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Eric went to the Communications Network annual conference for 21 years in a row, so he knows a little bit about what makes this gathering special.
In this bonus episode, Eric is joined by Communications Network CEO Sean Gibbons, VP of Events and Community Carrie Clyne, and Director of Strategic Projects and Partnerships Erica Pelletreau two weeks before ComNet26 in San Diego.
And this conference comes at a critical time. It’s been a very hard year to do communications for good. Nonprofits are losing funding at the same time more people need their help. New research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy reveals that grantees think that their funders are out of touch with their needs.
In San Diego, communicators from foundations and nonprofits from around the world will come together to learn from each other, teach each other, and make some lifetime friendships. Can’t make it to San Diego? Stick around to find out how you can still be part of it.
Follow Let’s Hear It, leave a rating, and help more people find the show.
Guests
- Sean Gibbons, CEO, The Communications Network
- Carrie Clyne, Vice President of Events and Community, The Communications Network
- Erica Pelletreau, Director of Strategic Projects and Partnerships, The Communications Network
The Communications Network: https://www.comnetwork.org
ComNet26
- ComNet26, September 30 to October 2, 2026, in San Diego: https://www.comnetwork.org/events/comnet26 Comnetwork
- Watch the keynotes live on the Chronicle of Philanthropy: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/watch-comnet-keynotes-on-community-and-storytelling-in-communications/
- Session takeaways from past ComNets: https://www.comnetwork.org/comnet/
People and organizations mentioned
- IllumiNative, selected by the Jones Award judging panel as the 2026 Clarence B. Jones Impact Award winner: https://www.jonesaward.org/winners/illuminative Jonesaward
- IllumiNative and founder Crystal Echo Hawk: https://illuminative.org
- Percival Everett: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Everett
- Kaitlin Yarnall, chief storytelling officer at the National Geographic Society: https://nationalgeographic.org/about/leadership/kaitlin-yarnall National Geographic Society
- Grant Oliphant, Prebys Foundation: https://www.prebysfdn.org
- Tonya Allen, McKnight Foundation: https://www.mcknight.org
The Global Commons in London
- Briefing book from the London gathering: https://www.comnetwork.org/blog/global-commons-london-2026
- Philea (Philanthropy Europe Association): https://philea.eu
Ways to get involved year-round
- The Network’s pulse polls: https://www.comnetwork.org/network-research-polls
- Circles: https://www.comnetwork.org/circles
- LOCALs: https://www.comnetwork.org/locals
- Membership, including Slack access: https://www.comnetwork.org/membership
Research referenced in the open
- Center for Effective Philanthropy, A Sector in Crisis: How U.S. Nonprofits and Foundations Are Responding to Threats: https://cep.org/news/press-releases/new-cep-study-reveals-a-nonprofit-sector-in-crisis/
Our sponsors
- Prebys Foundation and the Stop & Talk podcast: https://stopandtalkpodcast.com
- Lumina Foundation and the Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent podcast: https://www.luminafoundation.org
- Stupski Foundation and the Break Fake Rules podcast: https://stupski.org/break-fake-rules/
Let’s Hear It: https://letshearitcast.com
