The Jewish Funders Network’s international conference comes to Los Angeles, March 17–19, 2013, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring our signature event to my hometown. L.A. offers a vibrant, enthusiastic, multifaceted Jewish community and I’m thrilled we’ll get a chance to show it off.

As always, over the conference’s three days, you’ll hear from big-picture speakers and fascinating funders, learn about exciting nonprofits, and engage with peers on big issues facing the Jewish community. You’ll find plenty of ideas and people to learn from—and you’ll be a resource and a learning partner to others. Only with JFN can you be part of a network of private Jewish philanthropists working to build a more vibrant, meaningful, inclusive, interconnected, creative and compassionate world.

As you make your plans to attend and review the program, I wanted to offer the following suggestions:

Come early.

Avoid the traffic of the L.A. Marathon, and join other funders for a Shabbaton with Ikar, LA’s renowned independent spiritual community, on the 15th-16th, with two private learning sessions with Rabbi Sharon Brous. Then, spend Sunday morning in one of two pre-conference seminars: one for funders interested in connecting teens to Israel, and the other addressing the unique challenges faced by funders who hold a staff role in their family foundations.

Get up early.

There’s a lot packed into each day; from Bibliyoga in the mornings to dozens of sessions and four different site-visit tours, we guarantee you’ll be busy. Take in keynote presenter James Fowler as he explores the science behind social networks. Hear famed photographer Frederic Brenner speak about his project to bring world-class photographers to Israel, reveal a different vision, and spark a new conversation. Explore the trends of 21st-century Jewish community. Learn the basics of impact investing. Learn about Israel on campus. Make a movie with G-dcast. And lots more…

Go to bed late.

The conference doesn’t slow down in the evening. Sunday night we’ll network into the night at the Hollywood Museum, and Monday night grab a drink on the Beverly Hilton’s iconic roof deck before heading out to a home-hospitality dinner.

Stay late.

Wednesday, right after the conference, the Milken Institute hosts a post-conference seminar on building a social capital market in Israel. Their expertise and resources are unparalleled, and it’s sure to be a fascinating and thoughtful conversation on a new technique for efficiently moving funds to where they’re most needed by Israel’s blooming nonprofit sector.

The network will even take on a visual dimension this year, as Six Points Fellow Corrie Siegel creates an artistic world map of conference attendees, drawing on your points of origin, family stories and unique Jewish journeys.

Hope to see you there!