TPF Beyond: A Weekend of Connection and Reflection

Recently, the TPF Beyond Annual Meeting brought together nine out of the ten (minus Avery, we hate the flu) past and present Fellows for a weekend of learning and sharing. Being back in Sarasota, where we all lived during the fellowship, this event provided the perfect setting for us to reflect on our philanthropic journeys, learn from each other, and gain new insights about the broader philanthropic sector.

We began arriving on Friday afternoon, and everyone gathered for an informal social hour before convening for dinner. Conversations at dinner flowed as the group shared both silly and reflective stories from 2024 and discussed plans for 2025, setting a positive tone for the weekend ahead.

Saturday kicked off with the first session, “Share Your Cookies,” which allowed each of us to present a 10-minute overview of our recent work, sharing key learnings, pride points, and insights for others. It highlighted that although we all have very different roles—some working at foundations, nonprofits, and for-profits—there was still so much we could learn from each other.

Following the morning sessions, we enjoyed lunch at The Nest Café at The Bay. The Bay was always one of my personal favorite places to relax in Sarasota, so it was a great choice for a midday break between sessions!

The afternoon featured a facilitated discussion led by John Ferguson, where we explored what keeps us up at night and what excites us in our philanthropic work. Again, we found that there were many similarities, though we all have different jobs across the country.

The day wrapped up with a pizza celebration at The POINT, where Fellows and families had a chance to reconnect with other TPF staff and consultants. It was so great to see so many amazing people who played incredible roles in shaping our fellowship experiences. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, we certainly missed you all!

Sunday’s breakfast was followed by a Peer Learning Session, where we split into small groups to dive deeper into key topics from the previous day, like community connectedness, innovation, growth, and creativity. Abby Rolland and Michael Zimmerman guided the discussions, allowing for more focused conversations.

The final session, CLSES, led by Debra Jacobs, provided an opportunity for us to reflect on the weekend and discuss actionable steps for our upcoming and future philanthropic journeys.

The TPF Beyond Annual Meeting was a perfect mix of learning, collaboration, and fun, leaving us all energized and ready to continue making an impact wherever we go.

We can’t wait for what’s next for TPF Beyond. Stay tuned for the upcoming podcast!