Conference Recaps

2024 Activating Power

In 2024, at Activating Power: Moving from Theory to Action, over 200 Catalyst members and partners gathered at The Magnolia in El Cajon for a day of reflecting deeply, building new connections, and learning how to put strategies into action. Throughout the day, participants experienced performances, thought-provoking sessions, and hands-on activities that emphasized the power of creativity, collaboration, and collective power.

Read about the highlights in our article on Activating Power.

2023 Funding our Future

In 2023, at Funding our Future: Examining Wealth, Power, and Community, over 200Catalyst members and partners came together at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE.) We were joined by Dolores Huerta for a moving keynote and explored the pivotal role philanthropy can play in the meaningful redistribution of wealth

Read about the highlights in our article on Funding our Future.

2022 Here & Now

In 2022, we brought members and community partners back in person to San Ysidro for our most community-centered event yet. In partnership with Casa Familiar, we sought to create a conference experience that shifted our collective perspective from a place of knowing to a place of learning.

Watch our video recap to experience the day with us or read about the highlights in our article all about Here & Now.

2021 All In

All In 2021 invited members, partners, and colleagues of Catalyst to a day of inspiration and works-in-progress illustrating how, collectively, a transformative social change ecosystem can come into being and realize a just, equitable future for our region.

We have cataloged all parts of the day in this easy to browse video playlist. Or, you can access our resource page for our top line reflections for the day – and the future!

2020 Build Better Summit

In partnership with San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, we brought together leaders from across sectors for a first of its kind virtual summit built to challenge thinking and inspire action. We explored the systems, strategies and resources it takes to build an economy rooted in equity for the San Diego region. Speakers outlined a clear vision of an equitable economy and the policies and approaches to move us there, sharing the values they stand for, the issues and communities they stand with, and the systems they stand up to.

2019 The Power In Philanthropy

This interactive day challenged us to confront the ways unconscious bias and practices of exclusion result in our leaving power and influence on the table; how a lack of awareness of power dynamics can result in harm to the communities we aim to serve; the unique ways power ‘shows up’ within an organization and depending on the seat you occupy; and the responsibility we bear – as individuals, organizations and collective philanthropy – to use power to tackle our most pressing challenges.

2018 Frameworks for Good

Frameworks for Good brought a rousing mix of thought-provoking, practical, and dynamic topics with one major goal – helping funders invest more strategically with increased social impact for the betterment of our region. The day examined existing and future trends in philanthropy, including a field shift to critical key work areas of equity, impact investing and new forms of giving.