Location

When and where is ComNet23?

ComNet23 will happen in-person September 20-22, 2023 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis located at 265 Peachtree Center Avenue.

Where do I stay?

Unfortunately, the ComNet23 hotel block at the Marriott Marquis is full.

Rest assured, though, our conference hotel is in the middle of a hotel district downtown so there are a lot of options very close by. We recommend taking a look in the area and book a room at a nearby hotel that feels best for you!

Directions to/from the airport

We recommend using mass transit for traveling to and from the Atlanta Airport. MARTA (the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) is $2.50 for each one-way trip, and connects directly from the airport to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. You can plan your trip, with step-by-step instructions from the airport to the hotel and back, using this link. Additional ground transportation options available from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport can be found here

Registration

Registration for ComNet23 has closed. Check-in will begin Wednesday at our registration desk in the Atrium Level Foyer from 9:00 am - 6:30 pm. We strongly recommend picking up your name badge before heading over to the Welcome Reception.

May I attend the conference without registering?

No. Anyone who would like to attend the conference must register.

What does my registration fee include?

  • Access to all conference programs Thursday and Friday, including keynote sessions

  • Entry to the Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening

  • A group rate at the conference hotel

  • Access to conference app

  • A conference "swag bag" and related conference materials

  • Two breakfasts and a lunch 

  • Free conference wifi

  • Tons of coffee

  • New friends and community!

Registration does not cover the cost of a hotel room, so please reserve your room at the hotel separately.

Do you offer scholarships?

Thanks to generous support from The Rockefeller Foundation, The Frank Karel Scholarship enables The Communications Network to offer complimentary registrations to nonprofit staffers and communications-focused academics who would not otherwise be able to attend ComNet23. The Frank Karel Scholarship for ComNet24 will open this winter.

Can I bring a friend/partner/guest to The Welcome Reception or ComNet23?

To participate in ComNet23 programming and activities including The Welcome Reception, you must be a registered attendee. We are sorry we cannot accommodate guests. You will need to show your badge to join sessions, conference meals, receptions, and ComNet23 overall.

Program + Schedule

All program and schedule details and information can be found in the ComNet23 app, available to download from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

What are poster sessions?

Introduced (and a hit) last year at ComNet22 in Seattle, poster sessions are a space for attendees to dig deeper in a more intimate setting to learn about real world experiences from your peers — what worked, and what didn’t — across the country and across issues. These open forum conversations are an opportunity to highlight your work and share key learnings and takeaways.

Do I have to sign up for specific sessions?

Nope! Once you are registered for the conference, you can join any session you’d like. Our most popular sessions tend to fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early for your must-see sessions. 

What time should I arrive and depart?

That depends on what activities you’re interested in participating in. If you want to participate in attendee-led gatherings or pre-conference activities, we recommend you arrive by Wednesday morning.  The conference officially starts Wednesday early evening at the Welcome Reception. The conference programming will wrap up before lunch on Friday, by 12:30pm ET. 

Will you offer a virtual option?

No, but most of the main stage sessions will be live-streamed on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s website: Philanthropy.com 

Will sessions be recorded?

As many as we can! We ask that you try your best to commit to participating in real-time since ComNet23 — it is meant to be a live, people-focused experience. Not all sessions will be available for replay (several speakers have asked that folks participate live and that we do not record the material since it is interactive and participatory). We aim to record and share as much of the content as we are able and many of the main stage sessions will be recorded and available to attendees about a month after the conference (a handful will eventually be up on our YouTube channel a couple months out). 

Accessibility + Conduct

What accessibility options will you offer? 

The Network will be providing ASL interpreters and remote real-time captioning (CART) for all Keynote Sessions and will be able to provide for Breakout Sessions on request. Please email Carrie (cclyne@comnetwork.org) if there is a barrier for your participation or if you need to share additional access needs by September 1.

Do you have a Code of Conduct?

Yes, The Communications Network is dedicated to a safe, productive, and harassment-free experience for everyone — online and in-person. You can learn more about that here.

What is the No Solicitation Policy?

ComNet23  is an opportunity to meet new people and network. It is not an appropriate venue for a sales pitch. Here is the complete No Solicitation Policy

Attendees

Who attends The Communications Network conference?

The ComNet community is made up of leaders from philanthropy and nonprofit institutions in the U.S and increasingly around the world. Folks join us from 5 continents, and nearly all 50 states. Our attendees represent organizations including the Ford Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, StoryCorps, the Rockefeller Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, NPR, Democracy Fund, Truth Initiative, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Fair Fight, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Sesame Workshop, The Texas Tribune, The Pittsburgh Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, and hundreds more.

Will I be able to connect with other conference attendees prior to the conference?

Yes! You will receive an email by the beginning of September connecting you with other folks headed to Atlanta.  Attendees' names and organizations will be posted to a password-protected page.  We will share the password with conference attendees. Please note that we never share or sell registrants’ names and contact information, such as email addresses or phone numbers, with third parties.  

Health + Safety

We’re asking each of you to please join us in taking precautions to keep each other safe.

  • If you feel unwell before or during ComNet23, please follow the Golden Rule and do not attend or halt participation if you are on site.

  • We strongly recommend and encourage you to take a rapid test the day you arrive.

  • Masks are welcome. For anyone who’d like to wear one, they’ll be available at the registration desk.

  • Respect that everyone is in a different place (some of us can’t wait to hug, while others are ready for fist bumps).

  • Not ready to eat in a crowd?

    • The Marriott Marquis has an outdoor pool area, should you wish to take your meals outside, or you are welcome to take them to your room.

    • We will have indoor and outdoor space during the Welcome Reception.

  • The Marriott Marquis has indoor air filtration systems throughout the hotel (MERV-8 or better filters).

While we cannot guarantee that attendees will not be exposed to COVID-19, we can all do our part to keep each other safe and not attend if feeling unwell.

Given the evolving nature of the pandemic, we will continue to monitor any changes in public health guidelines and protocols, and there is a chance we might need to implement additional measures to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

What happens if I have COVID-19 or have had an exposure?

If you feel unwell before or during ComNet23, please follow the Golden Rule and do not attend or halt participation if you are on site.

We ask you to please stay home and not attend ComNet23 if you have tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has symptoms of COVID-19.

If you have COVID-19, suspect you have COVID-19, or have had a COVID-19 exposure, you may contact Jess Black, jblack@comnetwork.org, to discuss a registration refund. 

Additional FAQs

What is your refund policy?

Registration closed August 7 and refunds for canceled registrations are not offered after August 7. We are no longer able to transfer registrations after August 7.

How can I become a sponsor?

Email Sean at sgibbons@comnetwork.org for more information.

I still have a question. How can I get in touch?

Please email us at info@comnetwork.org and we’ll be in touch as quickly as possible.