A: After thoughtful consultation with ICSC leaders, strategic partners and major stakeholders, ICSC’s Board of Directors made the decision to transition ICSC’s in-person conference into a reimagined virtual experience. This was deemed to be the best and safest course of action after careful consideration of evolving COVID-19 pandemic developments in the United States and around the world.

A: The health and safety of all involved is what influenced the ICSC’s decision. To that end, many pandemic factors were considered including:

Anticipated travel restrictions due to the virus. Many 2020 conference attendees are no longer able to travel to and attend the ICSC conference. In addition, dioceses and parishes and other Catholic organizations continue to restrict travel and movement to, from, and within the United States.

Shelter in place mandates across the U.S. and globally impacting onsite participation.  Many attendees, strategic partners and exhibitors reside in states where varying state and local orders are in place requiring individuals to shelter in place, prohibiting travel and instituting restrictions on gathering, for the foreseeable future.

Anticipated self-quarantine and social distancing extending into the early fall months. Predictive modeling currently available from several sources indicate that policies for social distancing, shelter in place, and other control measures are likely to extend for several more months.

Precedent-setting and unprecedented cancellations and transitions of other in-person conferences, meetings and other events to virtual events. These include the annual meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Diocesan Fiscal Managers Conference. It is for these and many other reasons that ICSC made this difficult decision.

A: In addition to the compelling factors considered above, this decision was made now to allow time to successfully transition the event to a virtual experience platform and to allow our valued attendees, strategic partners, exhibitors and stakeholders the time needed to make necessary planning and travel adjustments. Moving to a virtual experience also provides more convenient access options allowing our global community to keep focused on their important work in their own dioceses and parishes during the pandemic.

A: ICSC is focused on an alternative solution to the 58th annual in-person conference that will provide an engaging, accessible, and inclusive platform to convene our global community, enabling us to connect, to learn, to share knowledge, and to advance the ministry of Catholic stewardship and Catholic philanthropy – a purpose that is more important today than ever before.

ICSC is working to develop an informative and engaging online experience, allowing participants to easily access important topics, research, and content that was originally developed for the onsite experience via their computers. The new virtual experience will also provide opportunities for participants to network, connect, and share knowledge, products, and solutions. Specifics regarding the new virtual experience continues to unfold.

A: The ICSC staff is currently working to transition the onsite program to a virtual experience. At this time, we are looking to launch the virtual event on Monday, September 28 and extend it through Friday, October 9. We thank you in advance for your patience as staff work to develop the new virtual experience. More details regarding the virtual format and programmatic approach are forthcoming. Details will be available on the ICSC website.

A: The ICSC virtual schedule is anticipated to unfold as follows:

Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25:
A pre-conference Catholic Foundation Forum

Monday, September 28:
Opening Prayer and Plenary Session

Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 2:
Focus on Dioceses and Catholic Foundations

Monday, October 5 to Thursday, October 8:
Focus on the Spirituality of Stewardship and Practicing Stewardship in Parishes

Friday, October 9:
Closing Plenary Session and Liturgy

For the full schedule, click here.

A. Online registration is available on the ICSC website by clicking here.

You may also call our office at 800-352-3452.

A. Your email address will be part of your log in credentials to the Whova conference platform.

A. If you are already registered, your registration automatically converts to a virtual registration. If you have any questions, email our registrar at register@catholicstewardship.org.

A. In 2020 the date for cancellations has been extended to September 1, 2020.

A. All of the following are included in your registration fee:

• Insightful speakers each day of the conference
• Thought-provoking presentations given in thirteen separate tracks
• Valuable how-to resources and ideas to take home and implement immediately
• Opportunities for prayer and reflection
• Networking with exhibitors
• Networking opportunities with peers
• A chance to be enriched both personally and professionally
• Opportunities to learn more about a wide variety of products and services from professional organizations in the ICSC virtual conference exhibit hall

A. Yes, you have the option of joining ICSC during the registration process! In fact, there is a membership section on the conference registration form.

A. Yes, please be sure to contact us as soon as possible (must be before September 15, 2020) with your replacement’s name and contact information so they will have proper credentials and information once they arrive at the conference.

A. No, you do not have to attend every session in one specific track, and you are free to attend the sessions that are most beneficial to you. You also do not need to pre-register for the conference sessions you want to attend. We do limit the sessions designated as clergy-to-clergy to attendance only by clergy guests.

A. Prior to the conference all registrants will receive an email from ICSC’s email address: register@catholicstewardship.org Included in this email will be log-in credentials that allows them access to the virtual conference online. The link can be accessed on your computer or you can download the Whova app on your smartphone. There is no charge to downloading the Whova app.

A. All sessions will be recorded and available to conference attendees at no additional cost through June 30, 2021.

A. All published times for the ICSC 2020 Virtual Conference are USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time. All sessions, however, will be recorded and each session will be available.

A. Many of the 2020 ICSC Virtual Conference presentations will be live. Some presentations will be pre-recorded.

A. There are several ways to speak to an exhibitor. There is a “chat” feature for each exhibitor within the virtual exhibit booth. Some exhibitors will hold live exhibit hours where you can speak with them “face-to-face” or you can schedule a “face-to-face” meeting.

A. ICSC conference registrants who do not wish to participate in the 2020 ICSC Virtual Conference may transfer their registrations to the 2021 or 2022 conferences. Contact icsc@catholicstewardship.org to transfer your conference registration.

A: We are excited about the new opportunities a virtual experience will provide including global accessibility and an inclusive platform to convene our community, enabling all to connect, to learn, to share knowledge, and to advance the ministry of Catholic stewardship and Catholic philanthropy.

We encourage all current attendees to hold requests until virtual experience specifics are shared. For those having already registered, details will be shared well in advance of the September 1, 2020 refund deadline, giving registrants ample time to make a decision.

A: The 2021 ICSC conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Orlando, Florida September 12-15. The 2022 ICSC conference will take place at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, California, October 2-5.