Modeling Our Values by Increasing Access, Broadening Representation, and Providing Transparency
This year marks the 15th annual convening of SOCAP Global, making it one of the largest and longest-running impact-focused events in the world. Even with this legacy, SOCAP, like the field itself, continued to evolve and grow.
As a unique community in the space, SOCAP has always directly connected changemakers from thousands of different networks and sectors to encourage collaboration. We convene the whole ecosystem of impact, but as we mature, we are also intentionally designing the conference for the individual attendees — making it more approachable and easier to navigate for personal impact goals.
SOCAP asks attendees to commit to radical transparency and collaboration so all of us can accelerate the speed of trust and forge powerful connections that drive lasting impact. We do our best to model these community values and goals in our own ways of working. We believe we have and always will have room to improve, but we are continuously making forward progress.
For 2023, we have instituted dozens of new and important innovations and initiatives to increase our accessibility and representation, including:
- Our commitment to global participation, now with multiple countries represented on our SOCAP team and a newly formed consortium of global impact convenors (hear more on that at SOCAP23).
- Our content is curated by some of the best and brightest global impact professionals and planned and executed expertly by our own global team.
- Our new location, centered at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco as in 2022, is more accessible, central, and conducive to both networking and getting down to business. We added accompanying spaces to increase connective opportunities at the event.
- Our entrepreneurship program will take more of a center stage, demonstrating our hope for a better tomorrow.
As part of SOCAP’s model to drive social and environmental impact and infuse our values into the value chain of our business, we continue to work with social enterprises and organizations committed to positive impact on people and the planet in their operations.
- Acre Gourmet: Acre Gourmet partners with local vendors dedicated to sustainable, ethical farming practices to provide all the meals for SOCAP23.
- Bark Media: A women-owned content marketing firm and Certified B Corporation that leads marketing for SOCAP. In collaboration with its clients, Bark crafts stories and content strategies that foster audience engagement and expand impact.
- Confluence Partners: An LGBTQ- and women-run communications strategy firm working at the intersection of finance, impact, and philanthropy. Confluence operates with a commitment to bringing about a more equitable and just world for all.
- TaylorMade Experience: The event production team for SOCAP23 is a woman-owned and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Certified company. TME helps clients realize their vision and goals for each event with an emphasis on building relationships among attendees.
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: The home for the SOCAP conference. Located in the heart of San Francisco, YBCA is adjacent to the public gardens, serving as a serene oasis in the middle of the bustle of downtown and the neighborhood’s cultural anchor. Recognized as San Francisco’s center for art and progress, YBCA has a mission to generate culture that moves people.
This year’s evolution of our impact business model builds upon major milestones we achieved in 2022, including:
- Sorenson Impact Institute assumed the day-to-day management and leadership of SOCAP.
- SOCAP converted from a C-Corp to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), legally committing to hold ourselves accountable both to our shareholders and to our global stakeholders.
- With the help of our valued partners, we improved the accessibility of the SOCAP event, with the launch of the Indigenous Access Fund alongside the MacArthur Foundation and the first year of our Equitable Access Speakers Fund, supported by Halloran Philanthropies.
We look forward to reuniting with the SOCAP community in San Francisco this October as we continue our journey of advancing progress on the world’s most pressing challenges. We hope to see you at SOCAP23!
