Last month, our Growth Director, Sales Lead, and one of our Project Managers had the privilege of attending PEAK2025 in New Orleans - joining over 1,300 grants management professionals and philanthropy practitioners for four transformative days of learning, connection, and reimagining the future of our sector.

The conference was a powerful call to action for the philanthropic community to lead boldly, confront discomfort, and move with momentum toward more equitable, effective, and community-centered grantmaking practices.

Representing Grantbook in the Solution Center

As proud Solution Center exhibitors, we were excited to showcase Grantbook’s refreshed brand with the PEAK community. Our booth served as a hub to reconnect with some of our amazing clients, meet new grantmakers, and spark conversations about how philanthropy tech strategy can be a catalyst for systems change.

We loved hearing how attendees are navigating their current challenges, from modernizing legacy systems and embedding equity into workflows, to creating more intuitive, grantee-friendly experiences. These dialogues reaffirmed why we do what we do: supporting mission-driven organizations to harness the full potential of technology in service of social impact.

Keynote Spotlight: Courageously Investing in Justice and Community-Led Change

The conference opened with a deeply moving keynote, “Courageously Investing in Justice, Resilience, and Community-Led Change”, led by the Women’s Foundation of the South, Ford Foundation, HousingNOLA, and Sankofa Community Development Corporation.

Together, the speakers illuminated how philanthropy can confront legacies of systemic injustice by trusting and resourcing community-led solutions. We were reminded that courageous grantmaking means shifting power, embedding equity in every decision, and ensuring those closest to the challenges are centered in the solutions.

Grantbook + MACP Co-Presentation: Embedding Equity in Grantmaking by Incorporating Grantee Voices

We were proud to do a joint presentation with Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) as they shared how our collaboration reimagined their grantee renewal process - grounded in trust, experimentation, and shared learning.

Together, we launched a pilot to test thoughtful, low-risk changes, incorporated direct grantee feedback to improve clarity, and aligned internal processes with MACP’s values to foster stronger, more transparent relationships.

With powerful insights from their grantee, YMCA USA, the session underscored what’s possible when philanthropy listens deeply, leads with humility, and puts grantee experience at the center.

This is Grantbook’s perspective on how to include grantee voices:

Insights That Sparked Growth

Throughout the week, we engaged in sessions that tackled the sector’s most urgent questions. One standout was:

Disrupting Harmful Narratives in Philanthropy: Led by ideas42 and Salesforce, this session unpacked how dominant narratives influence organizational decision-making and grantmaking practices. We explored tools to help identify and dismantle harmful stories—both within ourselves and our institutions—and walked away with frameworks to drive culture change from within.

Funding Community Movements and Our Democracy for the Long Haul: Led by Tides Foundation and partners, this session reflected on how philanthropy responded to the 2024 election cycle and explored strategies for sustaining support beyond federal races.

We examined the importance of ongoing investment in local and state-level organizing—especially amid attacks on social policies, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive justice—and shared tangible ways funders can show up for democracy in every season.

Immersed in the Magic of New Orleans

Beyond the conference, we took time to explore the cultural vibrancy and resilience of New Orleans, a city that, much like our sector, is shaped by history, community, and creativity. From sharing meals at local restaurants to an unforgettable evening at Mardi Gras World hosted by PEAK, every moment was filled with joy, reflection, and connection.

As we return from PEAK2025, we’re inspired to carry forward the momentum. This experience deepened our belief that when philanthropy dares to do things differently, centering community, embracing innovation, and leaning into discomfort, we can build a more just, inclusive, and responsive sector.

Thank you to PEAK Grantmaking for cultivating this space for bold ideas and collective learning. We’ll see you next year!