About

ABOUT SPRE & OUR GOALS

What we’ll accomplish together at the SPRE Summit

Share Best Practices

Catalyze Investment

Support Community Leaders

Build Connection

Advance the Field

SHARE BEST PRACTICES

Catalyze Investment

Support Community Leaders

Build Connection

Advance the Field

What is social purpose real estate?

We define social purpose real estate as spaces that serve the common good. From a social justice angle, real estate is an effective tool for shifting power. Buildings and spaces that are owned and operated by mission-based organizations and investors for the purpose of community benefit, like libraries, parks, affordable housing, nonprofit centers, and more, are examples of social purpose real estate.

Who will benefit from attending?

  • Community leaders interested in community real estate
  • Community space operators & advocates
  • Philanthropic leaders looking to support community-controlled real estate
  • Lenders, community finance professionals, & social impact investors
  • Social justice leaders interested in power building through community land control
  • Government and economic development leaders
  • Community development corporation & land trust leaders
  • Architects, developers, etc. interested in community real estate
  • Anyone interested in real estate for community good

What are some of the topics we will explore?

  • Themed spaces like: human service hubs; arts and culture spaces; small business accelerators, youth centered spaces; and more
  • Community engagement in a real estate project
  • Community ownership, governance and wealth-building
  • Designing for belonging, culture and fostering collaboration
  • Funding and financing community real estate projects
  • Scaling impact: joint ventures with affordable housing developers
  • Asset, property, and facility management for sustainable operations
  • Social purpose real estate and community economic development

MEET THE PRESENTER:
COMMUNITY SPACES NETWORK

Our Mission

is to increase the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector and improve the communities they serve by supporting the development and ongoing operations of multi-tenant nonprofit centers and other quality community serving spaces.

Our Vision

is that of a future when every community has access to the space it needs to be sustainable, healthy, and vibrant.

Our Approach

is to support and amplify the voices of social purpose real estate practitioners and advocate for sustainable solutions to community infrastructure, particularly through nonprofit and local ownership and control.

learn more at www.communityspaces.org

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The national gathering for people who build, own, and operate social purpose real estate (SPRE). Think community land trusts, nonprofit centers, community centers, coworking hubs, maker spaces, and mission-aligned development. Come to learn from peers, swap what’s working, and build the relationships that move projects forward.

May 4 to 6, 2027, in Atlanta, Georgia. The opening reception, the SPRE Foundations Intensive, tour loading and unloading, and the CSN member happy hour will take place at the American Hotel Atlanta Downtown on May 4, 2027. All content sessions will be held at the Calvin Smyre Conference Center at Morehouse School of Medicine on May 5-6, 2027.

Anyone working in or alongside SPRE: nonprofit leaders, community developers, funders, lenders, architects, policy folks, and organizers. If place is part of your mission, you belong here.

The Summit is presented by Community Spaces Network (CSN), formerly the Nonprofit Centers Network, fiscally sponsored by Tides Center. To learn more about CSN, visit www.communityspaces.org.

Two plenary sessions, 30+ content sessions at 90 minutes each, four SPRE Neighborhood tours of local community spaces (optional add-ons at additional cost), three hour SPRE Foundations Intensive (optional add on at additional cost), and multiple networking events — opening reception, closing lunch, dine-around dinner, CSN member happy hour, and the Whova app.

Early Bird registration opens on October 15, 2026. Regular registration begins on February 1, 2027 and ends on April 15, 2027.

We have member, non-member, and confirmed speaker pricing. Member pricing is $545 (Early Bird: October 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027) and $795 (February 1 to April 15, 2027). Non-member pricing is $695 (Early Bird: October 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027) and $895 (Regular: February 1 to April 15, 2027). Speaker pricing is $395.

Optional add-ons include: SPRE Neighborhood Tour Pass ($95 per person, per tour) and SPRE Foundations Intensive ($100 per person).

Yes. We have a limited number of scholarships for attendees and speakers who find that the registration fee is not within reach. Apply here.

Register with the email tied to your CSN membership. Our system applies the right rate automatically. Not sure if your organization is a member? Reach out and we’ll check. If you would like to become a member, email [email protected].

Access to sessions, plenaries, and the full Summit program. SPRE Tours and the SPRE Foundations Intensive are add-ons.

Right here on spresummit.org. Once you’re registered, you will be emailed instructions on how to join the Summit app (Whova) to use as your guide during the Summit.

Cancellation requests must be made in writing to [email protected]. Requests made on or before April 4, 2027: 100% refund, less a $75 processing fee. Requests received after April 4, 2027 will receive no refund, due to meal and venue costs being confirmed by then.

Whova is the official Summit event platform and your home base. Download the Whova app to see speakers and the agenda, connect with other attendees, and choose your neighborhood tour. New to Whova? Start here.

No. We do not offer a virtual or hybrid option at this time. All sessions are in person in Atlanta, GA.

No, sessions will not be recorded.

Yes. All session resources will be available in the Whova app. Follow these instructions to access them.

A three-hour pre-Summit intensive on Day 1, May 4, 2027, from 9am – 12pm, before regular sessions begin. It will be held at The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown. It’s built for people who are new to social purpose real estate or want stronger grounding in shared space language and concepts. Cost: $100 per person.

Presented by Ettlin Consulting, Community Vision Capital & Consulting, and Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), the Intensive covers the core terminology and mechanics of SPRE, with a focus on multi-tenant nonprofit centers and community shared spaces. You’ll learn what they are, who develops and operates them, how they’re financed, and what makes them different from conventional commercial real estate.

Topics include:

  • Introduction to the real estate development process
  • Organizational readiness
  • Creating a vision and building consensus
  • Responding to community need
  • Budgets and modeling
  • Ownership and governance
  • Funding and financing
  • Building a development team
  • Operations and staffing
  • Collaboration and programming
  • Stewardship

Everyone arrives at Day 2 with a strong baseline and the confidence to engage fully in the Summit’s programming.

Hands-on bus tours of social purpose real estate projects around Atlanta. You’ll walk the sites, meet the people behind them, and see what’s possible. All four tours will run on May 4, 2027, depart from The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown, and cost $95 per pass. Two morning tours (9am-12pm) and two afternoon tours (1pm-4pm) are available.

Choose a one of two morning tours (9am-12pm) and/or one of two afternoon tour (1pm-4pm) passes. Your pass reserves your seat on a bus departing from The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown. Once tour routes are announced, we’ll notify you and you can choose your specific tour in Whova. Early pass holders get first pick before tours open more widely.

Yes. The Intensive overlaps with the morning tours, so add an afternoon tour pass to do both.

Once tour routes are set, you will receive an email with instructions on how to choose your specific tour in Whova.

Anytime. Email [email protected] with your name and the add-on you’d like.

Yes. The Call for Speakers is open now. Proposals are due November 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. Notifications go out in January 2027.

Access to Capital, Community Ownership and Wealth Building, Development and Operation of Social Purpose Real Estate, Partnerships and Collaboration, or Policy and Advocacy.

Sessions run May 5 and 6, 2027, at the Calvin Smyre Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.

Yes. Confirmed speakers will register at a discounted rate of $395. All speakers are required to present in-person in Atlanta, GA. You are responsible for your own lodging and transportation to Atlanta.

Yes. We offer a limited number of scholarships for speakers and attendees. See “Do you offer financial assistance for registration?” above.

The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown is the Summit hotel and the starting point for tours. Book your room in our room block.

The Summit rate is $199 per night for any of these room types: 1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, or 2 Queen Beds Deluxe High Floor.

Individual reservations must be made by April 12, 2027 to get the Summit rate.

Yes. Complimentary shuttle buses run in the morning and afternoon between The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown and the Calvin Smyre Conference Center.

Yes, and it’s complimentary. Park in the deck at 428 Hammond Street, Atlanta, GA 30310.

The hotel charges $60 per day for on-site valet parking with in and out privileges. It does not offer self-parking on-site. If you’d rather self-park, visit spothero.com or download the SpotHero app to find options within walking distance of the hotel.

Yes. The Calvin Smyre Conference Center and The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown both have accessible ramps and elevators.

Yes. We want everyone to be able to fully take part in the Summit. We’re a small team with limited resources, so there are a few things we can’t provide, including live captioning (CART) and ASL interpretation. Tell us what you need on your registration form, and we’ll work with you to find the best options with the resources we have.

Yes. Please tell us on your registration form about any dietary restrictions, allergies, or needs.

There are five partner tiers: Visionary ($30,000), Anchor ($15,000), Catalyst ($10,000), Community Builder ($5,000), and Community Supporter ($2,500). Visit our sponsorship page for more information and the full sponsorship packet.

See the sponsorship page for our 2027 sponsors and past SPRE Summit sponsors.

Spread the word. Share the Summit with your network, your board, and your partners.

Email the SPRE Summit planning committee at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

The Social Purpose Real Estate Summit is presented by Community Spaces Network. Community Spaces Network was formerly the Nonprofit Centers Network. Read more here.