We have a wide array of educational sessions waiting for you at AFP ICON 2024. 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.
Donor centric fundraising states we should center donor interests, motivations, needs and values. In doing so, do we ignore the needs of the communities we serve? What is the downside of donor centric fundraising? Learn how to identify the problems of the improper application of donor centric fundraising.
Making Sense of Fundraising: What’s Working in ’24 and More
There are dozens of different industry trend reports - how do we make sense of what's a bright shiny object and what really works? In this session we'll review all the trends, discuss what's working, and workshop a plan you can implement to make the most of fundraising research.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership and Management
Inspire and Influence Others to Act: Get Out of Your Head. Get Into Your Heart
Do you need someone to support your organization? Are you trying to get others excited about following your lead? Do you have an idea that you want others to get behind? In this session, we will teach you a framework to communicate more effectively to influence others, to refine your storytelling and access and leverage your secret weapon - your authentic voice.
Being a fundraiser doesn’t prepare you to be a leader. Often though, career advancement only comes from moving into a leadership role. Join an interactive workshop to identify the skills needed to advance, how to prepare for a leadership role, and what to do once you get there.
The Journey from 2 to 10 Million: Capital Campaigns and Identity
The Perley Health Foundation undertook – in a timespan of 3 years – a rebrand, a new vision for the organization and launched a $10 Million dollar Capital Campaign that dwarfs their typical annual $2 Million goal. Attend to hear the seven leadership learnings from a leader and executive coach.
Blockbusters get all the press. But even in Hollywood, there’s a lot that happens before the opening curtain. Join us as we look behind the scenes of how philanthropic producers (AKA fundraisers) partner with leadership talent. Together we’ll discuss how cast and crew work together to build a giving culture.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership and Management
Taking Care of Your Workforce: Innovations in Mental Health Care
A key part of an organization’s success is the strong mental health and wellbeing of its workforce. This session will address the state of mental health and its connection with corporate prosperity. We will then examine innovations that can elevate menial health in the workplace.
She Leads: Navigating Leadership in Nonprofit and Beyond (Presented by Donor Perfect)
Join us for an in-depth exploration of the critical elements of leadership in the nonprofit sector, with a specific focus on empowering women to take on key leadership roles. This session provides a comprehensive framework for women leaders to navigate the complexities of leadership, including understanding key statistics and trends that impact the sector, identifying and articulating core values, building a strong personal brand, setting ambitious yet achievable goals, seeking out valuable mentorship opportunities, and embracing diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. By honing these skills and capabilities, participants will be better equipped to unlock their full potential as leaders and drive meaningful change within their organizations and communities.
Women’s Leadership Journeys: Success in the face of organizational design, diversity and imposed imposter syndrome
Using a storytelling style, join in the conversation of common leadership challenges as four women reflect on their journeys to executive C-suite roles, attaining success for their organization and their careers.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership and Management
Stepping Out to Fit In: How diverse consultants are reaching success on their own terms
Sometimes the best way to change the system is from the outside. From this panel you’ll hear from a diverse group of fundraisers who found more alignment, freedom, and success working as consultants. Understand how they incorporated their identities into their work to show up authentically as their whole selves.
Let’s Get Critical: Rethinking Research & Evidence for the Sake of Better Practice
Research and evidence are a driving force in fundraising’s evolution…But what happens when the stuff of “best practice” is flawed or biased? In this session, you’ll gain a simple tool for critically evaluating and applying research so you can use it in service of your own better practice.
Eligible for 1.25 ACFRE credits in Leadership and Management
Low–Code App Development: A First Step to Creating Your Own AI–Powered Tools (Presented by Blackbaud)
What's possible when you empower business users and admins to create software solutions using low-code development tools? Those closest to your operational challenges are armed with AI power and other transformational approaches. With free tools and low-code approaches to application, your team can develop custom solutions to solve operational challenges, automate clumsy processes, drive efficiency, and fuel social impact. Want to take advantage of these capabilities? Come explore examples of how low-code approaches can be used to solve operational challenges and get valuable resources to help organizations of all sizes launch and govern their low-code programs. Whether you’re interested in creating your own apps or equipping your team, you’ll leave with actionable next steps to embrace this new frontier.
Fundraising goals are often fill-the-gap numbers. The finance team created a budget and worked backwards to determine the fundraising goal. As a profession, we know how well this works! Let’s change that process. This session gives development professionals the knowledge and tools they need to build meaningful goals and budgets.
De-Mystifying AI: Making sense of ChatGPT and Fundraising in the Age of AI
What do nonprofit leaders need to know about AI and how it’s re-shaping fundraising? What have we learned so far, and what's on the road ahead? Join me for a walkthrough of the big questions facing fundraising leaders after an exciting first year of fundraising with Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation.
Demystifying Wellbeing: Taking the “Woo Woo” out of Individual and Organizational Wellbeing
This interactive session will focus on demystifying “wellbeing” by sharing research and practical examples of the how to prioritize individual and organizational wellbeing. The session will illuminate the importance of wellbeing as foundational element for leadership. The session will also highlight the important connection between wellbeing and inclusion.
Mastering the Art of Year-Round Donor Engagement: Strategies to Acquire, Retain, and Inspire Donors (Presented by GiveSmart)
In a landscape marked by dwindling donors, retention, and engagement, it's time for bold steps toward sustainable growth. Join us to learn how to identify donor gaps and opportunities, implement a year-round fundraising approach, and expand your donor base to raise more in 2024 and beyond. Learn how to understand your fundraising outcomes and how they fit into your organization’s overall financial puzzle to identify potential fundraising opportunities and donor segments. Walk away with actionable fundraising insights and real-life nonprofit fundraising campaign ideas.
(CANCELLED) Exploring the Influence, Trends, and Education of the Hispanic and Latinx Community in American Philanthropy
Join Anthony for an insightful discussion that delves into the dynamic world of philanthropy within the Hispanic and Latinx community in the United States. This session aims to shed light on the profound impact, evolving trends, and the crucial role that education will play in shaping the philanthropic landscape among this diverse and vibrant demographic for years to come.
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.
Get your answers here! This session is for Senior Leaders (EDs, DoDs, Board): Ask your most important questions about how to engage your board in the fundraising process either through special projects or capital campaigns. Pick the minds of some of the most successful and knowledgeable leaders in
Manage and measure your impact as a strategic asset
Do you want to leverage your environmental and social impact to mobilize resources more effectively? Are you looking to measure and communicate your current impact better? In this session, we will help you create impact management plans that engage your stakeholders, meaningfully measure outcomes, and strengthen your fundraising strategies.
Development and Communications Teams Working Together: How to Get Along and Get On With It
This session courageously explores this age-old friction, including research results on what Fundraising and Communications teams face in trying to working together collaboratively. We present common tensions and creative solutions on how teams can build stronger collaborative processes and relationships -- without sacrificing each of their important missions.
Continuing the Conversation on being an Equitable, Inclusive, Diverse Leader
To take on the biggest problems, all need to lead in an inclusive, diverse and equitable manner. This session will focus on the leadership skills you need for personal and professional success. These diverse leaders on the panel live their lives with IDEA everyday. Learn how you can as well!
The Cockpit, Congress, and Charities: Stories from a Nonprofit CEO (Presented by CharityEngine)
From flying Navy jets to lobbying for the beer industry to serving as the CEO (and savior) of Help Heal Veterans, “Captain Joe” McClain has overcome challenges in many forms. In this presentation, he will share inspiring stories from the military, political, and nonprofit sectors. Through his personal anecdotes and practical insights, nonprofit executives will learn how to apply leadership principles, turn obstacles into opportunities, and foster a culture of resilience in their organizations.
Join CharityEngine’s Director of Client Success, Alexis Langley, CAE, as she chats with Joe about his unique career and lessons he’s learned.
CANCELLED Unleashing Leadership Potential: Coaching for Nonprofit Success and Building Inclusive Teams
Unleash your leadership potential and build strong, diverse, and inclusive teams in your nonprofit organization. This interactive workshop using John Maxwell's leadership principles teaches effective communication, team-building strategies, and how to create a culture of success. Gain valuable insights and actionable steps to enhance your leadership skills.
Big Donors Love Big Ideas: Vision & Innovation Leading to Major Gifts
Since big donors love big ideas, nonprofits need to cast vision and innovate to devise the major opportunities that captivate major gift donors. An easy-to-use framework for identifying a compelling vision, a six-step innovation process, and a paper clip will strengthen your ability to craft big ideas for big donors.
Boost your next capital or comprehensive campaign by strategically branding that initiative. In this session, you will learn why branding a campaign is important, how it can enhance your organization's visibility and reputation, and what the four key milestones of campaign branding are and how to reach them.
Becoming a Changemaker: How Fundraisers are Positioned for Advancing Equity
Fundraisers are changemakers. We identify issues, make connections, generate support, and solve problems. These attributes make fundraisers well-positioned for leadership roles helping advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in our organizations at any level. This session will share personal stories, identify skills and provide resources for your IDEA success.
How We're Transforming Our AFP Chapter Through a Commitment to IDEA
AFP Silicon Valley Board Members will share how they're transforming CA Chapters with the innovative IDEA Fellowship for diverse fundraisers. Learn about launching the program with provided tools and templates after a group discussion and interactive brainstorm about your Chapters commitment to IDEA.
Building a Sustainable Fundraising Plan: A Research-backed Guide to Healthy Fundraising (Presented by Qgiv)
With rising costs, the Great Resignation, and donor numbers declining, nonprofit leaders face increased pressure to keep their teams motivated to raise more money with even fewer resources. What can be done to address these challenges? Qgiv’s Sustainable Giving Report sought to answer that question! Join us to learn how you promote wellness and job satisfaction within your organization and ultimately improve staff retention, donor relations, and revenue.
Unlocking Impact: Exploring the Power of Impact Frameworks for Nonprofits (Learning Lab) Presented by UpMetrics
Unlock your nonprofit’s impact potential with our transformative session on crafting impact frameworks. Discover why impact frameworks are essential for operationalizing your impact, including measuring progress, driving continuous improvement, and showcasing outcomes to attract support from funders and donors. In essence, an Impact Framework is more than a tool; it's a blueprint for driving meaningful change, maximizing effectiveness, and instilling confidence in stakeholders. Learn to articulate your mission and objectives with clarity, and select the right metrics to measure progress towards goals. This session equips you with the skills and insights needed to measure, communicate, and amplify your nonprofit's impact.
Tech for Impact: A Look at 2024 Nonprofit Trends (Learning Lab) Presented by Sage
As Managing Director for Sage in North America, Mark Hickman empowers U.S. and Canadian businesses by simplifying workflows to break down barriers and achieve growth. With more than 20 years of experience at the executive management and leadership-levels, where he consistently grew revenues at leading organizations, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge essential to successfully navigate the channel, partner, and SMB landscapes in North America. As a leader, Mark looks to empower colleagues, partners, and customers to seek out solutions through creativity and innovation.