Annual EFN Convening.
"EFN is a convening that reminds you why you do the work you do, it exposes you to new ways of thinking about philanthropy and what we mean when we say best practices, and reminds us that true success is measured in lives changed and not metrics we come up at headquarters."
- Chinwe Ohanele Agwu, Michelson Philanthropies
2026 EFN Convening
EFN is returning to Detroit – and this gathering is not to be missed. Mark your calendar for Monday, October 19 – Thursday, October 22.
We are (re)convening the network for four days of deep connection, honest conversation, and collective action. Detroit won’t just be a backdrop. It will be a living case study – showcasing its resilience, reinvention, and growth. We’ll dig into the role philanthropy plays in all of it.
It’s rare that we get to step out of our day-to-day and spend four days with our peers who are funding the building and shaping of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country. It’s a bonus that we’re doing it in a city that knows something about how to do just that. The connections you make, the conversations you have, and the commitments you leave with will shape your philanthropic work for years to come.
To learn more about the 2026 EFN Convening and if this gathering is a good fit for you, contact Ify Aduba at ifeoma@eshipfundersnetwork.org.
Convening Sponsorship
This unique gathering is made possible by sponsors who believe in the power of connection and collective action. EFN sponsorships are mission-aligned dollar contributions – there are no exhibit tables, no sales pitches, and no transactional expectations. We keep it that way intentionally, so that everyone in the room can stay focused on what we’re there to do. If your foundation would like to help make this convening possible, please contact Ify Aduba at ifeoma@eshipfundersnetwork.org.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
2025 EFN Convening
We were excited to bring the Entrepreneurship Funders Network and fellow entrepreneurship funders together for the 2025 EFN Convening in Chicago. The gathering offered a dynamic look at what’s possible for entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, and the communities they serve when we come together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in person! Your participation made the event truly impactful.
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors
2024 EFN Convening
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024 EFN Convening in Baltimore. It is your passion for building vibrant and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems that transforms this gathering, and our network, into a hub of unique potential. We appreciate you sharing your ideas, your wisdom, and creating space for brave exploration of what can be made possible for entrepreneurs when we come together with shared intention. We look forward to building on these connections, learnings, and a strong momentum toward collaborative action.
We extend deep gratitude to our sponsors - eBay Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and Surdna Foundation - for their support and partnership in bringing this event to life.
Download the 2024 EFN Convening Report to explore insights from convening programs and co-design sessions, along with emerging opportunities with potential for collective action.
Access our 2024 EFN Convening photo albums using the buttons below!
Enjoy an album of coverage from our photography partner, Naaman Brown; an album of images from Peter Durand, our graphic scribe partner from dpict; and an album to upload your own convening photos so others can delight in them too.
2023 EFN Convening
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 EFN Convening!
The 2023 EFN Convening was designed with thoughtful intention and recognized as an opportunity to test and build on insights we’ve garnered from our network members.
Honoring an expressed desire to move EFN into an network for impact that connects, learns, and acts together; each segment of the event was carefully crafted to further these aspirations.
Download the full report to read more about EFN’s approach to convening design. Plus, you can catch a glimpse of some of the new programs EFN is piloting for network members, inspired by insights from the convening.