ICON Pre-Conference Deep Dives
Arrive early and jumpstart your AFP ICON experience with two days of in-depth, hands-on sessions offered before the main conference begins. It’s a great way to dive deeper into key topics and get even more out of your time at ICON.
Add a Pre-Conference Deep Dive to your AFP ICON experience during the conference registration process.
Two-Day Deep Dives: April 24 and 25, 2026
Fundamentals of Fundraising
Do you need to build an understanding of all core areas of fundraising? Deepen your knowledge with this comprehensive introduction to fundraising knowledge domains, which include relationship building, securing gifts, volunteer involvement, and ethics and accountability. The workshop includes case studies and group projects, making the learning experience both substantive and enjoyable.
Faculty Training Academy
Presented by: Dr. Sandra Ehrlich, CFRE, and Ken Miller, CFRE
FTA is AFP's train-the-trainer program that helps ensure quality in our educational programming by providing formal training for prospective instructors of AFP's professional development programs. Participants receive comprehensive, hands-on training in adult education principles, learning styles, classroom management, presentation skills, and developing engaging, learner-centered lessons.
Course eligibility requirements & expectations – Participants must
- Possess extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and thorough knowledge of the fundraising profession.
- Regularly participate in continuing education in fundraising, with a minimum of 45 contact hours within the previous three years.
- Maintain current AFP membership.
- Maintenance of CFRE credential is helpful but not absolutely necessary.
CFRE Exam Compass Review Course
The CFRE Exam Compass Review Course is the only exam prep curriculum designed by CFRE International.
You’ll spend two days reviewing the six Knowledge Domains that make up the CFRE Exam, while discovering ethical best practice approaches to fundraising. After taking a 30-minute practice test, you’ll understand the style of the exam questions and pace you’ll need to set for yourself when it’s time to take the real exam.
Leave this Review Course with a better understanding of the Knowledge Domains you should focus your studying on, and a personalized study plan that will bring you one step closer to your professional development goals.
The course comes with a copy of the official CFRE Exam Compass Study Guide and the CFRE Exam Compass Workbook.
One-Day Deep Dives: April 25, 2026
Donor Retention: A Self-Assessment Workshop
Presented by: Erik Daubert, MBA, ACFRE, and Lori Overmyer, MBA, CFRE
Did you know that many nonprofits lose nearly as many donors and gifts as they gain each year? How can you stop the churn? This workshop focuses on donor retention, emphasizing using data to build effective fundraising programs that attract and retain donors and maximize growth in giving. Learn how to use the groundbreaking Fundamentals Fitness Test to significantly improve your organization’s fundraising efforts.
Donor-Advised Funds Learning Session - For people from select U.S. states (8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.) - BY INVITATION ONLY
DAFs are becoming a growing and integral part of philanthropy in the United States, with the number of individuals setting up DAFs and the value of funds continuing to increase. Despite this growth, many professional fundraisers remain unclear about how DAFs work and how they can benefit their organizations. To address this need, this session offers a condensed learning experience based on AFP’s comprehensive 9-module curriculum. Designed for both new and experienced fundraisers, the session introduces the fundamentals of DAFs, provides strategies for tracking and managing DAF gifts, and explores how to confidently and effectively solicit DAF donors.
Session Objectives:
- Describe the basics of DAFs
- Properly record DAF grants into a donor database
- Appropriately acknowledge donors who grant with DAFs
- Identify and build meaningful relationships with DAF donors
- Develop DAF-specific solicitation strategies
PLEASE NOTE: This session is for people from select U.S. states (AL, AR, AZ, CO, ID, KY, LA, MS, MT, NV, NM, OK, TN, TX, UT, WY), by invitation only.
Donor-Advised Funds Learning Session - For people with budgets of $5 million or less (1:30 - 5:30 p.m.) - BY INVITATION ONLY
DAFs are becoming a growing and integral part of philanthropy in the United States, with the number of individuals setting up DAFs and the value of funds continuing to increase. Despite this growth, many professional fundraisers remain unclear about how DAFs work and how they can benefit their organizations. To address this need, this session offers a condensed learning experience based on AFP’s comprehensive 9-module curriculum. Designed for both new and experienced fundraisers, the session introduces the fundamentals of DAFs, provides strategies for tracking and managing DAF gifts, and explores how to confidently and effectively solicit DAF donors.
Session Objectives:
- Describe the basics of DAFs
- Properly record DAF grants into a donor database
- Appropriately acknowledge donors who grant with DAFs
- Identify and build meaningful relationships with DAF donors
- Develop DAF-specific solicitation strategies
PLEASE NOTE: This session is for people with budgets of $5 million or less, by invitation only.