We have a wide array of educational sessions waiting for you at AFP ICON 2023. Whether you want to master leadership, relationship building, securing the gift, trends and innovation, or all of the above, AFP has the latest and greatest information to unlock your fundraising potential. More Sessions to Come.
Current & Prospective Donor Research (Sponsored by iWave)
Ethics, Accountability & Professionalism (Sponsored by Brakeley Briscoe)
Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
Leadership & Management (Sponsored by Lindauer Global)
Future of Fundraising Now - Fundraising Internationally (CANCELLED)
Learning from two engaging speakers who have raised money from international donors, review how fundraising and philanthropy varies in different regions of the globe and why you should be looking for donors internationally. Come away with new knowledge about potential new donors you can put into action immediately.
No Need for Drano- Learn How to Unclog Your Donor Pipeline Today
Learn how to identify pipeline clogs and the steps to fix them so you smoothly move donors from annual fund to mid-level to major gifts to transformational investments. Participants learn the data they need to identify the clogs and the actions to take to upgrade donors at each level.
We Are All Not Ok – Building Cultures that Support, Heal and Strengthen
The last three years have thrust forward the professional struggles for many, especially women and people of color. Creating cultures that tackle these challenges is hard, intentional work. In this session, we will share strategies and tangible action that supports, heals, and strengthens our workplace, building better cultures for all.
Fundraising Alchemy: The Science and Art of Integrated Campaigns
Is direct mail dead? Can digital alone sustain your program? Can’t the two just carry on in their respective corners? Nope, no way, and definitely not!
Join direct response and digital innovation nerds Holly and Brock for an engaging session on the science and the art of integrated fundraising campaigns.
Staff Complacency: The Leadership Blindspot that Demands Attention
Breaking down silos..the other way. It’s time for leadership to understand the horizontal slabs that exist within an organization which result in complacency, lower productivity, and growing frustration from staff. Isolating those outside of the senior management team in a market with already high turnover comes at a significant cost.
Managing Up: Turning Your CEO into a Fundraising Rock Star
Empower your apprehensive CEO to become comfortable fundraising. While raising philanthropic dollars is the ultimate goal, in the end we all know it's about relationships. Learn how to coach your CEO to turn these relationships into increased funds. It is easier than you think!
The Multicultural Majority: Who They Are and How They Are Changing Fundraising
By 2050, ethnic minorities will become the majority – a shift already registered in the segment between 1-18 years old. As this racial diversification occurs, new philanthropy behaviors emerge. Come hear the latest data a tested strategies that will help you deliver appeals that resonates with multicultural donors.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Creating a High-Performance Environment for Major Gifts
In this session, we will learn how emerging fundraising trends are impacting major gifts—and how to handle it. We will discuss recruiting and maintaining a high-performing major gifts team and how to practice strategies that will increase major gifts ROI and will promote inclusion and diversity.
Facets of Advancement Services: Avoiding Silos in the Pursuit of Institutional Advancement
What are the key functions of advancement services? How do you use this knowledge to work closely with your colleagues and fundraising counterparts? How does this work in the stewardship and cultivation of constituents? This session highlights how advancement services can be used to avoid silos in fundraising.
In 2021, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, with the University of New Orleans Department of Political Science, released The State of Nonprofits in Southeast Louisiana 2021 - Adaptability And Racial Equity in Year One of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Report findings demonstrated a regional gap in nonprofit racial leadership and identified a variety of challenges nonprofit leaders of color encountered as fundraisers for their organizations. The Foundation committed to closing that gap through grantmaking, focused programming, and strategic collaborations. During the same period, the AFP Greater New Orleans Chapter continued their efforts to center inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) by hosting several equity-focused programs. Though the Chapter experienced significant financial loss, they committed to offer free programming during the pandemic. As nonprofits in southeastern Louisiana grappled with the long-term impact of the pandemic on fundraising possibilities, the two organizations created a unique partnership to advance IDEA in the fundraising, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors.
The Future of Fundraising: Why Philanthropy is in Trouble– and How to Save It
Every single day, potential donors are turned off by arcane or off-putting fundraising methods. In this talk, Lisa Greer sounds the alarm– and discusses the applicable fundraising solutions that will save your nonprofit.
Education Track(s): Relationship Building
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
Because Fundraising Isn’t Challenging Enough – Spanning Recent Global Changes in the Law Impacting Philanthropy
Seriously? A session on legal stuff? Hey - This is the session not to be missed. Not just informative but entertaining too. Our donors live in a world where changes in the law impact their capacity to support our causes and organizations. You’ll walk away with insights and creative strategies.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Insights From the 2023 Digital Outlook Report – (Presented by Fundraise Up)
The long-awaited “2023 Digital Outlook Report” is here, and it uncovers nonprofit trends in online fundraising and marketing. Join us in this session to get a first look at exclusive data from this year’s report to learn what key new trends organizations are grappling with and how organizations are taking limited budgets and human resources to be successful.
Mid-Level, Sustainer, and Sophisticated Direct Response: How to Adapt to Shifting Donor Expectations (Sponsored by GiveSmart by Community Brands)
For years, consumer and philanthropic trends were considered unique and distinct. This idea limited curiosity around their points of intersection. This session will look at shifts in consumer and donor behaviors. Participants will leave a deeper understanding of practical ways to leverage and expand their audience to increase revenue.
Trends to Diversify Revenue Streams and Raise More Amid Economic Upheaval (Presented by GiveSmart by Community Brands)
Diversifying your fundraising strategy with various revenue streams is crucial to your organization’s sustainability. Most recently, inflation and economic uncertainty present threats to nonprofits’ financial health. How are you protecting your nonprofit from economic upheaval? This session is packed full of industry fundraising trends and real-life ideas on how to diversify your revenue streams to raise more.
Shifting the Donor Landscape Paradigm: Strategies to Increase Engagement and Philanthropy among Donors of Color (Sponsored by Fundraising Academy)
This two-part session will allow participants to assess their organization’s diverse constituency landscape and establish a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) action plan to embed into their
current fundraising initiatives. In the first half of the session, participants will work in small
groups to assess their organization’s DEI goals, shortfalls, and opportunities. The second half of
the session is designed to introduce DEI strategies that align with their fundraising plans and
priorities. Participants will leave with a tangible action plan they can use to improve their
individual donor engagement and the operations within their organization.
Amplifying Impact Through Workplace Giving (Presented by Blackbaud)
Workplace giving can be a way to introduce giving and volunteering to potential donors and volunteers. To the uninitiated, they can look like anonymous donors. But like DAF donors, employees who give and volunteer through the workplace are intentional in their giving. For nonprofits they represent people who are interested in the cause, have already decided to give of time or treasure, and therefore represent a strong candidate to develop into a more significant donor.
This session will be a panel discussion with a Corporate Social Responsibility executive, a board member from The Blackbaud Giving Fund, and an experienced fundraising executive. This group will discuss how these programs work from the offering to the employee, to funding grants through the DAF, to stewardship and fundraising activities at the nonprofit.
Tycely Williams, CFRE, Executive Master's, Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology
Sun, Apr 16, 2023
10:45am - 12:00pm
Uncomfortable Conversations
As fundraisers, we are often faced with delicate situations -- whether they be with donors, Board members, colleagues or even supervisors. These conversations can be simply uncomfortable or touch on ethical dilemmas. In this interactive session, we will touch on many sample situations and their solutions.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Fundraising Innovation: How Canadian Organizations are Leading the Way
See leading examples of fundraising innovation from north of the border to include innovative social enterprise, and social finance models, corporate partnerships, collaborative foundation models, cause marketing campaigns and more. This session will present real-world Canadian examples, explain the key principles leveraged by these organizations and highlight fundraising results/success.
Wondering how to elevate IDEA in your organization? Become a collaborate workplace! In this session, Lisa Stueckemann, CFRE, with 15 years of nonprofit fundraising and leadership experience provides proven ways to incorporate collaboration and integrate IDEA even if it isn’t happening today.
A Tale of Two Campaigns...and How the One that Failed Led Us to Future Success!
Nobody is ever happy to fail...especially in their first capital campaign, but, I did. I'll share what went wrong, and how it better prepared my team to exceed our goal a few years later. You'll also get the key ingredients necessary to help YOU achieve success the first time around.
Facing The Dementia Dilemma Together: Collaboration between Charitable Gift Planners and Financial Planners
Financial planners and charitable gift planners have a lot in common. We serve our donors and clients by adhering to national standards, codes of ethics, and a donor bill of rights. What we have yet to do though is serve our donors and clients as collaborative agents for good.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
The Latinx population at almost 20% of the population is largely unengaged in giving, fundraising and nonprofits. How do we reverse this historic and chronic trend at your organization? Stop walking past great donor and learn to engage them.
Getting Your ~$30: Maximizing the Potential of Your Volunteers
Come learn how you can maximize the nearly $30/hr we save due to our volunteers, while providing a meaningful experience. If you are looking to enhance or build your volunteer program, this is the session for you!
During the peak of the racial uprising in 2020, the Detroit Justice Center went from an organization with 300 donors to nearly 20,000 overnight. Donors from across the world were responding to the racial justice crisis. But, what would shift them to long-term investment in a movement?
The Value of the Golfer Donor - (Presented by GolfStatus)
Golf fundraisers are a lucrative fundraising mechanism, but perhaps more importantly, function to acquire, engage, and retain the golfer donor. This session will discuss why golfers are a valuable donor segment, how to effectively engage them, and how to leverage your golf event to accomplish a number of mission-critical functions.
Donor Pet Peeves and How to Address Them (Presented by Salesforce)
In this interactive and fun session, we will discuss common fundraiser and donor pet peeves and how we can address them. Share and learn how we can delight donors by avoiding some of their common frustrations
Establish, Grow or Reignite Gift Planning in Your Organization (Presented by Catapult Fundraising, Inc. )
Who are our best planned giving prospects? Why planned giving when we need cash in the door now? Where do we even start? Join Jeff for answers to these questions! Planned gifts ensure the future of your organization, so develop a thriving program TODAY that will lead to prosperity tomorrow.
New research findings about the CEO and Board Chair relationship that can support and drive fundraising in your organisation will be presented and discussed. Current leaders and fundraisers who are aspiring leaders will learn of recommendations for better fundraising, reflecting on leadership styles and fundraising leadership models.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Design Fresh Messaging: How to get the best thinking out of your development team
What if one month from now, your development team had an energizing, creative case for support? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn strength-based design thinking to spark donor-centric ideation, compelling messaging and fresh ideas. Experience a powerful SOAR framework – Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results - to take back to your team.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
It Starts With a Big IDEA: Values Alignment in Fundraising
Many fundraisers are looking for practical ways to integrate IDEA principles into their fundraising programs. In this session, The Osborne Group and the ACLU will use their partnership as a case study to share key learnings and a framework for how to move from vision to implementation.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
The Secrets of Successful Succession Planning (Sponsored by Lindauer)
Planning to be replaced is not an area many leaders consider. It is essential today to create a transition strategy, leveraging organizational strengths and preparing for change. In this session, we will share tales of succession success, offer tangible lessons learned, and highlight how the process creates access and equity.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Six Key Factors for Optimizing Healthcare Philanthropy
This presentation explores six facets of a healthy referral-based medical philanthropy program, with real-world examples from organizational leaders who have driven a process of culture change at their organizations. Examine your own opportunities to elevate the service you provide to your community in this dynamic session.
Education Track(s): Leadership and Management
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Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
What is Good Marketing? A Primer with Feathr (Learning Lab)
Looking to unlock more from your marketing? Join us to discover how Feathr helps you run highly targeted campaigns across multiple digital channels, analyze data, and optimize results in real-time. You'll see first hand examples from other nonprofits on how Feathr's Good Marketing Platform helps them increase engagement, drive conversions, and generate more revenue.
Are You Fit to Fundraise? Transforming Your Donation Form for Greater Giving (Learning Lab)
Are you looking to boost your fundraising efforts, bring in more donations, and better support your mission? The solution could be simpler than you think - transforming your online donation form! A well-designed form builds donor trust, improves the donor experience, and makes donating fast and easy, leading to increased gifts. In this interactive session, Donorbox experts will discuss the key elements of a successful donation form through a comprehensive “donation form fitness test.” You’ll leave with several actionable tips and the knowledge to get your form into shape, helping you raise more funds for your cause.
Accelerate Mission Impact with AI and Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit (Learning Lab)
See the latest AI innovations from Microsoft and our OpenAI partnership. Explore how your nonprofit can use this cutting-edge tech to increase mission impact through fundraising, volunteer management, program evaluation and more.
Why America Gives: Insights from 1,000 Donors (Learning Lab)
In 2022, the country faced an international humanitarian conflict, controversial legislative changes, devastating natural disasters and 40-year-high inflation rates. At the same time, giving is being defined in new ways. This session, we will explore what this means for your organization while breaking down the insights from Classy's latest Why America Gives report, which surveyed 1,000 donors to understand their motivations and how the macroclimate is shifting their giving. We'll uncover what makes someone loyal to your organization and how the evolving definition of giving outside of traditional philanthropic models affect donor behavior with nonprofits.
Social Media and Donor Gratitude - a Perfect Match! (Learning Lab)
You don't need a plaque on the wall or a recognition society to make your donors happy. You can recognize and engage your generous folks using social media. Join Lynne as we discuss what donors benefit most from social media recognition and how you can implement simple tips to take your donor gratitude onto the next dimension online.
Tips & Tools to Maximize Social Media for Your Nonprofit (Learning Lab)
Anyone familiar with using social media for nonprofits knows there are both challenges and advantages. Fortunately, there are tools and resources available for nonprofits on social media. In this high-paced and energetic session, true to form, Josh Hirsch will share some of his favorite tools that every nonprofit communication professional should have at the ready.
Easy to Love: Making it Simple for Your Donors to Give (Learning Lab)
Are you making it easy for your donor to give their support? In this lesson we’ll look at the options available for your donor to make single and recurring contributions, updating your payment choices to include things like Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, ACH, credit card swipers, and Text 2 Give. We’ll also show you how to get to know your donors better with tools like surveys, customizable online donation forms, and a donor portal.
Preparing for the Next Level of Growth (Learning Lab)
How do you strengthen donor relationships that allow you to engage personally and at scale? This session will help you understand how your donor base is interacting with your organization, and what kind of fundraising efforts garner the most engagement, so you can facilitate deeper, more meaningful interactions. Classy and Salesforce will discuss how powerful technologies, including AI and automation, and the right donor journey help you maximize giving and advance your mission.
Digging for Gems: Using Portfolio Reviews and Donor Research to Get to the “YES!”
“Analysis Paralysis” can strike even the most seasoned fundraiser. Learn ways to use research to help manage portfolios to spend more time out of spreadsheets and still have a life outside of work! This interactive session will help you make informed decisions while finding new efficiencies to raise more money.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Obstacle schmobstacle! How to go over, under, around, and through to get your YES!
Come ready to play some games to hone your skills to get the elusive YES. Actor, playwright, and fundraiser B. Michael McFarland will lead you through tried and true theatre games to tap your inner actor so you never need fear an ask meeting and get more Yeses!
Elevate your next Event with a Phenomenal Guest Experience
Events are like any business, toiling in the battlefield of consumer attention. We’ll breakdown how to elevate the event experience for your constituents. A great event starts with a unique concept and inspiring brand, we will cover the buildup, on-site experience and post event engagement to ensure a solid return.
Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover: Unlock the Value of Every Donor
Getting to know donors as people who have unique lived experiences, values, and intentions, leads to transformational gifts. Using the story of a donor who went from a $5,000 gift to a $9.5 million bequest, learn how to listen for the clues that lead to the next ask.
Governance as Leadership: A Guide to a Generative Thinking Board
Based on literature from authors Richard Chait and Cathy Trower, the session will explore factors of board composition, leadership, recruitment, orientation, and education and their role a governance as leadership model to offer immediate action items, an understanding of Generative Thinking and real world examples of barriers and successes.
Faith & Fundraising: Three traditions, Unlimited Questions
Religious donors give more. What if you had Jewish, Muslim and Christian fundraising friends whom you could ask about faith and fundraising? You don’t want to ask your donor, and you can’t trust the internet. Bring your questions to this safe space to talk about faith and money.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Inclusive Philanthropy: Who Gives, How, and With What Impact
New research from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy demonstrates that giving by donors of color and women is shifting the philanthropic landscape, highlighting the importance of developing a more inclusive set of philanthropic practices. This session guides participants through the research and how it can increase giving by all.
Meet Today’s Donors: How Self-Curated Giving Experiences Are Transforming Fundraising
The pandemic created a 24/7 on-demand, when “I want it” world. New research shows “frictionless” philanthropy matters to donors. Let’s explore how to make “ease and choice” central to giving; why it matters, what motivates donors, and their expectations. We’ll share case studies that transformed fundraising ease, self-curation, and personalization.
Being A Black Male In Fundraising-The Conversation Continues
I’d rather not work with “that” person. I don’t have a problem with him, but… These are things that have been said about Black Men in Fundraising. This will be a safe space to talk about real situations and the outcomes. This session is open to everyone that has experienced racism as well as anyone willing and wanting to learn how to be more aware of those situations. Come with an open mind and be ready to listen and share!
The State of Nonprofit Marketing & Its Impact on Fundraising Success (Learning Lab)
Looking to unlock more from your marketing? Join us to discover how Feathr helps you run highly targeted campaigns across multiple digital channels, analyze data, and optimize results in real-time. You'll see first hand examples from other nonprofits on how Feathr's Good Marketing Platform helps them increase engagement, drive conversions, and generate more revenue.
Doing it All: How the Mental Load of Motherhood Impacts and Inspires How We Fundraise
Have you ever wondered how the mental load of motherhood is impact your work and the social profit sector at large? What if we could engage in authentic conversation about this topic and understand how authenticity can help inspire and impact our fundraising.
Is it worth it? What are the tangible benefits? Is the test difficult?
this interactive session to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. We’ll answer your questions plus dive into the eligibility requirements, application tips, and all things related to the CFRE Exam. You’ll leave the session with a clear understanding of how to earn the CFRE.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
This panel discussion features experts in clinician engagement who will describe how they started from scratch, selected clinician champions and equipped them for success. Presenters will also describe how their strategic approach to events and major gifts has helped to propel their success.
Education Track(s): Relationship Building
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Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
"To Affinity and Beyond: Building a Caring, Engaged Community with Fundraising Intelligence” (Presented by iWave)
Donors are people and people are complicated. There’s more than one way that people support and engage with your nonprofit, but who are they and how do they respond to different messages and channels of communication? In this session we’ll look at how you can know much more about your donors through the stories they tell you and fundraising intelligence that can be easily applied to deepen engagement, communicate with donors in the way they’re most likely to react and respond, and build stronger fundraising results, higher retention, and develop not just donors but a thriving community championing your mission.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Fundraising Action Planning (Presented by Fundraising Academy)
A fundraising action plan creates a framework and foundation for your organization’s activities and programs. Your plan will ultimately set forth how your organization will support the communities you serve day in and day out, and how your fundraising activities ensure the organization’s health and growth.
Planning clarifies the strategies, values, and vision of an organization. Planning engages the hearts and minds of your staff and board. Planning answers the important questions: “Why does our organization matter? What results do we expect so that we can make a difference?” A proper fundraising action plan provides a roadmap to achieve results.
A Stakeholder Management Process for Ethical Fundraising
Ethical theories of management turn on whose interests are considered. In this session, we will engage a process of identifying, prioritizing, mapping claims, engaging with, and monitoring stakeholders. This pragmatic method helps fundraisers and executives ensure their fundraising efforts align their best with their organization’s mission, values, and long-term strategy.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
The 2023 Fundraisers’ Outlook: 6 Strategic Themes to Drive Your Fundraising Success (Presented by Bloomerang)
Does your organization have challenges with capacity building, board support, leadership, strategic planning, communications or budgeting? Guess what?!? You’re not alone.
Join us as we geek out with our panel of fundraising experts, Kishshana Palmer, Rachel Muir and others as we dive into the 2023 Fundraising Planning and Climate Study that surveyed 1,000+ small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations. Together we'll analyze the survey data to uncover ways to tackle these challenges and lay the foundation for successful outcomes in 2023 and beyond.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Using Data to Maximize Donor Efficiencies Leading Up to a Campaign (CANCELLED)
Kean University Foundation will present on utilizing data-driven efficiencies to maximize the outcomes with prospective principal and major donors leading into a campaign. Participants will become equipped to expedite key donors through the moves management process ultimately securing the foundational philanthropic gifts that the campaign will base its success on.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Making the Ask- using (neuro)science in your solicitation
This interactive action learning session offers you 20 radical and flexible tools to solicit your next major gift in person, by phone and even by email. Leave old school moves management techniques behind and learn to use the latest thinking in neuroscience and behavioural science in fundraising.
From the Mailbox to the Living Room – Creating an inspiring donor journey
You can bridge direct mail donor transactions into excellent 5-6 figure major donor relationships. Learn to discover shared values leading to your best major/planned giving prospects. Then easily make that sometimes-awkward transition from your annual fund--to your portfolio—to artfully presenting a major gift opportunity in their living room.
Implementing JEDI Strategies into Fundraising Systems: Values in Action
Implementing JEDI strategies within an organization requires intention and investment to ensure lasting change. While internal cultures are often the focus, the business of philanthropy must also be scrutinized and transformed. Learn new strategies to create equitable, anti-racist systems and processes in your organization!
Are They Feeling The Love? Using Love Language to Build Donor Identity and Wellbeing
No two organization’s donors love in the same way. Talking in donors’ love language can sustainably double giving, enhance their well-being, and draw donors closer to the community they are about. Too good to be true? Philanthropic psychology is the science designed to achieve these goals. Come and see!
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Making Sense of Fundraising: A Fundraiser's Guide To What's Working in 2022 And Beyond
Our knowledge about fundraising is growing by leaps and bounds, but how do we make sense of all the different reports? In this session we'll dig deep into current trends, workshop what works best, and create a plan for you to use to implement the newest methodology in your shop.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Beyond Sponsorship: Winning Strategies for Driving Impact through Corporate Partnership Innovation
Amplify impact by moving beyond traditional event sponsorship or corporate philanthropy towards innovative, value-add corporate partnerships. Learn the mindset required to leverage these types of partnerships, and key ingredients for success. See Canadian examples including The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program, an innovative partnership between Futurpreneur Canada and RBC.
Our New Normal: Fundraising in a Post-Pandemic World (Presented by Salesforce)
The CDC Foundation has been at the forefront of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic since January 2020 and saw tremendous fundraising growth from a tsunami of generosity. Learn about the organization’s efforts to retain these new donors and transition them from “crisis donors” to “mission donors” – donors who continue to give because they believe in the ongoing impact and mission of the organization. Hear how the organization effectively scaled its fundraising, the steps it has taken to accommodate this exponential growth, and the innovative strategies it has adopted to sustain momentum and keep donors engaged in a post-pandemic world.
Don’t Let the Donor Die at the Destination (Presented by Fundraise Up)
Your nonprofit invests heavily in messaging, imagery, value proposition, paid search and social strategies - but the ROI on your efforts is half of what it could be if the destination, the donation experience, is not converting. We'll discuss working backward in the journey to ensure a higher impact from your teams' efforts.
The Future Is Digital: Learnings From The 2023 Nonprofit Acceleration Report (Sponsored by Bonterra)
Tech adoption is moving forward with lightning speed. But, what digital strategies are driving the most growth and highest ROI? Join Cameron Ripley, CEO of Community Boost, as he uncovers the latest digital marketing trends that raised over $40M in online revenue for over 400 nonprofits in 2022.
Stewarding Planned Donors (Presented by Blackbaud)
When was the last time you reached out to your planned givers? In this advanced session, learn how to keep planned givers actively engaged with your organization so that they feel like recognized and valuable partners. Come prepared to brainstorm, share, and learn strategies that you can implement at your organization.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Developing a Gift Acceptance Policy That Aligns With Organizational Values
“We can’t accept funds from any entity that has negatively impacted our clients.” This was our newly formed development department’s first directive. How do we navigate funding opportunities from entities that want to invest in racial justice work while acknowledging the harm caused by their historical contributions to systemic racism?
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
ROI of Strategic Action Planning: Preparing Teams to Dramatically Increase Impact and Revenue
Is your organization considering engaging in strategic planning? Explore two case studies where strategic planning produced significant increases in both community impact and revenue. Even more importantly, these efforts are shifting existing assumptions in local communities around poverty, hunger and environmental sustainability using an equity lens.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Short staff ? Don’t be Cheap... Its too Expensive ! (CANCELLED)
You are having difficulty keeping your staff ? They feel overworked and underpaid ? Stop being cheap, its too expensive. Build your case for your board of trustees to support a salary increase and winning conditions to keep your team on board and loyal.
Accelerating Mission Impact with Microsoft’s Affordable Technology Solutions (Learning Lab)
Join us to learn how Microsoft's technology can empower your nonprofit with accessible and cost-effective solutions. From secure collaboration tools to donor management and fundraising, as well as cloud infrastructure and Surface devices, Microsoft offers a comprehensive range of options to support your mission. Learn more: microsoft.com/nonprofit.
Learn how experiential travel can accelerate the cultivation period of donors. Spend a weekend at a magical location with your most dedicated supporters; create an unforgettable experience that builds relationships and nurtures fundraising.
The costs of acquiring a new donor can be six times more than retaining an existing donor. Just as important, donors who give over multiple years give much more than those who don't. Build with current contributors by looking to the future. Long-term relationships are less transactional and more personal. The time it takes to cultivate planned giving is abbreviated by Donor Experience Engagement Program (D.E.E.P.) weekends, which optimize your fundraiser's relationship-building efforts.
The Easy Way to Plan & Manage Golf Fundraisers (Learning Lab - GolfStatus)
Golf tournaments are a lucrative fundraising opportunity for any nonprofit. Technology makes it easier than ever to organize and manage golf fundraisers, whether you’re a first-timer or veteran event planner. Hear how powerful, user-friendly technology streamlines golf fundraisers to save organizers time and raise more money for your mission.
Understanding Today’s Donor: How to Design Systems That Build Lasting Relationships With All Your Supporters (Learning Lab)
Today's donor is distracted. Hyper-connectivity, micro-consumption, fractured attention, and fierce competition are namesakes in our connected economy. This is now compounded due to the upheaval the 2020 global health and economic crisis sparked with no clear end in sight. Amidst uncertainty and shifting donor expectations, how can you ensure your organization is prepared for these changes, and able to scale deeper, more personalized donor experiences?
Donor Acquisition vs Donor Retention: Where to focus your money
Some will tell you to focus on acquisition. Others will tell you to focus on retention. Both are important, but do you know when you should apply time and energy to each? We are going to deep dive into the age old argument and understand when to invest in each.
Pulling the Heartstrings - Telling Your Story Effectively
Writing to raise funds is a specific skill. It’s more than a standard annual appeal. We’ll work together on the process of creative writing for results - the preparation, the research, the brainstorming, the plan. You’ll leave with concrete ideas that can effectively change the way you communicate.
Alice Ferris, ACFRE, CFRE, MBA, AFP Master Trainer
Mon, Apr 17, 2023
10:15am - 11:30am
How to Plan an Effective Capital Campaign Using New Tools and Technology
A capital campaign is likely the largest amount you have ever tried to raise. The good news is that there are tools, technology, and virtual resources to help you succeed. Join Amy Eisenstein to learn how to prepare an effective and efficient campaign strategy and plan.
Visualizing Data for Prospect Identification and Donor Metrics
Data analytics is a buzz phrase that everyone is using. Visualization and dashboards go beyond the use of Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Power BI and Tableau are platforms that can increase visibility and value for your fundraising team.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Deliberate Design for Successful Board Governance & Composition: A Case Study
Significant challenges continue to distract Boards. Board Chairs and CEOs cite problems in achieving diversity, recruiting candidates, improving fundraising, understating responsibilities and thinking strategically. This session is a case study of how one organization assessed its Board challenges and developed strategies to strengthen and diversify the Board within two years.
To respond to the ever-changing context of philanthropy and fundraising in our world today, come learn what AFP Canada has developed to prepare fundraisers to be positive ambassadors for their organizations and profession. Over 500 fundraisers have already been trained on the “new narrative” to be able to share the positive impact of our profession across the charitable sector. Feedback from those who have taken this training includes “very valuable training”, “important content”, “brought many great points to the conversation and I plan to start approaching my work with donors differently as a result.”
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Trauma-Informed Fundraising - Understanding Your Role and the Donors
Nonprofit organizations utilize trauma-informed care to promote hope, healing, and resilience to individuals, families, groups, and communities. Understanding the science of trauma-informed care, adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and adopting a practical trauma-informed approach to fundraising leads to meaningful conversations that foster collaboration.
Solving the Childcare Crisis in the Nonprofit Sector
With many women forced out of the workforce during the pandemic, how can we create inclusive workplace policies that are family-friendly and allow our employees to thrive both personally and professionally given the lack of options for working parents at this juncture?
Education Track(s): Leadership and Management
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
During this presentation, participants will discover new avenues to community engagement to diversify pipeline streams and fully grasp the breadth of the opportunity. Through an international perspective, presenters will describe their approach and best practices for cultivating an ‘outside the box’ support base.
Education Track(s): Volunteer Involvement
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Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
Digital Philanthropy: Relationship-Building through Online Fundraising Strategies (Presented by Fundraise Academy)
Donors are consistently exposed to a great number of emails and digital touchpoints. How do you rise above the noise, make your organization stand out, and showcase your cause’s impact in a way that motivates donors to give? Learn how to connect with your donors through an intentional digital strategy. Analyze email communication cadence and content, learn how storytelling for specific audiences can remind donors why they connected with your organization, and implement digital plans that support growing a culture of philanthropy. With a digital strategy focused on relationship-building, turn one-time gift-givers into long-term, loyal supporters of your organization.
Challenges and Opportunities: Trends and Innovations Impacting Fundraising Worldwide
Wake up to innovation in fundraising, donor engagement, artificial intelligence, and why channels and tools such as TikTok, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google, WhatsApp and many more digital channels and payment tools are now essential to your fundraising mix. Hear real success stories in a whirlwind tour of the planet.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
From Practice to Research to Practice (Sponsored by AFP Foundation for Philanthropy)
Join fundraisers turned AFP Foundation for Philanthropy award-winning scholars for a panel discussion about how their experiences and research both validate and challenge "best practices." Learn about their cutting-edge research - both recently published and in process. Your ideas and questions may inform future research projects!
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
The traits of successful leaders are similar to the traits of successful fundraisers who can use their unique expertise, skills, and abilities to lead within their nonprofit organizations - including leading up to the CEO and the board of directors to create a culture of philanthropy and maximize fundraising success.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Objection! How to Address Donors’ Legacy Giving Concerns
Do you wish you could alleviate donors’ deepest fears so they embrace the exciting possibility of making a transformational gift? You’ll learn 5 common legacy giving concerns and build your own set of powerful messages to dissipate donor doubts and inspire them to make a gift in their will.
Activating an Equity-centered Development Department (Sponsored by Alford Group)
The imperative for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in fundraising is well documented and accepted. Fundraisers play a leadership role in developing equity-centered practices that advance inclusion, ultimately creating more possibilities, for more people, to accomplish their organization’s mission that makes a difference in the world.
Many of us struggle, however, with the execution of IDEA practices. How do we operationalize principles? What does it mean to our daily work as fundraisers? Do our organizations have IDEA plans that work in conjunction with our development plans? And how do we measure results to know that our equity-centered development efforts are actually creating change?
This interactive session will engage a panel of fundraisers and philanthropic leaders to answer these questions. You’ll leave the discussion prepared to develop SMARTIE goals (strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, equitable) to more fully operationalize IDEA in your fundraising actions to advance transformational fundraising and relationships results.
Alford Group is proud to sponsor the ICON2023 IDEA workshop. Join us to become an IDEA change agent.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
How to Align Donor’s Heart and Mind With Our Fundraising Desires
Improve your fundraising and Donor retention by learning the top ten big secrets to seduce Donors and make their hearts beat and enlighten their minds. Philanthropy is not only about signing a check. Our next challenge is to humanize digital fundraising and networking.
What is Good Marketing? A Primer with Feathr (Learning Lab)
Looking to unlock more from your marketing? Join us to discover how Feathr helps you run highly targeted campaigns across multiple digital channels, analyze data, and optimize results in real-time. You'll see first hand examples from other nonprofits on how Feathr's Good Marketing Platform helps them increase engagement, drive conversions, and generate more revenue.
Elevate Your Fundraising Strategy with Career Intelligence (Learning Lab)
In today’s fundraising landscape, employment attributes like job title, job level, and current company have emerged as essential tools for development teams. Through this “career intelligence,” your organization can stay on top of key changes, such as when a donor is promoted to a C-Suite position, or a prospect is a “rising star” in their field.
The Nonprofit Technology Reckoning: How We’ve Sacrificed Relationships In Favor of Efficiency (Learning Lab)
The philanthropic landscape has been revolutionized by the rise of new technology in the last 20 years. While tech developments in the nonprofit sector have helped fundraisers increase the volume of community communications and connections, there have also been unintended consequences. This session will explore the ways in which technology has transformed the nonprofit sector for better and for worse, and how nonprofits and technology providers can work together to chart a course forward.
Experience bi-directional data integration between Salesforce Marketing Cloud and your CRM using Omatic (Learning Lab)
Learn how Salesforce and Omatic allow routine synchronization with your existing CRM and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Nonprofits are using this technology to drive digital transformation which keeps all key data in both systems current and clean.
Discover how to maximize the lifetime value of your supporters through various campaign types. Learn about the essential elements of an effective stewardship strategy and how an all-in-one fundraising solution can unlock valuable donor insights. Gain practical knowledge on engagement strategies such as nurturing first-time supporters into repeat donors and engaging your recurring supporters at your next fundraising event. Our expert team will also discuss how to identify and cultivate your next generation of peer-to-peer fundraising leaders. Don't miss this opportunity to gain strategic insights and tools to increase the lifetime impact of your supporters.
Markers of Philanthropy & Leveraging AI to Find Your Best Prospects (Learning Lab)
Traditional methods of connecting with your prospects have gotten us this far. But how can we do better and be more effective? What practices should we keep moving forward, and what practices should we add to our processes?
In this session, attendees will walk away understanding the 6 key markers of philanthropy and how Artificial Intelligence can assist with your organization’s prospecting needs.
AI models are now readily available to identify those who are most likely to make a gift based on similarities to other donors. Learn the differences between AI modeling and the more traditional predictive models.
Donor Engagement: A Donor-Centric Approach to Fundraising (Learning Lab)
Is it time for a new fundraising strategy for your organization? In this lesson we’ll breakdown a unique approach to develop your relationships with your donors by using data from your CRM to make informed strategic plans. The Donor Engagement Cycle concept puts your donor at the center of your fundraising strategy.
Integrating Online Wills in your Legacy Offer (Learning Lab)
Donors are tech savvier than you might think and not all want paper. In this power session, learn a few do’s and don’ts to make your online will writing offer succeed.
Racial Equity in the Fundraising Profession will begin with my personal story of being the only Female of Color in my AFP Chapter and in my nonprofit organizations and how my commitment to mission and community supported me in overcoming professional racial equity challenges.
Manage Up! Techniques for Driving Cross-Team Efficiency in Grant Seeking
Master how to manage up! Learn techniques to drive cross-team accountability, manage timelines and expectations, and host productive meetings for stronger, more successful grant proposals.
Allyship and Accessibility in the Disability Sector - Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned and Best Practices
How accessible is your own day-to-day work to coworkers, clients or volunteers with disabilities? Through interviews with stakeholders and colleagues with disabilities, learn from common mistakes, successes achieved and tactics derived from best practices to make your fundraising office more accessible.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Kirk Laughlin, CFRE, MNPL (Master of Nonprofit Leadership)
Mon, Apr 17, 2023
1:15pm - 2:30pm
Are You a Buffalo or a Cow? Lessons in Turning Adversity into Trust
Cows and buffalo have different approaches to surviving storms. It’s a great metaphor for fundraising professionals. It’s how we respond to the storm that makes all the difference with our donors, board members, and your team.
The Unexpected Failure of Traditional Recognition in Social Media Fundraising – Why It Won’t Work
Part of your new job (even if in an old seat) is understanding how old tools work in newly important virtual environments. Otis Fulton and Katrina VanHuss help you understand why your investment in recognition in the virtual environment may be useless.
Start Your Plan Here: Implementing a Big-League Relationship Management Program for Your Small Shop
Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. In this interactive session, you will learn how to implement (or strengthen) your ability to systematically manage your relationships with your top donors and be prepared to raise major gifts for your organization.
Belonging and Exclusion: Creating Space for Growing LGBTQ Donors
1 in 6 Gen Z adults are LGBT. And this number could continue to grow. For a community that continues to fight for acknowledgment and acceptance, the tools for cultivation, research, and "best practices" fail. We hope to scaffold your organization's equity journey by offering actionable insights for inclusive change.
Fostering a Culture of Gender Inclusion in Fundraising and Nonprofit Spaces
By building awareness about how gender bias appears in nonprofits we can move from knowledge to action in order to create more equitable and safe spaces for nonprofit workers and their organizations.
New Donors, Demographics & Opportunities: Reimagining Donor Engagement in the Post Pandemic World
See the latest trends, research and insights driving our understanding of the emerging motivations and needs of donors today! Understand and apply how these insights enable us to build strategic journeys that inspire, with examples from USA for UNHCR’s community partnership program that is delivering real growth!
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
Knowing how to make an ask is a fundamental tool that many fundraisers lack confidence and experience in, leaving us distracted by gimmicks, events and 'yet another' campaign. In this session you will get practical tips for an ask, and practice your ask, while eliminating fears along the way.
Are you interested in applying for the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive certification? This lively and informative session will explain the ACFRE process and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions of ACFRE Certification Board members.
Supporting Your Mission with LinkedIn (Learning Lab)
For many organizations, LinkedIn is underutilized when compared to some flashier socials yet it is the one that could have great impact on your organization. A quick look at three things LinkedIn can do to help your organization and three cautions to be aware of.
In this interactive presentation, participants will learn the keys to crafting a compelling vision and aligning this with donors’ passions to drive meaningful philanthropy. Through expert perspectives on elevating the vision so that it resonates with donors, participants will gain insights into how they can help their organizations tell an inspiring story.
Education Track(s): Leadership and Management
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Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
Subscription GivingSM - A New Revenue Stream to Your Fundraising Strategy (Presented by Bonterra)
Acquiring new donors can be an expensive proposition, even for the most resource-rich nonprofits. In this session, nonprofits will learn how to create and manage sustaining donor programs with Subscription GivingSM—a modern twist on repeat and recurring contributions.
Donor Magnetism: How to Create Messages that Attract and Retain Donors (Presented by DonorPerfect)
This session will explore effective communication strategies for capturing donors' attention and cutting through the noise in today's crowded and competitive fundraising landscape. Attendees will learn how to craft compelling messages that resonate with donors, using persuasive storytelling and emotionally engaging imagery. A key focus of this session will be on understanding the impact of storytelling on donor engagement and how storytelling is strengthened with the use of donor personas. Attendees will walk away from this session understanding their organization’s unique donor personas and how to create messages that stand out in order to increase donor engagement and drive impact for their organization.
Cultivating Fundraisers: Innovative Approaches for Building Your Team
Talented and skilled fundraisers are in more demand than ever. This workshop provides research-based tools to use when cultivating fundraisers from recruitment and screening to interviewing and selection, including from a diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice perspective. Join with peers and researchers to bring creative approaches to this essential activity.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Building Bridges: How to Engage Your Supporters with Peer-to-Peer Fundraising (Presented by Qgiv)
Over the last three years you had to learn how to go virtual almost overnight and then had to navigate hybrid event experiences on top of your never-ending to do list. Donor expectations have changed, and different generations are looking to engage with your organization in new ways.
Events and the way you connect with donors have been forever changed. Your donors want truly engaging opportunities and more meaningful connections where they feel they are a part of your mission, making a significant and direct impact. Peer-to-peer fundraising can help deliver that empowering experience to your supporters in innovative and exciting ways. All while bridging the gap, connecting donors directly to the crucial funds your organization needs to thrive.
Philanthropic Justice: Loving Humanity in Its Fullness
In its purest form, “philanthropy” means love of humanity. “Philos” means love; “Anthropos” means mankind or humanity. Love, bell hooks reminds us, is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, trust, justice, and equity. Do your philanthropic efforts demonstrate your organization's love for ALL of humanity? What might it mean to practice philanthropic justice in the face of egregious and blatant injustice? This session brings together a panel of experts and philanthropic practitioners working in the deep South to advance equity, and justice, and uplift the human spirit through our collective work—a deep and abiding love for all humanity. We will discuss philanthropy's role in catalyzing and fueling social justice movements, and the principles of philanthropic justice and answer your questions regarding how you and your organizations can begin to engage in the transformative work of doing philanthropic justice.
Education Track(s): Relationship Building
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
Best Practices for Retention and Acquisition Using Direct Marketing, Strategy, & Analytics (Learning Lab)
With over 17 years of experience in direct marketing and data analytics, Chad will share his experience with trends and best practices focusing on using donor lifecycle, segmentation, propensity scoring, and analytics to guide fundraising efforts that highlight acquisition and retention.
Launching or Amplifying a Giving Day can be challenging. To reach your audience, break through the noise of competition, and truly excite donors, you need to coordinate your message, channels and peer volunteers to have maximum impact. From direct mail, email communications to texting and social media, your coordinated strategy is key. Hear what we’ve learned from over $500M in Giving Days, and the key steps you need to break records on your special day.
The Future of Fundraising Events: How to Raise More and Stress Less in 2023 (Learning Lab)
Givebutter's Director of Community & Partnerships Floyd Jones dives into key strategies for nonprofits seeking to raise more with fundraising events, whether in-person, fully virtual, or hybrid format. Floyd’s high-energy, interactive presentation features real-world examples from changemakers across the country, highlighting best practices and user-friendly technology for making your nonprofit fundraising events, including auctions, a smashing success.
Recognized as an IDEA Champion by AFP Global in 2020 and 2021, AFP Triangle began focusing on finding innovative ways to work with other chapters, organizations, and thought leaders to continue to advance our own learning and understanding to become an antiracist learning community.
Breaking the Generational Divide - A Key to Legacy Success
The session breaks down the differences and similarities between generations from a socioeconomic, political, and cultural perspective; what makes every generation special and how to start a legacy conversation. The goal is to look beyond today and start planning for the future by engaging with the legacy donors of tomorrow.
How to Create an Integrated and Inclusive Development and Communications Plan
Relationships are at the core of fundraising and effective communications strengthen relationships. It's crucial to integrate your development and communications initiatives in strategic and inclusive ways. This session will help attendees walk away with an effective plan that can help strengthen engagement, raise revenue, increase productivity, and advance equity.
How You Can Gather Focus Group Data That Will Drive Your Work
Focus Groups are a powerful research method used to gauge impact and drive change. As a Fundraiser, you already possess many of the skills needed to adopt this strategy. Come to watch a live focus group, learn additional tools, and leave ready to conduct your own focus group.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
How We're Transforming Our AFP Chapter Through a Commitment to IDEA
Join AFP Southern Arizona board members to learn about how they’re transforming their chapter through a commitment on IDEA. This panel session will examine the AFP Southern Arizona as a case study in implementing IDEA followed by interactive discussion and participant brainstorm about IDEA in their own chapters and organizations.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Building Your Organization’s “Dream Team” to Secure that Big Gift
Large shop? Small shop? Learn ways to better engage program teammates, volunteer leaders, and your executives to help secure truly transformational gifts and have fun along the way. This interactive session will help you deepen donor engagement and find new ways to grow revenue while building trust on your team.
It's Deductible! Keeping the IRS and Your Donors Happy
Do your eyes glaze over when you hear, "IRS"? In this highly interactive session, learn about gift substantiation, disclosures, and acknowledgement all while having fun! Participants will leave better prepared to solicit and steward gifts with confidence.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
A (Cis) Man’s Place Is in This Session: No, Really, Come to This Session
Do you get a sense that womxn in the field have a heavy load to bear? Feel like some men are making all men look bad? Wondering what YOU could do/not do about it? You don’t have to be that guy any more. Come learn how to help seed change.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
Ten Ways To Support Mental Health and Wellbeing At Work
As a mental health care crisis continues to impact our country, companies are faced with employees coping with stressors to their mental health and well-being. This workshop will explore how to augment traditional ways to support the mental health. Included in the ten ways to bolster mental health are wellness programs, EAP programs, coaching and the use of technology and apps.
Road Map for Big Donors: Secrets From How Raise Millions Dollars
How to achieve fundraising goals increasingly audacious in the current scenario? Come and see how it is possible to reach millions of dollars when you build the perfect road map for big donors. The session will provide practical tools on how to engage and cultivate strong relationships with philanthropists.
Understanding Donor-Advised Fund Giving Patterns and How to Customize Your Solicitation Strategy
Join Dr. Dan Heist for insights from his latest academic research on donor-advised funds (DAFs). Session participants will explore the various patterns that donors use when giving through a DAF. After learning how to recognize those patterns, we will discuss effective solicitation strategies for the different types of DAF donors.
A strong infrastructure is essential to support a thriving referral-based medical philanthropy (RBMP) program. Join a panel of experts to learn operational principles that help ensure each component of the RBMP program is appropriately tracked, measured, and ultimately grown for the greater success of the institution and its vision.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
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Health Care (Sponsored by DonorSearch, Curated by Advancement Resources)
Stewarding Sustaining Donors (Presented by Blackbaud)
Did you know that sustained givers increase the giving to your organization by as much as 300% over the course of 2 years. In this advanced session, learn strategies for engaging and retaining sustaining donors. Come prepared to brainstorm, share, and learn strategies that you can implement at your organization.
The Promise and Perils of ChatGPT for the Nonprofit Sector (Presented by DonorSearch)
ChatGPT has seemed to take the nonprofit by storm in 2023 and quickly gained 100 million users in 6 weeks. By most accounts, the technology that ChatGPT represents is impressive and for many nonprofits, ChatGPT represents one of the first practical exchanges of information between AI and humans. But with great technology comes great responsibility. This presentation will discuss the short and long-term advantages of AI technologies like ChatGPT and provide insights on how your nonprofit can evaluate the benefits of this technology.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Avoiding Campaign Calamities (Presented by Carter)
Preparing for and completing a successful campaign requires great planning and execution. In addition, it is also vitally important that you avoid some “campaign calamities” which can compromise a campaign’s success. Please join Steve Higgins, CFRE for a robust conversation that will ensure you are positioned for campaign success!
HEARD: How to Become a Better Leader - and Fundraiser - Through Active Listening
Do you often find conversations at work frustrating or even counter-productive? Have you ever wondered if there was a better way? Attend this fast-paced and interactive session to learn how to actively listen your way to success for more productive and rewarding relationships with your boss, staff, colleagues and/or donors.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Are you able to see all your donor’s giving, engagement, and interaction patterns? Do you have a plan for tracking, reporting, and analyzing the data you collect? In this lesson we’ll examine the elements you need to create a complete picture of your donors and what you can do with the data to improve your fundraising. We’ll show you how a CRM software like DonorView can help you achieve your goals and improve your donor’s experience as well.
Many organizations are wondering when they will receive the mysterious call asking them “if you were to receive a transformative gift, how would you spend it?”. Is your organization ready to answer that call?
The Big Ask – Before you ask for a transformational gift or you start your campaign, you need to have a strategy in place. Preparing your case for support is key. Your organization needs to establish a clear vision and be able to articulate that vision at any time.
Questions to consider: What do you have planned? How are the next few years going to look? How will you use this money?
Leveraging The Donor Journey: Insights and Best Practices for Growth (Learning Lab)
How deeply connected are you to your patron's experience? How often do your donors engage with your organization? Not just your top patrons, but the myriad who connect with you once or twice annually? Are you controlling their journey and leading them to a transformational engagement, or are you tapping the surface and missing core relationship-building opportunities? This webinar session will reveal how adopting a patron journey strategy drives lifelong customer engagement, show how innovative touch strategies produce rich patron connections, and how listening to your base and connecting with their pain points can create emotional relations that drive growth.
Join Robert Friend, a seasoned executive in the nonprofit community and an Enterprise Solutions Executive with Eventgroove as he outlines the story and strategies behind Customer Journey Management and Mapping, an absolutely critical management play as we navigate growing our capacity amidst the backdrop of a financially-challenged landscape.
Getting Your Organization Prepared Before Launching Any Campaign
Preparation before you launch any campaign is the key to sustainable campaign success. The 5 MUST areas to address are: 1) Board 2) DEI&A and Community Engagements Programs; 3) Staff; 4) Budget; and 5) Bandwidth to do regular AND Campaign fundraising activities. Let’s get you ready for your next campaign!
Even on the best of days, fundraising can feel like an impossible puzzle. So many GOOD things to do, but which is BEST? In this interactive presentation, fundraising coach Derik Timmerman will share his practical methods for discerning and prioritizing as a fundraising professional, even under extreme pressure.
Moving Beyond Bricks and Plaques: New Perspectives on Building Inclusive Naming and Recognition Practices
Our exploration of naming and recognition policies will address the nonprofit sector's inherent power dynamics. This session will look into the shift toward inclusivity and community-based approaches. We will reflect on organizations' naming and recognition practices, as well as the understanding of the community's needs, interests, and opinions.
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Staffing Your Fundraising Operation: Structure, Attract & Retain
This fundraising staffing workshop explores the various options to staff your organization’s fundraising operation, structuring the position in a way that’s most likely to attract top talent and what you can do as a manager to keep your fundraising staff happy and serving your organization for the long term.
Looking Overseas for Fundraising Opportunity at Home!
Join us for a world tour of fundraising…that will help you to find opportunity in your home market! By comparing fundraising trends and best practice across international fundraising markets, it is possible to see the gaps, potential upcoming pitfalls and areas of opportunity at home.
Board Engagement & Fundraising: Evidence-Based Practices that Work!
Fundraising is a primary responsibility of nonprofit boards of directors. However, fewer than half of nonprofits report having boards fully engaged with charitable giving. A recent study using BoardSource data and interviews with successful nonprofits identifies six practical strategies for achieving 100 percent board participation in charitable giving and fundraising.
What factors actually drive donor loyalty and retention? Are the factors that drive how donors expect to behave, the same factors that drive how they actually behave? What are the implications for how we should be managing loyalty? This session will unveil our new longitudinal research on exactly these issues.
“Fundraising is life” how to reenergize yourself and your fundraising
“Please put on your oxygen mask before helping others” We’ve all heard this before, well, this session IS your oxygen mask. Join Clay and Lynne to explore how the human side of fundraising has changed in recent years and how to respond to these upheavals. We have faced more than a pandemic; we have faced racial and social injustice, the great resignation, civil conflict, working from our living rooms and much more. Regardless of how we perform the tasks and execute strategies, fundraising is a relationship-based profession. WHY we choose our profession and that we choose ourselves as much as we choose to serve others is essential. Using the framework of Recognize, Reveal, and Reframe we will build a model for attendees to follow and build upon. This interactive session, complete with workbook, allows the attendee and the speakers to connect over common experiences and will help guide positive future outcomes.
Bonterra surveyed hundreds of funders across the country to find out what they look for from nonprofits when making grant decisions. We’ll discuss key takeaways from this fundraising and grant data with a funder and a nonprofit, and we’ll focus on how nonprofits can put themselves in the best position to win grants.
Education Track(s): Current and Prospective Donor Research
4 Pillars of Social Media Engagement for Fundraisers (Sponsored by Bonterra)
With increased digital donations, social media is rising as a powerful tool to build relationships with your current donors and attract new ones. In this session, attendees will learn 4 ways to build deeper relationships with social media followers and convert them into long-term supporters.
2023 Top Nonprofit Challenges and How to Overcome Them (Presented by OneCause)
The fundraising landscape has dramatically changed in the past three years, and the problems nonprofits are facing have shifted repeatedly. In the 2023 Fundraising Outlook Study, 900 nonprofit professionals shared the top challenges facing their nonprofits, which are shifting away from pandemic-related planning and recovery to donor-focused themes. This session examines those challenges and offers practical tips and strategies to help you overcome them
MID-LEVEL DONORS: KEY STRATEGIES IN STEWARDING, ENGAGING, SOLICITING AND UPGRADING (Presented by Catapult Fundraising, Inc.)
Join Gwen for an in-depth discussion on fundraising best practices for your mid-level donors. Shannon will discuss strategies and fundraising methodologies on how to best engage these prospects and move them up the giving pyramid.
Segmenting for success: How to Build a Detailed Engagement Plan for Your Donors (Learning Lab)
Floyd Jones, Director of Community & Partnerships at Givebutter, shares the steps for creating a donor engagement strategy that will sustain your organization year-round, breaking down the vast possibilities for donor segmentation, showcasing the best tools for donor management and data tracking, and featuring real-life examples of optimized personalized communications that any nonprofit can put into action.
Making the Most of Your CRM for Moves Management (Learning Lab)
Learn how to utilize the features in your CRM software and apply them to your major gifts fundraising strategy. Your CRM will need tools to support identifying the best prospects, performing the research to qualify them, tracking your cultivation strategies, soliciting the donation, then stewarding the gift to ensure your donor feels appreciated and knows the gift supports their personal mission.
As boards evolve to become ambassadors, fundraiser and thought leaders for your organization, do you have the right infrastructure, people and policies to help your board thrive for your organization?
Topics addressed could include:
Governance
Gift acceptance policy
Board investment policies
Succession planning
Board strength for sustainability during adverse times
Diversity
Pathway to Philanthropist: How FIU is Redefining Charitable Giving
FIU’s Pathway to Philanthropist program (P2P) progressive gift tactics empower mid-level capacity donors to advance an institution today and in the future. P2P’s financially inclusive approach leverages their capacity, passion and enthusiasm into more impactful gifts focusing on endowment funding, alumni participation, donor retention, engagement, and irrevocable planned gift pipelines.
Donor Advised Funds, Community Foundations, and You: Working Together to Grow Philanthropy
Do donor advised funds frustrate or excite you? Learn how to collaborate with your community foundation to bring more money not just your mission but to your community as a whole. DAF is NOT a four-letter word.
Tragic Growth and Operational Success requires the right mindset, leadership approaches and sustaining performance at the excellence level. This session will expose new learnings in these regards.
Mystery, Tragedy, Fantasy, Adventure. . . Are You Telling Your Board the Right Fundraising Story?
Is your fundraising story one of adventure or does it read like ancient history? The fundraising “stories” we tell our board members can be outdated, confusing, or even fantastical. In this session, you will identify your current fundraising story and explore how to change it for maximum impact.
Innovation, Scientists, Experiments, and Pilot Projects....Oh My! Fundraising for Research
Are you struggling with how to fundraise for research? Join this interactive session to explore strategies and tools to increase philanthropy for innovation and experimentation. Learn how to inspire donors with the excitement of investing into discoveries and transformation that advance the mission of your nonprofit.
Planned Giving for People Who are New to Planned Giving
No matter how much you know about planned giving, everyone leaves knowing a bunch more with ideas you can use right away. We will look the subject with humor and fun (yes, really) and you will feel comfortable with the subject and leave confident you can use planned giving easily.
2022 Fundraising Effectiveness Project: Using AFP’s Donor Giving Data to Improve Your Fundraising Results
This session will report on national donor retention statistics from the AFP's Fundraising Effectiveness Project now in its 17th year of donor retention analysis. Results from more than 20,000 nonprofits can be used as national benchmarks and realist guidelines for improving performance.
Alice Ferris, ACFRE, CFRE, MBA, AFP Master Trainer
Tue, Apr 18, 2023
10:15am - 11:30am
From Young Pro to Emerging Leader: How to Maximize AFP to Build Your Career!
What we are hearing: “Emerging Leaders are jack-of-all-trades, masters of none.” With a projected 10-year growth in the fundraising profession of 14%, emerging leaders need to strategically maximize their growth potential. Hear how four young, diverse professionals catapulted their careers by maximizing their professional experience to become leaders.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: How to mobilize your donors and build a thriving community (Presented Givebutter)
Interested in peer-to-peer fundraising or eager to improve your P2P campaigns? This interactive workshop will dive into the four key elements of a successful grassroots peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising campaign: setting intentions, storytelling, segmentation, and supporter mobilization. Givebutter’s Floyd Jones will share real-world campaign examples, highlight best practices and technology for optimized P2P fundraising, and facilitate individual reflections and small group breakout discussions, full-group share-outs, and Q&A. Participants will leave with individualized game plans for their own P2P campaigns.
Marketing + Fundraising: A Collaborative Framework That Builds Community & Funding Growth (Presented by Feathr)
Today, people trust corporations more than nonprofits and participation in giving has decreased by 24% in the last two decades. This challenge combined with change as a constant, rising competition, and competing priorities for resources drive many nonprofits to simply opt out of doing marketing. Join this session to explore The Good Marketing framework which decouples fundraising and marketing, while unlocking supporter and funding growth through community-first thinking.
Recession-Proofing Your Mission to Attract, Retain, and Grow Donors (Presented by Microsoft)
While individual giving increases year after year, the number of donors is decreasing. This means recession-proofing for nonprofits is the only way to continue missions uninterrupted in uncertain times. Your donors are increasingly digital natives who expect personal, relevant, and timely communications that connect them to the impact of their mission. With limited resources and budget, how are you building lifetime giving into your plans? In this session, we will explore ways to apply marketing, data, and AI to move from single transactions with donors to lasting engagement. ?
We are on the precipice of the largest transfer of wealth in human history, with over $35,000,000,000,000 being dispersed in the coming years. As we age, rates of dementia and other cognitive impairment increases, creating ethical and legal issues for fundraisers when they encounter this with donors. Are you prepared?
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Education Track(s): Ethics, Accountability and Professionalism
Houston, we have a problem. Ten Reasons Why You Need a Crisis Management Plan.
A good crisis management plan is like insurance. You hope the plan will never be used, but when the need arises, you’ll be grateful you have a plan in place. In this session, learn the essential elements of creating a comprehensive plan for your organization.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
The Roots Run Deep: Disrupting Institutional Racism & Unethical Behavior As a Leader
Now that you’ve realized your organization has a history of racism and a culture of unethical behavior, what do you do? What happens when employees, board members, and major donors oppose the disruption of those systems? Learn how to dig deep and strategically uproot these weeds in your organizational culture.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Education Track(s): Leadership and Management
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
Do you think fundraising metrics are outdated? Join us to reimagine the fundraising process to meet donor expectations and improve retention! This session will provide tangible ways to incorporate an “infinite donor loop” into your relationship strategies and reimagine metrics that provide mutual benefits to fundraisers and donors alike!
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership or Management
Responsive Nonprofits: How To Build Resilient Teams & Drive Sustainable Growth
Most fundraising teams are built on predictability and efficiency in a world where change is constant and experimentation is a must, resulting in a disconnect between supporter expectations and fundraising strategy. Hear how leaders are adopting responsive mindsets to close the gap, exceed fundraising goals, and build resilient teams.
Updating Your Gift Acceptance Policy for Our Increasingly Digital World (Learning Lab)
Gift Acceptance Policies are a must-have for every organization. But you haven't updated yours since you last looked at your Rolodex? We gotchu. Learn about digital-specific fundraising topics that you want to ensure you are addressing in your Policy.
Current Trends in Social Media: What Do We Pay For & What Should We Ignore (Learning Lab)
Meta Verified, Twitter Blue, Snapchat Plus - it seems as if all the big, formerly free, social media platforms are now offering pay-to-play services. What does it mean? What are the implications for the social media landscape? And what are the benefits? Nonprofit digital marketing expert Julia Campbell will walk you through the 3 most critical changes to the social media landscape in the past year, the pros and cons of Meta Verified for Facebook and Instagram, and how data privacy laws continue to affect social media reach and visibility.