When & Where: September 24-25, 2026 | The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College, PA
Room Block: Reservations for Wednesday, September 23, and/or Thursday, September 24 can be made online or by calling 814-863-5050 (reference booking code PANO26A) at a discounted rate of $149/night plus tax.
Registration: Will open early July and close on Sunday, September 20, 11:59 PM
The work of our 2025 Collaborative Conference, Meeting the Moment – Rooted Together, was finding each other beneath the surface. With our 2026 theme of Rooting Deeper, Rising Together, we’ll begin the work of doing more together, turning connection into action. We will go deeper into that work and rise into our strength together, claiming a more visible role in our communities, in policy, and in shaping what comes next. We rise together because our roots run deep and stay connected. The conference is where we’ll practice what rising together actually looks like.
We are now accepting session proposals for the 2026 Collaborative Conference.
Nonprofits continue to operate in an increasingly complex and challenging environment. As such, we’re seeking proposals that will support conference attendees in rooting deeper into the relationships, purpose, and strength that have carried us through to now, and rising together into the work we are called to do. Formats include working sessions and learning sessions. Each session will be supported by a synthesizer.
This is a conference that thrives on collaborative sessions rather than top-down delivery – facilitators with both subject matter expertise and true facilitation skills are encouraged to apply, as well as nonprofit professionals with valuable, on-the-ground experience. We’re especially excited to receive proposals from leaders whose lived experiences reflect the full diversity of Pennsylvania’s communities, including BIPOC presenters, rural changemakers, multilingual and multicultural practitioners, and anyone bringing perspectives that are often overlooked but deeply needed. We welcome teams who blend content expertise with community-rooted insight.
Opportunities will be available in mid-May!
The conference will once again take place at The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, 215 Innovation Blvd., State College, PA 16803.
Reserve Your Room
Our conference is hosted in partnership by PANO and the Department of Public Administration at Villanova University.
