Past Events

Frontiers of Social Innovation 2023

Join Stanford Social Innovation Review—the leading global publication on social change theory and practice—for our Frontiers of Social Innovation 2023 convening, "The Role of Social Innovation in Democracy," as we gather international leaders from nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, academia, research, business, and government. Over the course of three, half-day sessions, we will meet to question, debate, and discuss the relationship between social innovation and democracy and the role that social innovation plays in creating a more just and democratic society.

Nonprofit Management Institute 2022

Stanford Social Innovation Review presents Nonprofit Management Institute 2022, “Bridging the Divide.”
This year’s convening will seek to empower and inspire leaders of social change to bridge real or perceived divides of all types, whether it is within your organization, your community, or society at large. 

Data on Purpose 2022

Stanford Social Innovation Review presents Data on Purpose 2022: “Putting the ‘Public Interest’ Before Technology.” This four-day open-access virtual conference we will ​​bring together some of the sharpest minds in this field to explore how to advance public interest technology responsibly and equitably in academia, civil society, and the public and private sectors. 

Frontiers of Social Innovation 2022

Join Stanford Social Innovation Review—the leading global publication on social change theory and practice—as we bring together leaders from nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, academia and research, business, and government from around the world. Over the course of three half days, we will convene online to discuss, debate, and dissect the intersection of power and social change.

Nonprofit Management Institute 2021

Nonprofit Management Institute 2021: “Building a Healthier Future: Creating Personal, Organizational and Societal Well-being”
Over the course of three half-day sessions, SSIR will bring together nonprofit and business executives, noted academics, and prominent public-sector leaders to explore pathways to strengthening and renewing our collective commitment to improving society.

Frontiers of Social Innovation 2021

Every two years, Stanford Social Innovation Review—the leading global publication on cutting-edge theory and practice for the social sector—brings together senior leaders from nonprofit organizations and foundations, social entrepreneurs and philanthropists, leading academics and researchers, executives of for-profit CSR-centric businesses, and government policymakers from around the world for two days, to discuss, debate and develop solutions that address the most pressing global challenges. 

Data on Purpose 2021 “Democracy, Civil Society, and Digital Technology”

Digital technology and data shape both organizational operations and individual interactions, not only in our personal lives, but more and more in civil society, where it is increasingly used by nonprofit organizations and social movements to coordinate action, empower constituencies, elevate issues, and mobilize support.

But the same mechanisms can just as easily operate to undermine democracy and civil society—for example when social media and targeted messaging is used to disinform and foment polarization. Digital engagement has its own technical, ethical, and security limitations, and its widespread use has tested our social and political structures.

At our 6th Data on Purpose conference, "Democracy, Civil Society, and Digital Technology," Stanford Social Innovation Review will help nonprofit leaders identify trends and technologies heightening concerns over the use of data and digital tools. We will explore questions on how are different actors – movement builders, platforms, elected officials – working to improve upon or leverage these tools and processes to be better applied for the benefit of all? What steps are being taken to address crucial issues of equity and justice that are part of our social fabric? How can we build alternative approaches that recognize that people are more than analytics and metrics in service to the latest automated solution?

Nonprofit Management Institute 2020

Nonprofit Management Institute 2020: COVID-19: Reshaping Social Innovation
Over the course of three days–September 22, 23, and 24, 2020–Stanford Social innovation Review brought together nonprofit and business leaders, noted academics, and prominent public-sector leaders to share experiences and insights on how organizations have weathered the impact of COVID-19, what we learned from these experiences, and how we emerged stronger as a sector.

Nonprofit Management Institute 2019

Nonprofit Management Institute 2019: “Transforming Anxiety into Active Leadership”
Over the course of three days—September 10, 11, and 12, 2019—SSIR brought together respected scholars, notable leaders of organizations, and prominent voices to explore the latest research and thinking on the best ways for nonprofit leaders to avoid organizational paralysis and leverage today’s economic and political challenges to drive their organizations forward.

Data on Purpose 2019

Data on Purpose 2019: “Navigating the Digital Now”

In both our personal and professional lives, we are living in a digital world. The days of planning for our digital future are past. Today we operate in the digital now. Whether we identify ourselves as such, we are the leaders of digital organizations operating in a digital environment.

At our 5th annual Data on Purpose conference, Stanford Social Innovation Review will help nonprofit leaders identify the best ways to build data and technology capacity. We will weave together the latest research- and practice-based insights from data scientists and researchers, nonprofit and foundation leaders, policymakers, and other prominent experts, to help identify what is truly important, versus simply what is possible or what is urgent.