Overview
Join us for NCFP’s 2025 Leadership Retreat, a gathering designed for CEOs and board members in family philanthropy.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, this three-day event will equip 180 family philanthropy CEOs and board members with the knowledge, tools, and peer community they need to be more effective leaders, individually, within their organizations, and within the broader philanthropic landscape.
The Leadership Retreat emphasizes peer connections, strategic reflection, and action planning. Expect a mix of plenary sessions, interactive workshops, and structured social activities that foster deep conversations and meaningful takeaways.
- Dates: Monday, October 27 to Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Location: Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, La Jolla, CA
Eligibility
The retreat is exclusive to family philanthropy CEOs and board members at NCFP member organizations and is limited to two attendees per organization: one CEO and one board member or two board members.
Eligible attendee roles are:
- CEO/executive director (i.e., the most senior staff member of the philanthropy)
- Board member (including seasoned and incoming family and non-family board members and board chairs)
- Next-generation family members, donors, and principals
Staff members who are not CEOs are not permitted to attend. We strongly encourage pairs of board members and CEOs to attend together to maximize their learning experience across multiple roles.
If you are not a member of NCFP but would like to attend the Leadership Retreat, you can join NCFP as a member here. If you have any questions about membership please contact us.
Pricing & Registration Timeline
May 1–15
Registration open to Leadership Circle members only
Price: $1,750
Leadership Circle members are those who support NCFP with donations of $10,000 or more annually
May 16–June 1
Early-bird registration open to all NCFP members
Price: $1,750
June 2 until the event is sold out
Registration for all NCFP members
Price: $2,250
Location
The event will take place at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, a hacienda-style resort nestled between San Diego’s seaside villages of La Jolla and Del Mar. A limited number of rooms are reserved for our attendees at a rate of $299/night.
Sponsorship
A number of sponsorship opportunities are available for the Leadership Retreat. Email Sarah Dovere to learn more about how to support the event.
Event Policies
Anti-Harassment
NCFP is dedicated to providing an experience that is harassment-free for all participants, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of attendees or staff members in any form. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal or physical harassment or the sustained disruption of retreat events.
Cancellation
NCFP incurs immediate expenses when a participant registers for a conference, including but not limited to registration system fees and payment processing charges. To recover these expenses, all requests to cancel a confirmed conference registration are subject to a $150 service fee. NCFP’s flexible cancellation policy allows for full refunds (less a $150 processing fee) through Friday, September 26. After September 26, we will be unable to issue refunds due to NCFP’s commitment to the venue for meals and other expenses. However, you may substitute your reservation with another colleague up to the beginning of the event, providing that colleague meets the eligibility requirements. If you need to cancel or transfer your registration, please email us.
Health
NCFP strongly encourages all retreat attendees and speakers to be up to date on vaccinations for communicable diseases, such as COVID-19 and influenza. Members and guests are asked to cancel their attendance if they feel sick or show symptoms of any communicable disease, including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and influenza. If needed, you may substitute your reservation up to the beginning of the event with another colleague, providing that colleague meets the eligibility requirements.
We will follow masking requirements that align with any hotel or local, state, and federal guidelines at the time of the event. At this time, we do not expect to require masks and encourage individuals to defer to their own comfort and health. Attendees who do choose to wear a mask are expected to bring their own masks.
We will direct any attendees who are feeling unwell to disengage from event activities and to seek care at local urgent care clinics if necessary.
NCFP will communicate any changes to this policy based on changing health conditions with all registered attendees.
Photography and Audio/Visual Recording
The Leadership Retreat is designed to offer its participants a place to learn from each other by sharing common experiences and lessons in a candid and collaborative way. NCFP will not take photographs, film videos, or capture audio recordings during this event, and will not publish or promote material derived from the event.
NCFP will not restrict attendees from taking photos or videos at the retreat for their own personal, non-commercial use. By attending our events, you acknowledge that you are in a public space and that attendees may capture your image and voice in photos and videos. NCFP encourages participants to ask permission to photograph or record fellow attendees and/or to post their image, likeness, and voice in public forums, included, but not limited to, social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, X, BlueSky, etc. NCFP will not monitor nor manage attendee posts; any attendee who wishes to have an image or other post removed from social media must contact the original poster directly.
Non-Solicitation
To provide an environment where donors and those who work with them are able to share and learn from one another, NCFP maintains a non-solicitation policy at its Leadership Retreat. While NCFP hopes its event can be a place for colleagues to connect and develop partnerships, the retreat should remain primarily a space for learning and networking. Solicitation includes but is not limited to: requesting funding for any purpose, distributing grant proposals, or requesting business.
Attendees should not use attendee lists for solicitation including to promote events held in conjunction with the retreat or thereafter.
Any person and/or organization found to be violating this policy may be asked to leave without refund of registration fees, and such activity may result in the inability to attend future NCFP events.
NCFP reserves the right to update our policies at any time. Please continue to refer to this website and event app for updates on policies and procedures. If there is a significant change to health and safety requirements, we will update policies on this page and send an email notification to all registrants ahead of the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend if I am not an NCFP member?
Due to high interest and limited capacity this is a members-only event.
Can non-CEO staff members attend the event?
In general, only the senior-most staff member may attend. Should you have a co-leadership structure, please email ncfp@ncfp.org to confirm eligibility prior to registering.
How can I join NCFP?
If you are not a member of NCFP but would like to attend the Leadership Retreat, you can join NCFP as a member here. If you have any questions about membership please contact us.
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