Schedule and Sessions

Discover how to turn smartphones into fundraising powerhouses. This session reveals real-time mobile strategies—texts, QR codes, apps, and live event tools—used by Stand Up To Cancer, GoFundMe PRO and Synergy to drive donations. Learn to engage donors instantly and effectively, wherever they are, with the tech they already use.

Without a strategy, funding won’t save you. This interactive workshop helps nonprofit professionals build dynamic, inclusive strategic plans that align mission with fundraising. Learn how participatory planning drives impact, cultivates donors, and positions your organization to flourish—no matter your budget. Walk away with a plan you can act on.

Tired of one-time sponsorships that go nowhere? This session shows nonprofit leaders how to turn casual corporate interest into committed, recurring partnerships. Learn how to confidently pitch your value, create win-win sponsorship packages, and set boundaries that protect your mission. Through real-world examples and practical tools, you’ll leave with ready-to-use templates and a clearer strategy for securing sponsorships that actually stick. No more ghosting—just game-changing partnerships.

Ready to address those uncomfortable elephants lurking in your nonprofit boardroom? This dynamic workshop tackles areas such as founder's syndrome, diversity gaps, fundraising tensions, boards overreaching, and so much more--challenges that many see but few discuss. Join "nonprofit fairy godmother" and self-proclaimed "board nerd" Stacey Wedding to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth. Through interactive exercises and real-world scenarios, you'll gain practical and immediately applicable tools to turn boardroom obstacles into mission advancement catalysts. Stop tiptoeing around issues and start leading transformative change. Your organization's future funding and effectiveness depend on it!

Discover how GoFundMe is reimagining donor-advised funds for the next generation of givers. Drawing from a community of 190 million donors and $40 billion in giving, this session explores what modern donors want: transparency, local impact, and personal connection. Learn how today’s givers—especially Gen Z—are reshaping philanthropy and why DAFs must evolve to meet the moment. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, donor, or innovator in the giving space, this session will inspire new ways to think about generosity, identity, and the future of charitable giving.

One year. Three platforms. Zero downtime. Discover how one mid-market nonprofit overhauled its entire tech stack in record time. Learn the C.O.R.E. Framework to eliminate data silos, cut "zombie" software costs, and build a synchronized ecosystem that scales your mission. Stop managing messy software and
start driving massive impact.

No gatekeeping here—just fun, fast, and mighty practical insights to supercharge your strategy and spark new possibilities. Unlock the future of major, planned, and grant work with AI! From fruitful gifts to striking grants, learn how to work smarter—not harder—with AI tools, live demos, and zero tech jargon…Ok, maybe a little jargon but from careered development professionals.

Uncover the transformative potential of AI agents in optimizing nonprofit fundraising. In this demo-driven session, you'll learn how AI agents can automate processes, offer valuable insights, and enhance decision-making. We'll explore practical use cases that demonstrate their potential to drive efficiency, personalization, and innovation—empowering your organization to achieve greater impact.

Are you running a small nonprofit and wearing all the hats? Is your “strategic plan” in the same folder as your to-do list? You’re not alone. This working session is designed for fundraisers and executive leaders in small shops who are “building the plane while flying it.” Join a candid, collaborative space led by Ming Richie, Executive Director of The Giving Exchange, where attendees will connect by role or org size to swap strategies, unpack shared challenges, and build community. Bring your questions, pain points, and energy. You’ll leave with ideas, peers, and maybe even a few new friends.

Gift planning is often seen as the domain of specialists — but a strong legacy giving pipeline requires an all-hands approach. In this session, two seasoned gift planners will demonstrate how major gift officers, executive leaders, board members, and program staff can meaningfully contribute to legacy and non-cash asset giving success.

Join us for an engaging and inspiring conversation that will explore the leadership skills needed to thrive in complex, evolving environments. You’ll gain practical strategies and actionable insights to help you lead with purpose—whether in your organization, your community, or your own personal journey. To tackle today’s most pressing challenges, we need leaders at every level who lead with inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) at the core. This session brings together a panel of diverse, experienced leaders who embody these principles in both their personal and professional lives.

A culture of philanthropy starts within, but it doesn’t happen by default. Organizations often say “everyone owns it,” yet without structure, accountability, and systems in place, it becomes no one’s responsibility. This session explores why culture of philanthropy is easy to define but difficult to execute, and where it breaks down in practice. We’ll examine how internal dynamics shape donor experience, and how to bridge the gap between what happens inside the organization and what donors experience outside. You’ll leave with practical ways to move from intention to consistent, organization-wide action.

If want to build a stable fundraising program (and who doesn't?), recurring donors are going to be your best friends. But what actually inspires people to make that kind of gift? And is acquiring them really worth the effort? New data from more than 4,000 organizations tells a powerful story.

AI is already shaping fundraising—but uncertainty remains. Join this panel to explore how nonprofits are actually using AI today, where hesitation persists, and how an abundance mindset can guide ethical, human-centered adoption. Walk away with practical insights to expand capacity, protect trust, and focus on meaningful donor relationships.

Volunteers are some of your most passionate supporters—are you fully tapping into their philanthropic potential? This session will equip fundraisers with the tools to strategically align volunteer engagement with development goals. You'll learn how to collaborate more effectively with volunteer management teams, structure programs that create a seamless pathway from service to giving, and leverage real-world examples of successful volunteer-to-donor pipelines. You’ll walk away with a practical cultivation plan designed to turn mission-driven action into meaningful financial support.