**Schedule subject to change without notice
8:00 am Registration, Breakfast and Networking
9:00 am--MAIN STAGE: Morning Keynote
9:45 am--MAIN STAGE: Leagues and Players Associations
Leagues and Players Associations have a front row seat to the philanthropic efforts of their players. These organizations also have the ability to influence the fundraising and programming efforts. Learn from our panel of experts who examine how their organizations can strengthen the players' efforts and support their Foundation staff.
10:30 am--Break
11:00 am--MAIN STAGE: Athletes and Coaches
Elite athletes and high-profile coaches receive public attention that can generate enormous fundraising opportunities. They both also have substantial legal, financial and reputation risks that go along with that publicity. Learn how they can navigate the waters and successfully create impact which benefits communities.
11:45 am--MAIN STAGE: Brain Health and Mental Health-
Fireside Chat with Leigh Steinberg
Join Leigh Steinberg and other special guests for an in-depth look into the impact that brain health and mental health are having on our sports ecosystem. This dialogue will examine the impact that brain health and mental health have on our athletes in ways that appear to be unrelated to their on-field performance and relationships.
Leigh Steinberg
Roy Kessel
12:30 pm SPW 2026 Closing
Passing The Gavel for SPW2027
Join us for this special annoucement for our host venues for 2027 and beyond!
2:00 pm Interactive Youth Philanthro-Fest
Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Work with us as we create an interactive environment that teaches our youth participants about the challenges in making funding decisions. They will get an opportunity to decide which causes they want to support as well as set them up with the vision that positions them as donors for the future!
2:00 pm Sports Philanthropy Workshops and Roundtables
CURRENT TOPICS: MORE TO BE ADDED
Roundtable: Adaptive Sports
Roundtable: Concussions and Brain Health
Roundtable: LGBTQIA+
Roundtable: Sustainability
Workshop:
Simple Mental Health
Adam
Nemer
Mental Health is a critical element to the success of every organization and every sports team. How does your organization train its people to recognize the symptoms and administer mental health first aid?
Workshop:
GIVE-DEX
Neil
Schwartz
Learn how your organization can leverage the GIVE-DEX to create more engagement with your fans. These strategies help your organization understand the power which data has to sharpen your efforts.
3:00 pm Sports Philanthropy Workshops and Roundtables
CURRENT TOPICS: MORE TO BE ADDED
Roundtable: College Sports and NIL
Roundtable: Youth Sports and Rising Costs
Workshop: Developing a Strategic Plan
Roundtable:
Sports Parents: Dads and Moms
Jamesetta Cleveland
Parents have a strong impact on the way their children handle their lives. Parents influence both the short term growth as well as the long-term perspective. Join other sports parents to discuss the best ways to build a blueprint for success.
Workshop:
Trace4mation Games
Leslie
Robinson
Beyond the Game™: Healing Conversations for Athletes, Teams & Leaders
Join Trance4mation Games Founder & CEO Leslie Robinson for an interactive, deeply engaging workshop experience featuring the Beyond the Game™ Athlete Well-being Dialogue Experience – a powerful conversation-based tool designed to strengthen connection, emotional wellness, trust, leadership, and authentic communication among athletes, coaches, students, and sports professionals.
In a culture where athletes are often taught to “push through” emotions, many struggle silently with pressure, identity, isolation, transition, anxiety, performance expectations, and life beyond competition. This workshop creates a rare and meaningful space where participants can move beyond surface-level interaction and engage in real conversations that build understanding, resilience, empathy, and team unity.
Through guided small-group experiences utilizing the Beyond the Game™ cards, participants will explore themes such as identity beyond performance, mental health, leadership, vulnerability, purpose, resilience, relationships, and life after sports. The experience is designed to be interactive, energizing, reflective, and immediately applicable within schools, universities, athletic departments, community programs, and professional sports environments.