Dine-Arounds

Monday, January 28

Gather for dinner at one of San José’s tastiest restaurants for informal learning and great conversation around a specific topic or theme. All restaurants are located within a short walk of the hotel. Attendees pay their own way, and may select from the full dinner menu at each restaurant.

Availability

Each host and restaurant has a different capacity level. You may sign up at the Registration Desk while on site. However, seating is limited and preregistration is recommended. Contact us at independent@cof.org to reserve your spot, indicating your name and the discussion topic that interests you. Please note that registrations are capped and the registration page will reflect availability. Please do not select a full dine-around as doing so will require a reassignment. If you would like to serve as a table host for a specific dinner, please contact us at independent@cof.org, indicating which topic interests you.

The restaurant reservations are at staggered times from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 28. Plan to meet your group in the lobby 20 minutes before the scheduled reservation to walk to the restaurant together.

Discussion Topics

• Impact Investing: Whether your foundation makes impact investments that produce a social and financial return, or is just starting to think about how to make investments that help achieve your foundation’s mission, come to this dine-around to talk and network with foundation leaders and those supporting foundation impact investing efforts.
  
• Next Gen Leaders: Join youth philanthropists and the adults that support them for a dine-around conversation hosted by Youth Philanthropy Connect, which brings together youth philanthropists ages 8-21 and the organizations and resource providers that support them, and provides educational programs and peer networks that advance the field. Learn about the diverse Bay Area models of youth philanthropy and share your knowledge (and questions) about developing the next generation of philanthropists.
  
• Veterans and Military Families: Foundations are well positioned to respond to the needs of a new generation of American military veterans as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end. But who are these new vets, what challenges do they face on the home front, and how are their needs different from previous generations? Come share ideas with your grantmaker peers at this dine-around.
  
• Higher Education and Workforce Development: Whether your foundation already engages in supporting workforce partnerships, or is interested in learning more, this dine-around will focus on ways funders can encourage career pathways and higher education for lower-wage workers.
  
• Collective Impact and Place-Based Funding: Collective impact is generating a lot of buzz in the philanthropic community. How can place-based funders apply collaborative action and lead and support local efforts? Learn and share best practices at this dine-around focused on place-based giving.
  
• Funder Collaborations: Join with other funders for a candid conversation exploring ways to get involved in national and local funder collaborations, best practices, and lessons learned.
  
• Public Policy and Government Partnerships: Family philanthropists are increasingly collaborating with governmental entities. How can public-philanthropic partnerships leverage resources from both sides of the equation? What challenges may arise? Join other foundation leaders in learning how to build positive and productive relationships with local, state, and federal governments.
  
• Limited Life Foundations: Spend-Down or Perpetuity? Is your foundation considering spending down? A growing number of foundations are debating the issue of perpetuity versus sunsetting. Join others interested in learning more about this thought-provoking issue for candid conversation and reflection.

Featured Restaurants

ARCADIA is a modern American steakhouse serving classic cuts of beef, fish steaks, and traditional steakhouse side dishes with Michael Mina’s contemporary twist.

Paolo’s Restaurant, located in a unique park-like setting in the heart of San José, offers award-winning regional Italian cuisine. The menu changes seasonally, blending traditional and contemporary dishes, and has earned Paolo’s a national reputation.

McCormick & Schmick’s combines the bounty of fresh ingredients from California's Central Valley and wine country, preparing and serving seafood in a timeless and traditional presentation.

Scott’s Seafood is a Bay Area tradition in the heart of downtown San Jose. Its American regional cuisine features the freshest seafood and prime dry aged steaks.