Gen Con, anticipated to be among Indianapolis’ largest events in 2026, recently announced its annual support of charitable organizations tied to the gaming community ahead of its annual convention this summer.
“Gen Con is incredibly excited to partner with Super Heroines, Etc., and the Indianapolis-based Immigrant Welcome Center as our official charity partners for 2026,” said Gen Con Director of Marketing Jackie Martin in a news release.
Both organizations will receive proceeds from Gen Con’s 2026 annual fundraising events, including exhibiting space at the four-day convention.
What to know about Super Heroines, Etc. (SHE)
Super Heroines, Etc. (SHE) began in 2012 as a small meetup for “nerdy women in St. Louis,” according to its founder and current president, Carolyn Noe. Eventually it grew into an organization that hosts inclusive community events, educational workshops, and champions activism to drive social justice.
The organization seeks to “cultivate women, underrepresented genders, and youth leaders in the TTRPG and other fandom communities across the country,” according to a news release.
“This partnership with Gen Con amplifies what Super Heroines, Etc. does best — using fandom as a force for good,” said Noe in a news release.
More information about Super Heroines Etc. can be found at their official website, SuperHeroinesEtc.org.
Gen Con partners with Indianapolis-based Immigrant Welcome Center. What is it?
The Indianapolis-based Immigrant Welcome Center is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 that supports immigrants in the United States with community integration and advocacy. Popular resources, according to its website, include citizenship classes and workshops, as well as English Language Learning.
“We want to thank Gen Con for inviting Immigrant Welcome Center to highlight the impact of our immigrant neighbors and to emphasize the importance of making communities inclusive and welcoming for all,” said Gurinder Kaur, chief executive officer of IWC, in a news release.
“Gen Con’s partnership with organizations like Immigrant Welcome Center demonstrates how collaboration can advance equity and respect in challenging times,” she said.
What charities has Gen Con helped in the past?
Gen Con has raised nearly half-a-million dollars for Indy-based and non-profit organizations geared toward the gaming community since the convention moved to Indianapolis in 2003, according to a news release.
Previous charity partners have included the following:
What is Gen Con?
Gen Con is the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America. Roughly 70,000 people converge onto downtown Indianapolis every day during the four-day event.
It caters to enthusiasts of all things gaming (minus sports and gambling): tabletop and RPG’s (Role-Playing Games) as well as video, computer, and trading card games. If it involves throwing dice while pretending to be an elven ranger or a moody rogue with a tragic backstory, this is your place.
When is Gen Con 2026? How do you attend?
Gen Con takes place at the Indiana Convention Center from July 30 to Aug. 2, 2026. You can attend this year’s convention when you purchase a Gen Con badge online — four-day and single-day badges are available.
Note: This story has been updated with a correction. An earlier version used the wrong pronouns in one of its quotes.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Gen Con 2026 charity partners will aid ‘super heroines’ and immigrants
Reporting by John Tufts, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
