Announcing Collaborative by Classy 2024

Collaborative by Classy is officially open for registration. We’re inviting all forward-thinking nonprofit professionals to attend on May 15 and 16, 2024, for an immersive experience filled with networking, community-building, inspiration, and insights into the latest fundraising trends.

Our two-day experience will take over Chicago as top fundraisers and the industry’s brightest minds gather to advance their causes and social impact.

Register to Attend

As the nonprofit sector maneuvers the ongoing implications of prolonged inflation, higher living costs, record-level consumer debt, and other worldly events that impact giving behavior, these decision-makers must have the community to discuss and deliberate the best steps forward.

 Collaborative provides a community space for these conversations and connections. It’s where organizations can talk about the pressing concerns they experience, deliberate topical questions about the future of philanthropy, and challenge perspectives to expand everyone’s thinking.

Every speaker, venue, host, and experience helps you walk away with tailored tactics to inform your fundraising efforts in innovative ways. We’ll detail everything you need to know as a first-time or returning attendee in what’s shaping up to be our best experience yet in 2024.

Experience Collaborative 2024 in Chicago

What Is Collaborative by Classy?

Collaborative by Classy isn’t your typical conference. It’s an open door to community and a lifelong network of the social sector’s sharpest and most innovative minds. 

Just like you, our attendees and experts work to solve the world’s most challenging problems amid an ever-changing giving landscape. 

We’ve heard from past attendees about how valuable it is to pause working in silos to come together and bring their best ideas to life. These opportunities are rare, and that’s why Collaborative is here.

Register Today to Join the Experience

The Value of Our Time Together 

With Collaborative’s focus on fundraising and technology, you’ll walk away with proven strategies from industry experts. Our interactive experiences offer a unique way to absorb content that helps you easily apply it to your organization.

The learnings you take away are vital, but the distinct value of joining us lies in your genuine collaboration with the industry’s brightest minds. Each shared coffee or walk to dinner with other attendees has the potential to become a valuable relationship that extends beyond our two days together. In addition to the natural meetups, we’ll help you forge meaningful connections through curated networking opportunities.

The Voices That Shape the Experience

You’ll hear from visionaries shaping our sector’s future and top fundraisers putting cutting-edge strategies into action daily. We can’t wait to bring you a lineup of speakers offering insights you can directly apply to your work.

The event has hosted a diverse group of experts in the past, such as:

• Abby Maxman, President and CEO of Oxfam America
• Anna Rathmann, Executive Director at the Jane Goodall Institute USA
• Avril Benoît, Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders
• Benjamin Lloyd Crump, Esquire, Founder and Principal Owner of Ben Crump Law
• Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Host and Executive Producer of UNDISTRACTED
• Dion Dawson, Founder and Executive Director of Dion’s Chicago Dream
• Heather Bennett, Vice President of Partnerships and Philanthropy at Direct Relief
• Joan Garry, Principal of Joan Garry Consulting and Founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab
• Mick Ebeling, Founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs
• Reshma Saujani, Leading Activist, Founder of Girls Who Code, and Founder and CEO of Moms First

Taking Over Chicago

We’re bringing the Collaborative experience that so many have come to love to a new city this year. The West Loop in Chicago, Illinois, will provide a vibrant setting to step outside the day-to-day and into a world of creativity and connection with people who appreciate good times as much as good fundraising. From our main event venues to local spots like the brand-new Guinness brewery, Time Out Market Chicago, and surrounding West Loop restaurants, we invite you to fully embrace your time to network and explore Chicago before and after sessions.

Feel the Inspiration from Our Innovative Event Venues

Morgan MFG | 401 N. Morgan St. Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60642 

 

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Morgan Manufacturing welcomes you to explore this renovated historic building designed with a modularity focus. We know you’ll fall in love with the high ceilings, exposed concrete, glass, and steel industrial feel that confirms this is the next home of Collaborative by Classy. 

City Hall / Recess | 838 W. Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60642

 

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City Hall and Recess at City Hall are where the industrial vibes continue and echo the rich history and innovation of the nonprofit organizations represented at Collaborative. Classic details and finishes add to a timeless decor that will surely be the backdrop for memorable connection time.

Let’s Talk Travel and Accommodations

We’ve got somewhere for everyone, depending on how you want to make the most of this time together. Here are a few options, although our team is happy to guide you in discovering additional possibilities in this area.

Voco Hotel: Stay where most guests will be to immerse yourself fully in networking opportunities while taking in views of the Chicago River and skyline. Situated at the intersection of downtown and the West Loop, this hotel provides an opportunity to get the blood flowing during an approximately 15-minute walk to the Collaborative venues.

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Hyatt House Chicago / West Loop: Experience the vibrancy of the big city with a neighborhood feel nestled amid the trendiest restaurants and shopping in the West Loop. This option is also about a 15-minute stroll from our main venues and allows you to soak up the energy of the big city while escaping the sounds of the nightlife.

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Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile: Take advantage of the quintessential Chicago experience with a stay situated near all the famous architecture and shopping. Enjoy stepping outside into the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city, with our main venues about a 10-minute Uber ride away from this hotel.

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Stay Up to Date

Classy’s teams work all year to infuse Collaborative with all the best learnings, speakers, and experiences for you. We’re always adding something new to enhance the two-day conference, so be sure to check in for regular updates on our 2024 speaker lineup, opportunities to connect, and so much more as we take over Chicago on May 15 and 16. 

Copy Editor: Ayanna Julien