Submission Questions
When submitting your proposal, you’ll be asked for the following information:
- Session Title and Description: Describe the idea for the session in as best detail as you can.
- Intended Audience and Learning Objectives: Define who will benefit from the session and what they will learn.
- Session Format: Specify the format you will use to engage participants. Here is a list of sample session formats.
- Equity Integration: Describe how equity is embedded in your content and your instruction.
- Speaker Information: Include the bio and headshot of all your speakers.
Key Dates:
- Session Proposal Open for Submission: March 9, 2026
- Session Proposal Deadline: April 2, 2026
- Proposal Review Period: April-May 2026
- Notification of Proposal Status: By May 4, 2026
- Co-Create Period to Finalize Session: May-August 2026
- All Final Materials Due: August 2026
Summit Dates: October 13–16, 2026
Selection Process
Proposals will be reviewed by a volunteer working group, and we will notify successful submissions by May 4, 2026. Sessions will be selected based on the following rubric:
- Alignment to the aims of the summit.
- Innovative session design and interactive engagement.
- Practical application and implementation of learnings.
- Equity integration across content and delivery.
- Insights from field experience.
Get a detailed understanding of the evaluation criteria.
Speaker Benefits
- Complimentary pass to the summit for Independent Sector members.
- 50% discount off the early bird rate to non-members.
- Special recognition in summit materials.
- Networking opportunities with fellow presenters.
Please note that speakers are responsible for their own travel expenses and hotel arrangements.
Questions
Please reference our FAQs for more details. If you have further questions, please reach out to summit@independentsector.org.
