The Fall 2008 Communications Network Conference in Chicago, Sept. 24-26 has attracted the largest attendance in recent years. Some 200 communications professionals from foundations, nonprofits, and consulting firms from the United States and Canada – attended the event.

As in past years, the 2008 Network conference showcased best practices and new ideas in communications in philanthropy.  Two Network projects were presented for the first time: a study about the ways digital technologies are changing the face of foundation communications and a Guide that we at Asibey Consulting have been developing to help foundation communicators assess their work. The rest of the conference featured sessions ranging from how to make Web 2.0 work for you to topics that cover the ins and outs of day-to-day communications challenges.  The Network’s newly-launched blog features highlights of several presentations.

During an interesting session titled “The merging of communications and program activities online,” Susan Promislo of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) discussed ways that RWJF has been experimenting with social media to help find ideas that may result in new funding interests or projects. She described an online competition, held in collaboration with Ashoka’s Changemakers, that challenged social entrepreneurs to come up with promising new solutions, including disruptive innovations in health and health care.

Photo credit: The Communications Network