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2026 Foundation Leadership Forum: Schedule
February 1–3, 2026
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
San Diego, CA
Check out the program schedule.
Browse the Forum schedule below. Please check back for updates as we continue to finalize programming. As you plan your travel, we encourage you to arrive in time to participate in workshops and peer group meetings during the afternoon of Sunday, February 1, 2025, and stay through Tuesday afternoon to take advantage of one of the deep-dive workshops taking place 12:30–3:00 PM PT on Tuesday, February 3.
View a sampling of plenary session descriptions. These will be added to the schedule as dates and times are confirmed.
Board Independence and Mission Alignment in a Polarized Era
There have always been debates about the purposes of higher education and the best ways for colleges and universities to advance both student success and the public good. Today, however, institutions are facing challenges to long-standing governance principles that have helped to make U.S. higher education the global gold standard. This session will address challenges to board autonomy and academic freedom and explore the imperative of fiduciary independence and mission alignment for foundations while they maintain operational and strategic alignment with their partner institutions.
Meeting and Exceeding the Moment with Adaptive Leadership
The best of times. The worst of times. Both call for bold action by boards and present opportunities to transform and strengthen governance. Whether responding to institutional crises or managing the momentum of rapid growth, these boards found opportunity in navigating disruption, adapting governance, embracing new roles as strategic partners to their institutions, and elevating their philanthropic leadership. Walk away with lessons you can apply to your own leadership moment, whatever shape it takes.
Bullish, Bearish, or Bewildered: Making “Dollars and Sense” in a Perplexing Investment Environment
In mid-2025, U.S. stocks hit record highs, but some of the nation’s richest institutions are cutting budgets and laying off staff. The headlines are anything but clear, but foundations will likely be facing ramped up pressure to spend and may find donors more cautious than usual. In this session, leading economic and investment experts will offer their perspectives on the year ahead, unpack the forces shaping global markets, and explore the investment questions that should be top of mind for boards and investment committees managing long-term portfolios in volatile times.
“Remain Seated and Buckle Your Seat Belts”: How Foundations Provide Stability and Continuity in Turbulent Times
The year 2025 was turbulent for higher education, with the near elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, sweeping regulatory changes, dramatic cuts in federal funding, the ongoing transformation of collegiate athletics, and a landmark budget reconciliation bill. Looking ahead, it’s a safe bet that most institutions will be dealing with some combination of revenue shortfalls, changing compliance regimes, unanticipated leadership transitions, and conflicting stakeholder interests. This session will bring together a panel of seasoned board leaders for a discussion on how they plan for the unpredictable, mitigate potential risk, and position their foundations to be a source of stability and continuity in support of abiding institutional purposes.
Partners for the Future
Foundation boards serve as stewards of assets intended to support their institutions in perpetuity, but higher education is entering a period of accelerating change driven by demographics, artificial intelligence, ideological and cultural fissures, fiscal pressures, and a shifting geopolitical landscape. What will higher education look like in 2050? And how can foundations support their institutions as they adapt and evolve? To help look beyond the now to the next, futurist Bryan Alexander will share his perspectives on the major forces that will shape higher education and the ways that colleges and universities may change in the next quarter century.
Speaker:
Bryan Alexander, senior scholar, Georgetown University
Concurrent sessions will be added to the schedule as dates and times are confirmed.
Getting Investment Governance Right When It Matters Most
Colleges and universities are facing growing financial pressures in a rapidly changing policy environment, including federal funding cuts, decreased state appropriations, and loss of revenue from international students. Foundations may be subject to increased demands for support when they are least confident in their ability to grow the endowment through investments and new gift flows. Getting investment governance right at such a time is critical. This session will explore how foundation investment committees can:
- Ensure alignment with institution chief financial officers regarding liquidity and investment horizons.
- Differentiate between personal risk tolerance and appropriate risk levels for the portfolio.
- Focus on fiduciary governance to maintain resilience and balance short-term needs and intergenerational equity.
- Strengthen board/committee composition and make the most of the board’s investment expertise.
- Prepare strategically and, if necessary, adjust investment strategy with an eye toward securing stability over the next five to ten years.
Speaker:
Floyd Simpson III, director, public markets research, PFM Asset Management
Meeting the Moment: Finding Tomorrow’s Major Donors Today
Philanthropy is evolving rapidly, and institutions must respond with speed, precision, and purpose. To meet today’s ambitious fundraising goals, foundation and board leaders need strategies that expand donor pools and strengthen major gift pipelines. This session will show how to put data to work—accelerating donor identification, qualifying prospects more effectively, guiding every ask, and stewarding every gift. By becoming more targeted, more personal, and more efficient, your institution can unlock transformational giving and rise to meet the moment.
Fundraising Through Uncertainty: How Advancement Leaders Can Adapt and Thrive in Today’s Climate
The year 2026 will bring continued disruption to higher education, with ripple effects for advancement. Donors are showing more caution and taking longer to commit to giving while weighing their own financial insecurity. Negative headlines and shifting public sentiment are raising expectations for transparency, urgency, and visible impact. Yet advancement leaders are also seeing waves of donors rallying passionately around the causes they love. This session will share strategies to help advancement leaders move forward on fundraising goals without losing momentum or goodwill. Learn how to communicate urgent needs, engage younger and mid-level donors, and pivot campaigns in real time while still building a stronger, more sustainable pipeline.
Foundation Resilience: Investment Oversight and Governance During Periods of Transition
Periods of transition are inevitable for every foundation: new investment committee members or chairs, changes in state or federal political leadership, or shifts in internal priorities. These regime changes—both big and small—can create uncertainty, strain governance structures, and test the resilience of investment programs. This session will explore how independence, strong governance practices, and preparation can help foundation boards, executives, and advancement staff navigate these changes effectively with their foundation and endowment investments for long-term stewardship. Attendees will learn how to anticipate transitions, maintain continuity, and create tangible, defensible evidence of sound oversight. The session builds on AGB’s focus on independence and extends the conversation to preparing investment oversight for all types of regime change with confidence.
Takeaways include:
- Practical steps to prepare for and facilitate transitions.
- Tips for navigating the RFP process for the investment adviser/outsourced chief investment officer.
- Investment program evaluation and documentation essentials.
*All times local
Sunday, February 1
1:00 – 3:45 PM | Roadmap to Success for Foundation Board Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Chairs-Elect
1:00 – 3:45 PM | Endowment Governance Workshop
1:00 – 2:30 PM | Roadmap to Success for New Foundation Chief Executives
1:00 – 2:30 PM | Roadmap to Success for Future Foundation Executives
1:00 – 2:30 PM | Roadmap to Success for New Foundation Board Members
1:30 – 2:30 PM | Welcome for First-Time Attendees
2:30 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Integrated Foundations
2:30 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Operationally Independent Foundations Responsible for Fundraising
2:30 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Operationally Independent Foundations with Limited or No Fundraising Responsibility
2:30 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Large Foundations (Assets of $500 Million+)
2:30 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Board Professionals and Other Staff with Primary Responsibility for Supporting the Work of the Foundation Board
2:45 – 3:45 PM | Peer Group Meeting for Community College Foundations
3:45 – 4:15 PM | Refreshment Break
4:15 – 5:30 PM | Opening Plenary
5:30 – 7:30 PM | Opening Reception
Monday, February 2
7:30 – 8:30 AM | Breakfast Networking Tables
8:45 – 9:45 AM | Plenary Session
9:45 – 10:00 AM | Break
10:00 – 10:45 AM | Concurrent Sessions
10:50 – 11:10 AM | Break
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions
12:00 – 1:15 PM | Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 PM | Luncheon Plenary
2:15 – 2:35 PM | Break
2:35 – 3:25 PM | Concurrent Sessions
3:25 – 3:45 PM | Break
3:45 – 4:45 PM | Plenary Session
4:45 – 5:00 PM | Nason Award Presentation
5:00 – 6:30 PM | Reception
Tuesday, February 3
7:15 – 8:30 AM | Breakfast
8:45 – 9:50 AM | Plenary Session
9:50 – 10:10 AM | Break
10:10 – 11:00 AM | Concurrent Sessions
11:00 – 11:20 AM | Break
11:20 AM – 12:10 PM | Concurrent Sessions
12:30 – 3:00 PM | Post-Conference Workshops (Registration Required)
Register as a group and save.
Register now to reserve your spot in San Diego, California.
Early Bird Rate
Individual Member*
Individual Member*
$1,795
Early Bird Rate
Group**
Group**
$1,650
Regular Rate
Individual Member*
$1,995
Regular Rate
Group**
$1,895
Nonmember Rate
$2,495
*Member exclusive pricing.
**Three or more, members only. All members in the group must be registered at the same time.
Key Dates
- Early bird deadline: September 30, 2025
- Deadline for cancellation: January 8, 2026
Cancellation Policy
This program is available only to registrants who are serving a higher education institution or foundation. Please contact registrar@AGB.org with any questions.
All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to cancellations@AGB.org and will be processed after the meeting. Requests for refunds must be received by close of business on January 8, 2026, to receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for registrants who cancel after January 8, 2026. If you are unable to attend, a substitute is welcome in your place at no additional charge. AGB is not responsible for cancellations due to airline disruption, inclement weather, COVID-19, or schedule changes.
Group Discounts: If a cancellation causes the group to fall below the required three registrations, the refund will be issued minus the discount benefit received by the original group.
Hotel Information
AGB has secured a room block at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California, for Foundation Leadership Forum attendees at a group rate of $299 per night. Once registered, attendees will receive a link to book their hotel reservations. Reservations must be made online through this link to receive the group rate.
Reservations by attendees must be received by 5:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 8, 2026.
With thanks to our 2026 sponsors.
View our 2026 sponsors and see how you can support the Foundation Leadership Forum.
Contact.
Registration
AGB is committed to excellence in member service. Should you have questions about registering for the Foundation Leadership Forum, contact the AGB registrar.
Become a Member and Save
If you currently are not an AGB member but want to take advantage of member pricing, please contact the AGB Membership team.
Sponsorship
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Steve Abbott, senior director of partnerships.