Transformational Together: A Recap of Our 2025 Global Summit

From May 28–31, our network gathered in Austin, Texas, for an invigorating, purpose-filled gathering of minds, hearts, and action. The 2025 SVPI Global Summit was more than an event—it was a movement in motion.

Affiliates and partners from around the world joined us for three days of inspiration, connection, and collaboration, all grounded in a shared commitment to reimagining philanthropy and shifting power in pursuit of a just, equitable world.

A Texas-Sized Welcome

We opened the Summit with a joyful reception and dinner, where the energy was electric from the start. SVPI’s VP of Strategy and Engagement, Jason Aluko-Williams, and Guff Van Vooren, SVP Minnesota partner and SVPI board member, introduced each affiliate with a hand-selected theme song—a lively way to set the tone for the days ahead. SVPI CEO Ciara Garcia laid out the vision for our time together, inviting the network to lean into transformation.

Vision, Meaning, and Momentum

Day 2 began with grounding remarks from our CEO, Ciara Garcia, who reaffirmed our shared vision to transform people, places, and practices in the pursuit of a just, equitable world. “I would venture to say that SVP is an antidote to what is happening in our world,” she shared.

We then heard a powerful keynote from Dr. Michael McAfee, CEO of PolicyLink. In his compelling talk, “We the People: A Call to Rebuild, Redefine, and Rise,” Dr. McAfee challenged us to adopt a “founder stance”—to see ourselves as architects of a more inclusive and equitable society.  

Throughout the day, attendees joined a range of interactive breakout sessions, including:

• Measuring and Understanding Our Impact, with Juan Clavijo (ORS Impact) and Valerie Threlfall (Listen4Good), focused on equity-centered measurement and feedback loops.
• Building a Strong Fundraising Board with Darian Rodriguez Heyman (Founder and CEO of Helping People Help and Best-Selling Author) offered tactical tools to engage boards in meaningful fundraising roles.
• Aligning Purpose with Impact, where Jorge Méndez (SVP Boulder County partner and SVPI board member) provided tools for deepening community understanding and designing more relevant philanthropic solutions.
• Values-Powered Leadership, featuring Anne Mosle (Vice President at The Aspen Institute and Executive Director for Ascend at The Aspen Institute) and Ciara Garcia, explored the leadership traits necessary for systems change.

Later, Emily Esfahani Smith guided us through her framework for building a life of meaning, sharing insights from her book The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. She illustrated her four pillars of a meaningful life—belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence—and how they shape both our personal journeys and our collective work. Her keynote helped set the stage for an afternoon of compelling breakout sessions, led by thought leaders and affiliates from across the globe:

• From Friction to Flow, led by Erin Stevanus (SVP Portland partner and Founder of Impact x Design Lab), on designing dynamic, human-centered partner experiences.
• Catalyzing Scaled Impact: The Growth Story of SVP India, with Govind Iyer (SVP India, All India chairperson and SVPI board member), highlighted how SVP India scaled to support over 120 nonprofits and what it means to grow with purpose and partnership. 
• A hands-on storytelling workshop with Emily Esfahani Smith helped attendees reflect on and rewrite their personal narratives.
• Establishing the Foundation for Equity-Centered Work, led by Leigh Solomon Pugliano (CEO, SVP Pittsburgh and President & CEO of The Equity | Impact Center), sharing tools for sustainable, equity-aligned program design.

Local Wisdom, Global Action

Our final day began with a morning reflection from Dale Pfeifer, CEO of Giving Compass, alongside Jason Aluko-Williams and Debbie Nutley, SVP Chicago partner and SVPI board member. The tone was collaborative, optimistic, and grounded in our shared responsibility to lead differently.

Then, Darian Rodriguez Heyman returned for his keynote, “The Power of Us: Courageous Collaboration and the Future of Impact.” He called on us to move beyond silos and to embrace leadership as a collective act—a call echoed in every session that followed.

The morning breakout sessions continued to build momentum:

• Grounded in Community, moderated by Executive Director of SVP Austin, Lynne Skinner, featured local community leaders Bill Wallace (SVP Austin), Brandi Coleman (SVP San Antonio), and Emory McDowell (SVP Dallas)—and reminded us to center lived experience in all we do.
• Field Catalysts with Emma Nothmann (Bridgespan) explored the vital role field catalysts play in large-scale change and how funders can support their growth.
• Engaging the Next Generation in Venture Philanthropy with Tony Fleo (SVP Dallas CEO) and Jenna Biancavilla (SVP Arizona
  board member) highlighted SVP Dallas and SVP Arizona’s efforts to nurture future leaders through programs like the Dana Juett Residency and Diane Walker Fellowship.
• Giving in Style, led by Milan Ball (Giving Compass), helped attendees identify their giving styles and learn how to align them with data, values, and measurable impact.

In the afternoon for the closing plenary, Ciara Garcia delivered the State of the Network address—an honest and inspiring reflection on how SVPI is shifting power, fueling action, and forging new pathways toward justice and equity. She also focused on this moment and why philanthropy is more important now than ever before. The power of together was further punctuated with the release of SVPI’s State of the Network Report. Read the full report here.

We closed with a dynamic panel that didn’t shy away from tough questions. Moderated by SVPI board chair Paul Shoemaker, philanthropic leaders Mark Holloway of SVP Portland, Dr. Adriana Loson-Ceballos, PhD, Co-Founder at Colmena-Consulting and SVPI board member, Anne Mosle, and Stephanie Fuerstner Gillis of Giving Compass, called on us to act with courage and collective conviction.

Pop-Up Giving Circle: Fueling Local Impact in Texas

This year’s Summit also marked the launch of a new tradition: SVPI’s first-ever Pop-Up Giving Circle, created to honor and invest directly in local community organizations delivering impact every day.

Together, we raised $10,000 for each of these incredible Texas-based community organizations:

• Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation (SVP Austin Partner)
• Hope Cottage (SVP Dallas Partner)
• Lemonade Circle (SVP San Antonio Partner)
  

It was a powerful expression of our network’s values in action—local giving, shared purpose, and collective impact.

Looking Ahead

We danced. We celebrated. We honored what it means to show up—for each other, for our communities, and for a world that works for all. The Summit may be over, but the energy continues to ripple outward. We are grateful for every affiliate, partner, and speaker who made this gathering unforgettable. Together, we are transformational.