Django Events Foundation North America

Call for Proposals for DjangoCon US 2026 Website!

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

DjangoCon US 2026 needs new branding, art direction, graphic design, website design, conference swag, etc.

Introduction

Our main goal for 2026 (repo here) is to update the logo/brand, color scheme, illustrations, and style guide to fit the theme of our host city, Chicago.

We have all of our 2025 data to work with which includes all of our content along with our speakers and schedule (talks, tutorials, and sprint information) which can be used to verify and test with.

We’d also like your help with our swag and art direction which includes our backdrops during the conference, videos, signage, along with special swag which we give out at the conference.

We are happy to accept proposals from individuals or firms for some or all of the scope listed here, given the breadth of skillsets this project requires. Please note, as a non-profit with limited time, we are most likely to select a proposal that makes this process easy and seamless for us.

Website Overview

In 2024, we rebuilt the website with 11ty and Tailwind CSS. Our preference would be to also get any web designs implemented in our codebase.

Landing Page, Website Design, Art Direction Deliverables

DjangoCon US will need:

Layouts for major pages:
- Homepage
- Code of Conduct
- Conference schedule
- Talk/Tutorial details
- Venue details
- Call for proposals
- Presenter details
- Blog list
- Blog details
Open Graph previews for schedule details and presenters
Updated website design including city design, color scheme, logos, and updated style guide.
Ideas and art direction for our swag and signage

DEFNA Will Provide

City and date information
Sponsorship submission form hosted through third-party
Landing page copy
The 2025 website which shows a complete and working implementation of what we are looking for
Technical assistance

Full Website Deliverable

Delivery of the full website design and ideally a starter code base including layouts for the pages listed in the deliverables section
Responsive design that supports mobile, tablet, and desktop devices
Accessibility and usability features

DjangoCon US organizers and open-source community members will provide additional support for integration of the design if necessary.

Tentative Schedule

Branding/logo: January 2026
Landing page launch: early February 2026
Website design complete: early March 2026
Initial site launch: late March 2026
Swag completion: May 2026

CFP Timeline

Call for proposals opens: November 10, 2025
Deadline to submit proposal: December 10, 2025
Decision: December 19, 2025

Please note these dates are subject to change.

Submission Instructions

Please provide an electronic copy of your submission to our email address hello@defna.org. We are looking for a fixed bid for the entire project rather than an hourly rate. You can also email any questions that you have to our email address.

We look forward to hearing from you!

DjangoCon US: Call for Venue Proposals 2027-28

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We’re wrapping up DjangoCon US 2025, so it’s time to think about 2027 and possibly 28!

DjangoCon US 2026 is tentatively planning to return to Chicago. Where will we be the following year or two? We need your help in making that decision!

So you want your city to host DjangoCon US? Hurrah! We’re delighted by your interest. Here’s what you need to know, and what we need to know, to consider your proposal.

For 2027, we are required to avoid October 1-3 and 10-11 due to religious observances. For 2028, we are required to avoid September 20-22 and 29-30.

We need some information about your city, about the venue, the hotel, and travel. Your proposal doesn’t have to be super-fancy, just informative. The proposal should include the following:

Names of organizer staff in the host city. While DEFNA will handle the business aspects of the conference, we need the help of a team of local volunteers to manage preparation and the onsite coordination of the event. We realize you won’t have an entire team assembled, but let us know who the core organizers in your city will be.
A short list of possible conference venues (or just one, if you have found the Venue of Conference Dreams), with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- Attendance capacity
- Assurance that the venue can provide the following spaces (A floorplan with a rough explanation of what will go where would be great.):
  - Keynote room (also Sessions Track A) to accommodate up to 450 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Room for Sessions Track B to accommodate up to 200 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Space for sponsors to set up exhibit booths/tables; at least 12, and up to 16, sponsors with either 6’ tables or 10’ x 10’ booth spaces. If more sponsor booth space is available, that’s a plus.
  - Green room for speakers to prepare (generally a room that will seat 25 for a workshop is the right size)
  - Space for registration tables
  - Room for meals and breaks with sufficient seating and tables. If serving and/or seating areas cannot accommodate 450 people at once, indicate the room capacity and time required to move 450 people through.
  - Space for supplemental beverage stations for daylong service.
  - Secure overnight storage for vendor booth supplies and conference registration desk items.
- Explanation of catering options available at the venue that can cover:
  - 450 people per day during the main conference: Breakfast, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, and all day beverage service.
  - Catering must have options for celiacs, vegetarians, and vegans of equal quality and variety as main menu. Estimate 15% vegetarian, 5% vegan, and 5-10% gluten-free (some of which may overlap with the other two groups).
  - The ability to serve a meal to 350—450 people in a 90 minute window.
- A good conference venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the airport and the conference hotel
  - Most venues require use of their in-house catering service. If the venue does not offer catering services, check whether the venue restricts catering access to an approved vendor list, and what, if any, requirements they have for outside catering vendors.
  - Adjoins or within walking distance to a suitable hotel which can accommodate 350-450 attendees
  - Excellent Internet connectivity
  - Accessible to as many attendees as possible
  - Reasonable access to transit for sightseeing
  - Gender-neutral (or at least gender-inclusive) restrooms within a short walk to the conference rooms.
- The venue does not have to be a hotel or corporate conference center. Many universities offer conference services, and there are also municipal/county level event venues which can be likely sites for DjangoCon US.
A short list of possible sprint venues, with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the hotel?)
- Attendance capacity
- Information on local companies that might be willing to host the sprints at no cost.
- A good sprint venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the conference hotel
  - A room to hold 50-75 people, with work tables, chairs, power, and internet connectivity
  - Eating tables should be separate from work tables if at all possible.
  - Excellent Internet connectivity.
Hotel. The ideal hotel is adjacent to the conference venue, or a very short walk away. For the hotel. You can reach out to the event sales contact at the hotel to help gather the information we need:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- The conference room rate (should be discounted from the standard rate)
- A block of rooms starting the two nights before tutorials, and running through the last night of the sprints. The breakdown of the room counts would be estimated at:
  - Friday - 10
  - Saturday - 15
  - Sunday Tutorials - 100
  - Monday Main Conf - 100
  - Tuesday Main Conf - 100
  - Wednesday Main Conf - 80
  - Thursday Sprints - 30
  - Friday Sprints - 15
- Concessions policy (comp room nights per actualized room nights)
- A sample contract showing the terms of booking the block of rooms. Do not sign any contracts. DEFNA will handle the business side of things. We just need to see the terms the hotel proposes for the group block.
Provide estimates on costs associated with flights, accommodation, meals, ground transportation, etc. for an overview of the total cost for attendees.
- Suggested cost examples include typical round-trip airfare from several major hub cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and London.
Information about what makes the city a good choice for DjangoCon US and an attractive destination for attendees.
Any additional ideas for making the event especially useful and/or memorable.
Any information about whether venues would be willing to sign multi-year deals. Hosting DjangoCon US at the same venue in Durham made venue coordination in 2023 and 2024 considerably easier than having to interact with a new venue each year.

Since we are considering a number of proposals, no one from your group should sign a binding contract or make any kind of legal or financial commitment.

If DEFNA chooses your group’s proposal, your group is responsible for putting DEFNA in contact with the venue management to finalize the event agreement.

In order for us to make a decision in time to announce next year’s venue at the end of the Durham conference, please submit your proposal to hello@defna.org no later than January 15, 2026.

Thanks so much! We look forward to hearing about all the fantastic places we can go in future years!

Celebrating 20 Years of Django: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:30:00 +0000

This year marks a remarkable milestone: the 20th anniversary of Django, the web framework that has empowered developers and organizations around the world since its first public release in 2005. From its humble beginnings as an internal project to becoming a cornerstone of the Python ecosystem, Django’s journey is a testament to the power of open source, collaboration, and community spirit.

Django’s philosophy—the web framework for perfectionists with deadlines—remains as relevant today as it was two decades ago. With over 400 releases, countless contributors, and a thriving ecosystem of packages, Django continues to set the standard for pragmatic, secure, and scalable web development.

The Heartbeat of Our Commitment: DjangoCon US

At the Django Events Foundation North America (DEFNA), we are proud to steward DjangoCon US, the flagship conference for Django enthusiasts in North America.

Since its inception, DjangoCon US has brought together developers, educators, and innovators for a week of learning, sharing, and connection. Each year, the conference features:

Inspiring talks from community leaders and newcomers alike
Hands-on sprints to advance Django and its ecosystem
Opportunities to network, mentor, and collaborate
A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

DjangoCon US is more than just a conference—it’s a celebration of the people and ideas that make Django special. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, DjangoCon US is a place to grow, give back, and find your community.

Our Commitment to the Future

As we celebrate Django’s 20th birthday, DEFNA reaffirms our mission to support and grow the Django community for years to come. We are dedicated to:

Fostering education and outreach through events, grants, and mentorship
Supporting diversity and inclusion at every level of our organization and events
Empowering the next generation of Django developers and leaders
Ensuring DjangoCon US remains accessible, welcoming, and impactful for all

We believe that the strength of Django lies in its community. By nurturing connections, sharing knowledge, and championing open source values, we can ensure Django continues to thrive for the next 20 years and beyond.

Join Us on the Journey

Whether you’ve been with Django since the beginning or are just discovering its possibilities, we invite you to be part of our story. Attend DjangoCon US, volunteer, share your expertise, or simply connect with fellow enthusiasts. Together, we can build a brighter, more inclusive future for Django and the web.

Happy 20th anniversary, Django! Here’s to many more years of innovation, collaboration, and community.

With love, Django Events Foundation North America (DEFNA), stewards of DjangoCon US and champions of Django community.

Defna Board Member Update July

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Board Member Update for 2025

We have two new board members as of July 2025!

Outgoing Directors

We would like to take a moment to extend our gratitude to our outgoing directors, Katherine ‘Kati’ Michel and Tim Schilling for their invaluable contributions to our board.

Katherine ‘Kati’ Michel

We want to express our sincere thanks to Kati Michel for her eight years of service on the DEFNA Board. Since joining in 2017, Kati has been a consistent and thoughtful presence in the community. She served not only as a Director but also as DEFNA’s Secretary at various times.

Kati played a key role in shaping DjangoCon US and DEFNA through her leadership on the Website Committee and her contributions to our overall direction. Her dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to the Django community have left a lasting impression.

Tim Schilling

During his tenure on the DEFNA board, Tim played a pivotal role, particularly as corporate secretary. Known for his thoughtful leadership, he brought structure and clarity to board processes, substantially improving documentation and operational workflows. Tim’s organizational skills not only benefited internal initiatives, but also fostered transparency and efficiency across Django’s flagship events and programs.

Thank you, Kati and Tim, for everything you’ve done. We appreciate your service and look forward to staying connected.

Incoming Directors

Miguel Sanda

Miguel Sanda is a software developer, data scientist, and entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience spanning the energy, food, and financial industries. As the creator and lead developer of Django Ledger, an open-source financial engine built on the Django framework, Miguel has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between software development and financial management.

Miguel’s professional journey is marked by a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering, a Master of Engineering, and an MBA in Data Science. His work reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for practical solutions in accounting and finance. Miguel also co-founded EDMA Group alongside his wife Dayana, a firm specializing in accounting and financial planning for small businesses.

Born in Venezuela and residing in Fort Mill, SC since 2006, Miguel is a husband and father of three who enjoys hiking, food, travel, and spending time with family. Through Django Ledger and his broader initiatives, Miguel aims to contribute to the Django community by fostering innovation in financial software development.

Nathan Zeager

Nathan is a software developer, barista, and co-founder of Bismuth Cooperative, a freelance web development company. He enjoys thinking about user experience and working with a team to accomplish a goal. When not working he enjoys spending time with his dogs, playing video games, watching tv, and going on hikes.

Incoming Directors

The DEFNA Board conducted elections in May. Congratulations to the returning and new officers:

President: Peter Grandstaff Vice President: Nicole Dominguez Treasurer: Miguel Sanda Secretary: Nathan Zeager

Join DEFNA! Board Member Recruitment

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:30:00 +0000

Join the DEFNA Board as Corporate Secretary!

Django Events Foundation North America (DEFNA) is seeking a new board member to serve as Corporate Secretary. We have an eight-member board, and one of our board members stepped down. We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting the DjangoCon US community and can help maintain the organization’s compliance and records.

As Corporate Secretary, your responsibilities will include:

Preparing and distributing board meeting agendas at least ten days in advance.
Recording and archiving board meeting minutes for both private and public records.
Filing the California Annual Statement every odd-numbered year.
Maintaining corporate compliance records and reporting any changes to corporate information.
Renewing corporate insurance annually and managing event coverage as needed.
Ensuring board members sign annual statements and maintain confidentiality agreements.
Organizing and updating corporate records within Google Drive.
Tracking and managing key deadlines for filings and renewals.

Board membership typically requires about five hours per month, which includes:

Attending the monthly board meeting.
Participating in the grant applications review process.
Using DEFNA’s social media channels to communicate about DEFNA activities.
Brainstorming new ways for DEFNA to fulfill its mission.

If you’re interested in contributing to DEFNA in this role, please reach out to us at hello@defna.org with the following information:

What interests you about being on the board.
Your current or prior community involvement (it’s okay if you’re new—we value all perspectives!).
Any particular interests you have (board meeting organization, compliance tracking, corporate filings, record management, etc.).
Any ideas for expanding DEFNA’s reach in the open-source community.
Anything else you’d like us to know about you as a potential board member.

Please email your information to us by March 10 at 12:00 PM ET (Eastern Time)/1600hrs UTC. We’ll contact you if we need more details. We’ll make our decision and reply to everyone by end-of-day March 20.

Read more about DEFNA’s board members.

DjangoCon US 2025 has been announced!

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Hello everyone, DjangoCon US 2025 will be in Chicago, Illinois on September 8-12th, 2025.

The conference will have talks from Monday, September 8th, through Wednesday, September 10th, and sprints on Thursday and Friday September 11th and 12th, 2025.

September 8-10: Talks
September 11-12: Sprints

This year our venue will be voco Chicago Downtown in the River North neighborhood.

We’ll need your help:

Mark your calendar
Start getting your submissions for talks ready.
Tell your friends
Become an organizer by emailing hello@djangocon.us
Stay tuned for lots more news soon. Our biggest focus is getting our Opportunity Grants and speaking CFP open.

We can’t wait to see you there for another great year at DjangoCon US!

See you soon!

DjangoCon US: Call for Venue Proposal 2025 extension

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

First off, thank you to the teams who sent in proposals. We’re very appreciative of the time and effort that you’ve put in to this point.

However, since we have yet to find a proposal that meets all of our needs we’re officially re-opening our call of venue proposals.

If you are interested in bringing DjangoCon US to your city for 2025 and/or 2026, please submit your proposal to hello@defna.org no later than November 15, 2024.

For 2025, we are looking at conference dates during the following times. Please note, some may be preferred more than others. For example, if possible we’d like to avoid October 12-17 as they conflict with Sukkot.

August 31-September 5, 2025
September 7-12, 2025
September 14-19, 2025
September 21-26, 2025
October 5-10, 2025
October 12-17, 2025
October 19-24, 2025
October 26-31, 2025

We need some information about your city, about the venue, the hotel, and travel. Your proposal doesn’t have to be super-fancy, just informative. The proposal should include the following:

Names of organizer staff in the host city. While DEFNA will handle the business aspects of the conference, we need the help of a team of local volunteers to manage preparation and the onsite coordination of the event. We realize you won’t have an entire team assembled, but let us know who the core organizers in your city will be.
A short list of possible conference venues (or just one, if you have found the Venue of Conference Dreams), with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- Attendance capacity
- Assurance that the venue can provide the following spaces (A floorplan with a rough explanation of what will go where would be great.):
  - Keynote room (also Sessions Track A) to accommodate up to 450 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Room for Sessions Track B to accommodate up to 200 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Space for sponsors to set up exhibit booths/tables; at least 12, and up to 16, sponsors with either 6’ tables or 10’ x 10’ booth spaces. If more sponsor booth space is available, that’s a plus.
  - Green room for speakers to prepare (generally a room that will seat 25 for a workshop is the right size)
  - Space for registration tables
  - Room for meals and breaks with sufficient seating and tables. If serving and/or seating areas cannot accommodate 450 people at once, indicate the room capacity and time required to move 450 people through.
  - Space for supplemental beverage stations for daylong service.
  - Secure overnight storage for vendor booth supplies and conference registration desk items.
- Explanation of catering options available at the venue that can cover:
  - 450 people per day during the main conference: Breakfast, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, and all day beverage service.
  - Catering must have options for celiacs, vegetarians, and vegans of equal quality and variety as main menu. Estimate 15% vegetarian, 5% vegan, and 5-10% gluten-free (some of which may overlap with the other two groups).
  - The ability to serve a meal to 350—450 people in a 90 minute window.
- A good conference venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the airport and the conference hotel
  - Most venues require use of their in-house catering service. If the venue does not offer catering services, check whether the venue restricts catering access to an approved vendor list, and what, if any, requirements they have for outside catering vendors.
  - Adjoins or within walking distance to a suitable hotel which can accommodate 350-450 attendees
  - Excellent Internet connectivity
  - Accessible to as many attendees as possible
  - Reasonable access to transit for sightseeing
  - Gender-neutral (or at least gender-inclusive) restrooms within a short walk to the conference rooms.
- The venue does not have to be a hotel or corporate conference center. Many universities offer conference services, and there are also municipal/county level event venues which can be likely sites for DjangoCon US.
A short list of possible sprint venues, with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the hotel?)
- Attendance capacity
- Information on local companies that might be willing to host the sprints at no cost.
- A good sprint venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the conference hotel
  - A room to hold 50-75 people, with work tables, chairs, power, and internet connectivity
  - Eating tables should be separate from work tables if at all possible.
  - Excellent Internet connectivity.
Hotel. The ideal hotel is adjacent to the conference venue, or a very short walk away. For the hotel. You can reach out to the event sales contact at the hotel to help gather the information we need:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- The conference room rate (should be discounted from the standard rate)
- A block of rooms starting the two nights before tutorials, and running through the last night of the sprints. The breakdown of the room counts would be estimated at:
  - Friday - 10
  - Saturday - 15
  - Sunday Tutorials - 100
  - Monday Main Conf - 100
  - Tuesday Main Conf - 100
  - Wednesday Main Conf - 80
  - Thursday Sprints - 30
  - Friday Sprints - 15
- Concessions policy (comp room nights per actualized room nights)
- A sample contract showing the terms of booking the block of rooms. Do not sign any contracts. DEFNA will handle the business side of things. We just need to see the terms the hotel proposes for the group block.
Provide estimates on costs associated with flights, accommodation, meals, ground transportation, etc. for an overview of the total cost for attendees.
- Suggested cost examples include typical round-trip airfare from several major hub cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and London.
Information about what makes the city a good choice for DjangoCon US and an attractive destination for attendees.
Any additional ideas for making the event especially useful and/or memorable.
Any information about whether venues would be willing to sign multi-year deals. Hosting DjangoCon US at the same Marriott in San Diego made venue coordination in 2019 and 2022 considerably easier than having to interact with a new venue each year.

Since we are considering a number of proposals, no one from your group should sign a binding contract or make any kind of legal or financial commitment.

If DEFNA chooses your group’s proposal, your group is responsible for putting DEFNA in contact with the venue management to finalize the event agreement.

Thanks so much! We look forward to hearing about all the fantastic places we can go next year!

DjangoCon US: Call for Venue Proposal 2025

Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Edit 2024-07-30: We did not receive any submissions by the original deadline of July 28th. We are extending it to August 13th, 2024.

We’re in the middle of planning DjangoCon US 2024, so it’s time to think about 2025! Where will we be next year? We need your help in making that decision!

So you want your city to host DjangoCon US? Hurrah! We’re delighted by your interest. Here’s what you need to know, and what we need to know, to consider your proposal.

For 2025, we are looking at conference dates of October 5-10, 2025 or October 12-17, 2025.

We need some information about your city, about the venue, the hotel, and travel. Your proposal doesn’t have to be super-fancy, just informative. The proposal should include the following:

Names of organizer staff in the host city. While DEFNA will handle the business aspects of the conference, we need the help of a team of local volunteers to manage preparation and the onsite coordination of the event. We realize you won’t have an entire team assembled, but let us know who the core organizers in your city will be.
A short list of possible conference venues (or just one, if you have found the Venue of Conference Dreams), with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- Attendance capacity
- Assurance that the venue can provide the following spaces (A floorplan with a rough explanation of what will go where would be great.):
  - Keynote room (also Sessions Track A) to accommodate up to 450 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Room for Sessions Track B to accommodate up to 200 people, classroom style (tables with chairs)
  - Space for sponsors to set up exhibit booths/tables; at least 12, and up to 16, sponsors with either 6’ tables or 10’ x 10’ booth spaces. If more sponsor booth space is available, that’s a plus.
  - Green room for speakers to prepare (generally a room that will seat 25 for a workshop is the right size)
  - Space for registration tables
  - Room for meals and breaks with sufficient seating and tables. If serving and/or seating areas cannot accommodate 450 people at once, indicate the room capacity and time required to move 450 people through.
  - Space for supplemental beverage stations for daylong service.
  - Secure overnight storage for vendor booth supplies and conference registration desk items.
- Explanation of catering options available at the venue that can cover:
  - 450 people per day during the main conference: Breakfast, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, and all day beverage service.
  - Catering must have options for celiacs, vegetarians, and vegans of equal quality and variety as main menu. Estimate 15% vegetarian, 5% vegan, and 5-10% gluten-free (some of which may overlap with the other two groups).
  - The ability to serve a meal to 350—450 people in a 90 minute window.
- A good conference venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the airport and the conference hotel
  - Most venues require use of their in-house catering service. If the venue does not offer catering services, check whether the venue restricts catering access to an approved vendor list, and what, if any, requirements they have for outside catering vendors.
  - Adjoins or within walking distance to a suitable hotel which can accommodate 350-450 attendees
  - Excellent Internet connectivity
  - Accessible to as many attendees as possible
  - Reasonable access to transit for sightseeing
  - Gender-neutral (or at least gender-inclusive) restrooms within a short walk to the conference rooms.
- The venue does not have to be a hotel or corporate conference center. Many universities offer conference services, and there are also municipal/county level event venues which can be likely sites for DjangoCon US.
A short list of possible sprint venues, with the following information:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the hotel?)
- Attendance capacity
- Information on local companies that might be willing to host the sprints at no cost.
- A good sprint venue is/has the following:
  - Easy to reach from the conference hotel
  - A room to hold 50-75 people, with work tables, chairs, power, and internet connectivity
  - Eating tables should be separate from work tables if at all possible.
  - Excellent Internet connectivity.
Hotel. The ideal hotel is adjacent to the conference venue, or a very short walk away. For the hotel. You can reach out to the event sales contact at the hotel to help gather the information we need:
- Name
- Location
- Transportation options (how do people get there from the airport?)
- The conference room rate (should be discounted from the standard rate)
- A block of rooms starting the two nights before tutorials, and running through the last night of the sprints. The breakdown of the room counts would be estimated at:
  - Friday - 10
  - Saturday - 15
  - Sunday Tutorials - 100
  - Monday Main Conf - 100
  - Tuesday Main Conf - 100
  - Wednesday Main Conf - 80
  - Thursday Sprints - 30
  - Friday Sprints - 15
- Concessions policy (comp room nights per actualized room nights)
- A sample contract showing the terms of booking the block of rooms. Do not sign any contracts. DEFNA will handle the business side of things. We just need to see the terms the hotel proposes for the group block.
Provide estimates on costs associated with flights, accommodation, meals, ground transportation, etc. for an overview of the total cost for attendees.
- Suggested cost examples include typical round-trip airfare from several major hub cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and London.
Information about what makes the city a good choice for DjangoCon US and an attractive destination for attendees.
Any additional ideas for making the event especially useful and/or memorable.
Any information about whether venues would be willing to sign multi-year deals. Hosting DjangoCon US at the same Marriott in San Diego made venue coordination in 2019 and 2022 considerably easier than having to interact with a new venue each year.

Since we are considering a number of proposals, no one from your group should sign a binding contract or make any kind of legal or financial commitment.

If DEFNA chooses your group’s proposal, your group is responsible for putting DEFNA in contact with the venue management to finalize the event agreement.

In order for us to make a decision in time to announce next year’s venue at the end of the Durham conference, please submit your proposal to hello@defna.org no later than ~~July 28, 2024~~ August 13, 2024.

Thanks so much! We look forward to hearing about all the fantastic places we can go next year!

Board Member Update for May 2024

Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

We have a new board member as of May 2024!

Outgoing Director

We want to take a moment to thank our outgoing director and Treasurer, Jennifer Myers, for her contributions to our board during her years of service. Jen joined the board in 2021 and has been an invaluable asset to the board during her tenure. She spent many hours keeping the organization’s finances in order and making sure all of our grant recipients and speakers received their reimbursements correctly. We are deeply grateful for the time and effort she has invested, and her presence on the board will be missed.

Incoming Director

Velda Kiara

Velda Kiara is a passionate software developer and technical writer with a love for crafting Python code, particularly for Django. Beyond her coding expertise, she actively contributes to open-source projects, sharing her knowledge and enhancing both code and documentation. Additionally, Velda demonstrates her commitment to the tech community by volunteering her time and skills to communities like Black Python Devs, where she serves as the vice chair of the community, fostering inclusivity and promoting the growth of underrepresented black people in the tech landscape. She is also currently an organizer for DjangoCon US and serves as the CoC chair.

Join DEFNA! Board Member Recruitment

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Django Events Foundation North America (DEFNA) is looking for another board member. We have a nine-member board; one of our board members will be stepping down as soon as a replacement is confirmed. We are looking for a new board member who is interested in growing the DjangoCon US community.

Currently we don’t have a Corporate Treasurer to manage our finances. We’re considering hiring an accounting firm to do most of the finance work. This means the new Treasurer would focus more on overseeing our finances instead of doing all the data entry. If you’re passionate about DjangoCon US and have some experience or interest in managing finances, please highlight that!

Board membership takes, on average, about five hours per month performing the following functions:

Attend the monthly board meeting
Participate in the grant applications review process
Use DEFNA’s social media channels to communicate about DEFNA
Come up with new and clever ways for DEFNA to fulfill our mission

If you’d like to be considered for the board, drop us a note at hello@defna.org, and let us know:

What interests you about being on the board
Your current/prior community involvement (it’s okay if you’re new—we need everyone to participate!)
Any particular interests you have (grants committee, corporate filings, corporate treasurer, etc.)
Any ideas you have for expanding DEFNA’s reach in the OSS community
Anything else you’d like us to know about you as a potential board member

Please email your information to us by April 9th at 6:00 PM Pacific Time. We’ll contact you if we need more details. We’ll make our decision and reply to everyone by end-of-day April 25th.

Read more about DEFNA’s board members.