2025 Conferences & Events for Changemakers
Creative, nonprofit, climate change, and outdoor-related conferences to keep on your radar for 2025.
If you’re like me, you’re trying to get your year planned out and get some cool stuff on your calendar. Every year, you probably spend a lot of time researching conferences and hemming and hawing over which one to invest in (me, too). That’s why I’ve started keeping an ever-growing list of creative, nonprofit, climate change, and outdoor-related conferences. I can easily keep tabs on the ones I’m interested in and simplify my research and decision-making process. And it’s your lucky day, because I’m sharing a chunk of my list with y’all!
Information and descriptions are from event organizers and may change after the publishing of this article.
Nonprofit Conferences
2025 Dates: May 14-15
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: $399 (early bird)
About: Collaborative, presented by Classy from GoFundMe, brings together forward-thinking nonprofit professionals and social sector experts. Together, we will uncover the ideas and strategies necessary to propel our sector forward.
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
2025 Dates: November 13-15
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: $595 - $1,500
About: This conference is designed to help you tap into your donor's story and show them how their support can make them the hero in a powerful narrative.
2025 Dates: October 15-17
Location: Denver, CO
Cost: $1,699
About: CommNet connects, gathers, and informs leaders working in communications for good at the most influential foundations and nonprofits around the planet in order to maximize their missions and impact.
2025 Dates: Not yet announced
Location: Not yet announced
Cost: Not yet announced
About: Cause Camp is a national nonprofit conference presented by Nonprofit Hub, a 501c3 dedicated to developing content, events, and experiences that empower nonprofits to achieve excellence. Cause Camp is a conference created by a nonprofit for nonprofits and celebrates its 24th year in 2025 with a legacy of being recognized by Forbes as a must-attend for nonprofit professionals.
Leave No Trace Global Summit in Boulder, Colorado in October 2024. The organization hasn’t announced the next summit, but when they do, I’ll be first in line for a ticket!
Climate Change, Sustainability, Social Change, etc
2025 Dates: March 10-13
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: SXSW Platinum Badge is $1,895, Interactive Badge is $1,395
About: Explore the most promising, solution-based innovations and strategies to mitigate climate change. From sustainable building solutions to cutting-edge climate technologies, learn how you can help in the fight to end climate change and build a sustainable future for generations to come.
2025 Dates: June 3-4
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost: Not listed
About: Social Innovation Summit convenes the world’s most potent leaders, thinkers, and practitioners around one simple yet audacious goal: to catalyze inspired partnerships that are disrupting social impact. The Summit welcomes curated rooms of purpose-driven business leaders, funders, community stakeholders, and impact entrepreneurs.
2025 Dates: September 16–18
Location: Usually Burlington, VT area
Cost: Not listed
About: Unique gatherings that tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. A dynamic series of off-the-record experiences that seamlessly blend work and play, designed to ignite creativity, change perspectives, and build effective (and unlikely) relationships.
World Conference on Climate Change & Sustainability
2025 Dates: October 22-24
Location: Milan, Italy
Cost: Not listed
About: By attending this year’s Climate Week 2025 Milan event, you may discover how climate change affects everyone from urban dwellers to farmers in the Midwest. Everyone has an interest in the climate. Additionally, you will get knowledge about the individuals that are tackling climate change and receive suggestions on how you may contribute to the cause.
2025 Dates: April 24-26
Location: Paris, France
Cost: $280
About: We bring together the World’s most innovative minds and sustainability leaders invested in the deployment of solutions for the planet. Our mission: to help solutions scale and spread across industries and geographies.
Conservation & Outdoor
2025 Dates: September 3-6
Location: Cleveland, OH
Cost: $775
About: The National Land Conservation Conference - Where people who share a passion for conservation will re-energize and inspire you. Gather to learn about diverse conservation topics, connect with friends and colleagues, and gain the skills you need to take your conservation work further.
Outdoor Industry Association Catalyst Conference
2025 Dates: Not yet announced
Location: Not yet announced
Cost: Not yet announced
About: The OIA Catalyst Conference is your destination for addressing critical challenges and advancing sustainability in the outdoor industry.
Leadership
2025 Dates: March 14–17
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Cost: $745
About: Amplifying Women’s Voices Since 2009, Alt Summit is the premier conference & community for thousands of creative entrepreneurs & influencers.
2025 Dates: June 14-21
Location: The French Alps
Cost: $4,125
About: A seven day reset for visionaries, Alptitude is a leadership retreat with a difference. There are no talks, yet powerful stories get told. There are no workshops, yet learning is everywhere. There are no egos, yet some of the most inspiring people you’ll ever meet. This is the future of business events – emergent, playful and transformational.
2025 Dates: Not announced yet
Location: Not announced yet
Cost: Not announced yet
About: The Impact Partner Summit is held where creativity meets intelligence. Where passion meets practicality. Where insight meets action. Leave the every day behind and retreat with us to an atmosphere of collaboration and growth.
I’m Margo! A graphic designer who works with environmental nonprofits and mission-driven brands on projects like logos & branding, annual reports, maps, and infographics. I work with my clients to create beautiful and meaningful design that amplifies the marketing efforts it takes to ignite action and change. Visit my portfolio to see some of the projects I’ve collaborated on with nonprofits to protect the environment.