaders will facilitate this space by providing prompts and activities for reflection.
​
Room: Allocated Pods spots​
12:00 - 13:00
Rest, Lunch and Disconnect
13:00 - 14:30
Closing Panel : New Directions in Philanthropy
By weaving in themes and discussions emerging during previous days of the conference, this panel will focus on ideas and actions for the future.
Speakers: Hilda Vega (Hispanics in Philanthropy), Nino
Ugrekhelidze (Dalan Fund). Moderator: Asad Rehman (War or Want). ​
​
Room: Plaza del Jubileo
15:00 - 18:00