Bringing Nonprofit Driven to your community 

ONN is thrilled to share that we will be hitting the road more than ever in the years to come. In collaboration with local nonprofits and their networks in different regions, we will co-host events across the province!

10 years of Nonprofit Driven

For over ten years, ONN has hosted an annual conference, Nonprofit Driven. Through the years the structure, size, and cadence of the conference has changed, but what has remained constant has been ONN’s commitment to creating inclusive, engaging spaces and programming where the network can gather, connect, and collaborate.

Last year, we started aligning ONN activities with our new strategic direction and fresh public policy agenda. We also reflected upon our network approach and how to better engage nonprofits across Ontario. This process has led us to re-thinking the way we bring the network together; we are deepening and enriching our events strategy by moving away from one big bi-annual conference.

New approach to meet the moment

As we think deeply about increasing polarization and threats to equity, accessibility, and democracy and a rapidly shifting public policy landscape, it’s more important than ever for us to be investing in direct relationships with the network. The power of networks is critical in moments of change. 

A distributed approach to how we gather will support our public policy advocacy work with more intentionality. This doesn’t mean that we won’t ever hold a big conference, but just that this moment calls for network building and strengthening at the local level for now.

Our new approach looks like: 

• Nonprofit Driven (NPD) Regional Connects: NPD Regional Connects gatherings will take place in different locations on an annual basis, created in collaboration with local nonprofits. Locations will be different from year-to-year, with a NPD Regional Connects Toronto taking place every other year, as we are mindful that the Greater Toronto Area is home to a majority of Ontario’s nonprofits. Each location will have unique programming, created in collaboration with a local host while providing deeper regional engagement with ONN. In 2025, gatherings will take place in Ottawa, Simcoe, Sudbury, Hamilton, and more!
• Policy summits: Scheduled at key moments to take deep dives into specific public policy issues and solutions and ultimately prepare for advocacy opportunities as they arise or surface.
  • Upcoming: Care Policy Summit in spring 2026.
• Other types of events: Created on an iterative basis to meet the needs of Ontario’s nonprofits.

NPD Regional Connects will be our main events during the year, with policy summits and other types of events planned and held to meet specific moments in time or to tackle a specific policy issue. 

We’ve been so grateful for all the wonderful support we’ve received for Nonprofit Driven over the years, and we’re looking forward to sharing these events with more nonprofits across the province in years to come.

We hope to see you soon!