Conversations@TechSquare: Laura Hennighausen
This conversation will ask whether coalitions can actually shift the structures that govern funding, who holds power inside them, and what research and technology might contribute.
Can the smallest organizations change the rules, or only learn to play by them?
Small nonprofits are often told that sustainability comes from better grant writing, stronger boards, and more diversified revenue. But many of their barriers are structural: limited public investment, funding requirements built for larger institutions, and little access to policymakers. In Metro Atlanta, half of the region’s arts nonprofits operate on budgets under $150,000, and public arts funding averages about $1.96 per person against a national average of $5.44.
Arts Capital | Atlanta, a coalition of arts nonprofits, funders, and public partners across 11 counties, has been testing what happens when small organizations stop working alone. Its experiments include public funding advocacy, a regional pooled fund, and a non-competitive pilot that sends unrestricted dollars to every eligible organization. This conversation will ask whether coalitions can actually shift the structures that govern funding, who holds power inside them, and what research and technology might contribute.
Speaker: Laura Hennighausen
Executive Director Arts Capital | Atlanta and
Director of Strategic Philanthropy, Purpose Possible
Laura Hennighausen is a strategist dedicated to reshaping the nonprofit landscape by empowering organizations to operate with greater equity, transparency, and impact. As Director of Strategic Philanthropy, Laura sits at the intersection of donor intent and mission-driven reality, partnering with corporate, private, and individual funders to establish, evaluate, and modernize charitable practices.
Laura’s work is characterized by a sophisticated understanding of the third sector, which she tracks closely through her insightful monthly publication, Dispatches from the Philanthrosphere. Whether she is facilitating complex board retreats, navigating capital campaigns, or guiding organizations through the nuances of interim leadership, Laura brings a steady, research-backed approach that helps clients align their internal operations with their broader philanthropic goals.
Her client portfolio spans a wide spectrum of the philanthropic world, including Arts Capital | Atlanta, Mailchimp, the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation, the T. Rowe Price Foundation, Borealis Philanthropy, and the Kataly Foundation. Her deep involvement in the field is bolstered by her leadership; she currently serves as the Board Chair for both MODA and Soul Food Cypher.
Laura’s commitment to the field is both practical and academic. Having built a strong career in public space, historic preservation, and visual arts, she is now deepening her expertise as a PhilD candidate at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy—the premier institution for the study of the philanthropic sector. She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Japanese Language and Literature and Art History.
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Conversations@TechSquare is a dynamic space for new ideas, not an environment for established concepts. We gather creators and innovators from across Georgia Tech, the broader Tech Square community, and beyond, to engage in open dialogue around some of today’s biggest challenges and opportunities. These gatherings are organized and hosted by the Georgia Tech Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and will occur several times during a semester at the Tech Square Clubhouse. The Clubhouse address is 848 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308 (street level, behind the Centergy One Bldg.).
Tech Square Clubhouse
All conversation gatherings are held in the Tech Square Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse address is 848 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308.
The Tech Square Clubhouse is on the bottom level (street level, behind the Centergy One Bldg.), close to LA Fitness and only a few blocks away from the Midtown and North Ave. MARTA stations. Look closely and you'll see there is an outdoor staircase to the left of the Centergy One Building leading down to the street where you'll find the Tech Square Clubhouse.
PARKING:
Parking is available at the Centergy One parking deck, located right next door. You can also find additional street parking via Park Mobile on Spring and 5th Street. Centergy One parking deck daily rates: Half Hour: $3.00 | One Hour: $6.00 | Two Hours: $12.00 | Daily Max: $20.00
GT CAMPUS BUS: Take the Gold route bus which stops at Tech Square.
