By Lauren Kotkin, Exponent Philanthropy

Peer salons are back! Back at our 2014 National Conference, that is. They’ll take place on the second day of the conference, Friday, October 31, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Curious to know more? Here is a Q&A with Senior Program Director Janice Simsohn Shaw, who is planning these fun, interactive sessions.

What are peer salons? Peer salons are roundtable conversations on topics important to you. They are facilitated by your philanthropic peers who are content knowledgeable but not necessarily experts. We’re still identifying facilitators; if you are interested, feel free to contact me.

What are the peer salon topics?

• Communicating and Speaking Out
• Competitions and Prizes and Awards, Oh My!
• International Giving 201
• Legacy Gifting
• Program-Related Investments
• Rural Philanthropy
• Scholarship Programs
• Strategies for Working With Diverse Communities
• VERY Small Funders 

Why offer peer salons? Year after year, our National Conference participants tell us the conversations they have with colleagues are the most educational and enjoyable parts of their conference experience. So we’re creating a lightly structured environment for those conversations to take place.

But why not bring in an expert? I sometimes think participants have what I fondly call “a humility complex” – you all have so much more experience, wisdom, and knowledge than you give yourselves credit for. The opportunity to share that wisdom in a small-group setting is really important and a huge part of what makes our National Conference unique. And frankly, the advice a fellow philanthropist will give you, in most cases, is bound to be more relevant, realistic, and practical than advice from anyone else. Plus, hearing how others do their work can swiftly steepen your learning curve and save you hours of time.

What if I know very little about a topic—or a lot? Will there be something to gain? In both cases, absolutely. For newbies, the peer salons are a chance to hear from an intimate group of colleagues who share an interest in this topic, and they should be able to give you places to start, people to talk to, resources to look at, and organizations to check out. For those already engaged in these topics, this is a great chance to meet colleagues from around the country who share your passion but may approach the topic in a somewhat different way, and to share your own knowledge.

What’s one last thing you want people to know about the peer salons? Our National Conference participants are amazing – you all inspire and energize me, and you’ll do the same for one another. The peer salons are a great opportunity to learn, listen, and come away with great new ideas and colleagues. As a terrific member who shall remain nameless always says, “I come to Exponent Philanthropy conferences to hear all my colleagues’ great ideas and shamelessly copy them in my own community.”

Register for the 2014 National Conference, October 30 – November 1 | Washington, DC

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Senior Program Director Lauren Kotkin plans a range of educational programs for the Exponent Philanthropy community, including conferences, webinars, and conference calls. She also dedicates a portion of her time to managing our resources on investments. Previously, she worked at the Council on Foundations in the Family Foundation Services department. Lauren holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an M.Ed. from Lesley University, with a focus on using arts in education.