Why We're Excited for the Philanos PowerUP! Conference

Impact Austin will host the Philanos PowerUP! Texas Conference from Feb 8-10, 2026. Texas co-hosts include Impact San Antonio, Impact 100 Wichita Falls, Women Inspiring Philanthropy, and the Women's Fund of Smith County (with 11 members coming to the Conference!). Read on to know why we're excited!

This convening of collective groups is not our first rodeo! 2012 was the first time we hosted for Philanos, then known as the Women's Collective Giving Grantmakers Network. Even before that, we put on an event known as Success Through Sharing that convened Impact groups from Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Owensboro, Pensacola, and San Antonio. Clearly, we have a love for this collective learning and the shared wisdom among giving circles.

Several Impact Austin members have been assisting for months with planning, logistics, and content development for the PowerUP! Conference. Several more are already registered to attend, and here’s how you can do the same:

• Start out by subscribing as an Affiliate (Impact Austin) Member; no cost. This will also give you access to all Philanos resources past and future! https://philanos.org/Subscribe

• Register for the conference: https://philanos.org/Registration-Austin

• Want to stay at the Hilton Austin? You’ll be emailed a link to reserve with the conference code.

Early Bird Registration runs through Nov 15 with a $300 discount to Philanos members registering by that date. While it's a stop-and-think expense, the conference fee does include all meals from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning, keynote and plenary sessions with national speakers, 20 Breakout Sessions, 12 Affinity Group sessions, and exceptional opportunities to network and learn. These are detailed at the bottom of our blog post. Check out the overall schedule and conference FAQs.

We asked a few Impact Austin members to share how they are involved with the Conference and what they hope to take away from the experience.

Claudia Barlow

On Sunday night I am welcoming everyone to Austin and the conference. I'm excited to welcome women from all around the country to Austin in February for the Philanos national conference and I'm proud that Impact Austin is the host for the event.  Now more than ever, I believe it's critical that those of us who are committed to making a difference in our communities come together to affirm our common mission, learn from one another, and re-energize for the important work we do.  I'm looking forward to an educational and inspiring three days. I hope to see you there! (Note: Claudia and Deanna DeHaven were the earliest collaborators with Philanos to position Impact Austin as the host giving circle.)

Kali' Rourke

My official role is to act as a liaison between Philanos' board and the Impact Austin board to facilitate IA involvement and to help to source local speakers that might meet their needs. I have decided that my official role at the Conference will be to follow my spiritual gifts and to function as a helper. I am able to step in and fill the needs they may have for a Board Member, an IA Member, and, of course, as an articulate advocate for women's collective giving. What do I hope to gain by attending? To meet and converse with members of other giving circles. I have only worked with two, so I have much to learn!

Gloria Davenport

This will be my first Philanos Conference so I'm looking forward to the experience of being among dynamic, motivated women doing good things in their communities.  I'm also looking forward to sharing and discussing priorities with others within the nonprofit sector, as well as hearing from the keynote speaker. 

Bobbi Jayasuriya

As a new member of Impact Austin and its Marketing Committee, I’m eager to dive into the world of women’s giving circles and understand how this unique sector markets itself. The PowerUP! Conference is the perfect place to connect, learn from others, and accelerate my growth in this exciting space.

Judi McCarthy

As Marketing Chair for Impact Austin, I was asked to be part of the Conference Steering Committee and was then added to the Program Committee. I'll be facilitating one Breakout Session and speaking on another, both on comms-related topics. I'll also facilitate an Affinity Group (casual roundtable discussion) on Social Media: Successes and Challenges. Women's giving circles are wonderfully collaborative! I am most excited for the idea-sharing among giving circle volunteers. Every circle does something really well - I want to learn their tried-and-true practices! Every circle struggles with something, and I want to know how they adapt and persevere.

Ami Kane

The chance to attend PowerUP! is so appealing to me because it represents a chance not just to learn in a community of female philanthropists but also to build meaningful connections, connections which span across the US with like-minded women who have a vision for stronger and healthier communities everywhere!

Tonya Netzley

I will co-lead an Affinity Group on Member Onboarding: Start Out Strong. This Philanos PowerUP! Conference will be the first one I will be attending.  With it being held in Austin, and hosted by Impact Austin and other Texas giving circles, it is a great opportunity to learn from speakers and attendees about philanthropic and giving circle best practices and to share ideas.  What we learn can help Impact Austin continue to reimagine how our giving circle functions to support our members and the Central Texas nonprofit community. I am looking forward to meeting and talking with affiliate representatives I have met via Zoom from past Philanos webinars and roundtable discussions. It's also an opportunity to socialize with other Texas giving circle affiliate members.

Audra Morris

Audra will be a panelist in a Breakout Session called One Size Doesn't Fit All: Grantee Members, Fellows, and More, exploring various categories of membership. She will specifically address our Community Partner representatives that are gifted a two-year membership. Impact Austin benefits greatly from participation by these members!

Alyssa Reyna

As Impact Austin's Philanthropy Operations Manager, Alyssa sits on the Philanos Conference Steering Committee alongside Kali' Rourke, Nicole Genovese, and Judi McCarthy. As a first-year Impact Austin member, Alyssa observes: At Impact Austin events, I'm always happy to be there but am working, so I have little opportunity to connect with the women-philanthropists in the room. The Philanos Conference offers connectivity with like-minded women who value collective impact. We're greater together!

Becky Austen wrote that she is excited about the Philanos Conference and plans to attend the entire event. In fact, Becky will perform with Blue Vibe at the Super Party event on Sunday evening! I was on a committee with Kali' to recruit plenary speakers, and asked Lynne Twist to speak. She confirmed, and is fabulous.

Becky also wrote in Impact Austin's blog about her experience at the 2023 PowerUP! Conference in Baltimore, which she attended with Demetria Caston and Val Kirk. I was uplifted every time I met someone and said I was from Impact Austin! The responses were always so positive, with praise for our structure ("we used Impact Austin as the model when we started our circle"), how we innovate ("Impact Austin is always on the forefront of new ideas"), and what we deliver ("I love your website, programs, Girls Giving Grants," etc). Sometimes we marinate in our own challenges; it made me really proud to see us as others see us, and to represent Impact Austin.

Impact Austin Founder Rebecca Powers was very encouraging when asked if current Impact Austin members should attend the 2026 Conference, saying. "At the conference, you will connect with like-minded women who believe in the power of pooling their resources to effect positive change in the world."  

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Learning opportunities at the Philanos PowerUP! Texas Conference

Keynote and Plenary Speakers

Affinity Groups

Check out 12 Affinity Group offerings - casual, round-table discussions on topics that involve all giving circles: member engagement, tiered membership, creative grantmaking communications and social media, financial sustainability, succession planning, and more! These are split between two one-hour sessions on Sunday afternoon; attendees will choose two Affinity Groups. Impact Austin members will lead or co-lead two of these.

Breakout Sessions

Twenty Breakout Sessions will be offered on Monday morning and afternoon and again on Tuesday morning. Attendees will be able to choose five breakouts. Almost every topic will be pertinent to Impact Austin. Three breakout sessions feature our members as presenters.

Purposeful Planning: Crafting Strategic Roadmaps for Collective Giving

Turning Data into Impact: How Women's Giving Circles Tell Their Story

Follow the Money: Attracting DAF Donations

The Next Generation: Recruiting, Engaging, and Retaining Young Philanthropists

Holding the Center: Uplifting BIPOC Voices in Challenging Times

Communicating in Challenging Times: How to Use Clear and Strategic Messaging

Focusing Resources for Equity: Grantmaking to Historically Underserved People and Places

Beyond the Committee: Creative Strategies for Member Retention and Engagement

Who's Next? Developing Diverse, Engaged, and Prepared Leaders

The Future is Now: How AI Can Amplify Your Giving Circle

Standing With and For Nonprofits: Creative Responses to Economic Turmoil

One Size Doesn't Fit All: Grantee Members, Fellows, and More

Leading Through Conflict: Finding Consensus Through Differing Perspectives

Leading Through Conflict: Part II Interactive Workshop

Back to Basics: Shortcuts to Strengthen Your Communications

Mixing it Up: Awarding Grants of Various Amounts and Types

Continuing the Equity Journey: Remaining Committed During Challenging Times

What's Your Story? And How are You Messaging to Share It?

Direct Cash: Endpoint of Trust-Based Philanthropy

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using Technology to Strengthen and Sustain Your Giving Circle

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Ready to get involved?

Start with basic PowerUP! Texas National Conference facts here.

Subscribe as an Affiliate (Impact Austin) Member; no cost. This will also give you access to all Philanos resources! https://philanos.org/Subscribe

Register as a conference "early bird" by Nov 15: https://philanos.org/Registration-Austin

Want to stay at the Hilton Austin instead of fighting traffic? At least one Impact Austin member will be doing exactly that! You’ll be emailed a link to reserve with the conference code.