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