Conference Information & Registration

Who Can Attend?

The GIA Conference is the annual national convening for arts grantmakers. Conference attendance is open to staff or board members of foundations, public funding agencies, and corporate giving programs.

Nonprofit organizations whose primary activity is grantmaking must meet eligibility criteria outlined on our Membership page and may only be represented by individuals whose roles involve grantmaking, programming, and/or policy. Board members of National Partner organizations and any fundraising or development staff are not eligible to attend.

To preserve the capacity for open discussion, all attendees must refrain from fundraising or solicitation at the conference.

Contact gia@giarts.org with questions regarding conference eligibility.

Registration Rates

  * Group Registrations

In order to receive the group discount, all participants from the same organization must be registered together on the same registration. We recommend registering all participants in your group at one time. If you wish to add additional participants after your registration is complete, you must log in using the password you designate for this account and add them to the existing registration in order to receive the group discount.

Preconferences and tours may only be attended by those who are also registered for the full conference.

Conference Hotel Information

Oakland Marriott City Center
1001 Broadway
Oakland, California, 94607
(510) 451-4000

Special conference rate: based on availability until Wednesday, September 26.

Guest rooms at the Oakland Marriott City Center at the conference rate are selling out. There may be rooms or suites available at other rates at the discretion of the hotel. Below is information on other nearby hotel options, all within 15 minutes walking distance to the conference hotel.

Guest Fee

The guest fee is $125 in advance and $150 on site. This permits guests of conference attendees to attend the following conference social events:

• Sunday Opening Reception
• Monday evening Dine-arounds
• Tuesday evening Special Event

Please note that conference plenary sessions, meals, and conference breakout sessions are not open to guests.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds for cancellations will be processed as follows:

Accessibility

GIA is committed to making this conference accessible to everyone. Please indicate on your registration form if you require an accommodation or service, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. If you have any questions, please contact us at gia@giarts.org or by phone at (929) 452-3740.

Conference Guiding Principles

Grantmakers in the Arts has a long-held commitment to engaging the community in each city where the annual national conference is held. Read GIA’s Conference Guiding Principles and Practices.

Sustainability at the Conference

In keeping with GIA’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, we do not offer a resource table for distribution of materials at the GIA conference. GIA makes all conference information available online and encourages conference attendees to communicate news and share documents electronically utilizing our web tools and communication platforms. GIA regularly provides current reports, research, and materials of interest and relevance to the public on our website. Additionally, to further reduce waste, GIA does not provide conference tote bags or miscellaneous handouts.

Carbon Emissions Offset Commitment

GIA takes climate change seriously and strives to undertake programmatic and infrastructural initiatives to improve our environmental responsibility. GIA encourages conference attendees to communicate news and share documents electronically utilizing our web tools and communication platforms. Additionally, GIA purchases carbon offsets to mitigate the environmental impact of conference related travel for our staff. We encourage conference attendees and GIA members to explore purchasing carbon offsets for their own environmental impacts.

To learn more about carbon offset programs, please see this guide by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Food Redistribution Program

Additionally, the Oakland Marriott City Center participates in a food reclamation and redistribution program with Copia. Unserved food from the GIA conference will be packaged, frozen, and donated to a shelter or non-profit organization by Copia’s licensed and trained food handlers. Almost always, the food will be donated within the county, if not right in the city of Oakland. GIA is glad to extend its commitment to sustainability and reducing environmental impact to conference meals. We are also glad to partner in addressing waste reduction and the pervasive problem of food scarcity.

Copia makes healthy food more accessible to people in the community by helping businesses redistribute their high-quality excess food to feed people in need. Learn more about Copia from their website.

Conference Volunteer Policy

GIA presents an annual national conference that provides the only opportunity for arts grantmakers from across the country to come together to share knowledge and ideas, to develop collective strategies, and to learn about the latest initiatives in grantmaking. GIA provides opportunities for individuals to volunteer at the conference supporting the GIA staff and conference planning team. Responsibilities include staff support, communication with and guidance for conference participants, administrative support throughout all conference events, and participation at offsite programs, among other duties. GIA prioritizes individuals from the local host-city and public agencies that are member organizations, member-eligible, and/or emerging leader partners.

Volunteers receive a per diem for meals not provided during the conference program, and GIA will provide travel and accommodation support.

To inquire about volunteer opportunities for this or future conferences, please contact Deputy Director & Director of Programs Nadia Elokdah at nadia@giarts.org.

Conference Documentation

GIA reserves the right to record conference proceedings through videography, photography, and written documentation, including blogs and social media, for non-commercial use on its website and in publications.