What Grantmakers Can Expect at bbcon 2026
Between new expectations from applicants and grantees, reporting demands, and conversations around AI, there is no shortage of priorities competing for a grantmaker’s attention. That’s exactly why this year’s bbcon grantmaking lineup is focused on the challenges organizations are working through right now.
Taking place September 28 to October 1 in Columbus, Ohio, bbcon 2026 will bring together grantmaking leaders for conversations on everything from program design and reporting to nonprofit relationships, technology, and AI. Along the way, you’ll hear practical lessons from your peers while discovering new approaches to familiar challenges. You’ll even have the chance to hear from Tony Award-winning actor, singer, and author Leslie Odom Jr., and Priya Lakhani Founder & CEO of CENTURY Tech, as they each take the mainstage. There are so many moments you won’t want to miss. Here’s what you can expect from the 2026 grantmaking lineup.
Building Stronger Grant Programs and Grantee Relationships
Whether you’re launching a new program or refining an existing one, grantmakers are being asked to do more with less while still creating a positive experience for applicants and grantees.
For organizations looking to build or expand their grant programs, Jason Kelliher of Blackbaud will share practical guidance in Build It Right: A Practical Guide to Launching Grant Programs. Attendees will learn key considerations for creating effective programs and avoiding common pitfalls.
Strong programs also depend on strong partnerships between funders and nonprofits. In Fix the Friction: How Funders & Nonprofits Can Work Better Together, Angela Finley Hunter of The Imlay Foundation joins Blackbaud’s Laura Sonnee and Nichols Condon to explore ways organizations can improve communication, reduce administrative burden, and create more productive working relationships.
Technology transitions can also have a direct impact on the applicant experience. Grantmakers transitioning to the new Blackbaud Grantmaking Applicant Portal can learn practical strategies directly from experts Paula Lentoni of Mott Philanthropic and Nick Mills of Blackbaud in Surviving and Thriving with the Grantmaking Applicant Portal Transition.
Navigating Change with Better Data and Decision-Making
Today, data plays an extremely important role in helping grantmakers understand performance, demonstrate impact, and make informed funding decisions. In From Data to Decisions: Smarter Reporting in Blackbaud Grantmaking, Blackbaud experts Chrissy Haskell and Henry Wiencek will showcase reporting capabilities that help grantmakers streamline reporting processes and better communicate results to stakeholders.
Organizations looking to gain stronger visibility into grant outcomes can also attend Presenting Impact Edge for Grant Reporting: Measure Outcomes, Improve Oversight, Tell the Story – where Francisco Lopez of Blackbaud will help organizations connect funding decisions to measurable outcomes and present those results in a way that’s meaningful to leadership and stakeholders.
The Future of Grantmaking: AI, Innovation, and Strategic Growth
As technology continues to evolve, grantmakers are exploring how AI and digital tools can support more effective decision-making and create greater efficiency for staff and applicants alike.
In What Grantmakers Actually Want AI to Do, Francisco Lopez and Hope Kerkhoff of Blackbaud will explore practical applications of AI in grantmaking. Rather than focusing on hype, the session examines how grantmakers are thinking about AI and where they see the greatest opportunities for meaningful impact.
Because efficient processes become even more critical during times of crisis, Audrey Kidwell from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy joins Blackbaud’s Ryan Turner for Due Diligence with Urgency: A Grantmaking Case Study from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Their session will be all about how grantmakers can balance rigorous due diligence requirements with the need to move resources quickly during times of crisis.
Finally, organizations evaluating technology investments can attend From Stuck to Strategic: When to Engage a Technology Partner. Featuring Stu Hawkins of Red Arc, Kevin Wood of NPact, Joel Weinbach of Reporting Xpress/RaiseTell, and Wadih Pazos of Esgenio, the session discusses how and when outside expertise can help organizations accelerate progress and maximize the value of their technology ecosystem.
Main Stage Can’t Miss
Don’t forget to make time for sessions outside the grantmaking track! From human-centered technology to must-see mainstage conversations with Leslie Odom Jr and Priya Lakhani OBE, bbcon brings together ideas and experiences from social impact leaders, technologists, fundraisers, CSR professionals, and nonprofit practitioners from across the sector; and creates opportunities to learn from challenges and successes beyond your day-to-day work.
Can’t Make It in Person? Join us Virtually!
Even if you can’t attend in person, there are opportunities to engage with bbcon content virtually. Visit the conference page for full details, registration information, and session updates.
