Daniel Parada talks about radical connection at this year’s National Gathering
As NNFS prepares for the 2025 National Gathering, happening November 5-7 in Phoenix, Arizona, we thought we’d give you a look behind the curtain at the planning process. Here is a piece by Daniel Parada, Director of Fiscal Sponsorship at Movement Strategy Center and member of the planning committee, about choosing a theme for this year’s event.
Photography provided by © The Usual Suspects, LLC
When the planning committee gathered in February to brainstorm a theme for our next conference, Trump had just taken office — again. The tone of this meeting felt different. The energy was low. We felt a palpable sense of defeat. So we began with a simple question: What personal strengths are helping you during this time?
Words like “connection,” “community,” “hopefulness,” and “our united voice” came up. This discussion was the spark that reminded us why we gather each year. The purpose of this conference has always been to connect, learn, contribute, and leave feeling inspired. Despite the current political, economic, and social climate in the U.S., that is what we still plan to accomplish.
We reflected on last year’s theme, “Advancing Collective Power Through Fiscal Sponsorship,” and considered what the evolution of our collective power looks like now. We began jotting down thoughts and letting ideas take shape. Certain themes kept rising to the top: resilience, change, creativity, coming together. The conversation moved from collective power to connection — not just any connection, but radical connection, the kind rooted in solidarity, in movement work, in shared risk and shared care.
Fiscal sponsorship is not just a back-end structure that supports transformative movement work. We are part of what moves it forward. We are the armor that protects it. Our role is vital, and this year’s conference is a space to reflect on that truth and grow it together.
We invite you to join the 2025 NNFS National Gathering under the theme, “In Radical Connection — Resilience, Innovation, and Solidarity.” These are not just buzzwords, but necessary tools for survival, growth, and transformation.
This is the only National Gathering of its kind, where fiscal sponsors come together to share information on fiscal sponsorship practice, learn from each other and experts, discuss challenges.
For those interested in joining future gatherings or learning more about the discussions from this event, Join our Newsletter or Becoming a Member for updates and resources.
